James Maxton (1885 – 23 July 1946) was a Scottish socialist politician, and leader of the Independent Labour Party. Year 1885 ( MDCCCLXXXV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 1632 - Three hundred colonists bound for New France depart from Dieppe France. Year 1946 ( MCMXLVI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. See Independent Labor Party for the Political party in Burundi, Independent Labour Group for the Irish party and Labour candidates
Born in the then burgh of Pollokshaws (now Pollok, Glasgow) in 1885, he was the son of two schoolteachers, the profession he would later enter himself after his education at Hutchesons' Grammar School and the University of Glasgow. A Burgh (ˈbʌʀə is an autonomous corporate entity in Scotland, usually a Town. Pollokshaws is a Suburb on the southside of the city of Glasgow, Scotland. Pollok is a large district on the south-western side of the city of Glasgow, Scotland. Glasgow (ˈglæzgoʊ is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom Hutchesons' Grammar School is a co-educational fee-paying school in Glasgow, Scotland. The University of Glasgow (Oilthigh Ghlaschu was founded in 1451 in Glasgow, Scotland and along with its contemporary institutions the University of St Andrews He is viewed as one of the leading figures of the Red Clydeside era. Red Clydeside is a term used to describe the era of political radicalism that characterised the city of Glasgow in Scotland, and urban areas around the city on the
Maxton had whilst studying at the University of Glasgow described his political loyalties as lying with the Conservatives. The University of Glasgow (Oilthigh Ghlaschu was founded in 1451 in Glasgow, Scotland and along with its contemporary institutions the University of St Andrews The Conservative Party (officially the Conservative and Unionist Party) is a Political party in the United Kingdom. He later embraced the ideology of socialism and in 1904 he joined the Barrhead branch of the Independent Labour Party (ILP). Socialism refers to a broad set of economic theories of social organization advocating state or collective ownership and administration of the Means of production and distribution Barrhead ( Scottish Gaelic: Ceann a' Bhàirr) is a town in East Renfrewshire, Scotland. See Independent Labor Party for the Political party in Burundi, Independent Labour Group for the Irish party and Labour candidates
Maxton's move to socialism was heavily influenced by John Maclean, a fellow student at Glasgow University, who would also become a schoolteacher. John Maclean MA (24 August 1879 - 30 November 1923 was a Scottish schoolteacher and Revolutionary socialist. Maclean was not alone in influencing Maxton; it was directly following a meeting in Paisley addressed by the socialist Philip Snowden that he decided to join the ILP. Paisley (Pàislig is a town and former Burgh in the west- Central Lowlands of Scotland. Philip Snowden 1st Viscount Snowden ( July 18, 1864 – May 15, 1937) was a British politician and the first Labour
Maxton in his later life claimed that the biggest influence in his decision to become a socialist was the grinding poverty experienced by many of the children he taught. He subsequently convinced all his siblings to join the ILP, his sister Annie becoming a prominent figure. Annie Maxton was a Scottish Socialist and Trade unionist. Born in Glasgow, Maxton was convinced to join the Independent Labour Party
Maxton, along with Maclean, was a vociferous opponent of World War I and spent a year in prison for campaigning against the war. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All As a conscientious objector he was given work on barges. A conscientious objector (CO is an individual who on religious moral or ethical grounds refuses to participate as a combatant in war or in some cases to take any role that would support He and Ramsay MacDonald were responsible for moving the motion at the Labour Party's National Executive Committee which dictated that Labour members of the wartime coalition government resign from it in preparation for the 1918 general election. James Ramsay MacDonald ( 12 October 1866 &ndash 9 November 1937) was a British politician and twice Prime Minister of the United The Labour Party is a Political party in the United Kingdom. Founded at the start of the 20th century it has been since the 1920s the principal party of the The National Executive Committee or NEC is the chief administrative body of the UK Labour Party. The United Kingdom general election of 1918 was the first to be held after the Representation of the People Act 1918, which meant it was the first United Kingdom
Maxton became the ILP MP for Glasgow Bridgeton at the 1922 general election and was chairman of the ILP from 1926 to 1931, and from 1934 to 1939; he was generally seen as the symbol of the ILP after its break from Labour in 1932. Glasgow Bridgeton was a parliamentary constituency city of Glasgow. The UK general election of 1922 was held on 15 November 1922 It was the first election held after most of the Irish counties left the United Kingdom to form the Irish A militant socialist, he was horrified by the class collaborationism of the TUC after the defeat of the 1926 General Strike, and was co-author with the left-wing Miners leader, Arthur Cook, of the Cook-Maxton Manifesto of 1928.
Maxton died (still a sitting MP for Bridgeton) in 1946. After his death the ILP stagnated until it ceased to be a viable independent political party. Maxton was considered one of the greatest orators of his day both within and outside the 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
However, his forthright views often caused controversy; indeed, his parliamentary privileges were withdrawn temporarily in 1923 when he called the Tory MP Sir Frederick Banbury "a murderer" following the government's decision to withdraw school milk. Churchill, whilst holding political opinions wholly inconsistent with those of Maxton, described him as "the greatest parliamentarian of his day".
Maxton heavily influenced his family's political opinions, with his mother and all his siblings joining the ILP. His brother John was also a conscientious objector in World War I; his nephew John Maxton was MP for the Cathcart division of Glasgow from 1979 to 2001. A conscientious objector (CO is an individual who on religious moral or ethical grounds refuses to participate as a combatant in war or in some cases to take any role that would support World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All John Alston Maxton Baron Maxton (born 5 May 1936) is a Scottish politician Cathcart ( Coille Chart in Gaelic is an area of Glasgow between Mount Florida, King's Park, Muirend and Newlands.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has confessed to having been fascinated by Maxton as a young man and has written a biography of him, simply entitled Maxton. The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the political leader of the United Kingdom WikipediaManual of Style (biographies#Academic titles --> James Gordon Brown (born 20 February 1951 is He also used Maxton for the basis of his PhD thesis whilst at the University of Edinburgh. "PhD" redirects here for other uses see PhD (disambiguation. The University of Edinburgh (Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann founded in 1582 is a renowned centre for teaching and research in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.
References
- Gordon Brown: Maxton – A Biography. WikipediaManual of Style (biographies#Academic titles --> James Gordon Brown (born 20 February 1951 is Mainstream Publishing, 1986. ISBN 1-85158-042-5
- R. Dowse: "Left in the Centre" (1966)
- Keith Middlemas: "The Clydesiders" (1965)
External links
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Alexander MacCallum Scott |
Member of Parliament for Glasgow Bridgeton 1922–1946 |
Succeeded by James Carmichael |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Clifford Allen |
Chairman of the Independent Labour Party 1926–1931 |
Succeeded by Fenner Brockway |
| Preceded by Fenner Brockway |
Chairman of the Independent Labour Party 1934–1939 |
Succeeded by C. A. Smith |
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