Difference between revisions of "Economic League"

Revision as of 21:49, 22 June 2014

Summary

Established in 1919 by conservative politicians and industrialists, the Economic League was a pro-capitalist and anti socialist propagandist group. In public it conducted a “Crusade for Capitalism” targeted at the workforce of local members’ factories, and a against the ‘subversion” of trade union activism and left of centre political parties. Behind closed doors it set up and ran a blacklist of allegedly “subversive” workers, available to member companies. After the Second World War the League continued both strands of propagandist activity and continued to campaign for capitalism especially through partisan apprentice training, and against activism through pamphlets and media stories and more clandestinely through a blacklist made available to members. However from the 1970s its role in pro-capitalism lobbying became less important as a result of the changes to the structure of the workforce in the UK and the demise of Industrial training and apprenticeships, . The League focused on campaigning against trade union activism and continued to provide a blacklisting service for member companies. Construction and Engineering Companies paid an additional premium for this service in their industries and became subscribers to the Economic League Services Group. The League’s income and importance as a pro capital and anti-activist lobbyist declined during the 1980s with an economic recession that reduced the number of corporate members, and Government sympathetic to their political views. Attempts to rationalise and restructure the League lead to internal disputes and at least one discontent employee leaking information and documents to journalists about the Leagues’s continuing blacklisting activities. There was a series of damaging media exposes, notably by World in Action and by Journalist Richard Norton Taylor writing in the guardian, and Paul Foot writing in the “Mirror”. This investigations led the UK Parliament’s Employment Select Committee to conduct a public inquiry into the League’s activities. Its final report in 1992 was highly critical of their blacklisting activities. In 1993 the Economic League was placed in liquidation and wound up. It claimed that the blacklist had been destroyed. The Employment Relations Act 1999 made provision for blacklisting to be made illegal through regulations, these were not however enacted. In 2009 the Information Commissioner’s Office raided the offices of an trade association called The Consulting Association run by a former employee of the Economic League This group had continued to run the Services Group blacklist on behalf the construction companies who had subscribed to it, and he was prosecuted and fined for breaches of the data protection laws. Following this prosecution the Employment Relations Act 1999(Blacklists) Regulations 2010 were finally enacted making Blacklisting Illegal in the UK. There were more than 3,000 workers on The Consulting Association blacklist. A Blacklist Support Group was established with support from trade unions and trade unionist with high profile campaigns against blacklisting companies and private prosecutions. These are continuing. In the UKParliament another Select Committee - The Scottish Selected Committee - decided to examine the current reality of the blacklisting calling number of former Economic League Employees and corporate supporters to give evidence.

History, People & Companies

Origins & Early Organisation

In 1919 a meeting of senior conservative industrialists and politicians was held at the offices of National Publicity Agency, lobbyists for the brewery owners. It was convened by Admiral William Reginald Hall who had retired as the wartime head of naval intelligence to become a Conservative MP for a Liverpool constituency in the hastily called post-war election.

Founders

Also at the meeting were:

Major Richard C. Kelly Director of the National Publicity Agency lobbyists for the Brewery Industry
John Gretton Chairman of the Bass Brewery and MP representing the brewing town of Burton in Staffordshire
Evan Williams President of the mine owners' Mining Association
Cuthbert Laws of the Ship Owners' Association
Arthur Balfour The leading Sheffield steel manufacturer, became Lord Riverdale
Sir Allan Smith Director of the Engineering Employers Federation.

National Propaganda

The outcome of this meeting was the creation of a new group to confront and undermine what they saw as a trade union, socialist and communist threat to capitalism within the workplace. This new group was placed within an existing group with anti socialist objectives called the British Commonwealth Union as its National Propaganda Committee but quickly acquired an identity of its own - becoming known simply as National Propaganda. National Propaganda seems to have acted as part co-ordinating body, part public relations agency for a large number of groups campaign for right wing causes and single issues - the British Empire Union, National Citizens Union, National Alliance of Employers and Employed, Industrial League and Council, Industrial Welfare Society, Christian Counter Communist Crusade, Children’s Faith Crusade, the Economic Study Clubs. The League’s main early functions were propagandist. It conducted a “Crusade for Capitalism” targeted at the workforce of local members’ factories, and a wider public campaign campaign against the ‘subversion” of trade union activism and left of centre political parties. To support its campaign against activists, the League gathered information from a variety of public and private sources. It published pamphlets naming activists and organisations of which it regarded as subversive. Under the enthusiastic direction of Reginald Hall and Richard Kelly, National Propaganda developed a regional structure, with membership made up of conservative politicians and/or employers.

Early Organisation

By 1924 the League’s local Structure included:

Lancashire and Cheshire Economic League

Royal Central Chambers, Manchester Chairman: Sir William Clare Lees Central Council Representative: Lieutenant Col. Sir Alan J Sykes. Executive members: F. W Astbury, MP In 1923- 24 it held 1,417 meetings of various sorts attended by 333,497 people.

Liverpool Economic League

10 Hatton Gardens Chairman: Sir Max Muspratt Executive members: J. Sandeman Allen, MP. It claimed to have held 200 meetings. Greater London Economic League: 2 Millbank House Chairman: Neville Gwynne. In 1923- 24 it held 595 meetings were attended by 145,000 people. "A special feature of propaganda in London", it claims "Dinner- hour talks" to employees inside factories". The work of the League's paid workers was by 1923 being augmented by "25 working men, all of whom are trades unionists and constitutionalists”.

South Wales Economic League

46 Stuart Street, Cardiff. Chairman: Frank Shearman Executive members: James Miles.

Leeds Economic League:

In 1923- 24 it held 751 meetings attended by 111,000 people.

Sheffield Economic League:

In 1923- 24 it held more than 1,000 meetings

Huddersfield Economic League:

In 1923- 24 it held 347 meetings attended by 32,000

Keighley Economic League:

In 1923- 24 it held 295 meetings with a total attendance of 32,000

Women’s Work (West Riding):

In 1923- 24 it held 133 meetings attended by 5,400 women and 74 study circles with a total attendance of nearly 1,000. A potentially fascinating area of the League's work, it disappears in subsequent reports.

North East Coast - National Propaganda;

10 Leazes Terrace, Tyne and Wear Branch Branch Office for Newcastle,Tees and Hartlepool. Central Council Representative: Launcelot E. Smith Tyne and Wear executive members: Clive Cookson, Major General Sir R A Kerr Montgomery

Hull and East Riding Economic League:

5, Myrtle Street, Hessle. Chairman: G. F. Robinson It noted its gratitude to the local press for "the very comprehensive reports they have given of the meetings in the area". They also recorded the establishment of a branch of the "Children's Faith Crusade" in February 1923. "Results to date are encouraging" and reports ".... The largest Communist Sunday School has been closed".

Barrow-in-Furness Economic League:

Hector House, Newbarns, In 1923- 24 it held 1578 meetings included afternoon classes for the unemployed.

Midland Counties Economic League

Chairman: Gilbert Vyle This regional branch of the Economic League operated over a massive area which included Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire. It claimed to have been particularly active 1923- 24 in mining areas during a ballot of miners on the National Wages Agreement - "it being of interest to note that in all areas where the League concentrated the vote was for acceptance of the terms submitted”.

North Wales Economic League:

A small and short-lived branch of the League run from the Lancashire and Cheshire and Liverpool offices.

The First Labour Government, and the Leadership of Aukland Geddes

In October 1922 the the post-war coalition collapsed. and the liberal Prime Minister, Lloyd George, was replaced briefly by Bonar Law and then, in May 1923, by Stanley Baldwin. One of the first things Law had done was to appoint Reginald Hall as Principal Agent of the Conservative Party. He was the only serving MP ever to be Principal Agent of the Conservative Party. Following he election on December 6 1923 the Conservatives were the largest party, but they had lost their overall majority and Hall was one of 90 Conservative MPs to lose their seat. They couldn’t secure the support of the Liberals so in January 1923 the Labour Party formed it first minority government under Ramsay MacDonald. In March Baldwin sacked Hall as Principal Agent of the party, and the leadership of National Propaganda was passed to Sir Aukland Geddes. The former government minister and US ambassador was only in charge of the Economic League for a year before going to head up the Rio Tinto mining company, Later Rio Tinto Zinc. His Brother Eric Geddes, another former Conservative minister, was at the same time President of the Federation of British Industries. Under his brief stewardship Geddes was a major reorganisation of the League.Geddeschanged the name of National Propaganda to The Central Council of the Economic Leagues and in 1926 it became The Economic League. He was the President of the Central Council on a salary of 4,000 gbp. Geddes also consolidated the blacklisting of workers whom they believed to be political and trade union activists or supporters: "One of the first tasks initiated by Sir Auckland Geddes was the compilation of a chart and dossier of socialist and subversive organisations and their interlocking directorates. Arrangements are in hand for a permanent clearing house of information in connection with alien organisations and individuals. A document containing a considerable body of information on "red" ramifications and methods had already been circulated in confidence to district Economic Leagues. Supplements to the documents will be circulated from time to time.”

"The National Campaign to Combat Socialism"

Geddes’ salary as President of the League was 4000gbp , a very substantial sum for the time, indicating the level of investment that was going into the League and it satellite organisations. On April 8th of 1924 the British Empire Union launched an appeal for £100,000 per year to support a "National Campaign to Combat Socialism". That income would today be worth around £2.5m. Contributors were asked to mark subscriptions for either the General Fund, British Empire Union or National Citizens Union. The appeal was signed by Colonel O. G. Armstrong, president of the Federation of British Industries; Sir Vincent Caillard, of Vickers; Lord Gainford, coal owner; Lord Invernairn; Sir Allan Smith, chairman of the Engineering Employers Federation; Sir Alan Sykes, chairman of the Bleachers association; and Evan Williams, president of the Mining Association of Great Britain. It was to be a fighting fund for the the next election, which would be th third in two years. The League’s 5th annual report reflected their role in opposition to the Labour Government: "The period covered by the Annual report witnessed the establishment in office of the first Labour-Socialist Government. The question whether or not "Labour" is fit to govern has thus become academic. "Labour" HAS governed and a cabinet of Socialists is tacitly accepted by the nation as a potential alternative to a Cabinet of Constitutionalists.” It goes on to argue: "The fact that there were found five and a half million British citizens willing to place in power as well as in office a body of men plunged in uneconomics, pledged to the nationalisation of industry, and plighted in troth to subsidise Russian Bolshevism with British savings, is a measure of the educational work that remains to be done.”

The "Zinoviev Letter"

MacDonald’s minority government only lasted until November. during which most of its activity was devoted to attempting to reach an agreement with the Russian go

People

A Who’s Who of the Economic League

The following list takes two historical snapshots of the membership of the Economic League's main governing bodies: in the mid 1920's and at the time of the formation of the Limited Company in 1951. "1925", "1926" or "1927" after a name indicates the first known date of appointment; in some cases it might have been earlier be earlier. "1951" indicates that the person was a founding member of the Economic League Co Ltd. As as the way of things in Powerbase titles have been omitted in the name. however the are given at the end of the entry to assist in identification in other documents.

Edwin Airey Leeds 1926,Titles: Knighted
H. Russell Allday 1951
H. G. Allen Central Council 1925
John Sandeman Allen Liverpool 1925,Titles: (MP)
E. D. E. Andrewes Central Council 1972-1976 Res 1977
Arthur Andrews Central Council 1925
D. Andrews-Jones Central Council 1984
William Appleby Hon Treasurer North East Coast 1933 1951,Titles: Captain
A. W. Archer Leeds 1926
O. C. Armstrong Central Council 1925,Titles: Colonel
Peter E. Ashworth Central Council 1982
A. W. Astbury Lancashire & Cheshire 1925,Titles: Commander (MP)
F.W. Bain Liverpool 1925
J. Ellis Baker Central Council 1925
Arthur Balfour Founder, Sheffield Executive 1926,Titles: Lord Riverdale
H. Ballantyne Liverpool & District Organiser 1933
J. B. Bardsley Sheffield 1926
T. B. Barker Lancashire & Cheshire 1925
ArthurKentish Barnes Liverpool 1925
Walter Barnet Midlands 1925
David Barran Central Council 1972-79 (Resigned).,Titles: Knighted
President 1972/3
C. M. Bateman Central Council 1925Keighley 1926,Titles: Lieut. Colonel
Christopher Beckett Central Council 1972-8,Titles: Lord Grimthorpe
Rupert Beckett ,Titles: The Hon
E. R. Benson Central Council 1925 Huddersfield (President) 1926
P. A. Best London Exec
M. M. Bidder Central Council 1925 Leeds 1926,Titles: Lieut. Colonel
J. Spencer Binns Keighley 1926
G. H. Bland Hull Executive 1925
A. Blenkinsop Sheffield 1926
Charles Boot Sheffield 1926
W. J. Bridge Central Council 1984,Titles: Major
Harry Brittain 1951,Titles: Knighted (MP)
E. S. Brocklehurst Hull Executive 1925,Titles:
Thomas Brodie Central Council 1984 (Vice President),Titles: Major
Raymond Brookes Central Council 1972-77 Resigned 1978,Titles: Lord Brookes from 1975
W. Brooksbank Huddersfield & District Organiser 1933.
F.E. Brown Huddersfield Executive 1926
Peter Boswell Brown Sheffield 1926
Maurice B. Buchanan 1951,Titles: Colonel
F. H. Burrell Hull Executive 1925
Vincent Caillard Central Council 1925
Angus Dudley Fbi Campbell 1951,Titles: The Hon
Alderman Thomas Canby Huddersfield Executive 1926
A. J. Capro Sheffield 1926
W. H. Carey Nottinghamshire Committee 1927
Carlile Central Council 1972-83 Resigned 1984
E. G. Carter Central Council North East Area 1971-1978 Died
Nicholas Cayzer Central Council 1972,Titles: Lord Cayzer
F. T. Chadwick Leeds 1926
J. Challen Lancashire & Cheshire 1927,Titles: Major
Chamberlain Central Council 19761977
E. P. Chappell Central Council 1977-79,Titles: R
R. Charlesworth Sheffield 1926
M. Cheverton-Brown Hull 1925,Titles: Alderman
Alwyn Child Leeds 1925
I. J. Chorley South Wales 1925
William Bertram Chrimes Liverpool 1926
EdwinKitson Clark Leeds 1927,Titles: Lieut. Colonel
Henry Clark North East Coast 1925
W. Clark Sheffield 1926
William Joseph Clarke 1951
Robert Clive Sheffield 1926
Henry S. Clough Keighley President 1926
William Henry Coates Central Council 1927
Charles Coggan Treasurer 1927Nottingham
Clive Cookson North East Coast 1925 1951
H. B. Cordingley Keighley 1926
Clifford Cory Central Council 1925,Titles: Knighted (MP)
James Coull Central Council 1987
G. Craig Leeds. Hudersfield 1926
Archibald Crawford National Director of Policy and Propaganda 1925 1926
Lawrence Crowther Huddersfield 1926
C. A. W. Dawes Central Council 1971-1982 Died
W. B. Denison Leeds 1926
A. J. Denniss London 1925
John Stanley Dettmer Central Council 1977-78 Vice President, Director General
Edward Dixon Sheffield President. 1926 Central Council1925,Titles:
B. Paulin Dobson Lancashire & Cheshire 1927,Titles: Colonel
E. Dobson London 1925
Frank Dudley Docker Central Council 1925
Arthur Dorman North East Coast 1926
Lord Dowding Central Council 1984
W. Newton Drew Sheffield 1926
R. J. Dunlop Central Council 1976-79
John Eaglesome Leeds 1926,Titles: Knighted
S. G.T. Earle Midlands 1926
P. G. Edwards Central Council North East 1977 - President?
Elliott Sheffield 1926
G. A. Ellis Huddersfield 1926
William Henry Ellis Sheffield 1926,Titles: Knighted
H. C. Else Sheffield 1926
Lord Erroll Central Council 1977-83
J. Ormund Evans Midlands 1925
John Evetts Central Council 1972-1976,Titles: Lieut. Gen.Knighted
D. Fahey Central Council 1983
Walter C. Fairer Lancashire & Cheshire 1927,Titles: Major
Henry Fildes Lancashire & Cheshire 1925,Titles: Knighted (MP)
Victor Harold Finney Area Officer Lancashire & Cheshire 1933,Titles: (MP)
Bertram James Firkins 1951
Algernon F. Firth Central Council 1925,Titles: Knighted
C. Firth Central Council 1976-84 Resigned 1985
D. Flather Sheffield 1926
H. Glover Ford Nottingham General Committee,Titles: Alderman
J. H. B. Forster North East Coast 1925
William Forster Nottingham 1927
W. Forster Leeds. Midlands 1925,Titles: Major
N. Fowler Central Council Resigned 1976
J. D. Fraser Central Council 1972-1974 Resigned 1975
R. Fremantle Central Council 1983
Henry Frith Keighley 1927
A. J. Gainsford Sheffield 1926,Titles: Major
D. Gardner Central Council 1972-77
Aukland C. Geddes Chairman 1925-26,Titles: Knighted
Philip Gee Central Council 1925
Maurice S. Gibb North East Coast 1925
Finaly A. Gibson Central Council 1925 South Wales 1925
Robert Gladstone Liverpool 1925
J. P. R. Glynn Central Council 1973-78 Resigned 1979
W. Gosling Hull 1925
Gould P. Leeds. South Wales 1926
James Childs Gould Central Council 1925 ,Titles: (MP)
Maxwell Harper Gow Central Council 1984
A. B. Gowan North East Coast 1925
William Graham South Wales 1925,Titles: (Knighted
H. A. Bennie Gray Huddersfield 1926
P. D. C. Greenaway Central Council 1983
John Horsley Gresham 1951
T.A.R Grieve Central Council11974-79
John Edward Grimble Groves Lancashire & Cheshire 1925,Titles: Colonel
Nevile Gwyn Gwynne Central Council 1925
M. Haddon-Grant Central Council 1980-1983
Robert A. Hadfield Central Council 1925,Titles: Knighted
Graham Hale Central Council 1987
C. A. C. Hamilton Central Council 1976-1979 Resigned 1980
A. B. Hampton Central Council 1976
Edmund Lawrence Hann South Wales 1925
H. D. S. Hardie Central Council 1980-1983
Harding Central Council 1986
A. H. Hardisty Huddersfield 1926
R. Harper South Wales 1925
Joseph Harrison Lancashire & Cheshire 1925-1926
A. D. Hartley Keighley 1926
Arthur W. Heard South Wales 1925
R. Henderson-Tate Chair North Midlands 1965-71 Central Council 1965-71
John Henry Central Council 1925,Titles: Knighted
Lord Hewlett Nw Region 1976-79 Central Council 1978/79
W. L. Hey Central Council 1972-75,Titles: Colonel
Hickingbotham Midlands 1925
W. S. Hide Vice-pres Hull 1925
E. J. Hill London 1925
J. W. Hind Nottingham
W. E. Hinde South Wales 1925
Geoffrey A. N. Hirst Central Council 1934 To 1967,Titles: (MP)
W. P. Hitch Leeds 1927
Robert Rawdon Hoare Joined Early 1930's As Regional Director Lancs And Cheshire Dg 1945-1959 Central Council 1959-75 ,Titles: Colonel
John Richard Hobhouse 1951,Titles: Knighted
C. E. Hodgkin London 1925 1926
Knighted Derrick Holden-Brown Central Council 1975-82
H. Hollingworth Hudders 1926
H. A. L. Hope Central Council 1973-1976
E. Hoult Sheffield 1926
William Bolton Howarth
Charles Hudson Hull 1925,Titles: Colonel
R. Hudson Keighley 1926
J. E. Hughes Central Council 1977,Titles: Dr
Edward Hulton Central Council 1925,Titles: Knighted
E. C. C. Hunter Lancashire & Cheshire 1925
Lindsay Clive Hunting Central Council 1975-1977
A. E. Hurst Midlands 1925
C. F. Hurst Central Council 1972-1977
James R. H. Hutchison 1951,Titles: Colonel (MP)
William G. Ibberson Central Council 1972-1977
Frank Impey Midlands
Lord Invernairn Central Councili1925e (MP) Until 1933) 1951
C. F. Jackson Midlands 1926
H. F. Jakeman 1986
Edgar J. Jenkins Sheffield 1926
Henry F. Joel London 1925
J. A. Johnson Leeds 1927
J. A. Jones Leeds 1927
Trevor S. Jones South Wales 1925
Walter Benyon Jones 1951,Titles: Knighted
Richard C. Kelly Central Council 1925
D. Keys Central Council 1980-84
Ernest R. Kilner 1951
Newman King Keighley 1926
Thomas King London 1926
H. H. Kitson Leeds 1927
Lionel Kitson Central Council 1927
E. C. Lambert Vice-Pres Hull 1925
A. Lynden Lawrence London 1925
G. Alistair Lean Central Council 1982
Harry Douglas Leather 1951
R. E. Ledbury Midlands 1925 1926
A. N. Lee Sheffield 1926,Titles: Lieut Colonel
A. S. Lee Sheffield 1926
William Alexande Lee Central Council 1925, 1951
Percival Leigh Leeds 1927
Hugh Lewis Liverpool 1926
C. W. Lillie Leeds 1927
S. Lineham Leeds 1927
C. E. Linton Sheffield 1926
David Little Leeds 1926
M. C. Lloyd Central Council 1972
Benjamin Longbottom Lancashire & Cheshire 1925,Titles: Knighted
A. P. Low Central Council 1972
H. E. D. Mabbott Central Council 1927 Chair In Late 30's Lancashire & Cheshire 1925
T. S. Macaskie Leeds 1927
A. R. Macdonal Secretary Of West Of Scotland (?)
Stanley Machin London 1925,Titles: Knighted
J. Mackay Sheffield
A. Mackenzie Central Council 1927 Leeds 1926 ,Titles: Dr
Robert Maclean Central Council 1973-1983 Vice President 1977-83,Titles: Knighted
D. Macleod Central Council 1974-1983
W. W. Macpherson Leeds 1927,Titles: Major
Knighted Michael MalColonelm Central Council 1952-75
Later Scotland Central Council
H. Vivian Mander Midland Counties 1926,Titles: Capt.
F. O. Mannion Organiser Nottingham 1933,Titles: Major
Edward Manville Central Council 1925 Fbi Etc,Titles: Knighted
D. S. Marjoribanks North East Coast 1925
Ducan P. Marshal-Andrew Central Council 1982
D. S. Martin Central Council 1976-1978
Victor C. Matthews Central Council 1975-80. Enobled 1980(1981?)
Hay Ingham Matthey Central Council 1972-1981 President 1980
A. Maxwell Treasurer 1925,Titles: Brig Gen
James May Leeds 1927
N. Mccaskie Huddersfield 1926
Harry McGowan Central Council 1925,Titles: Lord McGowan
Douglas McCraith Nottingham 1927,Titles: ir
R. P. L. Mcmurtrie Central Council 1977-1980
W. H. Mewton South Wales 1925
James Miles Central Council 1925 South Wales 1925
John L. Mills Central Council (Co-Opted) 1983 Central Council 1984,Titles:
Anthony E. Minns Central Council 1952-74 Member Of The El Executive Finance committee (Est. 1956) Later Called The Policy-Finance Committee.
N. R. M. Moir Central Council 1972-73
R. A.Kerr Mongomerry North East Coast 1925,Titles: Major GenKnighted
Herbert Morgan Central Council 1925,Titles: Knighted
A. N. Mould Central Council 1972-1975
M. J. Mowat Sheffield 1926
P. Maxwell Muller London 1925
Alaister Murray Central Council 1958-1973 (Died) Chair Scotland 1958-1969 Pres Scotland 1969-1973,Titles: Knighted
Max Muspratt Central Council 1925 Chair Liverpool 1925,Titles: Knighted
Michael Nall Central Council 1983-,Titles: Knighted
Leonard Neal ,Titles: Knighted
George Horatio Nelson Sheffield 1926
N. R. Newsholme Keighley 1926
Frank Nicholson North East Coast 1925
J. L. Nicholson London 1925
S. T. Nicholson Hull 1925
Adam Nimmo Central Council 1925,Titles: Knighted
Saxton William Noble Central Council 1925,Titles: Knighted
Ernest Fitzjohn Oldham London 1925 1926,Titles: Knighted
M. D. Oliphant Central Council 1972-1973
Lawrence W. Orchard Central Council 1975-77
John Ormeroyd Lancashire & Cheshire 1925
S. Osborn Sheffield 1926
W. Palmer Leeds + District Organiser 1933
J. J. Parkes Central Council 1972-76
Jimson Parsons Central Council 1975-
H. Pearce Lancashire & Cheshire 1925
Peter L. H. Pearson Central Council 1985
Jack Pease President Central Council 1925 1926 ,Titles: Lord Gainford
Reginald Pease North East Coast 1925
Sydney L. Pepper Midland Counties Counties Organiser 1933
J. H. Portway Leeds 1927
J. Murray Prain Central Council 1972-74
G. Prentice Liverpool 1926
N. G. Price Central Council 1977-79
Francis Priestman North East Coast 1925
F. E. Pritchard Liverpool 1925
Thomas Putnam North East Coast 1925,Titles: Knighted
R. B. Raworth Central Council 1974-83
Edward Rea Central Council 1985- President South Wales
Halford Walter Lupton Reddish 1951Central Council 19??-1976 Vice President
Edward Reed 1951
Alfred Ree Lancashire & Cheshire 1925,Titles: Dr
D. Morgan Rees South Wales 1925
Knighted James P. Reynolds Central Council 1926 Liverpool 1925
R. C. Reynolds Lancashire & Cheshire 1927
D. Rhodes Keighley 1926
R. E. Rhodes Hull 1925
Edward Rimmer Liverpool 1925,Titles: Lieut. Colonel
W. H. Ritson North East Coast 1925,Titles: Lieut. Colonel
A. Robertson Central Council (Co-Opted) 1983 Central Council 1984-,Titles: Dr
G. Fox Robinson Central Council 1925 Hull 1925
Thom Robinson Central Council 1987-1989
P. Robson Hull 1925,Titles: Major
George Kemp 1951 Central Council ?-1977 Vice President,Titles: The Rt Hon Lord Rochdale
R. Roger North East Coast 1925
Knighted Hallewell Rogers Central Council 1925
T. G. Parry Rogers Central Council 1982
Leonard Ropner North East Coast (Tees/Hartlepool) 1925,Titles: Colonel (MP)
A. D. Rose Central Council 1972-1974,Titles: Group Capt
Morton Ross Central Council 1980-1983
P. Ross Hull 1925
Ronald R. Rowles Central Council 1983
J. P. Rudolf Liverpool 1926
Walter Runciman 1951 Central Council ?-1977,Titles: The Rt Hon The Viscount Runciman
C. D. Rundge Central Council 1986
Arnold Rushton Liverpool 1925,Titles: Knighted
A. E. Rushworth Huddersfield 1926
H. L. Rust Sheffield 1926
Stanley Sadler North East Coast 1925
A. W. Midland Counties Sanders
Oswald Vice Pres. Sanderson Hull 1925 1926,Titles: Colonel
Leonard R. Sandford London & District Organiser & General Secretary 1933 Joint Orgn (With J. B. White) Of South Of England
W. H. Sargeant Secretary of Sheffield & District 1933
Peter Savill Director General -1985 Central Council 1986 -
A. Senior Sheffield 1926
Frank Sherman Central Council 1925 Chair Of South Wales 1925
J. F. Simpson Central Council 1972-1983
W. S. Skelton Sheffield 1926
Clarence Smith D. North East Coast 1925
Launcelot Eustace Smith Central Council 1925 Chair North East Coast 1925
Waldron Smithers 1951,Titles: Knighted (MP)
Frank Southern Lancashire & Cheshire 1925
Rupert Speir Central Council 1972-1976,Titles: Knighted
Hugh Baird Spens 1951,Titles: Colonel
Douglas Spicer London 1925
Stacey Liverpool 1925,Titles: Capt.
Alfred J. Stanyard 1951
Stevens 1951
Stockwell Leeds 1926
Lord Colonelumn Chrichon (MP) Stuart South Wales 1925,Titles: Lord Colonelumn Chrichon (MP)
Hunter Summers North East Coast 1925
E. Swan Liverpool 1925
Alan J. Sykes Central Council 1925 Lancashire & Cheshire 1925(President),Titles: Lieut. ColonelKnighted (MP)
Charles D. Sykes Midland Counties 1925
H. Saxon Tate Central Council 1973-83 Chairman (?) 76-82
Alderman Charles Terry 1951
J. D. Thompson Lancashire & Cheshire 1925,Titles: Capt.
W. G. Thompstone Central Council 1973-1975
Gerald Thorley Central Council 1973-198? 1980-? President,Titles: Knighted
R. M. Tilling London 1925
Philip J. Toosey Central Council 1960-1976 Liverpool& District,Titles: Knighted
Anthony G. Touche Central Council 1975-?,Titles: Knighted
Eric Turner Central Council 1965-1980 Chair Policy & Finance Committee 1967 1972 Chair Of Investment Sub-Committee Formed In 1977
Edmund G. Underwood Nottingham 1927 1951,Titles: Alderman
M. E. Unwin Sheffield 1926
Norman D. Vine Leeds 1927
Adolph Vines London 1925 1951
M. Vines Central Council 1972-1975
Julius L. F. Vogel Liverpool 1925
Gilbert C. Vyle Central Council 1925 Chair Midland Counties 1925
F. F. Wagstaffe Keighley 1926
Ridley Warham North East Coast 1925
J. B. Warner Nottingham 1927
Robert J. Webber South Wales 1925
A. Wedgewood Lancashire & Cheshire 1925
Harold West 1951,Titles: Knighted
B. J. Whitehouse Central Council 1985-
W. H. Whitehouse London 1925
F. Whitfield Huddersfield 1926
R. H. Wilkins Central Council 1972-78,Titles: Vice Pres 1975?
Robert M. Willan Central Council 1982-??,Titles: North West
G. C. H. Willans Huddersfield 1926
Francis Vernon Willey Central Council 1925,Titles: (MP) Baron Barnby From 1929
Llewellyn Williams Lancashire & Cheshire 1927
D. R. H. Williams Huddersfield 1926
R. S. Williamson Midland Counties 1926,Titles: Colonel
E. Wilson London 1925 1926 1927(Chair)
Arthur N. L. Wood North East Coast 1925,Titles: Knighted
Percy Woodhouse Lancashire & Cheshire 1927,Titles: Knighted
J. Wrathall Keighley 1927

Central Council Members1988 - 1990

Central Council Members Who Resigned/Died Between 1988 And 1990:

Maj. W J Bridge 1984-1988
William Nicholas Cayzer 1972 - 4/7/89- Lord Cayzer
James Coull 1987
P D C Greenaway 1983
Sir Maxwell Harper Gow 1984-17/1/89
Christopher Beckett - Lord Grimthorpe
M Haddon-Grant 1980
Graham Hale 1987
Lindsay Clive Hunting
John Lawrence-Mills 1983-4/7/89
G Alister Lean 1982
Duncan P. Marshall-Andrew 1982
Lawrence William Orchard 1975 - 4/7/89
Peter L. H. Pearson 1985
H Price -1990
Edward Rea 1985-17/1/89
Dr A. Robertson 1983
T. G. Parry Rogers 1982
C D Runge 1986
Gerald Bowers Thorley
Sir Anthony Touche 1975
Robert M. Willan 1982-17/1/89

Economic League Directors & Workers

Director Generals:

John Baker-White, 1926-1945 Robert Rawdon Hoare, 1945-1959 John S Dettmer, 1959-1977 Michael Noar, 1986-1989 Stan Hardy, 1989 - 1993

Senior Staff In August 1987

Michael Noar, Director General Thom Robinson, Company Secretary & Director Of Information John O Udal, Liaison Director P Thackery, National Co-Ordinator Of The Services Group Jack Winder, Research

Regional Directors:

Richard T Brett (North West Region) J S Bromley (North Eastern Region) (Assistant Director Alan Harvey Was Said To Have Been Sacked Following The First "World In Action" Programme In Which He Had Been Covertly Filmed Boasting Of Contacts Within The Police) E Dover (Western Region) Peter Leach (Eastern Region) Hamish MacGreggor (Scotland) Jack Winder (Midland Region) A L P Weeks (South Eastern Region) By 1989 Thom Robinson had been replaced by M James. F Barnes and P Thackery had been replaced by Ian Kerr. The supervisor of the Information and Research Department was Joanne Wood. Richard Brett had been sacked, alleging unfairly dismissal.

Companies

Companies Which Subscribed to the Economic League

Those marked + had a Director on the League's Central Council 1975-1989

Companies which were members of the Economic League Services Group

Resources

Publications on the Economic League

“Spies At Work”, Mike Hughes, Turnpike Publications, London, 2012 ISBN 9781291044911
“Spies at Work”, Mike Hughes, e-book, 2014, ISBN 9781291045079, http://www.lulu.com/shop/mike-hughes/spies-at-work/ebook/product-20912431.html
“The Economic League: The Silent McCarthyism”: Mark Hollingsworth, Charles Tremayne, Civil Liberties Trust, 1989, ISBN 9780946088355

“Blacklist: Inside Story of Political Vetting”, Mark Hollingsworth, Richard Norton-Taylor, The Hogarth Press, London, 1988, ISBN 9780701208110

Labour Research Department What is the Economic League? Labour White Papers No. 23, Labour Research Department, London, 1927.
Labour Research Department What is the Economic League? Revised Edition, Foreword by Ebby Edwards, Secretary, Mineworkers Federation of Great Britain, Labour Research Department, London, 1937.
Labour Research Department Who is Behind Them?, May 1953.
Labour Research Department A Subversive Guide to the Economic League 1969.

Parliamentary Reports:

Scottish Affairs Committee - Thirteenth Report: Blacklisting in Employment-Update: Incorporating the Government's Response to the Sixth Report of Session 2013-14, May 2014, http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmselect/cmscotaf/1291/129102.htm

Scottish Affairs Committee - Oral and Written Evidence, Blacklisting in Employment, February 2013, http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmselect/cmscotaf/156/contents.htm, see also http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmselect/cmscotaf/writev/blacklisting/winder/contents.htm and http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmselect/cmscotaf/writev/blacklisting/kerrcontents.htm

2nd report, session 1990-91 : recruitment practices. Vol. 1, Report Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Employment Committee. Employment Committee, London : HMSO, 1991. ISBN 0 10 273691 X

This is not available online. The full recommendation reads: "Under the Consumer Credit Act 1974, any consumer denied credit can obtain the name of any credit reference agency consulted, and can thereafter obtain details of the information held about them. WE BELIEVE THE SAME SHOULD BE TRUE OF INFORMATION ABOUT POTENTIAL EMPLOYEES SUPPLIED TO THE EMPLOYER BY ORGANISATIONS KEEPING SUCH INFORMATION; IF THE POTENTIAL EMPLOYEE IS REFUSED EMPLOYMENT THE INFORMATION SHOULD BE PASSED ON TO THE EMPLOYEE; INDEED IT SHOULD BE PUT TO THE EMPLOYEE SO AS TO PROVIDE A CHANCE FOR THE EMPLOYEE TO REFUTE IT. "WE ALSO RECOMMEND THAT LEGISLATION SHOULD PROVIDE THAT, WITH THEEXCEPTION OF PREVIOUS EMPLOYERS PROVIDING REFERENCES, ALL ORGANISATIONS SUPPLYING INFORMATION ABOUT POTENTIAL EMPLOYEES SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO LICENSING AND TO A CODE OF PRACTICE, PERHAPS SIMILAR TO THE LICENSING SYSTEM FOR EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES UNDER THE EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES ACT 1973. "We believe that the recommendations we have made would go some way to lessening the disadvantages faced by those who apply for jobs at companies using the services of organisations who provide information about them."

Web Page: http://spiesatwork.org.uk/

Economic League publications

Economic League, Subversion in Industry, Economic League (London and South Eastern Region), February 1958
Economic League, The Agitators: Who the are. How they work. What they want. Service To Industry Series, Booklet No. 3, London: Economic League Central Council, No date. Most propably published in the latter half of 1974.

Notes