Garry Allighan
Encyclopedia
Garry Allighan was a British
journalist
and Labour Party
Member of Parliament
(MP). His birth name was Ernest Alligan. He added the 'h' into his surname because he believed that it would make it seem more Irish (even though 'Alligan' is the original Irish spelling and he himself was of Irish descent).
A former writer for the Daily Mirror, at the 1945 general election
he was elected to Parliament
for the constituency of Gravesend
in Kent
. In 1947 he wrote an article in the World's Press News alleging that members of parliament gave information to the newspapers about private parliamentary party meetings, often in return for money, publicity or free drinks. The allegation, which was considered a grave infringement of parliamentary privilege
, was investigated by the Committee of Privileges, who decided there was no evidence to support them. The only exception was the case of Mr Allighan himself and another Labour member, who were found to have sold such information to the London Evening Standard
.
The other member, Evelyn Walkden
, admitted the offence and since he had paid taxes on the money, was permitted to remain as an MP. Allighan was charged with 'aggravated contempt and gross breach of privilege' and expelled from the House of Commons
on 30 October 1947. In the debate the Leader of the House, Herbert Morrison
, proposed six months' suspension but it was argued that this would deprive his constituents of representation for too long a period. It was also pointed out that after expulsion he was free to seek re-election if he believed he had been treated unfairly and, if returned, could resume his seat, though he chose not to do this and immediately resigned from the Labour party. He appears to have been the only MP since Charles Bradlaugh
in the 19th century to have been expelled from the Commons other than for a serious criminal offence or bankruptcy.
At the resulting Gravesend by-election
, Richard Acland
held the seat for Labour, with a reduced majority.
After the affair, he moved to South Africa
, where he became principal of the Premier School of Journalism in Johannesburg
. He wrote a number of well-received books on the politics of South Africa and Rhodesia
. In 1961 he published the controversial Four Bonnets to Golgotha, a book about four members of the Booth family: Catherine, Florence, Evangeline Booth and Catherine Bramwell-Booth.
He died in Johannesburg in 1977.
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...
journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and 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...
Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP). His birth name was Ernest Alligan. He added the 'h' into his surname because he believed that it would make it seem more Irish (even though 'Alligan' is the original Irish spelling and he himself was of Irish descent).
A former writer for the Daily Mirror, at the 1945 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1945
The United Kingdom general election of 1945 was a general election held on 5 July 1945, with polls in some constituencies delayed until 12 July and in Nelson and Colne until 19 July, due to local wakes weeks. The results were counted and declared on 26 July, due in part to the time it took to...
he was elected to Parliament
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...
for the constituency of Gravesend
Gravesend (UK Parliament constituency)
Gravesend was a county constituency centred on the town of Gravesend, Kent which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1868 until it was abolished for the 1983 general election....
in Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
. In 1947 he wrote an article in the World's Press News alleging that members of parliament gave information to the newspapers about private parliamentary party meetings, often in return for money, publicity or free drinks. The allegation, which was considered a grave infringement of parliamentary privilege
Parliamentary privilege
Parliamentary privilege is a legal immunity enjoyed by members of certain legislatures, in which legislators are granted protection against civil or criminal liability for actions done or statements made related to one's duties as a legislator. It is common in countries whose constitutions are...
, was investigated by the Committee of Privileges, who decided there was no evidence to support them. The only exception was the case of Mr Allighan himself and another Labour member, who were found to have sold such information to the London Evening Standard
Evening Standard
The Evening Standard, now styled the London Evening Standard, is a free local daily newspaper, published Monday–Friday in tabloid format in London. It is the dominant regional evening paper for London and the surrounding area, with coverage of national and international news and City of London...
.
The other member, Evelyn Walkden
Evelyn Walkden
Evelyn Walkden was a British politician and trades unionist.The son of a Lancashire miners' leader, he left school at 12 and fought in the First World War...
, admitted the offence and since he had paid taxes on the money, was permitted to remain as an MP. Allighan was charged with 'aggravated contempt and gross breach of privilege' and expelled from the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
on 30 October 1947. In the debate the Leader of the House, Herbert Morrison
Herbert Morrison
Herbert Stanley Morrison, Baron Morrison of Lambeth, CH, PC was a British Labour politician; he held a various number of senior positions in the Cabinet, including Home Secretary, Foreign Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister.-Early life:Morrison was the son of a police constable and was born in...
, proposed six months' suspension but it was argued that this would deprive his constituents of representation for too long a period. It was also pointed out that after expulsion he was free to seek re-election if he believed he had been treated unfairly and, if returned, could resume his seat, though he chose not to do this and immediately resigned from the Labour party. He appears to have been the only MP since Charles Bradlaugh
Charles Bradlaugh
Charles Bradlaugh was a political activist and one of the most famous English atheists of the 19th century. He founded the National Secular Society in 1866.-Early life:...
in the 19th century to have been expelled from the Commons other than for a serious criminal offence or bankruptcy.
At the resulting Gravesend by-election
Gravesend by-election, 1947
The Gravesend by-election, 1947 was a by-election held on 26 November 1947 to fill the vacant British House of Commons seat of Gravesend. The vacancy arose when the sitting Member of Parliament , Garry Allighan, was expelled from the House for making allegations of corruption.The seat was...
, Richard Acland
Richard Acland
Sir Richard Thomas Dyke Acland, 15th Baronet was one of the founding members of the British Common Wealth Party. He had previously been a Liberal Member of Parliament and joined the Labour Party in 1945...
held the seat for Labour, with a reduced majority.
After the affair, he moved to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, where he became principal of the Premier School of Journalism in Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
. He wrote a number of well-received books on the politics of South Africa and Rhodesia
Rhodesia
Rhodesia , officially the Republic of Rhodesia from 1970, was an unrecognised state located in southern Africa that existed between 1965 and 1979 following its Unilateral Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom on 11 November 1965...
. In 1961 he published the controversial Four Bonnets to Golgotha, a book about four members of the Booth family: Catherine, Florence, Evangeline Booth and Catherine Bramwell-Booth.
He died in Johannesburg in 1977.
Publications
- The Romance of the Talkies (London: Claude Stacey, 1929)
- Sir John ReithJohn ReithJohn Reith may refer to:*John Reith, 1st Baron Reith , Scottish broadcasting executive*John Reith...
(London: Stanley Paul & Co, 1939) - Curtain-up on South Africa: presenting a national drama (London: Boardman, 1960)
- Four Bonnets to Golgotha (London: Macdonald, 1961)
- VerwoerdHendrik Frensch VerwoerdHendrik Frensch Verwoerd , commonly identified as H.F. Verwoerd, was Prime Minister of South Africa from 1958 until his assassination in 1966...
, the end (London: Boardman; Cape Town, Johannesburg: Purnell & Sons, 1961) - The WelenskyRoy WelenskySir Raphael "Roy" Welensky, KCMG was a Northern Rhodesian politician and the second and last prime minister of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland...
Story (London: Macdonald; Cape Town, Johannesburg: Purnell & Sons, 1962) - The 65th Defendant: an exposure of gangster crime and a social indictment (London and Cape Town: Bailey & Swinfen, 1963)