John Beckett

:For other things named Beckett, see Beckett (disambiguation)

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John Beckett (1894-1964) was a leading figure in British politics between the world wars, both in the Labour Party and Fascist movements.

Related Topics:
1894 - 1964 - Labour Party - Fascist

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After serving in the army during the First World War Beckett set up the National Union of Ex-Servicemen in 1918 to look after the needs of the war veterans (although it was eventually absorbed into the later Royal British Legion). At this time he also joined the Independent Labour Party, sitting on Hackney council from 1919-1922. He was elected as Labour MP for Gateshead in 1924, moving to Peckham in 1929. In these early years Beckett was considered a close ally of Clement Attlee. He achieved notoriety in 1930 when he lifted the Ceremonial mace during a Commons debate. Beckett opposed Ramsay MacDonald's formation of the UK National Government and returned to the ILP fold in 1931, failing to regain his seat.

Related Topics:
First World War - 1918 - Royal British Legion - Independent Labour Party - 1919 - 1922 - Gateshead - 1924 - Peckham - 1929 - Clement Attlee - 1930 - Ceremonial mace - Commons - Ramsay MacDonald - UK National Government - 1931

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Beckett joined the British Union of Fascists in 1934 and before long had risen through the party to become Director of Publications. After initial successes the BUF began to flounder and in 1937 Oswald Mosley sacked Beckett from his salaried position. He soon returned to politics by forming the National Socialist League along with William Joyce, although his membership did not last long as he left the League in 1938, disillusioned by Hitler. Beckett spent most of the Second World War in internment but came back afterwards to lead the British Peoples Party. This also proved to be a failure and Beckett drifted away from politics, living in retirement until his death in December of 1964 at the age of 70.

Related Topics:
British Union of Fascists - 1934 - 1937 - Oswald Mosley - National Socialist League - William Joyce - 1938 - Hitler - Second World War - British Peoples Party - 1964

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