John Beckett
Encyclopedia
John Warburton Beckett (11 October 1894 – 28 December 1964) was a leading figure in British politics between the world wars, both in the Labour Party
and Fascist movements.
After serving in the army during the First World War Beckett set up the National Union of Ex-Servicemen in 1918 to look after the needs of the war veterans (although it was eventually absorbed into the later Royal British Legion having failed to gain Labour Party
recognition). At this time he also joined the Independent Labour Party
, sitting on Hackney council from 1919-1922. He was elected as Labour MP for Gateshead
in 1924, moving to Peckham
in 1929, after which he served as an ILP whip
. In these early years Beckett was considered a close ally of Clement Attlee
, alongside whom he had worked as a Labour Party agent before his election to Parliament. He achieved notoriety in 1930 when he lifted the Ceremonial mace
during a Commons
debate over the suspension of Fenner Brockway
and it had to be wrestled away from him at the door. Beckett opposed Ramsay MacDonald
's formation of the UK National Government
and returned to the ILP fold in 1931, failing to hold his seat, with the vote split between three 'Labour' candidates. Retiring from active politics he visited Italy
where he was impressed by the corporate state
that had been set up.
Beckett joined the British Union of Fascists
in 1934 and before long had risen through the party to become Director of Publications (serving as an editor of both BUF publications, Action and Blackshirt, for a time). He gained some notoriety for his activism, notably when he was arrested outside Buckingham Palace
during the Edward VIII abdication crisis
and also for being the only BUF activist to win a court case against their opponents, securing £1000 in damages in a slander
suit against an anti-fascist organisation (although it disbanded before payment was collected). After initial successes the BUF began to flounder and in 1937 Oswald Mosley
sacked Beckett from his salaried position. He soon returned to politics by forming the National Socialist League
along with William Joyce
, although his membership did not last long as he left the League in 1938, disillusioned by Hitler
. Beckett spent most of the Second World War in internment but came back afterwards to lead the British Peoples Party
. This also proved to be a failure and Beckett drifted away from politics, living in retirement until his death in December 1964 at the age of 70.
A biography, 'The Rebel who Lost his Cause', written by his son, the writer and journalist Francis Beckett
, was published by Allison and Busby in 1999.
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
and Fascist movements.
After serving in the army during the First World War Beckett set up the National Union of Ex-Servicemen in 1918 to look after the needs of the war veterans (although it was eventually absorbed into the later Royal British Legion having failed to gain Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
recognition). At this time he also joined the Independent Labour Party
Independent Labour Party
The Independent Labour Party was a socialist political party in Britain established in 1893. The ILP was affiliated to the Labour Party from 1906 to 1932, when it voted to leave...
, sitting on Hackney council from 1919-1922. He was elected as Labour MP for Gateshead
Gateshead (UK Parliament constituency)
Gateshead is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first-past-the-post system of election. A previous Gateshead constituency existed from 1832 to 1950....
in 1924, moving to Peckham
Peckham (UK Parliament constituency)
Peckham was a borough constituency in South London which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
in 1929, after which he served as an ILP whip
Chief Whip
The Chief Whip is a political office in some legislatures assigned to an elected member whose task is to administer the whipping system that ensures that members of the party attend and vote as the party leadership desires.-The Whips Office:...
. In these early years Beckett was considered a close ally of Clement Attlee
Clement Attlee
Clement Richard Attlee, 1st Earl Attlee, KG, OM, CH, PC, FRS was a British Labour politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1945 to 1951, and as the Leader of the Labour Party from 1935 to 1955...
, alongside whom he had worked as a Labour Party agent before his election to Parliament. He achieved notoriety in 1930 when he lifted the Ceremonial mace
Ceremonial mace
The ceremonial mace is a highly ornamented staff of metal or wood, carried before a sovereign or other high official in civic ceremonies by a mace-bearer, intended to represent the official's authority. The mace, as used today, derives from the original mace used as a weapon...
during a Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
debate over the suspension of Fenner Brockway
Fenner Brockway, Baron Brockway
Fenner Brockway, Baron Brockway , was a British anti-war activist and politician.-Biography:Archibald Fenner Brockway was born in Calcutta, India, which was at that time under British Imperial rule...
and it had to be wrestled away from him at the door. Beckett opposed Ramsay MacDonald
Ramsay MacDonald
James Ramsay MacDonald, PC, FRS was a British politician who was the first ever Labour Prime Minister, leading a minority government for two terms....
's formation of the UK National Government
UK National Government
In the United Kingdom the term National Government is an abstract concept referring to a coalition of some or all major political parties. In a historical sense it usually refers primarily to the governments of Ramsay MacDonald, Stanley Baldwin and Neville Chamberlain which held office from 1931...
and returned to the ILP fold in 1931, failing to hold his seat, with the vote split between three 'Labour' candidates. Retiring from active politics he visited Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
where he was impressed by the corporate state
Corporatism
Corporatism, also known as corporativism, is a system of economic, political, or social organization that involves association of the people of society into corporate groups, such as agricultural, business, ethnic, labor, military, patronage, or scientific affiliations, on the basis of common...
that had been set up.
Beckett joined the British Union of Fascists
British Union of Fascists
The British Union was a political party in the United Kingdom formed in 1932 by Sir Oswald Mosley as the British Union of Fascists, in 1936 it changed its name to the British Union of Fascists and National Socialists and then in 1937 to simply the British Union...
in 1934 and before long had risen through the party to become Director of Publications (serving as an editor of both BUF publications, Action and Blackshirt, for a time). He gained some notoriety for his activism, notably when he was arrested outside Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, in London, is the principal residence and office of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality...
during the Edward VIII abdication crisis
Edward VIII abdication crisis
In 1936, a constitutional crisis in the British Empire was caused by King-Emperor Edward VIII's proposal to marry Wallis Simpson, a twice-divorced American socialite....
and also for being the only BUF activist to win a court case against their opponents, securing £1000 in damages in a slander
Slander and libel
Defamation—also called calumny, vilification, traducement, slander , and libel —is the communication of a statement that makes a claim, expressly stated or implied to be factual, that may give an individual, business, product, group, government, or nation a negative image...
suit against an anti-fascist organisation (although it disbanded before payment was collected). After initial successes the BUF began to flounder and in 1937 Oswald Mosley
Oswald Mosley
Sir Oswald Ernald Mosley, 6th Baronet, of Ancoats, was an English politician, known principally as the founder of the British Union of Fascists...
sacked Beckett from his salaried position. He soon returned to politics by forming the National Socialist League
National Socialist League
The National Socialist League was a short lived Nazi political movement in the United Kingdom immediately before the Second World War.-Formation:...
along with William Joyce
William Joyce
William Joyce , nicknamed Lord Haw-Haw, was an Irish-American fascist politician and Nazi propaganda broadcaster to the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He was hanged for treason by the British as a result of his wartime activities, even though he had renounced his British nationality...
, although his membership did not last long as he left the League in 1938, disillusioned by Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
. Beckett spent most of the Second World War in internment but came back afterwards to lead the British Peoples Party
British Peoples Party (1940s)
The British People's Party was a British far right political party founded in 1939 and led by ex-British Union of Fascists member and Labour Party Member of Parliament John Beckett.-Origins:...
. This also proved to be a failure and Beckett drifted away from politics, living in retirement until his death in December 1964 at the age of 70.
A biography, 'The Rebel who Lost his Cause', written by his son, the writer and journalist Francis Beckett
Francis Beckett
Francis Beckett is an English author, journalist, biographer, and contemporary historian. He has written biographies of Aneurin Bevan, Clement Attlee, Harold Macmillan, Gordon Brown and Tony Blair. He has also written on education for the New Statesman, The Guardian and The Independent...
, was published by Allison and Busby in 1999.