Economic League (UK)
Encyclopedia
The Economic League was an organisation in the United Kingdom
dedicated to opposing what they saw as subversion
and action against free enterprise
.
The organisation was founded in 1919 by a group of industrialists and then MP
William Reginald Hall
under the name of National Propaganda. Its chief function was to promote the point of view of industrialists and businessmen. Predating McCarthyism, it worked closely with the British Empire Union
. John Baker White
worked as the league's Assistant Director, and then from 1926 to 1939 as Director.
They later worked with MI5
to blacklist
workers who they suspected of association with certain left wing groups, ranging from the Communist Party of Great Britain
to the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
.
The League became more visible in the 1980s, as the press investigated its activities, and questions were asked in Parliament in a campaign against the League, led by Maria Fyfe
. It was wound up in 1994, with two of its former directors forming the similar organisation CAPRiM shortly afterwards. Another similar organisation was The Consulting Association
which was raided by the Office of the Information Commissioner
in February 2009.
The league's running cost was funded by contributions from various companies. This was withdrawn as the labour government when they last came to power indicated that by doing so it would or may effect any government funded contracts.
In the early 1980s numerous companies would check out employees with the league/MI5/SPECIAL BRANCH to ensure that they were not communist trained with the intent of disruption.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
dedicated to opposing what they saw as subversion
Subversion (politics)
Subversion refers to an attempt to transform the established social order, its structures of power, authority, and hierarchy; examples of such structures include the State. In this context, a "subversive" is sometimes called a "traitor" with respect to the government in-power. A subversive is...
and action against free enterprise
Free enterprise
-Transport:* Free Enterprise I, a ferry in service with European Ferries between 1962 and 1980.* Free Enterprise II, a ferry in service with European Ferries between 1965 and 1982....
.
The organisation was founded in 1919 by a group of industrialists and then MP
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
William Reginald Hall
William Reginald Hall
Admiral Sir William Reginald Hall, KCMG, CB, RN was the British Director of Naval Intelligence from 1914 to 1919...
under the name of National Propaganda. Its chief function was to promote the point of view of industrialists and businessmen. Predating McCarthyism, it worked closely with the British Empire Union
British Empire Union
The British Empire Union was created in the United Kingdom during World War I, in 1916, after changing its name from the Anti-German Union, which had been founded in 1915...
. John Baker White
John Baker White
John Baker White started his career as a political activist becoming a director of a private organisation dedicated to fighting left-wing subversion. He became an amateur spy in Nazi Germany before becoming a propaganda agent during World War II. In 1945, he was elected a Conservative politician...
worked as the league's Assistant Director, and then from 1926 to 1939 as Director.
They later worked with MI5
MI5
The Security Service, commonly known as MI5 , is the United Kingdom's internal counter-intelligence and security agency and is part of its core intelligence machinery alongside the Secret Intelligence Service focused on foreign threats, Government Communications Headquarters and the Defence...
to blacklist
Blacklist
A blacklist is a list or register of entities who, for one reason or another, are being denied a particular privilege, service, mobility, access or recognition. As a verb, to blacklist can mean to deny someone work in a particular field, or to ostracize a person from a certain social circle...
workers who they suspected of association with certain left wing groups, ranging from the Communist Party of Great Britain
Communist Party of Great Britain
The Communist Party of Great Britain was the largest communist party in Great Britain, although it never became a mass party like those in France and Italy. It existed from 1920 to 1991.-Formation:...
to the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament is an anti-nuclear organisation that advocates unilateral nuclear disarmament by the United Kingdom, international nuclear disarmament and tighter international arms regulation through agreements such as the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty...
.
The League became more visible in the 1980s, as the press investigated its activities, and questions were asked in Parliament in a campaign against the League, led by Maria Fyfe
Maria Fyfe
Maria Fyfe is a politician in the United Kingdom and former Member of Parliament for Glasgow Maryhill.-Early life:Born Maria O'Neill on 25 November 1938 to James O’Neill and Margaret Lacey, she became a member of the Labour Party in 1960. She came to education relatively later in life, studying...
. It was wound up in 1994, with two of its former directors forming the similar organisation CAPRiM shortly afterwards. Another similar organisation was The Consulting Association
Consulting Association
The Consulting Association was an organisation in the United Kingdom which maintained an illegal blacklist of construction workers who were active trade union members, or were otherwise vocal on matters such as health and safety in their industry....
which was raided by the Office of the Information Commissioner
Office of the Information Commissioner
The Information Commissioner's Office in the United Kingdom, is a non-departmental public body which reports directly to Parliament and is sponsored by the Ministry of Justice...
in February 2009.
The league's running cost was funded by contributions from various companies. This was withdrawn as the labour government when they last came to power indicated that by doing so it would or may effect any government funded contracts.
In the early 1980s numerous companies would check out employees with the league/MI5/SPECIAL BRANCH to ensure that they were not communist trained with the intent of disruption.