Arthur Greenwood
George Brown Hillman | |
|---|---|
| Succeeded by | Arthur Creech Jones |
| Member of Parliament for Nelson and Colne | |
| In office 15 November 1922 – 7 October 1931 | |
| Preceded by | Robinson Graham |
| Succeeded by | Linton Thorp |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 8 February 1880 Hunslet, Leeds, England |
| Died | 9 June 1954 (aged 74) London, England |
| Political party | Labour |
| Spouse | Catherine Ainsworth |
| Children | 2, including Tony |
Arthur Greenwood
Early life
Greenwood was born in
Political career
Greenwood was first elected to the
In 1929, Greenwood was appointed
Greenwood became Deputy Leader of the Labour Party under Clement Attlee. During the 1935 General Election campaign, Greenwood attacked Chancellor of the Exchequer Neville Chamberlain for spending money on rearmament, saying that the rearmament policy was "the merest scaremongering; disgraceful in a statesman of Mr Chamberlain's responsible position, to suggest that more millions of money needed to be spent on armaments."[2]
On 2 September 1939, acting for Attlee who was in hospital for prostate surgery, he was called to respond to Neville Chamberlain's ambivalent speech on whether Britain would aid Poland. As he was about to speak, he was interrupted by an angry Conservative backbencher and former First Lord of the Admiralty, Leo Amery, who electrified the chamber when he exclaimed loud and clear: "Speak for England, Arthur!"[3]
A flustered Greenwood proceeded to denounce Chamberlain's remarks, to the applause of both sides of the House, in a short speech for which he is best remembered.
I am gravely disturbed. An act of aggression took place thirty-eight hours ago. The moment that act of aggression took place one of the most important treaties of modern times automatically came into operation … I wonder how long we are prepared to vacillate at a time when Britain, and all that Britain stands for, and human civilisation are in peril.
— Arthur Greenwood, House of Commons, 2 September 1939, [4]
When the wartime coalition government was formed,
After that, his influence declined, and he resigned in 1943. The same year, he was elected as Treasurer of the Labour Party, beating Herbert Morrison in a close contest.[7]
From February 1942 until the end of World War II, Greenwood also performed the function of Leader of the Opposition, though he did not receive the salary.
During the
Death
Greenwood died on 9 June 1954 at the age of 74, being cremated at Golders Green Crematorium on 14 June 1954. His ashes and memorial lie in Bay 17 of the East Boundary Wall.
Family
Greenwood's son
References
- ^ Labour History Review 2006, pp. 9–42.
- ^ Dutton 2001, p. 40.
- ^ Olson 2008.
- ^ Roberts 2018, p. cxli.
- ^ Jenkins 2012, p. 601.
- ^ Marr 2009, p. xvii.
- ^ The Economist 1943, p. 7.
Sources
- Dutton, D. (2001). Neville Chamberlain. Reputations (Arnold (Firm))). Arnold. ISBN 978-0-340-70626-8.
- Jenkins, R. (2012). Churchill: A Biography. Pan Macmillan. ISBN 978-0-330-47607-2.
- Hamill, John; Prescott, Andrew (1 April 2006). "'The Masons' Candidate': New Welcome Lodge No. 5139 and the Parliamentary Labour Party". Labour History Review. 71 (1): 9–42. .
- Marr, A. (2009). A History of Modern Britain. Pan Macmillan. ISBN 978-0-330-51329-6.
- Olson, L. (2008). Troublesome Young Men: The Rebels Who Brought Churchill to Power and Helped Save England. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN 978-0-374-53133-1.
- Roberts, A. (2018). Churchill: Walking with Destiny. Penguin Books Limited. ISBN 978-0-241-20564-8.
- The Economist. Economist Newspaper Limited. 1943.
External links
- Works by Arthur Greenwood at Project Gutenberg
- Works by or about Arthur Greenwood at the Internet Archive
- Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Arthur Greenwood
- Newspaper clippings about Arthur Greenwood in the 20th Century Press Archives of the ZBW
- Portraits of Arthur Greenwood at the National Portrait Gallery, London
