Common Wealth Party

The Common Wealth Party was a socialist political group active in the United Kingdom in the 1940s. During that period, there was a National Government incorporating the Labour, Conservative and Liberal Parties.

Related Topics:
Socialist - United Kingdom - 1940s - National Government - Labour - Conservative - Liberal Parties

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Common Wealth was founded in 1941 by a combination of members of the Labour Party's 1941 Committee who disagreed with the electoral pact, former Liberals who believed that party had no direction, and independents. Led by Richard Acland, Vernon Bartlett and J. B. Priestley, the group called for common ownership of land, "vital democracy" and morality in politics.

Related Topics:
1941 - 1941 Committee - Richard Acland - Vernon Bartlett - J. B. Priestley - Democracy

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In Acland's book The Forward March he claimed that in Britain under a Common Wealth government:

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"...the community as a whole which must decide whether or not a man shall be employed upon our resources, and how and when and in what manner he shall work... run camps for shirkers on very tolerable conditions".

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Acland went on to say of these camps:

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" has stumbled across (or has needed to make use of) a small part, or perhaps one should say one particular aspect of, what will ultimately be required of humanity".

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During the war, the party won three by-elections against the Conservatives, in Eddisbury, Skipton and Chelmsford, but held only Chelmsford in the 1945 UK general election. The party was dissolved later that year, most of its members rejoining the Labour Party.

Related Topics:
Eddisbury - Skipton - Chelmsford - 1945 UK general election

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