Plebs' League
Encyclopedia
The Plebs' League was a British
educational and political organisation which originated around Marxist ideals.
Central to the formation of the League was Noah Ablett
, a miner
from the Rhondda
who was at the core of a group at Ruskin College, Oxford
who opposed the lecturers' opposition to Marxism. In the 1907 - 8 academic year, Ablett began leading unofficial classes in Marxist political economy
which were attended by Ebby Edwards
, among others. Ablett returned to South Wales in 1908, where he began promoting Marxist education through local branches of the Independent Labour Party
.
A mixture of students and former students at Ruskin founded the Plebs' League in November 1908, also launching the Plebs' Magazine. In the first issue of the Plebs, dated February 1909, Ablett contributed an article on the need for independent working class
education. The League ran classes teaching Marxist principles and later syndicalist
ideas.
During 1909, student agitation for Marxism continued at Ruskin. The students were supported by the Principal, Dennis Hird, and when he was dismissed the students went on strike, refusing to attend classes. The rebels formed the Central Labour College
, which worked closely with the Plebs' League.
By 1910, the Plebs' League was active in South Wales, Lancashire and Scotland. Activists included A. J. Cook
, William Mainwaring
and John Maclean.
The League had sympathies with De Leonism
, primarily represented in Britain by the Socialist Labour Party
. It later had a relationship with the Communist Party of Great Britain
.
The League was absorbed by the National Central Labour College the year after the 1926 United Kingdom general strike
, although the Plebs' Magazine continued to appear for many years.
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...
educational and political organisation which originated around Marxist ideals.
Central to the formation of the League was Noah Ablett
Noah Ablett
Noah Ablett was a trade unionist and political theorist who is most noted for writing 'The Miners' Next Step' a Syndicalist treaty which Ablett described as 'scientific trade unionism....
, 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....
from the Rhondda
Rhondda
Rhondda , or the Rhondda Valley , is a former coal mining valley in Wales, formerly a local government district, consisting of 16 communities built around the River Rhondda. The valley is made up of two valleys, the larger Rhondda Fawr valley and the smaller Rhondda Fach valley...
who was at the core of a group at Ruskin College, Oxford
Ruskin College, Oxford
Ruskin College is an independent educational institution in Oxford, England. It is named after the essayist and social critic John Ruskin and specialises in providing educational opportunities for adults with few or no qualifications...
who opposed the lecturers' opposition to Marxism. In the 1907 - 8 academic year, Ablett began leading unofficial classes in Marxist political economy
Political economy
Political economy originally was the term for studying production, buying, and selling, and their relations with law, custom, and government, as well as with the distribution of national income and wealth, including through the budget process. Political economy originated in moral philosophy...
which were attended by Ebby Edwards
Ebby Edwards
Ebenezer Edwards, known as Ebby Edwards , was a trade unionist and politician in Britain.Born in Chevington, Northumberland, Edwards went down the coal mine at the age of twelve. In 1906, he joined the Independent Labour Party, although he left after three years...
, among others. Ablett returned to South Wales in 1908, where he began promoting Marxist education through local branches of 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...
.
A mixture of students and former students at Ruskin founded the Plebs' League in November 1908, also launching the Plebs' Magazine. In the first issue of the Plebs, dated February 1909, Ablett contributed an article on the need for independent working class
Working class
Working class is a term used in the social sciences and in ordinary conversation to describe those employed in lower tier jobs , often extending to those in unemployment or otherwise possessing below-average incomes...
education. The League ran classes teaching Marxist principles and later syndicalist
Syndicalism
Syndicalism is a type of economic system proposed as a replacement for capitalism and an alternative to state socialism, which uses federations of collectivised trade unions or industrial unions...
ideas.
During 1909, student agitation for Marxism continued at Ruskin. The students were supported by the Principal, Dennis Hird, and when he was dismissed the students went on strike, refusing to attend classes. The rebels formed the Central Labour College
Central Labour College
The Central Labour College was a British higher education institution supported by trade unions. It functioned from 1909 to 1929.The college was formed as a result of the Ruskin College strike of 1909. The Plebs' League, which had been formed around a core of Marxist students and former students of...
, which worked closely with the Plebs' League.
By 1910, the Plebs' League was active in South Wales, Lancashire and Scotland. Activists included A. J. Cook
A. J. Cook (trade unionist)
Arthur James Cook , known as A. J. Cook, was a British coal miner and trade union leader. He is remembered as one of the United Kingdom's best known miners’ leaders and a key component of the National Minority Movement around the General Strike of 1926.-Early years:A.J...
, William Mainwaring
William Mainwaring
William Henry Mainwaring was a British coal miner, lecturer and trade unionist, who became a long-serving Labour Party Member of Parliament. Both as a trade unionist and a politician he struggled, largely successfully to counter Communist influence...
and John Maclean.
The League had sympathies with De Leonism
De Leonism
De Leonism, occasionally known as Marxism-Deleonism, is a form of syndicalist Marxism developed by Daniel De Leon. De Leon was an early leader of the first United States socialist political party, the Socialist Labor Party of America....
, primarily represented in Britain by the Socialist Labour Party
Socialist Labour Party (UK, 1903)
The Socialist Labour Party was a socialist political party in the United Kingdom. It was established in 1903 as a splinter from the Social Democratic Federation by James Connolly, Neil Maclean and SDF members impressed with the politics of the American socialist Daniel De Leon, a Marxist...
. It later had a relationship with 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:...
.
The League was absorbed by the National Central Labour College the year after the 1926 United Kingdom general strike
1926 United Kingdom general strike
The 1926 general strike in the United Kingdom was a general strike that lasted nine days, from 4 May 1926 to 13 May 1926. It was called by the general council of the Trades Union Congress in an unsuccessful attempt to force the British government to act to prevent wage reduction and worsening...
, although the Plebs' Magazine continued to appear for many years.