Edgar Lansbury (politician)
Encyclopedia
Isaac Edgar Lansbury known as Edgar Lansbury, was a British socialist politician
.
Lansbury was the son of Labour Party
politician George Lansbury
. He grew up in Poplar
in the East End of London
, and joined the Civil Service
at a young age. In 1910, he left, to set up a timber merchants with his brother.
Lansbury was elected to Poplar council in 1912, serving alongside his father. He represented both the Labour Party and the Communist Party of Great Britain
(CPGB). Later in the year, he worked on his father's campaign for re-election on a radical platform of women's suffrage
at the Bow and Bromley by-election
. He also supported Sylvia Pankhurst
's East London Federation of Suffragettes, serving as Honorary Treasurer in 1915.
In 1921, Lansbury was one of 29 Poplar councillors to be jailed as a result of the Poplar Rates Rebellion
, while in 1924, Lansbury was elected as a substitute member of the CPGB's Central Committee. After his first wife, Minnie Lansbury
died he married actress Moyna Macgill
and the two moved to Regent's Park
. From 1924 to 1925, he served as Mayor of Poplar, the country's second Communist mayor after Joe Vaughan
. He left the council in 1925, the same year that his first child was born, future actress Angela Lansbury
. Subsequent twin sons, Bruce and Edgar, Jr.
, later became prominent producers.
In 1927, Lansbury's firm was declared bankrupt. In 1934, Lansbury wrote George Lansbury, My Father. In the work, he inadvertently quoted from confidential documents. He was found to be in contravention of section 2 of the Official Secrets Act 1911
, was fined, and his book was recalled in order that the text could be censored.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
.
Lansbury was the son of Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
politician George Lansbury
George Lansbury
George Lansbury was a British politician, socialist, Christian pacifist and newspaper editor. He was a Member of Parliament from 1910 to 1912 and from 1922 to 1940, and leader of the Labour Party from 1932 to 1935....
. He grew up in Poplar
Poplar, London
Poplar is a historic, mainly residential area of the East End of London in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is about east of Charing Cross. Historically a hamlet in the parish of Stepney, Middlesex, in 1817 Poplar became a civil parish. In 1855 the Poplar District of the Metropolis was...
in the East End of London
East End of London
The East End of London, also known simply as the East End, is the area of London, England, United Kingdom, east of the medieval walled City of London and north of the River Thames. Although not defined by universally accepted formal boundaries, the River Lea can be considered another boundary...
, and joined the Civil Service
Civil service
The term civil service has two distinct meanings:* A branch of governmental service in which individuals are employed on the basis of professional merit as proven by competitive examinations....
at a young age. In 1910, he left, to set up a timber merchants with his brother.
Lansbury was elected to Poplar council in 1912, serving alongside his father. He represented both the Labour Party and 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:...
(CPGB). Later in the year, he worked on his father's campaign for re-election on a radical platform of women's suffrage
Women's suffrage
Women's suffrage or woman suffrage is the right of women to vote and to run for office. The expression is also used for the economic and political reform movement aimed at extending these rights to women and without any restrictions or qualifications such as property ownership, payment of tax, or...
at the Bow and Bromley by-election
Bow and Bromley by-election, 1912
The Bow and Bromley by-election was a by-election held on 26 November 1912 for the British House of Commons constituency of Bow and Bromley. It was triggered when the Labour Party Member of Parliament , George Lansbury, accepted the post of Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds as a technical measure...
. He also supported Sylvia Pankhurst
Sylvia Pankhurst
Estelle Sylvia Pankhurst was an English campaigner for the suffragist movement in the United Kingdom. She was for a time a prominent left communist who then devoted herself to the cause of anti-fascism.-Early life:...
's East London Federation of Suffragettes, serving as Honorary Treasurer in 1915.
In 1921, Lansbury was one of 29 Poplar councillors to be jailed as a result of the Poplar Rates Rebellion
Poplar Rates Rebellion
The Poplar Rates Rebellion, or Poplar Rates Revolt was a tax protest that took place in Poplar, London, England, in 1921. It was led by George Lansbury, the previous year's Labour Mayor of Poplar, with the support of the Poplar Borough Council, most of whom were industrial workers. The protest...
, while in 1924, Lansbury was elected as a substitute member of the CPGB's Central Committee. After his first wife, Minnie Lansbury
Minnie Lansbury
Minnie Lansbury was a leading suffragette and an alderman on the first Labour-led council in the Metropolitan Borough of Poplar, England....
died he married actress Moyna Macgill
Moyna MacGill
Moyna Macgill was an Irish stage and film actress and the mother of actress Angela Lansbury and producers Edgar Lansbury and Bruce Lansbury.-Life and career:...
and the two moved to Regent's Park
Regent's Park
Regent's Park is one of the Royal Parks of London. It is in the north-western part of central London, partly in the City of Westminster and partly in the London Borough of Camden...
. From 1924 to 1925, he served as Mayor of Poplar, the country's second Communist mayor after Joe Vaughan
Joe Vaughan
Joe Vaughan is a Canadian recording engineer, musician, and currently, professor of audio engineering in the Music Industry Arts program at Fanshawe College. He is also a founder and co-owner of EMAC Recording Studios in London, Ontario.-Biography:...
. He left the council in 1925, the same year that his first child was born, future actress Angela Lansbury
Angela Lansbury
Angela Brigid Lansbury CBE is an English actress and singer in theatre, television and motion pictures, whose career has spanned eight decades and earned her more performance Tony Awards than any other individual , with five wins...
. Subsequent twin sons, Bruce and Edgar, Jr.
Edgar Lansbury (producer)
Edgar Lansbury is an award-winning British theatre, film, and television producer.Born in London, Lansbury was the son of Belfast-born actress Moyna MacGill and Edgar Lansbury, a politician and businessman, and the grandson of former Labour Party leader George Lansbury...
, later became prominent producers.
In 1927, Lansbury's firm was declared bankrupt. In 1934, Lansbury wrote George Lansbury, My Father. In the work, he inadvertently quoted from confidential documents. He was found to be in contravention of section 2 of the Official Secrets Act 1911
Official Secrets Act 1911
The Official Secrets Act 1911 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It replaces the Official Secrets Act 1889....
, was fined, and his book was recalled in order that the text could be censored.