Kim Mackay
Encyclopedia
Ronald William Gordon Mackay (3 September 1902 – 15 January 1960), known as Kim Mackay, was a British Common Wealth Party
and Labour Party
politician known for his federalist
views.
Born in Bathurst, New South Wales
, Mackay studied law and education at the University of Sydney
. In 1926, he became a part-time history lecturer at St. Paul's College
, and in 1932 he was a co-founder of the Australian Institute of Political Science
, which argued for reform of the Australian Constitution.
Encouraged by Labour MP Stafford Cripps
, Mackay moved to England in 1934, and began practising law. He stood for the Frome constituency
in the 1935 UK general election, losing by only 994 votes. In 1939, he took a post in the Ministry of Aircraft Production, where he became angered at Labour's reluctance to criticise government policy, and resigned from the party. In 1941, he published Federal Europe, calling for a federation of Western European nations, claiming that this would facilitate socialism
.
Mackay contested the Llandaff and Barry by-election, 1942 as an "Independent
Socialist" on the invitation of the 1941 Committee
. Calling for an end to the UK National Government
, claiming that this would result in the more effective prosecution of World War II
, his campaign gained the support of the local Constituency Labour Party
, but proved unsuccessful.
Mackay later supported Tom Driberg's successful campaign in the Maldon by-election, 1942
, and in 1943, he joined the Common Wealth Party
, which had been formed by the merger of the 1941 Committee with Forward March. This new party shared his views on European federalism, and Mackay was able to immediately become its Chair. He altered the party's structure in order for it to focus on fighting by-election
s. This had considerable success, Common Wealth gaining three seats during the Parliament.
Mackay's position came under fire from several groups within Common Wealth. The London Region complained that he was a careerist and an anti-Marxist, while some Christians in the organisation argued that he was destroying the party's idealism
in pursuit of electoralism
.
Mackay became increasingly interested in electoral reform
. In 1943, he published Coupon or Free?: Being a Study in Electoral Reform and Representative Government. He hoped that Common Wealth would be able to affiliate to Labour along with the Independent Labour Party
and the Communist Party of Great Britain
, and act as a left-wing pressure group. In the event, these groups both applied to affiliate after 1945, but their applications were rejected. Unable to convince Common Wealth of his position, Mackay resigned in late 1944 and rejoined Labour.
Mackay stood for Hull North West
at the 1945 UK general election, and gained the seat for Labour. In Parliament, he argued for increased power for the United Nations
. In 1947, he joined the Keep Left
faction.
In 1946, Mackay was a founder member of the European Union of Federalists, superseded two years later by the European Movement
. Federalism was unpopular within his own party, who associated the idea with the Conservative Party
and the Movement for a United Europe. In distinction to Mackay, they argued that a federal Europe should not contain communist state
s. In 1949, he became the chair of the European Parliamentary Union
.
In 1950, Mackay's constituency was abolished, and he was instead elected for Reading North
, but he lost this seat the following year. In 1953, he retired from politics due to ill health, but continued to write articles in support of federalism.
Common Wealth Party
The Common Wealth Party was a socialist political party in the United Kingdom in the Second World War. Thereafter, it continued in being, essentially as a pressure group, until 1993.-The war years:...
and 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...
politician known for his federalist
Federalist
The term federalist describes several political beliefs around the world. Also, it may refer to the concept of federalism or the type of government called a federation...
views.
Born in Bathurst, New South Wales
Bathurst, New South Wales
-CBD and suburbs:Bathurst's CBD is located on William, George, Howick, Russell, and Durham Streets. The CBD is approximately 25 hectares and surrounds two city blocks. Within this block layout is banking, government services, shopping centres, retail shops, a park* and monuments...
, Mackay studied law and education at the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
. In 1926, he became a part-time history lecturer at St. Paul's College
St. Paul's College, Sydney
St Paul's College in Sydney, Australia, is an Anglican residential college for men which is affiliated with the University of Sydney. Founded in 1856 by an 1854 act of the New South Wales Legislative Council, it is Australia's oldest university college...
, and in 1932 he was a co-founder of the Australian Institute of Political Science
Australian Institute of Political Science
AIPS, the was founded in 1932. Originally known as the Australian Institute of Political Science, its aim was to further public understanding of Australia's political and economic situation during the Great Depression and beyond. In 2006 the organisation changed its name to the Australian...
, which argued for reform of the Australian Constitution.
Encouraged by Labour MP Stafford Cripps
Stafford Cripps
Sir Richard Stafford Cripps was a British Labour politician of the first half of the 20th century. During World War II he served in a number of positions in the wartime coalition, including Ambassador to the Soviet Union and Minister of Aircraft Production...
, Mackay moved to England in 1934, and began practising law. He stood for the Frome constituency
Frome (UK Parliament constituency)
Frome was a constituency centred on the town of Frome in Somerset. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1832, until it was abolished for the 1950 general election...
in the 1935 UK general election, losing by only 994 votes. In 1939, he took a post in the Ministry of Aircraft Production, where he became angered at Labour's reluctance to criticise government policy, and resigned from the party. In 1941, he published Federal Europe, calling for a federation of Western European nations, claiming that this would facilitate socialism
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
.
Mackay contested the Llandaff and Barry by-election, 1942 as an "Independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
Socialist" on the invitation of the 1941 Committee
1941 Committee
The 1941 Committee was a group of British politicians, writers and other people of influence who got together in 1940. Its members comprised liberals, and those further left, who were not generally involved with a political party. Its immediate purpose was to press for more efficient production in...
. Calling for an end to 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...
, claiming that this would result in the more effective prosecution of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, his campaign gained the support of the local Constituency Labour Party
Constituency Labour Party
A Constituency Labour Party is an organisation of members of the British Labour Party who live in a particular UK parliamentary constituency in England, Scotland and Wales. The Labour Party in Northern Ireland has, since February 2009, been organised as a province-wide Constituency Labour Party...
, but proved unsuccessful.
Mackay later supported Tom Driberg's successful campaign in the Maldon by-election, 1942
Maldon by-election, 1942
The Maldon by-election, 1942 was a parliamentary by-election held on 25 June 1942 for the British House of Commons constituency of Maldon in Essex...
, and in 1943, he joined the Common Wealth Party
Common Wealth Party
The Common Wealth Party was a socialist political party in the United Kingdom in the Second World War. Thereafter, it continued in being, essentially as a pressure group, until 1993.-The war years:...
, which had been formed by the merger of the 1941 Committee with Forward March. This new party shared his views on European federalism, and Mackay was able to immediately become its Chair. He altered the party's structure in order for it to focus on fighting by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
s. This had considerable success, Common Wealth gaining three seats during the Parliament.
Mackay's position came under fire from several groups within Common Wealth. The London Region complained that he was a careerist and an anti-Marxist, while some Christians in the organisation argued that he was destroying the party's idealism
Idealism
In philosophy, idealism is the family of views which assert that reality, or reality as we can know it, is fundamentally mental, mentally constructed, or otherwise immaterial. Epistemologically, idealism manifests as a skepticism about the possibility of knowing any mind-independent thing...
in pursuit of electoralism
Electoralism
Electoralism is a term first used by Terry Karl, professor of political science at Stanford University, to describe a "half-way" transition from authoritarian rule toward democratic rule...
.
Mackay became increasingly interested in electoral reform
Electoral reform
Electoral reform is change in electoral systems to improve how public desires are expressed in election results. That can include reforms of:...
. In 1943, he published Coupon or Free?: Being a Study in Electoral Reform and Representative Government. He hoped that Common Wealth would be able to affiliate to Labour along with 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...
and the Communist Party of Great Britain
Communist Party of Great Britain
The Communist Party of Great Britain was the largest communist party in Great Britain, although it never became a mass party like those in France and Italy. It existed from 1920 to 1991.-Formation:...
, and act as a left-wing pressure group. In the event, these groups both applied to affiliate after 1945, but their applications were rejected. Unable to convince Common Wealth of his position, Mackay resigned in late 1944 and rejoined Labour.
Mackay stood for Hull North West
Kingston upon Hull North West (UK Parliament constituency)
Kingston upon Hull North West was a borough constituency in the city of Kingston upon Hull in East Yorkshire. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
at the 1945 UK general election, and gained the seat for Labour. In Parliament, he argued for increased power for the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
. In 1947, he joined the Keep Left
Keep Left (pamphlet)
Keep Left was a pamphlet published in the United Kingdom in 1947 by the New Statesman, written by Michael Foot, Richard Crossman and Ian Mikardo that advocated a democratic socialist "third force" foreign policy – a socialist Europe acting independently from either the United States or the Soviet...
faction.
In 1946, Mackay was a founder member of the European Union of Federalists, superseded two years later by the European Movement
European Movement
The European Movement International is a lobbying association that coordinates the efforts of associations and national councils with the goal of promoting European integration, and disseminating information about it.-History:...
. Federalism was unpopular within his own party, who associated the idea with the Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
and the Movement for a United Europe. In distinction to Mackay, they argued that a federal Europe should not contain communist state
Communist state
A communist state is a state with a form of government characterized by single-party rule or dominant-party rule of a communist party and a professed allegiance to a Leninist or Marxist-Leninist communist ideology as the guiding principle of the state...
s. In 1949, he became the chair of the European Parliamentary Union
European Parliamentary Union
The European Parliamentary Union was a private organization set up by Count Richard Nikolaus von Coudenhove-Kalergi, who was also its Secretary General....
.
In 1950, Mackay's constituency was abolished, and he was instead elected for Reading North
Reading North (UK Parliament constituency)
Reading North was a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
, but he lost this seat the following year. In 1953, he retired from politics due to ill health, but continued to write articles in support of federalism.