Talk:George Lansbury

Untitled

The emphasis on the national politics of the life of George Lansbury in this little vignette has underplayed the role he took in seeking social justice for the working classes, his imprisonment for refusing to comply with onerous local rates, and the tragedy of the death of the daughter in law who also went to prison over the same issue. The memorials to him (and her!) in the East End of London reflect this personal consideration.

Q. In response to the above comment, does anybody know enough about this to add it to the page? EdH 13:52 16 Jul 2003 (UTC)

A. I was able to find information on Lansbury's work to achieve justice for working people, including women's rights and the Poplar Rates Rebellion, and his imprisionment by the government for these activities. I have included new information in the original article as well as in a new one. While I discovered that his daughter-in-law, Minnie Lansbury, went to prison with him, I found no mention of her death. --Jose Ramos 15:50, 23 Aug 2003 (UTC)

A. I have undertaken some updates to the page. -- Jonathan Rackowe 26 July 2007

Q: The article asserts that George Lansbury said he was in favour of abolishing army and saying to the world "Do your worse" but if you actually examine the source cited (132) it actually specifically says that he did not say that in his address, 'They [another pair of authors] also state that Lansbury sent a message to East Fulham reading: 'I would close every recruiting station, disband the Army and disarm the Air Force. I would abolish the whole dreadful equipment of war and say to the world "Do your worst"'. These words do not appear in Lansbury's message, which merely appealed to electors to vote Labour as an escape from the 'menace of war ... widespread unemployment, hopeless poverty and insecurity and dreadful social misery and unhappiness' p. 185, can this be replaced with a different quote? - 20/07/2015 — Preceding unsigned comment added by BoldJuan (talk • contribs) 12:46, 20 July 2015 (UTC)

George Lansbury books

Q. I have a particular interest in George Lansbury as I am related through marriage. When at university I found a copy of the book he wrote about his life, but have since failed to find a copy; I think it was called "My Life" or something similar. Does anyone know its correct title, and how I might buy a copy?

A. The book was indeed called My Life, published in 1928. Obviously, it only covers a part of his career and life. Lansbury also wrote:

• Your Part In Poverty, 1917
• These Things Shall Be, 1920
• What I Saw In Russia, 1920
• The Miracle of Fleet Street, 1925
• My England, 1934
• Looking Backwards and Forwards, 1935
• My Quest for Peace, 1938

Biographies have been written by:

• Edgar Lansbury, 1934 - George Lansbury, My Father
• Raymond Postgate, 1951 - The Life of George Lansbury
• Bob Holman, 1990 - Good Old George. Lion UK ISBN 0-7459-1574-4, Aus ISBN 0-7324-0275-1
• John Shepherd, 2002 - George Lansbury: At the Heart of Old Labour. Oxford University Press ISBN 0-19-820164-8, Paperback 2004 0199273642

-- Jonathan Rackowe, Great Grandson of George Lansbury. 82.153.70.205 (talk) 10:52, 12 September 2008 (UTC)

Lido ?

Regarding this item under the heading of HEIRS:

His name lives on in the Lansbury Estate and, of course, the Lido.

Is this for real?

Danindenver (talk) 09:41, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

Yes, I have expanded the line that mentions Lansbury's Lido to reference the location in London's Hyde Park. -- Jonathan Rackowe 82.153.70.205 (talk) 10:37, 12 September 2008 (UTC)

first world war

I think considerably more information is needed about his attitude to the first world war, the supremen political test of the time. The Daily Herald did not campaign consistently against British war objectives, unless I am mistaken... Johncmullen1960 (talk) 08:24, 4 August 2009 (UTC)

Major expansion

This will happen over the next few weeks. The article will, for a while, look decidedly lopsided, but all will come out right in the end. Suggestions for further improvements, sources etc are welcome, for discussion here. Brianboulton (talk) 16:00, 11 February 2013 (UTC)

Never heard of him!

Why is he notable? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 109.151.65.218 (talk) 16:56, 15 August 2013 (UTC)

Because he was the leader of the Labor Party, a major political organization, and he is mentioned in many independent, reliable sources. See Wikipedia:Notability for more information. — SamX‧☎‧✎‧S 17:23, 15 August 2013 (UTC)

Added images

I have removed the following images, recently added to the article:

• File:George Lansbury at Skara Brae, 1929.jpg
• File:George Lansbury, c1935.jpg
• File:George Lansbury, 1936.jpg

The images lack proper source and authorrship details. In each case the author is given as the "LSE library", which is obviously not correct. Also the licence, which claims PD in the USA on the grounds of original publication before 1923, is clearly wrong when the events depicted in the images date from 1929, 1935 and 1936 respectively. Please do not re-add the images until their PD status has been properly established through author, source and appropriate licence. Brianboulton (talk) 23:49, 12 September 2014 (UTC)

Categorisation

I recently removed Category:British pacifists and Category:British socialists from the article as they seem to be redundant to Category:English Christian pacifists and Category:English Christian socialists respectively. Having been reverted by AusLondonder, I figured I would open a discussion here.

WP:SUBCAT provides that:

A page or category should rarely be placed in both a category and a subcategory or parent category (supercategory) of that category (unless the child category is non-diffusing – see below – or eponymous). For example, the article "Paris" need only be placed in "Category:Cities in France", not in both "Category:Cities in France" and "Category:Populated places in France". Because the first category (cities) is in the second category (populated places), readers are already given the information that Paris is a populated place in France by it being a city in France.

I imagine it is for this reason that the article is not in Category:European pacifists and Category:European socialists. So I'm not clear on what rationale there could be for keeping the Category:British pacifists and Category:British socialists. Graham (talk) 00:10, 23 January 2016 (UTC)

User:Graham11 - English Christian Socialist and English Christian Pacifist are specific concepts see Christian Socialism and Christian Pacifism. Do we know that his socialism and pacifism was driven by his faith? AusLondonder (talk) 02:22, 25 January 2016 (UTC)

I agree that the categories would not be appropriate for all English socialists/pacifists who happen to also be Christians. However, I think it is reasonable to infer that he is a Christian socialist and a Christian pacifist based on the following excerpts from the article:

• "There is much agreement among historians and analysts that Lansbury was never self-serving and, guided by his Christian socialist principles, was consistent in his efforts on behalf of the poorest in society."
• "Lansbury, supported by many in the PLP, moved into a position of Christian pacifism, unilateral disarmament and the dismantling of the British Empire."
• "His speech—a passionate exposition of the principles of Christian pacifism—was well received by the delegates, but immediately afterwards his position was destroyed by Ernest Bevin, the Transport and General Workers' Union leader […] Union support ensured that the sanctions resolution was carried by a huge majority; Lansbury, realising that a Christian pacifist could no longer lead the party, resigned a few days later."
• "In an article published in the socialist magazine Tribune, published on 25 April 1940, he made a final statement of his Christian pacifism: 'I hold fast to the truth that this world is big enough for all, that we are all brethren, children of one Father'."

Graham (talk) 02:53, 25 January 2016 (UTC)

Infobox additions

An IP is attempting to enlarge the infobox by re-inserting the details od "preceded by" and "succeeded by" in the various offices Lansbury held. These do not constitute "key facts" in Lansbury's career. If the IP has an issue with this interpretation of MoS regarding infoboxes, please bring the debate here. Brianboulton (talk) 10:29, 15 September 2016 (UTC)

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