Happy 4th July & 130th anniversary of the election of Keir Hardie as MP for West Ham South

 

"I was really pleased that I was recently able to respond to a request by the Keir Hardie Society (via a former UNISON colleague) for a pdf copy of the booklet issued in 2012 to mark the 120th anniversary of Keir Hardie's election. He was elected on 4 July 1892 for West Ham South and was the first Labour MP in the UK. 

The Keir Hardie Society have now put the pdf on their website where it can be downloaded in full (12 pages on his life and times) 

https://www.keirhardiesociety.org/uploads/3/9/5/5/39556225/016603_keir_hardie_booklet_[v4].pdf

Many thanks to officers from Newham Council's Archives and Local Studies Library for sending me the pdf". 

Keir Hardie MP Labour Party membership card 1895 (& modern version)

Yesterday was the 128 anniversary of the birth of the Independent Labour Party (forerunner of the Labour Party). Hat tip Ali G & the Keir Hardie Society.

By coincidence I was sent the above picture of the ILP membership card issued to Keir Hardie dating from 1895, when I assume he was still the first ever Labour MP (for West Ham South). 

Hat tip @LondonNurse2015

Compare with a more recent version of Labour Party membership card. Functional but pretty boring I think.