History of Hucknall Labour Party
(Work in Progress)
Formation of the Hucknall Branch of the ILP:Hucknall Dispatch’, 13th October 1910.
“Labour Party
“In connection with the recently formed branch of the Independent Labour Party at Hucknall a meeting was held at the Coffee Tavern Assembly Hall on Tuesday evening for the purpose of hearing an exposition of Socialism by Councillor Gutteridge of Nottingham. The chair was occupied by Mr. H. Holgate.
“After dealing at length with the aims and objects of the Socialistic movement, he said the comrades at Hucknall must expect calumnity in propagating their views, and be subjected to considerable misrepresentation. He himself had been charged with immorality, atheism, and various things, but he had not yet found any man who dared to tackle the fundamental principles of Socialism.
“Mr. Gutteridge said he had been connected with the church, the temperance movement, and the other political parties, but he had found nothing that was calculated to improve the lot of the people like Socialism. It sought to abolish the competitive system, which was a disgrace. He asserted that no man could be in business three months and speak the truth – if he did, he would soon go down. If all of them practised honesty, there would be no need for htose bills which stopped adulteration, corrupt practices, and the like. It was sharpness which succeeded. Socialism, in brief, wanted the “best” from the man, and not the “most”.
“The chairman paid a compliment to Mr. Gutteridge for his lucid address, and said they had got to rid people’s minds of certain false notions concerning Socialism.
“No questions being asked, votes of thanks were accorded and the meeting closed.
‘Hucknall Dispatch’, 13th October 1910.
First meeting of the Hucknall Labour Party, on 18th July 1917:
LABOUR PARTY
“Criticism of Profiteering at Hucknall
“Potatoes for the People
“The much-talked-of new Labour Party for Hucknall was duly launched on the tempestuous sea of politics on Wednesday evening [18th July 1917], about 70 persons being present at the inaugural meeting at the Co-operative Hall.
Mr. G. Nicholson was voted to the chair, and said it was apparent to all that the workers must take into their hands the moulding of the destinies of this country, and if they did not take action at the present time he was afraid the opportunity would not recur again for some considerable time. He urged that they must tackle these questions intelligently, have a goal and go straight for it. It was lamentable to think that during the nation’s danger, when their sons and brothers had gone forth to fight, the capitalists should indulge in profiteering. Naturally, the people who had made so many sacrifices were shocked at this kind of thing. When they found people shocked therein lay some good. After they had asked their sons to fight for the integrity of this country there remained a state of things which permitted one section to rob the people because the workers had not the control of the industries of the country. The workers must realise what they
wanted, and the amalgamation of the unions was for the good of the nation.
“Mr. A. Champkins moved that a new Labour Party be formed, and Mr. E. Mills seconded. The constitution of the National Labour Party was then outlined by the chairman, and some discussion followed.
“Mr. T. Winters said he was prepared to stand by that constitution. He urged them to be careful of side issues which might arise.
“Mr. J.C. Cooper said he was in sympathy with the movement as laid down in the constitution of the Labour Party, and if they did not start to work they would be further back than ever they had been. He was sick of the Liberal and Tory parties, and he could have done as much himself as the two Food Controllers because they had done nothing.
“Mr. A. Harvey said they had all made up their minds, as to the need of a new Labour Party, and if, and if they were not sick of Liberals and Tories, it was time they were
“Mr. J. Cooper was pleased men were coming to their senses at last, and he classed Liberals and Tories as both alike.
“Mr. James Shaw said thinking people were sick of the present position of affairs. There was an improvement needed in local affairs, and instanced by the poor pay of the teaching profession. They wanted men of their own class on the County Council and other bodies.
“Mr. H. Hall stated that the movement had its birth at Butler’s Hill, and the credit for the same was due to Mr. E. Mills. They had six at their first meeting, 30 at the next, and that meeting was the third stage. They were roused by the action of the Council in disposing of potatoes at the rate of £1 10s. per ton, yet when working men wanted to purchase the same potatoes they were asked 11s. per cwt, allowing £9 10s. profit to the buyer from the Council. Their view was that the crop should be sold in rows to the people at cost price.
“Further discussion ensued, in which Councillor J.G. Slater took part. He said he was cradled with the Labour Party, and intended to associate himself with a branch of that party if ever one should be started in Hucknall. As regards the Council he had favoured some similar course for the disposal of the potatoes.
“Councillor F.W. Raynor also said he was in sympathy with the movement, but could not take office at the present juncture.
“It was decided to form a Hucknall branch on the lines of the National Labour Party, to be unassociated with any other political body, and to adopt candidates for parliamentary and local bodies. The entrance fee was fixed at 6d., and the weekly payments to be 1d.
“It was agreed to have four members from each Ward on the committee, and the selections were as follows:-
“North Ward – Messrs. F.J. Goodall, J. Shaw, A. Walker, and T. Thornley.
“West Ward – Messrs. H.W. Booth, T. Winters, W. Bailey, and A. Harvey.
“East Ward – Messrs. E. Mills, G. Fletcher, A. Champkins, and J.H. Palmer.
“Mr. H. Hall was the elected secretary, and Mr. J. Wilberry treasurer.
“It was further decided to approach the Council on the lines suggested re. the disposal of the potato crop, and the committee remained to select the delegates.
“A collection raised £1 2s. 4d. to pay for the incidental expenses.
“The proceedings lasted two hours.”
‘Hucknall Dispatch’, 19th July 1917.
There was an Independent Labour Party branch formed around 1910 but this marks the start of Labour as we know it. Oddly, they seemed "sick of the Liberal and Tory parties"!
THE ELECTION 1919
..., formerly of the Royal Engineers, writing in the Dispatch in early 1919:
THE ELECTION
Dear Sir,
Now is the time to discuss the Urban District Council election, as it is very clear we want a change on the Council. With the coal strike upon us, it should go a long way in showing the people how to vote. We can very well see that figures brought to light by our excellent leader, Mr. Smillie, have put the tin hat on capitalist enterprise. We should not now be in the throes of a strike if the coal-owners had been in any means fair in their dealings with the men. It’s about time for a reshuffle of the whole pack, and it’s up to us as workers to see how the cards are worked. You cannot blame the colliers altogether for the strike, as they only want a decent tipping. After all is said and done they are out for that alone. It’s very plain that the labouring classes of this country are getting more or [illegible] every day, and to get big things they have to start from the very bottom.
Well, now is the time to do that. With the Urban District Council election upon us, we can make a start in the right direction. Let us have a Labour Council, and try that. I’m sure we shall have better results. The Labour Party are pledged to work for those at the back of them and give a report of their doings whenever called upon by the general public.
Yours sincerely,
J. ROSTANCE
Hazel Grove, Hucknall.
I928 Nottinghamshire County Council Election Results:
Mansfeld South C Pritchard LAB 1,655. F Hardy Citizens League 1,225
Mansfield Woodhouse A Wilcox LAB 1,702. C J Palmer 1,540
Huthwaite J Davies LAB 637. C H Coupe LIB 465.
Kimberley T Nally LAB 1,181, Sir H Dennis Bayley ,Coal owner 815.
Kirkby East & Annesley W Bayliss LAB 1,691
J W Blackburn 957
Kirkby South & West R Smith LAB 1,208. J W Colledge 746
Hucknall East G A Goodall LAB 1,055. E H Story IND 492
Hucknall West G Johnson LAB 1,528. R Taylor LIB 943
Eastwood W E Hopkin LAB 1,366. J Birkin IND 648
A good number of the Labour candidate gains were officials or members of the the Nottinghamshire Miners Association (NMA)and two weeks after the elections on a Saturday afternoon A J Cook spoke to a big crowd of miners and supporters on Hucknall Market place, thanking the candidates for all their hard work in gaining victory and a majority at County hall, he also made reference to '' the three mutineers Hodges,Spencer, and Wilson'' .
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