Truth (British periodical)
Encyclopedia
Truth was a British
periodical publication founded by the diplomat and Liberal
politician Henry Labouchère
after he left a virtual rival publication The World. Truth was noted for its exposures of many kinds of frauds, and was at the centre of several civil lawsuits. Although Labouchère himself contributed to Truth, it was for the most part controlled by Horace Voules in its early days. The first issue was published on 4 January 1877.
Later in its existence, Truth was close to the Conservative Party
. In 1941 it was briefly the subject of political controversy following allegations made in Parliament
, but publication continued when the allegations were refuted. Later, Truth came under the direction of Collin Brooks. In its final years, it moved away from its right-wing editorial line back to the more liberal agenda of its early days. Truth ceased publication in 1957.
into frauds and its legal troubles. The newspaper was sued many times, mostly unsuccessfully. Conservative Party politician Derek Walker-Smith, Baron Broxbourne sympathetically wrote:
During Collin Brooks' time as editor of Truth, he kept two in-trays - one each for letters and for libels.
, when false allegations were made implying that it was sympathetic to Nazi Germany
. Josiah Wedgwood
, MP for Labour
opposition, spoke in Parliament in October 1941 accusing Truth of being fascist
and "a Quisling
paper", and called for publication to be halted.
This situation was particularly embarrassing, as the publication had been virtually under the ownership of the Conservative Party for some five years by that date, having been bought by the National Publicity Bureau and with Lord Luke of Pavenham
as Chairman of Directors. The allegations were rebutted, Truth continued to be published, and the Home Office
successfully quieted the debate. Collin Brooks had taken over the Editorship of Truth just a year earlier, Friday 15th November, 1940, and was editor from 1940 to 1953. His deputy was A. K. Chesterton
, who had earlier been associated with Oswald Mosley
's fascist movement and later became chairman of the far right-wing National Front.
considered only six periodicals of the day to be worthy of mention as "political periodicals" in his book anticipating the requirements of the Royal Commission's report on the control of the press, of which Truth was one. In 1953, Truth was put up for sale, and was bought by Ronald Staples, a publisher who was interested in publishing a weekly magazine. He removed all the right-wing staff, and radically changed the "extremely whiffy political and racial line", and appointed a new editorial staff, headed by Vincent Evans.
The last issue of Truth was published on 27 December 1957. Its last editor, George Scott, learned of its closure the following day in a letter from the principal shareholder, the Staples printing and publishing group, which no longer wished to maintain the publication following the death of Ronald Staples. Scott's deputy in the last years of publication was the young Bernard Levin
. Other members of the editorial staff in the last years of publication included Anthony Howard
and Alan Brien
.
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...
periodical publication founded by the diplomat and Liberal
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
politician Henry Labouchère
Henry Labouchere
Henry Du Pré Labouchère was an English politician, writer, publisher and theatre owner in the Victorian and Edwardian eras. He married the actress Henrietta Hodson....
after he left a virtual rival publication The World. Truth was noted for its exposures of many kinds of frauds, and was at the centre of several civil lawsuits. Although Labouchère himself contributed to Truth, it was for the most part controlled by Horace Voules in its early days. The first issue was published on 4 January 1877.
Later in its existence, Truth was close to the Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
. In 1941 it was briefly the subject of political controversy following allegations made in Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
, but publication continued when the allegations were refuted. Later, Truth came under the direction of Collin Brooks. In its final years, it moved away from its right-wing editorial line back to the more liberal agenda of its early days. Truth ceased publication in 1957.
Ramps and libels
Under Labouchère, whom media of the time called an "unruly" man, Truth was becoming known for both its investigative journalismInvestigative journalism
Investigative journalism is a form of journalism in which reporters deeply investigate a single topic of interest, often involving crime, political corruption, or corporate wrongdoing. An investigative journalist may spend months or years researching and preparing a report. Investigative journalism...
into frauds and its legal troubles. The newspaper was sued many times, mostly unsuccessfully. Conservative Party politician Derek Walker-Smith, Baron Broxbourne sympathetically wrote:
During Collin Brooks' time as editor of Truth, he kept two in-trays - one each for letters and for libels.
Political controversy
A major controversy on Truth and its political agenda came during World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, when false allegations were made implying that it was sympathetic to Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
. Josiah Wedgwood
Josiah Wedgwood, 1st Baron Wedgwood
Colonel Josiah Clement Wedgwood, 1st Baron Wedgwood, DSO, PC, DL sometimes referred to as Josiah Wedgwood IV was a British Liberal and Labour politician who served in government under Ramsay MacDonald...
, MP for Labour
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...
opposition, spoke in Parliament in October 1941 accusing Truth of being fascist
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 "a Quisling
Quisling
Quisling is a term used in reference to fascist and collaborationist political parties and military and paramilitary forces in occupied Allied countries which collaborated with Axis occupiers in World War II, as well as for their members and other collaborators.- Etymology :The term was coined by...
paper", and called for publication to be halted.
This situation was particularly embarrassing, as the publication had been virtually under the ownership of the Conservative Party for some five years by that date, having been bought by the National Publicity Bureau and with Lord Luke of Pavenham
George Lawson Johnston, 1st Baron Luke
George Lawson Johnston, 1st Baron Luke, KBE , was a British businessman.Luke was the second son of John Lawson Johnston, a beef manufacturer and the founder of Bovril Ltd and Elizabeth, daughter of George Lawson, biscuit manufacturer of Edinburgh...
as Chairman of Directors. The allegations were rebutted, Truth continued to be published, and the Home Office
Home Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
successfully quieted the debate. Collin Brooks had taken over the Editorship of Truth just a year earlier, Friday 15th November, 1940, and was editor from 1940 to 1953. His deputy was A. K. Chesterton
A. K. Chesterton
Arthur Kenneth Chesterton MC was a far right-wing politician and journalist who helped found right-wing organisations in Britain, primarily in opposition to the break-up of the British Empire, and later adopting a broader anti-immigration stance. His cousin, the author G. K...
, who had earlier been associated with Oswald Mosley
Oswald Mosley
Sir Oswald Ernald Mosley, 6th Baronet, of Ancoats, was an English politician, known principally as the founder of the British Union of Fascists...
's fascist movement and later became chairman of the far right-wing National Front.
Post-war days
Truth passed through various owners after the death of Labouchère before becoming a Limited Company under the majority control of director Collin Brooks, with S.J. Elliott and John Gray as the other two directors by 1947. Viscount CamroseWilliam Berry, 1st Viscount Camrose
William Ewart Berry, 1st Viscount Camrose was a British newspaper publisher.The second of three brothers born in Merthyr Tydfil in Wales, Berry started his working life as a journalist and established his own paper, Advertising World, in 1901...
considered only six periodicals of the day to be worthy of mention as "political periodicals" in his book anticipating the requirements of the Royal Commission's report on the control of the press, of which Truth was one. In 1953, Truth was put up for sale, and was bought by Ronald Staples, a publisher who was interested in publishing a weekly magazine. He removed all the right-wing staff, and radically changed the "extremely whiffy political and racial line", and appointed a new editorial staff, headed by Vincent Evans.
The last issue of Truth was published on 27 December 1957. Its last editor, George Scott, learned of its closure the following day in a letter from the principal shareholder, the Staples printing and publishing group, which no longer wished to maintain the publication following the death of Ronald Staples. Scott's deputy in the last years of publication was the young Bernard Levin
Bernard Levin
Henry Bernard Levin CBE was an English journalist, author and broadcaster, described by The Times as "the most famous journalist of his day". The son of a poor Jewish family in London, he won a scholarship to the independent school Christ's Hospital and went on to the London School of Economics,...
. Other members of the editorial staff in the last years of publication included Anthony Howard
Anthony Howard (journalist)
Anthony Michell Howard, CBE was a prominent British journalist, broadcaster and writer. He was the editor of the New Statesman, The Listener and the deputy editor of The Observer...
and Alan Brien
Alan Brien
Alan Brien was a British journalist best known for his novel Lenin. This took the form of a fictional diary charting Lenin's life from the death of his father to shortly before his own demise in 1924....
.