A Leader Called Keir

"A brilliant video from our President, Richard Leonard MSP" https://www.keirhardiesociety.org/

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". 

James Keir Hardie - 120 Years since his election as 1st ever Labour MP (booklet from 2012)

 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 in 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.

We must repeat the Keir Hardie history tour of Stratford Town Hall and High street that we organised to mark the actual anniversary on 4 July 2012 (West Ham Labour Party and Newham Labour Unions) https://www.johnslabourblog.org/2012/07/keir-hardie-first-labour-mp-120th.html

Happy 4th July & 128th anniversary of the election of Keir Hardie to West Ham South

Hat tip Keir Hardie Society "Today in 1892 was the start of the election (they went on for weeks then) which saw James Keir Hardie elected as the MP for West Ham South. He campaigned for a shorter working week, better housing and jobs for the unemployed. Sounds familiar! This is a booklet Newham Council produced for the 120th anniversary".

Below is picture from 2012 when Newham TULO organised a walk and tour around Stratford Town Hall where the 1892 general election count took place and where Keir gave his victory speech to the crowd of cheering supporters outside. 

photo Dan Curry

Happy 123rd Anniversary of Keir Hardie election of first ever Labour MP

Today (4 July) is not only the anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence (arguably the only successful British Revolution) but also the election of the first ever Labour MP, Keir Hardie.

He was elected for West Ham South in 1892. Photo is of the statue in Stratford Old Town Hall (modern West Ham) where the election count took place and Keir later spoke to the cheering crowds from its balcony.

Picture hat tip Keir Hardie Society. 

Keir Hardie 120th Anniversary: Scottish Parliament & Newham Council

The motion below was tabled in the Scottish Parliament last week. Hat tip Dave Watson. Below that is the statement that Newham Mayor Robin Wales gave to the Full Council meeting on 2 July

"Keir Hardie Anniversary

Neil Findlay (Scottish Labour): That the Parliament notes that 4 July 2012 was the 120th anniversary of the election in which Keir Hardie became the Member of Parliament for West Ham South; remembers how Keir Hardie represented miners across Scotland as a trade union official and went on to represent constituents in West Ham South in England and Merthyr Tydfil in Wales as an MP; understands that Hardie used his time in Parliament to fight for a number of issues and greater rights for the working classes; notes that Hardie was a strong proponent for votes for women, which was achieved 13 years after his death; recognises his support for home rule for Scotland and considers that it was delivered by a Labour government, a government of the party that he founded; commends the Keir Hardie Society for its work in promoting the life and work of Keir Hardie, and looks forward to the 2020 celebrations marking the 120th anniversary of Keir Hardie’s election as MP for Merthyr Tydfil".

Newham Council (formerly East and West Ham Borough) - Keir Hardie

"The Mayor informed that 2012 marks 120 years since Keir Hardie was elected to Parliament in the (then) West Ham South seat. Born in 1856, Keir Hardie was the first Independent Labour Member of Parliament and a pioneer and founder for what would later become the Labour Party.

Keir Hardie was the first truly working class representative in Parliament. He drew on his own experiences and hardships that he faced growing up in Scotland, where he first started work at the age of 7 in Shipbuilding in Glasgow, before at the age of 10 becoming a miner. He went on to become a trade union activist and leader. As secretary of the Ayrshire Miners Union, he lead some of the first organised campaigns for decent wages and living standards. His contribution as one of the first leaders of the Labour Party cannot be underestimated, in particular in helping to establish it's founding principles and becoming the party which fought for the rights of the working class.

Hardie won the West Ham South seat in 1892, winning by over 5,000 votes. He stood for free schooling, pensions, women's rights and the abolition of the House of Lords… Proof that sometimes over a century isn’t a long time in politics!

The Mayor stated that Newham Council would honour this great man this year with an exhibition at the Old Town Hall, Stratford, and that more details would be publicised in due course".

Picture on right is of the bust of Keir Hardie inside Stratford Town Hall taken during the 4 July West Ham Labour Party and Newham TULO commemoration tour.