Harry Midgley
Encyclopedia
Henry Cassidy Midgley, PC (NI)
, known as Harry Midgley (1893 - 29 April 1957) was a prominent politician
in Northern Ireland
. Born to a unionist family in Belfast
, he worked in the textile
industry before joining the Royal Engineers
during World War I
.
, and in 1920 he was elected to Belfast City Council
. At the time of the Northern Ireland general election, 1921, the first ever election to Northern Ireland's embryonic parliament, the "principal anxiety" of James Craig was that Labour in Belfast would attract the loyalist vote. When Labour candidates booked the Ulster Hall
for a final rally, it was disrupted by Loyalist shipyard workers, who then telegraphed Craig to inform him that they had "captured the Ulster Hall from Bolsheviks Baird
, Midgley and Hanna". Craig responded: "...Well done big and wee yards". Midgley was indeed defeated in his attempt to win the Belfast East seat.
In the 1923 UK general election, Midgley won 47% of the vote, the best result for the Labour movement in Northern Ireland until the Belfast West by-election, 1943
. His vote dropped slightly in the 1924 UK general election, but held his council seat until 1942, becoming an Alderman
in 1929.
In the Northern Ireland general election, 1933
, Midgley was elected for Belfast Dock, by now representing the Northern Ireland Labour Party
(NILP) which the Belfast Labour Party had formed. He also joined the board of Linfield F.C.
. Following his election, he became the party leader.
During the Spanish Civil War
in the late 1930s, Midgley was outspoken in his support for the beleaguered Spanish Republic
and described Franco as a "monstrosity" and a "killer of babies". In turn, Midgley became involved in a public controversy regarding The Irish News
attitude to the Spanish Civil War
. The newspaper supported Francisco Franco
's Nationalists, partly because of Spanish Republican anti-clericalism
, while Midgley saw the Spanish Republican side as fighting a necessary war against fascism
and for democracy
.
When the 1938 election
, was called, Midgley's opposition to Franco was to cost him dearly. The Nationalist Party
stood a candidate against him, Mr James Collins
, who supported Franco's armed rebellion. During the election campaign, "[n]ight after night there were violent clashes in the Dock constituency as Midgley faced hostile crowds shouting 'Up Franco', 'Remember Spain', and 'We want Franco'". Midgley was also opposed by a Unionist candidate, to whom he lost his seat.
for the NILP. His victory in this strongly loyalist seat left John Miller Andrews, then Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, severely shaken. The Prime Minister later confided to Wilfrid Spender
that "if there was a general election now the government would cease to have a majority".
Midgley resigned from the NILP the following year in protest at Jack Beattie
's leadership. Intending to work constructively with the Ulster Unionist Party
, who dominated politics in Northern Ireland, Midgley formed the Commonwealth Labour Party
. When Basil Brooke became Prime Minister of Northern Ireland in May 1943, he replaced all but one member of the existing cabinet and appointed Midgley as Minister of Public Security. Midgley also became a member of the Privy Council of Northern Ireland
. The following year, he became Minister of Labour.
In the Northern Ireland general election, 1945, Midgley was the Commonwealth Labour Party's only successful candidate, while in the 1945 UK general election, he won 30% of the vote in Belfast South
against Ulster Unionist opposition.
On 30 October 1945 Midgley protested when the Speaker, Sir Norman Stronge, agreed to Jack Beattie's request to examine a ruling he had given. Midgley shouted at Stronge "Are you not competent to discharge your duties without advice from this Member on his weekly visits to the House?" Despite Stronge calling for order, Midgley then crossed over and punched Beattie. Stronge excluded him from the Chamber for the rest of the sitting and Midgley apologised the next day.
Growing closer to the Unionists, Midgley disbanded his party and joined the UUP in 1947. He became Minister of Labour
and National Insurance in 1949 and then Minister of Education
in 1950. Midgley's outspoken Unionism did not diminish over the years. In Portadown, in 1957, he said, "All the minority are traitors and have always been traitors to the government of Northern Ireland".
Midgley died, while still in office, later that year.
and the reserve pitch beside Windsor Park
, is named Midgley Park in his honour.
Privy Council of Northern Ireland
The Privy Council of Northern Ireland was a formal body of advisors to the sovereign and was a vehicle for the monarch's prerogative powers in Northern Ireland. It was modelled on the Privy Council of the United Kingdom....
, known as Harry Midgley (1893 - 29 April 1957) was a prominent politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. Born to a unionist family in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, he worked in the textile
Textile
A textile or cloth is a flexible woven material consisting of a network of natural or artificial fibres often referred to as thread or yarn. Yarn is produced by spinning raw fibres of wool, flax, cotton, or other material to produce long strands...
industry before joining the Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Early Political Career
In 1919, Midgley joined the Belfast Labour PartyBelfast Labour Party
The Belfast Labour Party was a political party in Belfast, Ireland from 1892 until 1924.The first socialist party in Ireland, it was founded in 1892, affiliated to the British Labour Representation Committee in 1900 and remained attached to the UK Labour Party which subsequently evolved.Labour ran...
, and in 1920 he was elected to Belfast City Council
Belfast City Council
Belfast City Council is the local authority with responsibility for the city of Belfast, the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland. The Council serves an estimated population of , the largest of any district council in Northern Ireland, while also being the fourth smallest by area...
. At the time of the Northern Ireland general election, 1921, the first ever election to Northern Ireland's embryonic parliament, the "principal anxiety" of James Craig was that Labour in Belfast would attract the loyalist vote. When Labour candidates booked the Ulster Hall
Ulster Hall
The Ulster Hall is a concert hall and grade B1 listed building in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Situated on Bedford Street in Belfast city centre, the hall hosts concerts, classical recitals, craft fairs and political party conferences...
for a final rally, it was disrupted by Loyalist shipyard workers, who then telegraphed Craig to inform him that they had "captured the Ulster Hall from Bolsheviks Baird
James Baird (trade unionist)
James Baird was a trade unionist and politician in Northern Ireland.An opponent of the partition of Ireland, Baird joined the Independent Labour Party. He was also active in the Boilermakers' Society, and was prominent in the Belfast strike, 1919...
, Midgley and Hanna". Craig responded: "...Well done big and wee yards". Midgley was indeed defeated in his attempt to win the Belfast East seat.
In the 1923 UK general election, Midgley won 47% of the vote, the best result for the Labour movement in Northern Ireland until the Belfast West by-election, 1943
Belfast West by-election, 1943
The Belfast West by-election 1943, was a by-election held on 9 February 1943 for the British House of Commons constituency of Belfast West, in Northern Ireland...
. His vote dropped slightly in the 1924 UK general election, but held his council seat until 1942, becoming an Alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
in 1929.
In the Northern Ireland general election, 1933
Northern Ireland general election, 1933
-References:*...
, Midgley was elected for Belfast Dock, by now representing the Northern Ireland Labour Party
Northern Ireland Labour Party
The Northern Ireland Labour Party was an Irish political party which operated from 1924 until 1987.In 1913 the British Labour Party resolved to give the recently formed Irish Labour Party exclusive organising rights in Ireland...
(NILP) which the Belfast Labour Party had formed. He also joined the board of Linfield F.C.
Linfield F.C.
Linfield F.C. , is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club, whose home ground is Windsor Park in Belfast, which is also the home of the Northern Ireland international team....
. Following his election, he became the party leader.
During the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
in the late 1930s, Midgley was outspoken in his support for the beleaguered Spanish Republic
Second Spanish Republic
The Second Spanish Republic was the government of Spain between April 14 1931, and its destruction by a military rebellion, led by General Francisco Franco....
and described Franco as a "monstrosity" and a "killer of babies". In turn, Midgley became involved in a public controversy regarding The Irish News
The Irish News
The Irish News is a compact-sized daily newspaper based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is perceived as being broadly Irish nationalist in outlook...
attitude to the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
. The newspaper supported Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975...
's Nationalists, partly because of Spanish Republican anti-clericalism
Anti-clericalism
Anti-clericalism is a historical movement that opposes religious institutional power and influence, real or alleged, in all aspects of public and political life, and the involvement of religion in the everyday life of the citizen...
, while Midgley saw the Spanish Republican side as fighting a necessary war against fascism
Fascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
and for democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
.
When the 1938 election
Northern Ireland general election, 1938
-References:*...
, was called, Midgley's opposition to Franco was to cost him dearly. The Nationalist Party
Nationalist Party (Northern Ireland)
The Nationalist Party† - was the continuation of the Irish Parliamentary Party, and was formed after partition, by the Northern Ireland-based members of the IPP....
stood a candidate against him, Mr James Collins
James Collins
-Sports:*James Collins , Welsh footballer, currently playing for Aston Villa*James Collins , Irish footballer, currently playing for Shrewsbury Town*James Collins , NBA basketball player...
, who supported Franco's armed rebellion. During the election campaign, "[n]ight after night there were violent clashes in the Dock constituency as Midgley faced hostile crowds shouting 'Up Franco', 'Remember Spain', and 'We want Franco'". Midgley was also opposed by a Unionist candidate, to whom he lost his seat.
Later career
Midgley won the Belfast Willowfield constituency in a 1941 by-electionBy-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
for the NILP. His victory in this strongly loyalist seat left John Miller Andrews, then Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, severely shaken. The Prime Minister later confided to Wilfrid Spender
Wilfrid Spender
Sir Wilfrid Bliss Spender, KCB, DSO, MC was an army officer, colonial administrator and civil servant - being responsible for laying the foundations for the civil service of Northern Ireland. He served as Secretary to the Northern Ireland Cabinet, 1921-1925, Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of...
that "if there was a general election now the government would cease to have a majority".
Midgley resigned from the NILP the following year in protest at Jack Beattie
Jack Beattie
Jack Beattie was a politician from Northern Ireland.He was a teacher by profession. He joined the Northern Ireland Labour Party . In 1925, he became a Member of the Northern Ireland House of Commons for Belfast East. He represented Belfast Pottinger from 1929...
's leadership. Intending to work constructively with the Ulster Unionist Party
Ulster Unionist Party
The Ulster Unionist Party – sometimes referred to as the Official Unionist Party or, in a historic sense, simply the Unionist Party – is the more moderate of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland...
, who dominated politics in Northern Ireland, Midgley formed the Commonwealth Labour Party
Commonwealth Labour Party
The Commonwealth Labour Party was a minor political party in Northern Ireland. The party was founded in 1942 by Harry Midgley, former leader of the Northern Ireland Labour Party , in order to pursue his brand of labour unionism....
. When Basil Brooke became Prime Minister of Northern Ireland in May 1943, he replaced all but one member of the existing cabinet and appointed Midgley as Minister of Public Security. Midgley also became a member of the Privy Council of Northern Ireland
Privy Council of Northern Ireland
The Privy Council of Northern Ireland was a formal body of advisors to the sovereign and was a vehicle for the monarch's prerogative powers in Northern Ireland. It was modelled on the Privy Council of the United Kingdom....
. The following year, he became Minister of Labour.
In the Northern Ireland general election, 1945, Midgley was the Commonwealth Labour Party's only successful candidate, while in the 1945 UK general election, he won 30% of the vote in Belfast South
Belfast South (UK Parliament constituency)
Belfast South is a Parliamentary Constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons.-Boundaries:The seat was created in 1922 when, as part of the establishment of the devolved Stormont Parliament for Northern Ireland, the number of MPs in the Westminster Parliament was drastically cut...
against Ulster Unionist opposition.
On 30 October 1945 Midgley protested when the Speaker, Sir Norman Stronge, agreed to Jack Beattie's request to examine a ruling he had given. Midgley shouted at Stronge "Are you not competent to discharge your duties without advice from this Member on his weekly visits to the House?" Despite Stronge calling for order, Midgley then crossed over and punched Beattie. Stronge excluded him from the Chamber for the rest of the sitting and Midgley apologised the next day.
Growing closer to the Unionists, Midgley disbanded his party and joined the UUP in 1947. He became Minister of Labour
Minister of Labour (Northern Ireland)
The Minister of Labour for Northern Ireland was a member of the Executive Committee of the Privy Council of Northern Ireland in the Parliament of Northern Ireland which governed Northern Ireland from 1921 to 1972...
and National Insurance in 1949 and then Minister of Education
Minister of Education (Northern Ireland)
The Minister of Education was a member of the Executive Committee of the Privy Council of Northern Ireland in the Parliament of Northern Ireland which governed Northern Ireland from 1921 to 1972.-References:*...
in 1950. Midgley's outspoken Unionism did not diminish over the years. In Portadown, in 1957, he said, "All the minority are traitors and have always been traitors to the government of Northern Ireland".
Midgley died, while still in office, later that year.
Linfield Football Club
Harry Midgley was involved in the management of Linfield Football ClubLinfield F.C.
Linfield F.C. , is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club, whose home ground is Windsor Park in Belfast, which is also the home of the Northern Ireland international team....
and the reserve pitch beside Windsor Park
Windsor Park
Windsor Park is a football stadium in Belfast, Northern Ireland and the home ground of Linfield F.C. and the Northern Ireland national football team. It is also where the Irish Cup and Irish League Cup finals are played.-History:...
, is named Midgley Park in his honour.