John Wheatley
Encyclopedia
John Wheatley was a Scottish
socialist
politician
. He was a prominent figure of the Red Clydeside
era.
Wheatley was born in Bonmahon
, County Waterford
, Ireland
, to Thomas and Johanna Wheatley. In 1876 the family moved to Braehead
, Lanarkshire
in Scotland. Initially, he worked as a miner
, as his father had done in Ireland
, and then briefly as a publican, but he later ran his own successful printing business which specialised in publishing leftist political works, many of which Wheatley wrote himself such as
The Catholic Workingman (1909), Miners, Mines and Misery (1909), Eight Pound Cottages for Glasgow Citizens (1913), Municipal Banking (1920) and The New Rent Act (1920).
A deeply religious man and practising Roman Catholic, he was influenced by early Christian-socialist thinkers, and in 1907 he joined the Independent Labour Party
(ILP). He founded and was the first chairman of the Catholic Socialist Society.
He campaigned against the UK's involvement in the First World War
, campaigning against conscription
, and assisting in organising rent strikes
in Glasgow
.
He sat as a councillor on Glasgow
's city council, becoming one of the best known in the city, before being elected to the House of Commons
in the 1922 General Election
for Glasgow Shettleston
.He was a great supporter of Glasgow Celtic Football Club.
The Labour leader, Ramsay MacDonald
sometimes disapproved of Wheatley's debating methods as well as his friendship with James Maxton who was suspended from the Commons on one occasion when he called a Conservative MP Sir Frederick Banbury a murderer for a proposed cut in child-welfare. Wheatley however worked closely with his ILP colleagues in the Parliamentary Labour Party
, especially, James Maxton
.
He was known as the intellectual behind the ILP activities. Along with many of the other ILP MPs, especially those from Clydeside, Wheatley found himself drifting from the Labour leadership under MacDonald. Wheatley remained a widely respected political figure and when MacDonald became Prime Minister in January 1924, he appointed him as his Minister of Health. Wheatley's is best remembered for his Housing Act
, which he introduced in this period, which saw a massive expansion in affordable municipal housing for the working-class.
Wheatley criticised MacDonald's moving Labour to the right and consequently found himself unappointed to the Labour Government formed after the 1929 General Election
. He refused to support many of the measures proposed by MacDonald's government and along with Maxton (by now Wheatley's leader in the ILP) became one of the Labour-left's leading critics. On 9 May 1924, H. G. Wells
led a delegation to ask for birth control reforms. The delegation asked for two things: that institutions under Ministry of Health control should give contraceptive advice to those who asked for it; and that doctors at welfare centres should be allowed to offer advice in certain medical cases. Wheatley held strong views against birth control and refused to support the campaign.
John Wheatley College
in Glasgow is named after him. His nephew, John Thomas Wheatley, became a Labour MP for Edinburgh
in 1947 and Lord Advocate
.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
socialist
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He was a prominent figure of the Red Clydeside
Red Clydeside
Red Clydeside is a term used to describe the era of political radicalism that characterised the city of Glasgow in Scotland, and urban areas around the city on the banks of the River Clyde such as Clydebank, Greenock and Paisley...
era.
Wheatley was born in Bonmahon
Bunmahon
Bunmahon Village , also called Bonmahon, is a coastal village in County Waterford, Ireland, at the mouth of the River Mahon.-History:Bunmahon was a mining village. Copper was mined here between 1827 and 1877. The population of the village swelled to over 2000 at that time. A temperance hall was built...
, County Waterford
County Waterford
*Abbeyside, Affane, Aglish, Annestown, An Rinn, Ardmore*Ballinacourty, Ballinameela, Ballinamult, Ballinroad, Ballybeg, Ballybricken, Ballyduff Lower, Ballyduff Upper, Ballydurn, Ballygunner, Ballylaneen, Ballymacarbry, Ballymacart, Ballynaneashagh, Ballysaggart, Ballytruckle, Bilberry, Bunmahon,...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, to Thomas and Johanna Wheatley. In 1876 the family moved to Braehead
Braehead
Braehead is a commercial development located at the former site of Braehead Power Station in Renfrew on the south bank of the River Clyde in Renfrewshire. It is particularly notable for its large shopping centre, arena and leisure facilities....
, Lanarkshire
Lanarkshire
Lanarkshire or the County of Lanark ) is a Lieutenancy area, registration county and former local government county in the central Lowlands of Scotland...
in Scotland. Initially, he worked as a miner
Miner
A miner is a person whose work or business is to extract ore or minerals from the earth. Mining is one of the most dangerous trades in the world. In some countries miners lack social guarantees and in case of injury may be left to cope without assistance....
, as his father had done in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, and then briefly as a publican, but he later ran his own successful printing business which specialised in publishing leftist political works, many of which Wheatley wrote himself such as
The Catholic Workingman (1909), Miners, Mines and Misery (1909), Eight Pound Cottages for Glasgow Citizens (1913), Municipal Banking (1920) and The New Rent Act (1920).
A deeply religious man and practising Roman Catholic, he was influenced by early Christian-socialist thinkers, and in 1907 he joined the Independent Labour Party
Independent Labour Party
The Independent Labour Party was a socialist political party in Britain established in 1893. The ILP was affiliated to the Labour Party from 1906 to 1932, when it voted to leave...
(ILP). He founded and was the first chairman of the Catholic Socialist Society.
He campaigned against the UK's involvement in the First World War
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...
, campaigning against conscription
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
, and assisting in organising rent strikes
Rent strike
A rent strike is a method of protest commonly employed against large landlords. In a rent strike, a group of tenants come together and agree to refuse to pay their rent en masse until a specific list of demands is met by the landlord...
in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
.
He sat as a councillor on Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
's city council, becoming one of the best known in the city, before being elected to 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...
in the 1922 General Election
United Kingdom general election, 1922
The United Kingdom general election of 1922 was held on 15 November 1922. It was the first election held after most of the Irish counties left the United Kingdom to form the Irish Free State, and was won by Andrew Bonar Law's Conservatives, who gained an overall majority over Labour, led by John...
for Glasgow Shettleston
Glasgow Shettleston (UK Parliament constituency)
Glasgow Shettleston was a burgh constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1918 until 2005. The Shettleston area is represented is now covered by Glasgow Central and Glasgow East.-Boundaries:...
.He was a great supporter of Glasgow Celtic Football Club.
The Labour leader, Ramsay MacDonald
Ramsay MacDonald
James Ramsay MacDonald, PC, FRS was a British politician who was the first ever Labour Prime Minister, leading a minority government for two terms....
sometimes disapproved of Wheatley's debating methods as well as his friendship with James Maxton who was suspended from the Commons on one occasion when he called a Conservative MP Sir Frederick Banbury a murderer for a proposed cut in child-welfare. Wheatley however worked closely with his ILP colleagues in the Parliamentary Labour Party
Parliamentary Labour Party
In UK politics, the Parliamentary Labour Party is the parliamentary party of the Labour Party in Parliament: Labour MPs as a collective body....
, especially, James Maxton
James Maxton
James Maxton was a Scottish socialist politician, and leader of the Independent Labour Party. A prominent proponent of Home Rule for Scotland, he is remembered as one of the leading figures of the Red Clydeside era.-Early years:...
.
He was known as the intellectual behind the ILP activities. Along with many of the other ILP MPs, especially those from Clydeside, Wheatley found himself drifting from the Labour leadership under MacDonald. Wheatley remained a widely respected political figure and when MacDonald became Prime Minister in January 1924, he appointed him as his Minister of Health. Wheatley's is best remembered for his Housing Act
Housing (Financial Provisions) Act 1924
The Housing Act 1924 was an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom.The act increased government subsidies to be paid to local authorities to build housing for rent for low paid workers from £6 to £9. It also extended the time over which the subsidy was paid from 20 to 40 years...
, which he introduced in this period, which saw a massive expansion in affordable municipal housing for the working-class.
Wheatley criticised MacDonald's moving Labour to the right and consequently found himself unappointed to the Labour Government formed after the 1929 General Election
United Kingdom general election, 1929
-Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987*-External links:***...
. He refused to support many of the measures proposed by MacDonald's government and along with Maxton (by now Wheatley's leader in the ILP) became one of the Labour-left's leading critics. On 9 May 1924, H. G. Wells
H. G. Wells
Herbert George Wells was an English author, now best known for his work in the science fiction genre. He was also a prolific writer in many other genres, including contemporary novels, history, politics and social commentary, even writing text books and rules for war games...
led a delegation to ask for birth control reforms. The delegation asked for two things: that institutions under Ministry of Health control should give contraceptive advice to those who asked for it; and that doctors at welfare centres should be allowed to offer advice in certain medical cases. Wheatley held strong views against birth control and refused to support the campaign.
Death and legacy
John Wheatley died on 12 May 1930, one week before his 61st birthday.John Wheatley College
John Wheatley College
John Wheatley College was founded in 1989 and has its main campuses in Easterhouse and Haghill in Glasgow.The college supports learning throughout the communities of east Glasgow, working in partnership with the city council's community planning teams, with Glasgow Regeneration Agency and Glasgow...
in Glasgow is named after him. His nephew, John Thomas Wheatley, became a Labour MP for Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
in 1947 and Lord Advocate
Lord Advocate
Her Majesty's Advocate , known as the Lord Advocate , is the chief legal officer of the Scottish Government and the Crown in Scotland for both civil and criminal matters that fall within the devolved powers of the Scottish Parliament...
.
External links
- "John Wheatley: The Labour lion who led", Richard Leonard, TribuneTribune (magazine)Tribune is a democratic socialist weekly, founded in 1937 published in London. It is independent but supports the Labour Party from the left...
, 12 May 2010