MACDONALD JAMES RAMSAY 1866-1937 PRIME MINISTER LETTER TO MRS NODIN

Three letters to Mrs Nodin.

James Ramsay MacDonald, the illegitimate son of Ann Ramsay, a maidservant, was born in Lossiemouth, Morayshire, on 12th October, 1866. He was brought up in his grandmother's cottage and was a student at the local school from 1875 until 1881. In 1886 MacDonald moved to London where he was employed as a clerk for the Cyclists' Touring Club.

MacDonald joined the Fabian Society and later the Independent Labour Party in 1894. In the 1895 General Election he was the ILP's candidate for Southampton. MacDonald, along with the other twenty-seven ILP candidates, was defeated and overall, the party won only 44,325 votes. MacDonald became secretary of the Labour Representation Committee, which was formed in 1900. In the 1906 General Election MacDonald became MP for Leicester. At a meeting on 12th February, 1906, the group of MPs decided to change from the LRC to the Labour Party. James Keir Hardie (1856-1915) was elected chairman and MacDonald was selected to be the party's secretary. At first Hardie was leader of the party in the House of Commons, but he resigned in 1908.

In 1911 MacDonald became party leader. MacDonald was a pacifist and was unwilling to support Britain's involvement in the First World War. In the nationalist fervour that followed the end of the First World War, and in the 1918 General Election, MacDonald lost his seat. In the 1923 General Election, the Labour Party won 191 seats. Although the Conservatives had 258, MacDonald agreed to head a minority government, and therefore became the first member of the party to become Prime Minister. In the 1924 General Election the Labour Party was defeated and the Conservative Party formed the next government. MacDonald continued with his policy of presenting the Labour Party as a moderate force in politics and refused to support the 1926 General Strike. MacDonald argued that strikes should not be used as a political weapon and that the best way to obtain social reform was through parliamentary elections.

In the 1929 General Election the Labour Party won 288 seats, making it the largest party in the House of Commons. MacDonald became Prime Minister again. He tendered the resignation of the government, 23 Aug. 1931, after the failure of the Cabinet to agree on reduction in payments to unemployed in face of financial crisis. He formed all-party government in conjunction with Conservative and Liberal leaders, and the breach with his own party became permanent. On winning the 1931 General election, he formed a fourth administration. MacDonald pressed on with his programme of retrenchment and reform. He regarded European situation key to domestic recovery and believed in personal diplomacy. After the rise of Nazism he realized necessity of rearmament and drafted the White Paper on national defence, 1935. MacDonald resigned premiership and became lord president of the Council in 1935.

Three letters and one post card concerning:

• His health, attitudes to meetings and a new woman friend, 22nd November 1913.
• Moving house, wishes they could meet, 20th May 1931.
• Why he supports the National Government, 29th August 1931.

OPEN

Edwards, G.

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