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{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}}
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'''John Turner Walton Newbold''' (8 May 1888–20 February 1943), known as '''Walton Newbold''', was the first of the four [[Communist Party of Great Britain]] members to be elected as [[Member of Parliament|MPs]] in the [[United Kingdom]].
{{Use British English|date=January 2017}}
{{Infobox person
⚫
| name = Walton Newbold
| image = Saklatvala and Newbold.jpg
| caption = [[Shapurji Saklatvala]] (left) with Walton Newbold
| birth_name = John Turner Walton Newbold
| birth_date = 8 May 1888
| birth_place = [[Culcheth]], [[Lancashire]], England
| death_date = 20 February 1943
| education = [[Buxton College]],<br />[[University of Manchester]]
| known_for = First [[Communist Party of Great Britain]] MP<br /> WWI [[Conscientious objector]]
⚫
}}
⚫
'''John Turner Walton Newbold''' (8 May 1888 – 20 February 1943), generally known as '''Walton Newbold''', was the first of the four [[Communist Party of Great Britain]] members to be elected as [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|MPs]] in the United Kingdom.


==Biography==
==Biography==

===Early years===
===Early years===


John Turner Walton Newbold was born in [[Culcheth]], [[Lancashire]] on 8 May 1888, and was educated at [[Buxton College]] and the [[University of Manchester]].
John Turner Walton Newbold was born in [[Culcheth]], [[Lancashire]], on 8 May 1888, and was educated at [[Buxton College]] and the [[University of Manchester]].


On leaving university, Newbold lectured in history and politics, and was engaged in industrial and economic research.<ref>Who's Who 1938</ref> In 1908, he joined the [[Fabian Society]], connected with the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]], and then the [[Independent Labour Party]] (ILP) in 1910. In line with the ILP's [[pacifist]] position on [[World War I]], he joined the [[No Conscription Fellowship]], and was a [[conscientious objector]], although he was in any case found physically unfit for [[military service]]. He did a great deal of research into the arms trade and its international connections in the late 19th/early 20th centuries.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Newbold|first1=J T Walton|title=How Europe Armed for War (1871 - 1914)|date=1916|publisher=Blackfriars Press Ltd|pages=108}}</ref>
On leaving university, Newbold lectured in history and politics, and was engaged in industrial and economic research.<ref>Who's Who 1938</ref> In 1908, he joined the [[Fabian Society]], connected with the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]], and then the [[Independent Labour Party]] (ILP) in 1910. In line with the ILP's [[pacifist]] position on [[World War I]], he joined the [[No Conscription Fellowship]], and was a [[conscientious objector]], although he was in any case found physically unfit for [[military service]]. He did a great deal of research into the arms trade and its international connections in the late 19th/early 20th centuries.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Newbold|first1=J T Walton|title=How Europe Armed for War (1871 - 1914)|url=https://archive.org/details/howeuropearmedfo00newbrich|date=1916|publisher=Blackfriars Press Ltd|pages=[https://archive.org/details/howeuropearmedfo00newbrich/page/108 108]}}</ref> Whilst still a research student, he married fellow socialist [[Marjory Newbold|Marjory Neilson]] on 16 June 1916.<ref>{{Cite ODNB|title=Newbold [née Neilson], Marjory (1883–1926), socialist and communist|url=https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-55682|access-date=2020-10-01| year=2004 |language=en|doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/55682| isbn=978-0-19-861412-8 }}</ref>


===Political career===
===Political career===


In 1917 Newbold joined the Labour educational [[Plebs' League]] and the [[British Socialist Party]]. By 1920, he was a committed communist, stating "my loyalty, at any rate, is now - as it has been for two and a half years - first and foremost to the position of the [[Third International]]". In 1921 he resigned from the ILP and joined the [[Communist Party of Great Britain]], becoming a member of its first [[central committee]].
In 1917 Newbold joined the Labour educational [[Plebs' League]] and the [[British Socialist Party]] (BSP). He had a number of articles published in ''[[The Call (BSP)|The Call]]'', the paper of the BSP.<ref name="Crawford">{{cite web |last1=Crawford |first1=Ted |title=Index of articles in The Call, 1916-1920 |url=https://www.marxists.org/history/international/social-democracy/call/index.htm |website=www.marxists.org |publisher=Marxist Internet Archive |access-date=16 November 2020}}</ref> By 1920, he was a committed communist, stating "my loyalty, at any rate, is now – as it has been for two and a half years – first and foremost to the position of the [[Third International]]". In 1921 he resigned from the ILP and joined the [[Communist Party of Great Britain]], becoming a member of its first [[central committee]].


In the [[1922 UK general election]], Newbold was elected to represent the [[Motherwell (UK Parliament constituency)|Motherwell constituency]] in the [[United Kingdom House of Commons|House of Commons]]. He received the support of the Labour Party, but unlike many other Communist candidates, including [[Shapurji Saklatvala]] who was elected in the same general election, he stood under the label "Communist". Additionally, he was refused permission to take the Labour [[whip (politics)|whip]] and to sit with the Labour group. As such, he is sometimes counted as the first Communist MP in Britain, although others cite [[Cecil L'Estrange Malone]], who converted from the [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal Party]] in 1920 as the first Communist MP.
In the [[1922 United Kingdom general election|1922 general election]], Newbold was elected to represent the [[Motherwell (UK Parliament constituency)|Motherwell constituency]] in the [[United Kingdom House of Commons|House of Commons]]. Locally his wife Marjory was well known in working class and socialist groups, from leading social Sunday schools, and adult education and campaigns, and some say he was supported because he was 'Madge's man'.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Duncan|first=Robert|date=1992|title=Marjory Neilson Newbold (1884 - 1926) Tribute to a Socialist Pioneer|url=https://www.scottishlabourhistorysociety.scot/blog-article/scottish-labour-history-review-no-6|journal=Scottish Labour History Review|volume=6|pages=4}}</ref> Newbold received the support of the Labour Party, but unlike many other Communist candidates, including [[Shapurji Saklatvala]] who was elected in the same general election, he stood under the label "Communist". Additionally, he was refused permission to take the Labour [[whip (politics)|whip]] and to sit with the Labour group. As such, he is sometimes counted as the first Communist MP in Britain, although others cite [[Cecil L'Estrange Malone]], who switched from the [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal Party]] in 1920, as the first Communist MP.


Saklatvala was accepted into the Labour Party's parliamentary caucus but while Newbold applied for the same he was rejected.<ref>James Klugmann, ''History of the Communist Party of Great Britain: Volume One: Formation and Early Years, 1919–1924.'' London: Lawrence and Wishart, 1968; pg. 192.</ref> This did not stop Saklatvala and Newbold from joint activity, however, and the pair attempted to raise the demands of the unemployed and the cause of cheap housing and lower rents whenever possible.<ref name=Klugmann1-193>Klugmann, ''History of the Communist Party of Great Britain: Volume 1,'' pg. 193.</ref> Newbold wound up being suspended from the House in May 1923 over his actions with respect to the [[George Curzon, 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston|Curzon]] ultimatum during the [[Occupation of the Ruhr|French occupation of the Ruhr]].<ref name=Klugmann1-193 />
⚫
Newbold was sometimes seen as ineffective in Parliament, mocked by many other MPs for his old and frequently dirty clothing, but focused on producing propaganda for the Communist Party. He lost his seat in the [[1923 UK general election]], after just over a year in Parliament. Increasingly disillusioned with communism, he resigned from the party in 1924 and rejoined the Labour Party. In 1928 Newbold joined the [[National Socialist Party (UK)|Social Democratic Federation]], and edited its journal, ''Social Democrat'', from 1929 until 1931, when he supported the [[National Labour Organisation|National Labour]] split from Labour.


⚫
Newbold was sometimes seen as ineffective in Parliament, mocked by many other MPs for his old and frequently dirty clothing, but focused on producing propaganda for the Communist Party. He lost his seat in the [[1923 United Kingdom general election|1923 general election]], after just over a year in Parliament. Increasingly disillusioned with communism, he resigned from the party in 1924 and rejoined the Labour Party. In 1928 Newbold joined the [[National Socialist Party (UK)|Social Democratic Federation]], and edited its journal, ''Social Democrat'', from 1929 until 1931, when he supported the [[National Labour Organisation|National Labour]] split from Labour.
⚫
He stood unsuccessfully as the Labour candidate in [[Epping (UK Parliament constituency)|Epping]] in the [[1929 UK general election]]. In the same year he was appointed to the [[Macmillan Enquiry]] into the operation of [[banking]] in the UK.

⚫
He stood unsuccessfully as the Labour candidate in [[Epping (UK Parliament constituency)|Epping]] in the [[1929 United Kingdom general election|1929 general election]]. In the same year he was appointed to the [[Macmillan Enquiry]] into the operation of [[banking]] in the UK.


===Death and legacy===
===Death and legacy===
Line 31: Line 47:
* 1923: ''Communism & the Labour Party''
* 1923: ''Communism & the Labour Party''
* 1923: ''The Political Situation in Great Britain''
* 1923: ''The Political Situation in Great Britain''
* 1933: ''Democracy, Debts and Disarmament''


==Footnotes==
==Footnotes==
Line 36: Line 53:


==Sources consulted==
==Sources consulted==
*[http://www.alor.org/Library/EnemyWithintheEmpire.htm ''Enemy Within the Empire''], [[Australian League of Rights]]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20050721162452/http://www.alor.org/Library/EnemyWithintheEmpire.htm ''Enemy Within the Empire''], [[Australian League of Rights]]
*[http://www.cpgb.org.uk/worker2/index.php?action=viewarticle&article_id=1000165 ''The tasks awaiting the Communist Party''], ''[[Weekly Worker]]''
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110608061705/http://www.cpgb.org.uk/worker2/index.php?action=viewarticle&article_id=1000165 ''The tasks awaiting the Communist Party''], ''[[Weekly Worker]]''
*[http://www.age-of-the-sage.org/history/historian/A_J_P_Taylor.html ''A. J. P. Taylor - revisionism''], age-of-the-sage.org
*[http://www.age-of-the-sage.org/history/historian/A_J_P_Taylor.html ''A. J. P. Taylor - revisionism''], age-of-the-sage.org
*[http://www.marxists.org/archive/hallas/works/1982/revlp/revlp1.htm ''Revolutionaries and the Labour Party''], [[Duncan Hallas]]
*[http://www.marxists.org/archive/hallas/works/1982/revlp/revlp1.htm ''Revolutionaries and the Labour Party''], [[Duncan Hallas]]
Line 43: Line 60:
== External links ==
== External links ==
* {{Hansard-contribs | mr-john-newbold | Walton Newbold }}
* {{Hansard-contribs | mr-john-newbold | Walton Newbold }}
*[http://www.marxists.org./archive/newbold/index.htm John Turner Walton Newbold Archive] Marxists Internet Archive
*[https://www.marxists.org/archive/newbold/index.htm John Turner Walton Newbold Archive] Marxists Internet Archive
*[https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/manchesteruniversity/data/gb133-new Walton Newbold Papers] at the [[John Rylands Library]], Manchester.


{{s-start}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-par|uk}}
{{s-par|uk}}
{{succession box
{{succession box
| title = [[Member of Parliament]] for [[Motherwell (UK Parliament constituency)|Motherwell]]
| title = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] for [[Motherwell (UK Parliament constituency)|Motherwell]]
| years = 1922&ndash;1923
| years = 1922–1923
| before = [[Robert Frederick William Robertson Nelson|Robert Nelson]]
| before = [[Robert Frederick William Robertson Nelson|Robert Nelson]]
| after = [[Hugh Ferguson]]
| after = [[Hugh Ferguson]]
}}
}}
{{s-media}}
{{s-media}}
{{succession box | before= [[Tom Kennedy (UK politician)|Tom Kennedy]]? | title= Editor of the ''[[Justice (newspaper)|Social Democrat]]'' | years= 1929&ndash;1931 | after= [[William Sampson Cluse]]}}
{{succession box | before= [[Tom Kennedy (Kirkcaldy MP)|Tom Kennedy]]? | title= Editor of the ''[[Justice (newspaper)|Social Democrat]]'' | years= 1929–1931 | after= [[William Sampson Cluse]]}}
{{s-end}}
{{s-end}}


{{Authority control|VIAF=113457764}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
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| NAME = Newbold, Walton
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = British politician
| DATE OF BIRTH = 1888
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH = 1943
| PLACE OF DEATH =
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}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Newbold, Walton}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Newbold, Walton}}
[[Category:1888 births]]
[[Category:1888 births]]
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[[Category:Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for Scottish constituencies]]
[[Category:Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for Scottish constituencies]]
[[Category:People educated at Buxton College]]
[[Category:People educated at Buxton College]]
[[Category:UK MPs 1922–23]]
[[Category:UK MPs 1922–1923]]
[[Category:People from Warrington]]
[[Category:People from Culcheth]]
[[Category:Communist Party of Great Britain MPs]]
[[Category:Communist Party of Great Britain MPs]]
[[Category:Labour Party (UK) parliamentary candidates]]
[[Category:Plebs' League members]]

Latest revision as of 19:53, 26 July 2023

Walton Newbold
Shapurji Saklatvala (left) with Walton Newbold
Born
John Turner Walton Newbold

8 May 1888
Culcheth, Lancashire, England
Died20 February 1943
EducationBuxton College,
University of Manchester
Known forFirst Communist Party of Great Britain MP
WWI Conscientious objector

John Turner Walton Newbold (8 May 1888 – 20 February 1943), generally known as Walton Newbold, was the first of the four Communist Party of Great Britain members to be elected as MPs in the United Kingdom.

Biography[edit]

Early years[edit]

John Turner Walton Newbold was born in Culcheth, Lancashire, on 8 May 1888, and was educated at Buxton College and the University of Manchester.

On leaving university, Newbold lectured in history and politics, and was engaged in industrial and economic research.[1] In 1908, he joined the Fabian Society, connected with the Labour Party, and then the Independent Labour Party (ILP) in 1910. In line with the ILP's pacifist position on World War I, he joined the No Conscription Fellowship, and was a conscientious objector, although he was in any case found physically unfit for military service. He did a great deal of research into the arms trade and its international connections in the late 19th/early 20th centuries.[2] Whilst still a research student, he married fellow socialist Marjory Neilson on 16 June 1916.[3]

Political career[edit]

In 1917 Newbold joined the Labour educational Plebs' League and the British Socialist Party (BSP). He had a number of articles published in The Call, the paper of the BSP.[4] By 1920, he was a committed communist, stating "my loyalty, at any rate, is now – as it has been for two and a half years – first and foremost to the position of the Third International". In 1921 he resigned from the ILP and joined the Communist Party of Great Britain, becoming a member of its first central committee.

In the 1922 general election, Newbold was elected to represent the Motherwell constituency in the House of Commons. Locally his wife Marjory was well known in working class and socialist groups, from leading social Sunday schools, and adult education and campaigns, and some say he was supported because he was 'Madge's man'.[5] Newbold received the support of the Labour Party, but unlike many other Communist candidates, including Shapurji Saklatvala who was elected in the same general election, he stood under the label "Communist". Additionally, he was refused permission to take the Labour whip and to sit with the Labour group. As such, he is sometimes counted as the first Communist MP in Britain, although others cite Cecil L'Estrange Malone, who switched from the Liberal Party in 1920, as the first Communist MP.

Saklatvala was accepted into the Labour Party's parliamentary caucus but while Newbold applied for the same he was rejected.[6] This did not stop Saklatvala and Newbold from joint activity, however, and the pair attempted to raise the demands of the unemployed and the cause of cheap housing and lower rents whenever possible.[7] Newbold wound up being suspended from the House in May 1923 over his actions with respect to the Curzon ultimatum during the French occupation of the Ruhr.[7]

Newbold was sometimes seen as ineffective in Parliament, mocked by many other MPs for his old and frequently dirty clothing, but focused on producing propaganda for the Communist Party. He lost his seat in the 1923 general election, after just over a year in Parliament. Increasingly disillusioned with communism, he resigned from the party in 1924 and rejoined the Labour Party. In 1928 Newbold joined the Social Democratic Federation, and edited its journal, Social Democrat, from 1929 until 1931, when he supported the National Labour split from Labour.

He stood unsuccessfully as the Labour candidate in Epping in the 1929 general election. In the same year he was appointed to the Macmillan Enquiry into the operation of banking in the UK.

Death and legacy[edit]

Newbold died in February 1943, aged 54.

List of works[edit]

  • 1916: How Europe Armed for War 1871 - 1914
  • 1917: Socialism and Militarism
  • 1917: Capitalism and Imperialism
  • 1920: Impression of the Communist Unity Convention
  • 1922: Egypt and the Entente
  • 1922: What is the League of Nations—Anyway?
  • 1923: Communism & the Labour Party
  • 1923: The Political Situation in Great Britain
  • 1933: Democracy, Debts and Disarmament

Footnotes[edit]

  1. ^ Who's Who 1938
  2. ^ Newbold, J T Walton (1916). How Europe Armed for War (1871 - 1914). Blackfriars Press Ltd. pp. 108.
  3. ^ "Newbold [née Neilson], Marjory (1883–1926), socialist and communist". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. 2004. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/55682. ISBN 978-0-19-861412-8. Retrieved 1 October 2020. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  4. ^ Crawford, Ted. "Index of articles in The Call, 1916-1920". www.marxists.org. Marxist Internet Archive. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  5. ^ Duncan, Robert (1992). "Marjory Neilson Newbold (1884 - 1926) Tribute to a Socialist Pioneer". Scottish Labour History Review. 6: 4.
  6. ^ James Klugmann, History of the Communist Party of Great Britain: Volume One: Formation and Early Years, 1919–1924. London: Lawrence and Wishart, 1968; pg. 192.
  7. ^ a b Klugmann, History of the Communist Party of Great Britain: Volume 1, pg. 193.

Sources consulted[edit]

External links[edit]

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Motherwell
1922–1923 		Succeeded by
Media offices
Preceded by Editor of the Social Democrat
1929–1931 		Succeeded by
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