Reg Goodwin
Encyclopedia
Sir Reginald Eustace Goodwin (usually known as Sir Reg Goodwin) (3 July 1908 - 29 September 1986) was a British
politician
. He was Leader of the Greater London Council
from 1973-77. On the moderate wing of the Labour Party
, he nonetheless favoured public control of utilities.
. He went to Strand School
. He left at 16 to become a tea-buyer for a City firm. In his spare time he worked at the Oxford and Bermondsey Boys' Club, a charity set up by the University of Oxford
to help underprivileged boys in Bermondsey
, where he then lived. Through this work he became full-time Assistant Secretary of the National Association of Boys' Clubs when it was set up in 1934. From 1945 he was its General Secretary.
in 1932, and began a political career when elected to Bermondsey Borough Council
in 1937. His administrative ability was noticed and he became Leader of the Council in the 1940s. Meanwhile, he had been elected to the London County Council
in 1946, where Labour Leader Sir Isaac Hayward
spotted his potential and gave him important committee assignments.
in 1964 and quietly chaired the Finance Committee in the Labour administration. After the Conservatives won a landslide election victory in 1967 he was chosen as the new Labour Leader almost by default, other more dynamic personalities having been defeated. He was given a Knighthood on the recommendation of Harold Wilson
and was almost always known as 'Sir Reg' thereafter.
After the second defeat in 1970 Goodwin became more aggressive in his opposition to Sir Desmond Plummer
's Conservative GLC. Labour had not opposed the Conservative GLC's policy of building urban motorways in 1970 but by June 1972 Goodwin had been convinced by the strength of public opinion, and said "Labour pledges itself to abandon the disastrous plans to build two motorways which threaten the environment of Central London". He called on the GLC not to enter into contracts to build the motorways so that Londoners could have a choice at the 1973 elections.
At the 1973 elections, the Labour manifesto was drafted by Peter Walker, then Research Officer for the London Labour Party. It had a distinctly left-wing approach favouring subsidies to reduce (possibly eliminate) public transport fares and to build more council homes, but Goodwin supported these policies and gave his backing to the manifesto which was published under the title "A Socialist Strategy for London".
Sir Reg then changed the whole political decision making process in the GLC, ensuring that officers left after presenting their papers to the Labour cabinet who then made a decision and Peter Walker acted as secretary conveying the decisions to the Officers after going through the Labour group. By this manner Goodwin managed to continue the distinctly green agenda set in the 1973 manifesto despite many economic problems nationally that affected the GLC's finances.
caused havoc with the GLC finances. Goodwin was forced to cut investment programmes and increase transport fares and as a result became unpopular with the left. His attempts to conciliate with them caused resignations among the right-wing Labour councillors. Goodwin's exceptionally discrete personal style meant that he was rarely targeted personally, but left him with few political friends.
He was re-elected Leader when Labour lost the 1977 GLC election but few expected him to continue in the post. He announced his resignation very suddenly by leaving 28 copies (one for every member of the Labour Group) of a resignation letter on the desk of the Chief Whip, with a note suggesting he might like to distribute them. On taking his seat on the backbenches he remarked "I'm glad to be sitting here, because fewer of my friends are behind me."
had been taken over by the left, including Peter Tatchell
who was soon to be selected to succeed Robert Mellish as the MP. Although they wished him well personally and respected his contribution, the Bermondsey left insisted on a new candidate for the 1981 elections and deselected him. He let his membership of the Labour Party lapse in 1982, but was declared an honorary member on 21 February 1983.
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...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He was Leader of the Greater London Council
Greater London Council
The Greater London Council was the top-tier local government administrative body for Greater London from 1965 to 1986. It replaced the earlier London County Council which had covered a much smaller area...
from 1973-77. On the moderate wing of the 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...
, he nonetheless favoured public control of utilities.
Family background
Goodwin was from a middle-class family of five and was born in StreathamStreatham
Streatham is a district in Surrey, England, located in the London Borough of Lambeth. It is situated south of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-History:...
. He went to Strand School
Strand School
Strand School was a boys' grammar school in the Tulse Hill area of South London. It moved there in 1913 from its original location in the Strand...
. He left at 16 to become a tea-buyer for a City firm. In his spare time he worked at the Oxford and Bermondsey Boys' Club, a charity set up by the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
to help underprivileged boys in Bermondsey
Bermondsey
Bermondsey is an area in London on the south bank of the river Thames, and is part of the London Borough of Southwark. To the west lies Southwark, to the east Rotherhithe, and to the south, Walworth and Peckham.-Toponomy:...
, where he then lived. Through this work he became full-time Assistant Secretary of the National Association of Boys' Clubs when it was set up in 1934. From 1945 he was its General Secretary.
Party politics
Goodwin joined the Labour PartyLabour 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...
in 1932, and began a political career when elected to Bermondsey Borough Council
Metropolitan Borough of Bermondsey
The Metropolitan Borough of Bermondsey was a Metropolitan borough in the County of London, created in 1900 by the London Government Act 1899. It was abolished and its area became part of the London Borough of Southwark in 1965.-History:...
in 1937. His administrative ability was noticed and he became Leader of the Council in the 1940s. Meanwhile, he had been elected to the London County Council
London County Council
London County Council was the principal local government body for the County of London, throughout its 1889–1965 existence, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today known as Inner London and was replaced by the Greater London Council...
in 1946, where Labour Leader Sir Isaac Hayward
Isaac Hayward
Sir Isaac James Hayward was Leader of the London County Council from 1947 until it was abolished in 1965....
spotted his potential and gave him important committee assignments.
GLC membership
Goodwin became a member of the Greater London CouncilGreater London Council
The Greater London Council was the top-tier local government administrative body for Greater London from 1965 to 1986. It replaced the earlier London County Council which had covered a much smaller area...
in 1964 and quietly chaired the Finance Committee in the Labour administration. After the Conservatives won a landslide election victory in 1967 he was chosen as the new Labour Leader almost by default, other more dynamic personalities having been defeated. He was given a Knighthood on the recommendation of Harold Wilson
Harold Wilson
James Harold Wilson, Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, KG, OBE, FRS, FSS, PC was a British Labour Member of Parliament, Leader of the Labour Party. He was twice Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the 1960s and 1970s, winning four general elections, including a minority government after the...
and was almost always known as 'Sir Reg' thereafter.
After the second defeat in 1970 Goodwin became more aggressive in his opposition to Sir Desmond Plummer
Desmond Plummer
Arthur Desmond Herne Plummer, Baron Plummer of St Marylebone was a Conservative Party politician in London and the longest serving Leader of the Greater London Council....
's Conservative GLC. Labour had not opposed the Conservative GLC's policy of building urban motorways in 1970 but by June 1972 Goodwin had been convinced by the strength of public opinion, and said "Labour pledges itself to abandon the disastrous plans to build two motorways which threaten the environment of Central London". He called on the GLC not to enter into contracts to build the motorways so that Londoners could have a choice at the 1973 elections.
At the 1973 elections, the Labour manifesto was drafted by Peter Walker, then Research Officer for the London Labour Party. It had a distinctly left-wing approach favouring subsidies to reduce (possibly eliminate) public transport fares and to build more council homes, but Goodwin supported these policies and gave his backing to the manifesto which was published under the title "A Socialist Strategy for London".
GLC Leader
The Motorway Box issue and commitment to better public transport was the key to Labour's victory in the 1973 election. After the election Sir Reg appointed Peter Walker to head his private office despite protests from the Conservatives and the GLC officers. This was the first ever open political appointment in the history of British local government and soon set the template for other similar appointments.Sir Reg then changed the whole political decision making process in the GLC, ensuring that officers left after presenting their papers to the Labour cabinet who then made a decision and Peter Walker acted as secretary conveying the decisions to the Officers after going through the Labour group. By this manner Goodwin managed to continue the distinctly green agenda set in the 1973 manifesto despite many economic problems nationally that affected the GLC's finances.
Financial crisis
Soon after the election the massive inflation caused by the Yom Kippur WarYom Kippur War
The Yom Kippur War, Ramadan War or October War , also known as the 1973 Arab-Israeli War and the Fourth Arab-Israeli War, was fought from October 6 to 25, 1973, between Israel and a coalition of Arab states led by Egypt and Syria...
caused havoc with the GLC finances. Goodwin was forced to cut investment programmes and increase transport fares and as a result became unpopular with the left. His attempts to conciliate with them caused resignations among the right-wing Labour councillors. Goodwin's exceptionally discrete personal style meant that he was rarely targeted personally, but left him with few political friends.
He was re-elected Leader when Labour lost the 1977 GLC election but few expected him to continue in the post. He announced his resignation very suddenly by leaving 28 copies (one for every member of the Labour Group) of a resignation letter on the desk of the Chief Whip, with a note suggesting he might like to distribute them. On taking his seat on the backbenches he remarked "I'm glad to be sitting here, because fewer of my friends are behind me."
Deselection
Goodwin's own constituency party in BermondseyBermondsey
Bermondsey is an area in London on the south bank of the river Thames, and is part of the London Borough of Southwark. To the west lies Southwark, to the east Rotherhithe, and to the south, Walworth and Peckham.-Toponomy:...
had been taken over by the left, including Peter Tatchell
Peter Tatchell
Peter Gary Tatchell is an Australian-born British political campaigner best known for his work with LGBT social movements...
who was soon to be selected to succeed Robert Mellish as the MP. Although they wished him well personally and respected his contribution, the Bermondsey left insisted on a new candidate for the 1981 elections and deselected him. He let his membership of the Labour Party lapse in 1982, but was declared an honorary member on 21 February 1983.