Kim Mackay

Ronald William Gordon Mackay (3 September 1902 – 15 January 1960), known as Kim Mackay, was an Australian-born British

European federalist

views.

Born in

Australian Constitution

.

Encouraged by Labour MP

Western European nations, claiming that this would facilitate socialism

.

Mackay contested the

UK National Government, claiming that this would result in the more effective prosecution of World War II, his campaign gained the support of the local Constituency Labour Party

, but proved unsuccessful.

Mackay later supported Tom Driberg's successful campaign in the 1942 Maldon by-election, and in 1943, he joined the Common Wealth Party, which had been formed by the merger of the 1941 Committee with Forward March. This new party shared his views on European federalism, and Mackay was able to immediately become its Chair. He altered the party's structure in order for it to focus on fighting by-elections. This had considerable success, Common Wealth gaining three seats during the Parliament.

Mackay's position came under fire from several groups within Common Wealth. The London Region complained that he was a

anti-Marxist, while some Christians in the organisation argued that he was destroying the party's idealism in pursuit of electoralism

.

Mackay became increasingly interested in

left-wing

pressure group. In the event, these groups both applied to affiliate after 1945, but their applications were rejected. Unable to convince Common Wealth of his position, Mackay resigned in late 1944 and rejoined Labour.

Mackay stood for Hull North West at the 1945 general election, and gained the seat for Labour. In Parliament, he argued for increased power for the United Nations. In 1947, he joined the Keep Left faction.

In 1946, Mackay was a founder member of the

European Movement. Federalism was unpopular within his own party, who associated the idea with the Conservative Party and the Movement for a United Europe. In distinction to Mackay, they argued that a federal Europe should not contain communist states. In 1949, he became the chair of the European Parliamentary Union

.

In 1950, Mackay's constituency was abolished, and he was instead elected for Reading North, but he lost this seat the following year. In 1953, he retired from politics due to ill health, but continued to write articles in support of federalism.

References

Gildart, Keith, Kim Mackay, Dictionary of Labour Biography Vol. 11
Goldring, John (2000). "Mackay, Ronald William Gordon (Kim) (1902–1960)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Vol. 15. Melbourne: Melbourne University Press.
An Australian socialist in England: Kim Mackay, the British Left, and European federalism, 1934-60
Catalogue of the Mackay papers held at LSE Archives

Political offices
Preceded by Richard Acland	Chairman of the Common Wealth Party 1943–1944	Succeeded by Richard Acland
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Sir Lambert Ward, Bt.	Member of Parliament for Hull North West 1945–1950	Constituency abolished
New constituency	Member of Parliament for Reading North 1950–1951	Succeeded by Frederic Bennett

Authority control databases
International	VIAF
People	Australia Trove