Party leader Ramsay MacDonald

hoist own petard.

mr. ramsay macdonald (champion of independent labour). of course m peaceful picketing—on principle. must applied proper parties.

cartoon punch 20 june 1917

in 1911 macdonald became party leader (formally chairman of parliamentary labour party ). chief intellectual leader of party, paying little attention class warfare , more emergence of powerful state exemplified darwinian evolution of evermore complex society. orthodox edwardian progressive, keen on intellectual discussion, , adverse agitation.

within short period wife became ill blood poisoning , died. , permanently affected macdonald.

macdonald had taken keen interest in foreign affairs , knew visit south africa, after boer war had ended, effects of modern conflict be. although parliamentary labour party held anti-war opinion, when war declared in august 1914, patriotism came fore. party supported government in request £100,000,000 of war credits and, macdonald not, resigned party chairmanship. arthur henderson became new leader while macdonald took party treasurer s post. during part of war extremely unpopular , accused of treason , cowardice. former liberal party mp , publisher horatio bottomley attacked him through magazine john bull in september 1915 publishing article carrying details of macdonald s birth , so-called deceit in not disclosing real name. illegitimacy no secret , had not seemed have suffered it, according journal had, using false name, gained access parliament falsely , should suffer heavy penalties , have election declared void. macdonald received internal support, way in disclosures made public had affected him. wrote in diary:

...i spent hours of terrible mental pain. letters of sympathy began pour in upon me.... never before did know had been registered under name of ramsay, , cannot understand now. earliest years name has been entered in lists, school register, etc. macdonald.

despite opposition war, macdonald visited western front in december 1914 approval of lord kitchener. macdonald , general seeley:

set off front @ ypres , found in thick of action in both behaved utmost coolness. later, macdonald received commander-in-chief @ st omer , made extensive tour of front. returning home, paid public tribute courage of french troops, said nothing or later of having been under fire himself.


election poster produced 1923 election

as war dragged on, reputation recovered still lost seat in 1918 coupon election , saw liberal david lloyd george s coalition government win large majority.