GEORGE HOWELL AND THE BEGINNING OF LIB-LABISM
https://doi.org/10.37493/2409-1030.2021.4.17
Abstract
The article examines the initial period of the Lib-Labism policy after the adoption in the UK of the new electoral laws of 1867-1868, which contributed to a significant increase in the electorate. Since working-class voters made up the majority in urban constituencies, the struggle for their votes has become an integral part of the electoral tactics of political parties, and the labor issue has become a permanent factor in British political life. The Liberals’ new ideas about the possibility of harmonious relations between entrepreneurs and workers in a generalized form began to be called the policy of Lib-Labism.
The author analyzes the contribution to the formation and development of the policy of Lib-Labism of the active worker of the labor movement, George Howell, who became famous in connection with the speeches for the reform of the electoral law. Since 1865, he was the fulltime secretary of the Reform League, which turned into a very influential organization with branches throughout the country. The latter circumstance contributed to the participation of representatives of the Reform League in the election campaign of 1868, which was conducted by liberals in districts where working-class voters prevailed.
The article, based on Howell’s materials from the archive of the Bishopsgate Institute in London, shows that he skillfully led his colleagues who campaigned for the support of liberal candidates. The success of the latter in the elections confirmed the prospects of Lib-Labism, and the ideas of class cooperation themselves were spread in the congress of Trade Unions, of which Howell became the released secretary. Attention is also drawn to the fact that he was regularly published in trade union publications and proved to be a consistent supporter of the policy of LibLabism. Thanks to him, at an early stage of the Lib-Labor policy, the liberals received the support of the workers.
As a result of Howell’s activity as a practical worker and organizer, the author of the article comes to the conclusion about his significant contribution to the formation of the policy of Lib-Labism.
About the Author
I. M. Uznarodov
Rostov State Economic University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor, Head of chair of World Policy and Globalization
Rostov-on-Don,
References
1. Uznarodov I. M. Novye politicheskie idei angliiskikh liberalov. Nachalo lib-leibizma (New political ideas of the British liberals. The beginning of lib-labism) // Vestnik Voronezhskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta. Seriya «Istoriya. Politologiya. Sotsiologiya». 2020. No. 4. P. 89-93. (In Russian).
2. Leventhal F. M. Respectable Radical: George Howell and Victorian Working class Politics. L.: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1971. 276 p.
3. Harrison R. Before the Socialists: Studies in Labour and Politics, 1861-1881. L.: Routledge & K. Paul, 1965. 369 p.
4. Harrison R. The British Working Сlass and the General Election of 1868 // International Review of Social History. 1960. Vol. 5. Part. 3. P. 424-455.
5. Ball A.R. British Political Parties: The Emergence of a Modern Party System / A.R. Ball. London and Basingstoke, 1981. 246 р.
6. Howell collection in Bishopsgate Institute. London. Box “Reform League Manuscripts, Testimonials, Library Fund”. File “Election Reports”.
7. Harrison R. The British Working class and the General Election of 1868 // International Review of Social History. 1961. Vol. 6. Part 1. P. 89.
8. Howell collection. Box “Letters”.
9. Howell collection. Pamphlets. Box 24. No. 25.
10. Finch H. George Howell - Trade Unionist and Reformer. 1833-1910. Extended Essay presented for the University of London Diploma in History. 1983. 251 p.
11. The Gladstone Diaries / Ed. by M.R.D. Foot and H.G.G. Mathew. Oxford: clarendon Press, 1982. Vol. 7. 528 p.
12. Fraser W. H. Trades councils in England and Scotland. 1858-1897. A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Sussex. 1967. 792 р.
13. chamberlain J. The Next Page of the Liberal Programme // The Fortnightly Review. 1874. Vol. 16. Р. 405-429.
14. Ноwеll G. The caucas System and the Liberal Party // New Quarterly Magazine. 1878. Vol. 10. P. 580-590.
15. Principles and Objects of the National Liberal League // Howell collection. Box «Reform League Papers, Manuscripts». File «Political Parties».
16. chase M. George Howell, the Webbs and the Political culture of Early Labour History. In: Laybourn K. and Shepherd J. (eds.) Labour and Working-class Lives: Essays to celebrate the Life and Work of chris Wrigley. Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2017. 266 p.
Review
For citations:
Uznarodov I.M. GEORGE HOWELL AND THE BEGINNING OF LIB-LABISM. Humanities and law research. 2021;(4):138-144. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.37493/2409-1030.2021.4.17
Views:
130
Email this article 