Harold Ewart Clay (1886 – September 1961) was a Britishtrade union leader, also known for his political and educational activities.
Born in Leeds, Clay worked as a tram driver.[1] He became active in the Social Democratic Federation, then its successor, the British Socialist Party, and was a keen advocate of the BSP's affiliation to the Labour Party, serving as president of the Leeds Labour Representation Council in 1913/14. In 1914, he founded the Leeds Tenants Defence League,[2] which led an unsuccessful rent strike in support of the construction of municipal housing.[3]
Clay was prominent in the United Vehicle Workers union, presiding over its conference in 1913.[2] In 1922, it merged into the new Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU), and Clay then served as the TGWU's first area secretary for Yorkshire. A supporter of the Workers' Educational Association (WEA), he was appointed as a vice president in 1928. Around this time, he relocated to London, and was chairman of the London Labour Party from 1933 until 1948.[1] During this period, he was active in the Socialist League; he and Arthur Pugh were the only two prominent trade unionists to maintain activity with the group.[4]
In 1940, Arthur Deakin, Assistant General Secretary of the TGWU, became its acting General Secretary, and Clay was appointed to fill his post. Three years later, he became president of the WEA, serving for fifteen years. In 1948, he stood down from his union and political posts, taking a post on the Road Transport Executive.[1]
Referencesedit
^ abc"Mr Harold Ewart Clay", The Guardian, 22 September 1961
^ abRaymond David Dalton, "Labour and the municipality: Labour politics in Leeds 1900-1914"
^Quintin Bradley, "The Leeds Rent Strike of 1914: A reappraisal of the radical history of the tenants movement", Leeds Tenants' Federation
harold, clay, similarly, named, people, harry, clay, harold, ewart, clay, 1886, september, 1961, british, trade, union, leader, also, known, political, educational, activities, born, leeds, clay, worked, tram, driver, became, active, social, democratic, federa. For similarly named people see Harry Clay Harold Ewart Clay 1886 September 1961 was a British trade union leader also known for his political and educational activities Born in Leeds Clay worked as a tram driver 1 He became active in the Social Democratic Federation then its successor the British Socialist Party and was a keen advocate of the BSP s affiliation to the Labour Party serving as president of the Leeds Labour Representation Council in 1913 14 In 1914 he founded the Leeds Tenants Defence League 2 which led an unsuccessful rent strike in support of the construction of municipal housing 3 Clay was prominent in the United Vehicle Workers union presiding over its conference in 1913 2 In 1922 it merged into the new Transport and General Workers Union TGWU and Clay then served as the TGWU s first area secretary for Yorkshire A supporter of the Workers Educational Association WEA he was appointed as a vice president in 1928 Around this time he relocated to London and was chairman of the London Labour Party from 1933 until 1948 1 During this period he was active in the Socialist League he and Arthur Pugh were the only two prominent trade unionists to maintain activity with the group 4 In 1940 Arthur Deakin Assistant General Secretary of the TGWU became its acting General Secretary and Clay was appointed to fill his post Three years later he became president of the WEA serving for fifteen years In 1948 he stood down from his union and political posts taking a post on the Road Transport Executive 1 References edit a b c Mr Harold Ewart Clay The Guardian 22 September 1961 a b Raymond David Dalton Labour and the municipality Labour politics in Leeds 1900 1914 Quintin Bradley The Leeds Rent Strike of 1914 A reappraisal of the radical history of the tenants movement Leeds Tenants Federation Patrick Seyd The Labour Left Trade union officesPreceded byJohn Cliff National Secretary of the Passengers Services Group of the Transport and General Workers Union1925 1946 Succeeded bySam HendersonPreceded byArthur Deakin Assistant General Secretary of the Transport and General Workers Union1940 1948 Succeeded byJock TiffinParty political officesPreceded byThomas Naylor Chairman of the London Labour Party1933 1948 Succeeded byJock TiffinAcademic officesPreceded byR H Tawney President of the Workers Educational Association1943 1958 Succeeded byAsa Briggs Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Harold Clay amp oldid 1085156870, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
