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16 Reshaping the Party: July to December 1947

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 October 2009

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Extract

Sunday 27 July The Sunday papers are full of the approaching crisis and the Sunday Times and Observer are beginning to drop hints about a National Government. My own view is that there ought to be a national coalition of some kind which would drop Socialism like a hot potato and get back to common sense. But such a coalition in the present Parliament would be madness - with such a large Socialist majority it could not be a success and would hamstring us.

Type
Research Article
Information
Royal Historical Society Camden Fifth Series , Volume 14 , July 1999 , pp. 515 - 537
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Historical Society 1999

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References

1 For details, see note to entry for 21 Jan. 1941.

2 translation: out of fashion.

3 James Scott Cumberland Reid (1890–1975), Con. M.P. Stirling & Falkirk 1931– 35, Glasgow Billhead 1937–48; Solicitor-Gen. Scotland 1936–41; Ld. Advocate 1941–45; Dean, Faculty of Advocates 1945–48; Ld. of Appeal in Ordinary 1948–75; Chairman, Malayan Constitutional Comm. 1956–57; cr. Baron Reid 1948.

4 (James) Harold Wilson (1916–1995), Lab. M.P. Ormskirk 1945–50, Huyton 1950–83; Dir. of Economics & Statistics, Min. of Fuel & Power 1941–44; P.S. Works 1945–47; Sec. Overseas Trade Mar.–Oct. 1947; Pres. Bd. of Trade 1947–51; P.M. 1964–70, 1974–76; Lab. Party Leader 1963–76; member of N.E.C. 1952–76, Chairman 1961–62; Chairman, Public Accounts Ctte. 1959–63; K.G. 1976, cr. Baron Wilson of Rievaulx 1983.

5 Waldron Smithers (1880–1954), Con. M.P. Chislehurst 1924–45, Orpington 1945–54; kt. 1934.

6 Joseph Westwood (1884–1948), Lab. M.P. Peebles & Midlothian S. 1922–31, Stirling & Falkirk 1935–48; P.P.S. to W. Adamson 1929–31; U.S. Scotland Mar.–Aug. 1931, 1940–45; Scottish Sec. 1945–47; Political Organiser, Scottish Miners' Fed. 1918–29; killed in a car accident 17 July 1948.

7 Frederick John Bellenger (1894–1968), Lab. M.P. Bassetlaw 1935–68; F.S. War Office 1945–46; Sec. for War 1946–47; a Con. member of Fulham Borough Council 1922–28.

8 Albert Raymond Blackburn (1915-), Lab. M.P. Birmingham King's Norton 1945–50, Birmingham Northfield 1950–51 (resigned whip Aug. 1950, sat as Ind.); Common Wealth cand. Watford 1943.

9 Arthur Henderson (1863–1935), Lab. M.P. Barnard Castle 1903–18, Widnes 1919–22, Newcastle E. 1923, Burnley 1924–31, Clay Cross 1933–35; Lab. Party Treasurer 1904–12, Chairman 1908–10, 1914–17, Sec., N.E.C. 1912–35; Pres. Bd. of Educ. 1915–16; Member of War Cabinet 1916–17; Home Sec. 1924; For. Sec. 1929–31; Lab. Leader 1931–32.

10 Thomas Cecil Russell Moore (1888–1971), Con. M.P. Ayr Burghs 1925–50, Ayr 1950–64; Food Controller in Russia 1918–19; kt. 1937, cr. Bart. 1956.

11 Allighan had published an article in World's Press News on 3 04 1947Google Scholar, alleging that M.P.s were disclosing information from confidential party meetings to the press in return for payment. Walkden was identified as having done so, but Allighan's offence was regarded as the more serious as he had made a sweeping allegation against the conduct of M.P.s in general.

12 Garry Allighan (1900-), Lab. M.P. Gravesend 1945–47; Radio Editor, Evening Standard 1931–1939Google Scholar; News Editor, Daily Mirror 1941–1944Google Scholar; Industrial Editor, Daily Mail 1944–1946Google Scholar; member of London County Council 1937–42; Principal, Premier School of Journalism, Johannesburg 1963–73.

13 Evelyn Walkden (1893–1970), M.P. Doncaster 1941–50 (Lab. to Nov. 1947, resigned whip and sat as Ind.); Organiser, Nat. Union of Distributive & Allied Workers 1928–41; P.P.S. to Sir W. Jowitt Mar.–May 1945, to Sir B. Smith 1945–46.

14 David Weitzman (1898–1987), Lab. M.P. Stoke Newington 1945–50, Stoke Newington & Hackney N. 1950–79.

15 A practising barrister since 1922, Weitzman had financed a business managed by his younger brothers called the Newington Supply Co. The firm ran into difficulties after the war and, as principal creditor, Weitzman brought in an official reciever. This led to the discovery that in 1939–40 the company had deliberately breached the wartime controls on the production of toileteries. On 29 Oct. 1947 Weitzman and four others were found guilty of conspiracy to cotvtavene defence regulations; he was sentenced by Mr. Justice Denning to twelve months imprisonment and a £500 fine, a verdict reported in a letter from Denning to the Speaker read out in the House on 30 Oct. However on 1 Dec. Weitzman was granted bail pending the hearing of an appeal, and on 16 Mar. 1948 his conviction was quashed by the Lord Chief Justice, who criticised Denning for allowing the case against the M.P. to proceed when the evidence indicated that he had not been involved in the actual management of the business. Weitzman therefore remained an M.P., and became a King's Counsel in 1951.

16 Joseph Gurney Braithwaite (1895–1958), Con. M.P. Sheffield Hillsborough 1931–35, Holderness 1939–50, Bristol N.W. 1950–55; P.S. Transport & Civil Aviation 1951–53; cr. Bart. 1954; regular speaker in Hyde Park for the ‘1912 Club’ 1927–31.

17 The marriage of Princess Elizabeth, later Queen Elizabeth II, to Philip Mounbatten.

18 Philip Mountbatten (1921-), son of Prince Andrew of Greece; married 1947 Princess Elizabeth (1926-), Queen Elizabeth II 1952-; or. Duke of Edinburgh 1947.

19 William George Glenvil Hall (1887–1962), Lab. M.P. Portsmouth Central 1929–31, Colne Valley 1939–62; F.S.T. 1945–50; Chairman, P.L.P. 1950–51; member, P.L.P. Ctte. 1951–55.

20 Arthur Creech Jones (1891–1964), Lab. M.P. Shipley 1935–50, Wakefield 1954–64; P.P.S. to E. Bevin 1940–44; U.S. Colonies 1945–46; Colonial Sec. 1946–50; Nat. Sec., Transport & General Workers' Union 1919–29; Organising Sec., Workers' Travel Assoc. 1930–40.