Talk:John Hodge (politician)

Latest comment: 6 years ago by Dunarc in topic 1918 Election

1918 Election

edit

The article says 'the Labour Party was not pleased with Hodge's anti-strike stance, patriotism and leadership of the British Worker's National League and therefore put up a candidate against him in the general election of 1918 but failed to unseat Hodge' However the Manchester Gorton article lists only a Socialist Labour Party (which was very distinct from the Labour Party) and an Independent Unionist as opposing him in 1918, not another Labour Party Candidate. Dunarc (talk) 20:31, 24 January 2018 (UTC)Reply

The ODNB article on Hodge says "Hodge's ultra-patriotism and immersion in the affairs of the Lloyd George coalition meant that he was increasingly isolated in a Labour Party which was responding to industrial pressures and to franchise reform with a more assertive independence. The position of the Labour ministers became more difficult, while from early 1918 a more hostile position was taken towards Labour members' participation in the British Workers' League. Hodge had problems with the Gorton Trades Council over his candidacy. A compromise was reached, but required Henderson's intervention and resulted in Hodge's resignation from the BWL.
Hodge's commitment to the Lloyd George government ended only in late November when his union's executive instructed him not to join a post-election coalition. He fought the 1918 election successfully as a straight Labour candidate opposed by an unofficial Conservative and by the shop stewards' leader, J. T. Murphy. He formally left the pensions ministry in January 1919. He won Gorton again in November 1922, but did not stand in December 1923. His post-war political involvement was limited; unlike some wartime ministers he remained with the Labour Party, but his influential years as a politician were over."
So - no, the Labour party did not oppose him at the 1918 election. DuncanHill (talk) 20:42, 24 January 2018 (UTC)Reply
Thanks - I thought that this looked suspect. Dunarc (talk) 23:19, 24 January 2018 (UTC)Reply