Ted Knight (Lambeth)
Encyclopedia
Ted Knight was a local politician in London
, England
who was leader of Lambeth London Borough Council
from 1978.
When the Conservative Government took powers through the Rates Act 1984
to limit the budgets of local councils, several left-wing Labour councils organised a rebellion
in which they refused to set a budget. All the councils eventually backed down except Liverpool City Council
and Lambeth. The district auditor found that the council had lost interest on tax payments as a result, which was held to be due to the "wilful misconduct" of Knight and 31 other councillors. Each was required to repay the amount of lost interest in a surcharge and banned from holding office for five years. Neil Kinnock
blamed leaders like "Red Ted" Knight and Linda Bellos
from Lambeth, for bringing the Labour Party into disrepute.
Knight had some influence on Ken Livingstone
, later Leader of the Greater London Council
and Mayor of London
. Knight had been expelled from the Labour Party in 1956 for his involvement in the Socialist Labour League but re-joined the Norwood branch in 1970 where he met Livingstone. The two formed an alliance and purged the Norwood wards of right wingers for the council elections in 1974. After that they jostled for the leadership of the left within the Labour Group on Lambeth Council but Livingstone later moved to another area of London.
At the 1987 general election he came fairly close to becoming MP for Coventry North East, he was runner-up at the Constituency Labour Party
selection meeting, losing to John Hughes
.
Knight retired into political obscurity after being expelled from office, pursued various business interests, and remained treasurer of the town hall social club until it closed in 1994. He is, however, still active within Unite, the trade union
.
He still lives in Norwood on Gipsy Hill in a house with a brass plate reading 'Edward Knight'.
Knight was elected to the National Committee of the Labour Representation Committee (2004)
at their AGM on the 17th of November, 2007.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
who was leader of Lambeth London Borough Council
Lambeth London Borough Council
Lambeth London Borough Council is the local authority for the London Borough of Lambeth in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in the United Kingdom capital of London...
from 1978.
When the Conservative Government took powers through the Rates Act 1984
Rates Act 1984
The Rates Act 1984 is an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom, which controls the tax-raising powers of local authorities.-Background:The Thatcher government had been at odds with several high spending Labour controlled councils...
to limit the budgets of local councils, several left-wing Labour councils organised a rebellion
Rate-capping rebellion
The rate-capping rebellion was a campaign within English local councils in 1985 which aimed to force the Conservative government of Margaret Thatcher to withdraw powers to restrict the spending of councils. The affected councils were almost all run by left-wing Labour Party leaderships...
in which they refused to set a budget. All the councils eventually backed down except Liverpool City Council
Liverpool City Council
Liverpool City Council is the governing body for the city of Liverpool in Merseyside, England. It consists of 90 councillors, three for each of the city's 30 wards. The council is currently controlled by the Labour Party and is led by Joe Anderson.-Domain:...
and Lambeth. The district auditor found that the council had lost interest on tax payments as a result, which was held to be due to the "wilful misconduct" of Knight and 31 other councillors. Each was required to repay the amount of lost interest in a surcharge and banned from holding office for five years. Neil Kinnock
Neil Kinnock
Neil Gordon Kinnock, Baron Kinnock is a Welsh politician belonging to the Labour Party. He served as a Member of Parliament from 1970 until 1995 and as Labour Leader and Leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition from 1983 until 1992 - his leadership of the party during nearly nine years making him...
blamed leaders like "Red Ted" Knight and Linda Bellos
Linda Bellos
Linda Bellos OBE is an English ex-politician and current businesswoman and activist for gay rights.-Personal life:Bellos was born in London to a Jewish mother, Renee Sackman, and a Nigerian father, Emmanuel Adebowale, who came from Uzebba and joined the merchant navy during the Second World War...
from Lambeth, for bringing the Labour Party into disrepute.
Knight had some influence on Ken Livingstone
Ken Livingstone
Kenneth Robert "Ken" Livingstone is an English politician who is currently a member of the centrist to centre-left Labour Party...
, later 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...
and Mayor of London
Mayor of London
The Mayor of London is an elected politician who, along with the London Assembly of 25 members, is accountable for the strategic government of Greater London. Conservative Boris Johnson has held the position since 4 May 2008...
. Knight had been expelled from the Labour Party in 1956 for his involvement in the Socialist Labour League but re-joined the Norwood branch in 1970 where he met Livingstone. The two formed an alliance and purged the Norwood wards of right wingers for the council elections in 1974. After that they jostled for the leadership of the left within the Labour Group on Lambeth Council but Livingstone later moved to another area of London.
At the 1987 general election he came fairly close to becoming MP for Coventry North East, he was runner-up at the Constituency Labour Party
Constituency Labour Party
A Constituency Labour Party is an organisation of members of the British Labour Party who live in a particular UK parliamentary constituency in England, Scotland and Wales. The Labour Party in Northern Ireland has, since February 2009, been organised as a province-wide Constituency Labour Party...
selection meeting, losing to John Hughes
John Hughes (English politician)
John Hughes was Labour Member of Parliament for Coventry North East in the United Kingdom from 1987 to 1992....
.
Knight retired into political obscurity after being expelled from office, pursued various business interests, and remained treasurer of the town hall social club until it closed in 1994. He is, however, still active within Unite, the trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
.
He still lives in Norwood on Gipsy Hill in a house with a brass plate reading 'Edward Knight'.
Knight was elected to the National Committee of the Labour Representation Committee (2004)
Labour Representation Committee (2004)
The Labour Representation Committee is a British socialist pressure group within the Labour Party and wider labour movement. It is often seen as representing the most left wing members of the Labour Party.-Overview:...
at their AGM on the 17th of November, 2007.