National Socialist Party (UK)

Not to be confused with similarly named National Socialist Parties.

National Socialist Party
SecretaryTom Kennedy
Founded1916
Dissolved1941
Preceded byBritish Socialist Party
Merged intoLabour Party
NewspaperJustice
IdeologySocial democracy
Political positionCentre-left

The National Socialist Party was a small political party in the United Kingdom, founded in 1916. It originated as a minority group within the British Socialist Party who supported British participation in World War I; while historically linked with the Marxist left, the party grew more moderate. It affiliated to the Labour Party and was eventually absorbed by it.

Origins

The National Socialist Party was founded by H.M. Hyndman and his followers after his defeat in the leadership elections of the British Socialist Party. They believed that it was desirable to support the United Kingdom in World War I against "Prussian militarism". Although maintaining that they were a Marxist party, after affiliation to the Labour Party in 1918, they renounced vanguardism and saw in the Russian Revolution only the danger that it might weaken the United Kingdom's war effort. The party was grouped around the newspaper Justice.

Three members of the party were elected to Parliament in the 1918 election; Dan Irving and Will Thorne were elected for the Labour Party, and Jack Jones under the National Socialist Party name.[1]

Social Democratic Federation

In 1919, the group changed its name to the Social Democratic Federation, reverting to the name that the British Socialist Party had used. At one point eleven MPs were members, but after Hyndman died in 1921, the group gradually dissolved into the Labour Party.[2] The party sponsored several candidates at each election until 1924, all of whom ran for Labour. After 1924, its MPs were instead sponsored by their local Labour Party.[3] The party finally disbanded in 1939 due to a lack of funds, although some remaining members formed a "Social Democratic Fellowship".[4]

Other prominent members included Henry W. Lee, Hunter Watts, John Stokes and Joseph Burgess.[1]

Election results
Election Seats won ± Total votes % Position Leader
1918
1 / 670
 11,013 (#12) 0.1% Henry Hyndman

1918 UK general election
ConstituencyCandidateVotesPercentagePosition[5]
BurnleyDan Irving15,21741.91
ReadingLorenzo Quelch1,4625.24
RomfordArthur Whiting2,58014.43
SilvertownJohn Joseph Jones6,97151.61

By-elections, 1918-1922
ElectionCandidateVotesPercentagePosition
1921 Kirkcaldy Burghs by-electionTom Kennedy11,67453.41

1922 UK general election
ConstituencyCandidateVotesPercentagePosition
BurnleyDan Irving17,38539.11
Kirkcaldy BurghsTom Kennedy12,08948.62

1923 UK general election
ConstituencyCandidateVotesPercentagePosition
BuckinghamEdward J. Pay11,82447.02
BurnleyDan Irving16,84837.81
Islington SouthWilliam Sampson Cluse7,76437.01
Islington WestFrederick Montague7,95541.41
Kirkcaldy BurghsTom Kennedy14,22154.41

1924 UK general election
ElectionCandidateVotesPercentagePosition
BuckinghamEdward J. Pay8,93930.62
Islington SouthWilliam Sampson Cluse10,34742.81
Islington WestFrederick Montague10,17445.31
Kirkcaldy BurghsTom Kennedy14,03852.71

References
  1. Max Beer, A History of British Socialism
  2. Peter Barberis, John McHugh and Mike Tyldesley, Encyclopedia of British and Irish Political Organizations
  3. Craig, F. W. S. (1975). Minor Parties in British By-elections, 1885-1974. London: Macmillan Press. pp. 104–105.
  4. "End of the S.D.F.", Manchester Guardian, 2 November 1939, p.3
  5. Martin Crick, The History of the Social-Democratic Federation, p.332
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