Arthur Henderson

For the recipient of the Victoria Cross, see Arthur Henderson (VC)

The coupon election and the 1920s

Henderson was against punishing Germany too harshly, and as a result lost his seat in the "coupon election" of 1918, but returned to Parliament in 1919 after winning a by-election in Widnes. After his election, he became Labour's chief whip, only to lose his seat in the 1922 general election.

Related Topics:
1918 - 1919 - Widnes - Chief whip - 1922

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Again, he returned to Parliament via a by-election, this time representing Newcastle East, however he lost this seat in the 1923 general election, but returned to Parliament two months later after winning a by-election in Burnley. He was appointed Home Secretary in the first ever Labour government (led by MacDonald). This government was defeated in 1924, and lost the following election partially because of the infamous Zinoviev letter printed in the right-wing tabloid the Daily Mail.

Related Topics:
1923 - Burnley - Home Secretary - 1924 - Zinoviev letter - Daily Mail

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Unusually, Henderson was re-elected in 1924, and he refused to challenge MacDonald for the party leadership, despite being apparently begged by other MPs to do just that. Worried about factionalism in the Labour Party, he published a pamphlet called Labour and the Nation, in which he attempted to clarify the Labour's goals.

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