James Maxton (1885-1946) nationally loved orator and politician was born in Glasgow Pollockshaws in 1885. he was educated at the University of Glasgow graduating M.A. in 1909. Employed as a teacher from around 1905 and joined the Independent Labour Party in 1904 becoming its chairman in 1926-31 and 1934-9. During the Great War of 1914-18 James Maxton occupied a pacifist and conscientious objector position and was imprisoned for his political work in the shipyards (1916-17). He was elected MP (Labour – I.L.P.) for Glasgow Bridgeton between 1922-1946. Was involved in the I.L.P. disaffiliation from the Labour Party in 1932. James Maxton died at Largs in 1946.
It is believed that he visited in Perth and spoke on more than one occasion – this is the subject of further research.
He is the subject of a biography by McNair (1955).
“James Maxton was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1885. Both his parents were schoolteachers and he was encouraged to have an academic career. After being educated at Hutcheson’s Grammar School and Glasgow University he became a schoolteacher in the city. Converted to socialism by speakers such as James Keir Hardie, Philip Snowden and Ramsay MacDonald, Maxton joined the Independent Labour Party.
Maxton was involved in the formation of teachers’ unions in Scotland including the Educational Institute of Scotland and the Scottish Socialist Teachers’ Society. With John Maclean, Maxton gave lectures on politics and economics in the Scottish Labour College.
Maxton began working closely with other socialists in Glasgow including John Wheatley, Emanuel Shinwell, David Kirkwood, William Gallacher, John Muir, Tom Johnston, Jimmie Stewart, Neil Maclean, George Hardie, George Buchanan and James Welsh.
By 1912 Maxton was the leading figure in the Independent Labour Party in Scotland. Like most members of the ILP, Maxton opposed Britain’s involvement in the First World War. As a pacifist he refused to be conscripted into the armed forces. Maxton was also involved in organizing strikes in the shipyards, engineering and munitions factories. Dismissed as a teacher he was arrested in 1916 and charged with sedition. Found guilty, he was imprisoned for a year.
Maxton was defeated in the 1918 General Election and for the next four years was Divisional Organizer for the ILP and a member of the Glasgow Education Authority.
In the 1922 General Election Maxton was elected as MP for Bridgeton, Glasgow. Also successful were several other militant socialists based in Glasgow including John Wheatley, Emanuel Shinwell, David Kirkwood, John Muir, Tom Johnston, Jimmie Stewart, Neil Maclean, George Hardie, George Buchanan and James Welsh. The Clydesiders were constant critics of the moderate policies of Ramsay MacDonald. Maxton was also abusive about members of the Conservative Party and was several times suspended from the House of Comments for his comments.
In 1925 Maxton led the Socialism in Our Time campaign and the following year was elected as leader of the Independent Labour Party. Maxton also played a prominent role in the leadership of the trade unions during the 1926 General Strike.
Following the 1929 General Election, Maxton was highly critical of the Labour Government led by Ramsay MacDonald. When MacDonald formed the National Government in 1931, Maxton successfully persuaded the Independent Labour Party to break away from the Labour Party.
As a pacifist Maxton opposed rearmament in the 1930s and supported the appeasement policies of Neville Chamberlain. After the outbreak of the Second World War Maxton continued to argue for pacifism in the House of Commons. James Maxton, who wrote several books on politics, including The Life of Lenin (1932) and If I Were Dictator (1935) died in 1946.”