The Vindication Of Brigadista And Union Man Jack James Larkin Jones: In Refutation Of The British Intelligence Campaign Of Character Assassination

Manus O’Riordan 2010 The Vindication Of Jack Jones Contents Page Introduction 2 Part One 4 Part Two 15 Part Three 22 Part Four 31 Part Five 40

Jack Jones died on 21 April 2009, and straightaway the smear which is detailed and refuted in the series of articles reprinted here was cast. The very next morning the smear was headlined in the Daily which if it had been implemented Telegraph. would have given working class representatives control of the None of us who knew and worked boardrooms of private industry. with Jack Jones or, like myself, just followed his lead in the Workers’ Implementation of those measures Control agitation of the 1970s, was at all of Workers’ Control was sabotaged by surprised by any of it. the Communist Party of Great Britain and its allies and stooges in the Labour In the days when the political and Party and the Trade Unions. economic interests of the British working class were really represented The failure to implement those by an actual Labour and Trade Union measures and take legislative account Movement at the height of its power of working class power, to realise and confidence, Harold Wilson for that power in the daily routines of the the Labour Party and Jack Jones machinery of the British state, was for the Unions moved to establish followed by the erosion, the rolling back the organised working class as the and the eventual destruction of that determining force in British industry. power. The working class power which was Together they set up the Bullock the dominant factor in British politics in Committee of Inquiry into Industrial the 1960s and 1970s is gone now and Democracy which after several utterly forgotten. tumultuous years produced a report

2 The Vindication Of Jack Jones And the memory of the men who were that his name is associated with the lie prepared then, at its height, to take of treachery. that power into the board rooms, to the brink of industrial sovereignty, has been Jack Jones inherited the living legacy smeared and defamed. of Ernie Bevin’s period as leader of the British Labour and Trade Union The Left, which was led at the time Movement. of Bullock by the Communist Party His experience as a soldier with the (but that has since over-reached and International Brigades in the Spanish destroyed itself, so The Left is now Civil War gave him a sufficient breadth led by others), is in respect of all its of understanding to ignore The Left’s essential operations a function of the lying portrayal of Bevin as a “class Liberalism of the British state. traitor” and build on the institutions that Bevin had created. As a function of the Liberalism of the British state it sabotaged the Bullock By the 1960s Jones’ handling of proposals. Bevin’s legacy had resulted in a As a function of the Liberalism of balance of power situation in industry. the British state it drew the organised Managements then could only manage working class into doomed utopian with the goodwill, on the suffrance of, adventures that rendered it disorganised the workforce. and powerless, incapable of challenging for control of industry. In the Seventies Jones took As a function of the Liberalism advantage of the economic crisis that of the British state it successfully followed from the impact of that balance blackguarded the memory of Harold of power on industrial productivity to Wilson and Jack Jones in all the bring workers’ control to the bargaining spheres of its influence. table.

The smears of the defamation That is the deep and ineradicable campaigns have been carried into those sin which has earned him the undying areas where the British state’s Left- hatred of the British state’s security Wing could not reach by its security apparatus, while the Left has reduced apparatus. Both Wilson and Jones were to mere sentiment the memory of a claimed by Russian defectors owned by giant of Labour, the substance of whose the state’s security apparatus to have work as a “revolutionary by consent” been KGB informers. – to quote Jack’s own description of Bevin – the Left itself so destructively The campaign against Wilson has sabotaged. subsided. The campaign against Jack Jones can be expected to continue for This book is part of an attempt to as long as his name is remembered recover the valuable legacy of Jack in connection with the greatest single Jones from their lying propaganda. threat ever mounted against capitalist control of the British economy. Just so long will will their agents try to see to it

3 The Vindication Of Jack Jones Irish Political Review, July 2010

JACK JONES VINDICATED—Part One

ack Jones, founding President of the International Brigade Memorial Trust and General Secretary of Britain’s largest union—the Transport and General Workers’J Union—from 1969 to 1978, died last year, on 21 April 2009. The very next morning, the Daily Telegraph report of his death carried the headline “Former KGB colonel says he paid late union leader Jack Jones £200 for information”. That this was no isolated slander was to be made painfully clear when Jack’s union, now called UNITE, held a Jack Jones Memorial Celebration in London’s Royal Festival Hall on 5 October. MI5 smear campaign, it was tempting, This was the very day that the British at first, to place this Show Trial in the intelligence agency M15 also chose to category of tragedy. I have, however, launch its own official “history”, authored one or two other Larkin-related ‘trials’ by Cambridge Professor Christopher that are more appropriate for such a Andrew and entitled The Defence of classification. Furthermore, because the Realm—The Authorised History both the character and politics of Jack of M15. While the UNITE celebration Jones stand out in such total refutation of his life was still under way, media of M15’s lies about him—and, in “Breaking News” headlined M15’s particular, those of the prosecution’s “exposure” of Jack. That week’s “star witness” —Jack’s posthumous onslaught of character assassination Show Trial can be shown to fall more reached a crescendo on 8 October with appropriately into the category of farce. the Daily Mail lurid headline: “JACK THE TRAITOR: Special investigation The purpose of this series of articles reveals how Union boss sold secrets to is to move beyond the press reports the KGB for 45 years”. See the dossier to what is actually said by Andrew in reproduced in the free downloads the book itself. I have indeed read area [see note one] of the Athol Books that 1,000-page tome from cover-to- website for a catalogue of such “press cover, while also noting the fact that, in reports”. order to receive the “Queen’s shilling” commission for its authorised “history”, In 1976 I edited a publication for Athol Professor Andrew had been required Books entitled The American Trial of Big to become a member of—and swear Jim Larkin, April 1920. It was patently an oath of loyalty to—M15 itself. And it obvious to me that what was now being is quite obvious that M15’s agenda is staged was a British intelligence Show as much about the establishment and Trial of Jack James Larkin Jones, 2009. consolidation of a particular viewpoint A saying used by Marx sprang to mind: in respect of both British domestic “History repeats itself; the first time politics and British history, as it is about as tragedy, the second time as farce.” thwarting the operations of any foreign Because of the hurt and distress caused power. The purpose of MI5’s campaign to both family and friends of Jack by this of character assassination against 4 The Vindication Of Jack Jones Jack Jones is an attempt to destroy the out of his cell window, slid down reputation of post-war Britain’s most the roof outside and dropped to outstanding trade union leader—and the the ground, then climbed over the one who had come closest to putting outer wall with a nylon rope-ladder the working class at the helm of British thrown to him by Bourke. Blake was society, until his work was sabotaged by later driven to East Berlin, where a mindless British left. Such a “British he was joined by Bourke before Road to Socialism” achievement would, continuing to Moscow. Once in of course, have been anathema to M15. Moscow, Blake and Bourke rapidly Hence the attempt to rubbish Jack’s fell out. Blake writes in his memoirs place in British history, and to try and that ‘arrangements were made for ensure that his near-success is never Bourke to return to Ireland’. He does repeated. not mention, and may not have known, that on the instructions of How does one become a Cambridge the head of KGB foreign intelligence Professor of History? The failure or Bourke was given before his inability to cross-check “intelligence departure a drug designed to cause reports” with actual historical facts brain damage and thus limit his does not, obviously, serve as a potential usefulness if he fell into disqualification. I am in no position the hands of British intelligence. to make a definitive judgement on Bourke’s premature death in his whether Professor Andrew is a fool early 40s probably owed as much or a knave. All I know is that all too to KGB drugs at to his own heavy much of his “history” is at variance with drinking.” (pp. 537-8 and 950) historical fact. And not just in respect of Jack Jones. M15 has a particular I know for a fact that both Andrew’s need to present the history of Irish opening and closing remarks about Republicanism as being in cahoots Bourke are patently untrue. Seán with the Soviet KGB. Such is Andrew’s Bourke was never an Irish Republican narrative of the escape of George Blake prisoner; he had been a petty criminal. who, in 1961, had been convicted of His role in Blake’s escape was a being a KGB agent within MI5’s sister human response to a fellow-prisoner’s intelligence agency, MI6: predicament at the prospect of spending the rest of his life in jail. Soviet “The greatest espionage-related Communism never held any attractions embarrassment of this period was for Bourke, and still less so after his Blake’s escape from Wormwood brief experience of it. He did, however, Scrubs after serving only 5 years became politicised as a democratic of his 42 year sentence. The socialist a good decade after Andrew escape had been made possible had declared him to be terminally brain by three former prisoners who had damaged by the KGB. Off the drink befriended him in jail: the Irish for at least the duration of the 1977 republican Seán Bourke and the General Election, the Seán Bourke I peace protesters Michael Randle encountered on the campaign trail in and Pat Pottle. On 22 October 1966 Limerick was one possessed of a sharp Blake knocked a loosened iron bar intellect, as he functioned as a press 5 The Vindication Of Jack Jones officer for the Independent Socialist that Kemmy made history when his one candidate Jim Kemmy. I observed how vote against a Budget to tax children’s Bourke alternated between belting shoes brought about the fall of Garret away on the typewriter and operating FitzGerald’s first Government. the lead car in a band-led cavalcade of canvassers through St. Mary’s Park (the As for Jack Jones, the first MI5 smear most deprived urban housing estate by Andrew claims to expose… I’d ever entered, and suffering today from horrific criminal gang warfare). “the existence of a wartime Through the car megaphone came the (Soviet) agent network in Britain resounding voice of Bourke intoning, codenamed the “X Group”, which with impeccable diction: “Vote No. 1 was active by, if not before, 1940… Jim Kemmy, and help put Limerick on There was speculation that BOB, the map!” But this was no quasi-IRA another member of the X Group, jamboree. Kemmy’s political programme was the future trade union leader not only opposed the wars waged by Jack Jones, though a report of 1969 both the Official IRA and the Provisional concluded that there were ‘few IRA; it also even more pointedly pointers to the identity of Bob and opposed the territorial claim on Northern the most that can be said is that Ireland that had been restated in Jones cannot be eliminated as a the Supreme Court by the Cosgrave candidate’...” (pp. 380-1) Republic’s so-called “Government of the talents”—Conor Cruise O’Brien and Garret FitzGerald. Kemmy’s Limerick Professor Andrew later relates: Socialist Organisation had in fact joined with the British & Irish Communist “On 19 November 1969 Furnival Organisation in order to establish the Jones (DG of MI5) discussed Workers’ Association for the Democratic with (Labour Government Home Settlement of the National Conflict Secretary) Jim Callaghan proposals in Ireland. So much for Professor for telephone checks on a number Andrew’s caricature of Seán Bourke as of trade unionists, chief among them a brain-dead IRA ex-prisoner! Bourke Jack Jones of the TGWU … Jones did indeed die under circumstances had been an open CPGB member of drink-related self-neglect. But that from 1932 to 1941 and, the Service was 5 years later, and 16 years after believed, did not leave the party Professor Andrew maintains that his until 1949. FJ reported chiefly on brain had been knocked out of action by the basis of eavesdropping at King the KGB. Indeed, right up to the year of St. (CPGB HQ) that there was ‘no his death, Bourke contributed powerfully doubt that Jones, after 15 years’ written childhood memoirs for the Old disassociation from the Party, has Limerick Journal, edited by Kemmy on resumed active and regular contact behalf of the Limerick Historical Society. with it … Bert Ramelson, the Party’s Jim Kemmy finally won a seat in the chief industrial organiser, claimed Dáil in the June 1981 General Election. in August 1969 that Jones had Sadly, however, Seán Bourke died on said that although there would be 26 January 1982—the very same day tactical differences between himself

6 The Vindication Of Jack Jones and the Party, they were going in 26 October 1970 FJ renewed the the same direction and wanted the application for a HOW (Home Office same things … It has become clear Warrant) on Jack Jones which had that (Jones) is prepared to pass, to been turned down by Wilson a the Party, Government and other year earlier. FJ noted afterwards: information which has been passed ‘I said that I did not think it at all to him in his trade union capacity.’ ... likely that an investigation of Jones On 28 November FJ was informed would result in his being charged that, after long discussion, (Prime with espionage under the Official Minister) Wilson and Callaghan had Secrets Act and this was not the decided not after all to authorise purpose of the proposed exercise. a telecheck on Jack Jones. ‘They We did, however, think it possible felt that the case just fell short of that he was being manipulated what was required to justify such a by the Russians or was at least delicate operation’. Had the case under their strong influence … involved a civil servant rather than At the very least an operation a trade union leader, it is unlikely against Jones and his wife would that they would have hesitated. produce intelligence which could Oleg Gordievsky (the British be of great value in particular to the intelligence recruit from within the Department of Employment and to KGB) later reported that Jones the Government generally in the had been regarded by the KGB field of industrial disputes’. Maudling as an agent from 1964 to 1968, was hesitant about agreeing to providing confidential Labour Party an HOW, chiefly because of the documents which he obtained as a risks involved. ‘If the operation member of the NEC and the Party’s went astray it would create an international committee as well intolerable situation between the as information on his colleagues Government and the Trade Unions.’ and contacts. Though the KGB However, he agreed to consult believed that Jones’s motives were (Prime Minister) Health, who ideological, his case officer noted approved the application. Though that he accepted, without visible Jones was not, in fact ‘being enthusiasm, modest contributions manipulated by the Russians’, towards holiday expenses. Jones the Security Service was right to broke contact with KGB after the consider the possibility that he was. crushing of the Prague Spring by Intelligence six years later from the Soviet tanks in August 1968.” (pp most important British agent of the 535-6) later Cold War, Oleg Gordievsky, revealed that from 1964 to 1968 Writing of the subsequent the Centre had regarded Jones as Conservative Government, Andrew an agent .The product of the HOW narrates: on Jones, discontinued after just a year, proved to be reassuring, “At a meeting with the Home revealing not merely no sign of a Secretary, Reginald Maudling, on continuing Soviet connection but also positive evidence of growing

7 The Vindication Of Jack Jones distance between him and the M15 Professor Andrew’s final CPGB. The Security Service came reference to Jack Jones reads: to the conclusion that, ‘In present circumstances the realities of Jones’ “Gordievsky reported that Jones position as General Secretary of the had been regarded by the KGB as largest trade union in the country an agent only from 1964 to 1968. press more heavily on him than any Though contact was later re- influence the CBGB could bring to established, Jones no longer held bear upon him.’ ..” (pp. 588-9) clandestine meetings with his case officer or passed on confidential As for the period of Jim Callaghan’s material. He ceased to be general Labour Government: secretary of the TGWU in 1978 and “In December 1976 new left the TUC General Council in the intelligence arrived on links between same year. As his case officer five the KGB and Britain’s best-known years later, Gordievsky found that, trade unionist, Jack Jones... Oleg unsurprisingly, Jones no longer Gordievsky reported that after being had access to inside information targeted for recruitment by the of such significance. On one London residency, Jones had been occasion, however, Gordievsky’s regarded by the KGB as an agent report on a meeting with Jones for a number of years in the ‘latter made a considerable impression part of the 60s’. All contact with him in the Centre: ‘One day I took with had been dormant for some time. It me a brochure from the TUC which was not, however, until Gordievsky gave a long list of union leaders, was stationed in London in 1982 and asked (Jones) to comment on after several years working on the them. This he did to such effect British desk in the KGB Centre that I was later able to write a three that he was able to provide more page summary, which I added to detail on Jones’s contact with the my report of our meeting: ‘Our KGB... Eavesdropping at King St. agent’s information on trade union no longer provided evidence of personalities was so extensive, significant contact between Jones I wrote, ‘that I am attaching it and the CPGB. In 1969 Ramelson as an appendix.’ The combined had been overheard praising Jones document made it appear that he as ‘sound politically’ with ‘courage had been outstandingly helpful and guts’. ‘The only dishonest thing and volunteered many facts of the about Jack’, said Ramelson, ‘was greatest value. You can see from that he gave the impression that this what the facts really were and he was never in the (Communist) how, by careful reporting, success Party.’ By 1976 Ramelson had can be created out of very little.’ (my changed his mind. Far from being a emphasis—MO’R) Though the KGB member of the left-wing caucus in was believed to have assessed the TUC, Jones was now regarded Jones’s motives as ideological by the Callaghan government as, on during the period when it regarded balance, a force for moderation.” (p. him as an agent, Gordievsky found 667) him willing to accept gifts, some of

8 The Vindication Of Jack Jones them in cash. The DG reported to meet the Executive Board of the US the cabinet secretary in October trade union movement, the AFL-CIO, in 1985 that Jones ‘last received Miami. Jack recalled: money (£250) from his case officer (Gordievsky) on the instructions “I had had a friendly argument of the KGB Centre in May 1984’. with Jay Lovestone, the former Thereafter the Centre issued communist leader in the US who instructions that, given Jones’s was in charge of the international lack of access to confidential department of the AFL/CIO and had information, he was to be contacted become a strong, almost fanatical, only at six monthly intervals.” (p. opponent of the communists, but 711) otherwise we had been treated like long-lost brothers.” (Union Man, 2008 edition, p. 268). M15 Professor Andrew’s smearing of Jones occurs at intervals that He also recalled a previous 1969 variously stretch from 40 to 50 to 60 encounter: and to 150 pages. Bringing them all together enables us in the first place “Life at the time was full of new to see their internal inconsistencies. experiences. One such was meeting Speculation about Jones’s cooperation Richard Nixon, the President of the with the CPGB, some of it informed USA. Vic Feather rang me up one (which will be examined later) but day and said: ‘I want you to come mostly ill-informed, is treated as being with me to meet Nixon, he’s anxious synonymous with being a Soviet agent. to talk with one or two trade union Yet the only direct evidence of how leaders’ … In a private room at he might himself have regarded—and Claridges … we had coffee and an been in turn regarded by—the CPGB, intense couple of hours’ discussion. based on wire-tap transcripts of Bert Dr. Henry Kissinger accompanied Ramelson statements, is from a period Nixon and was equally involved. I when even self-serving KGB reports tried to put the President right on regarded Jones as now being anti- our industrial situation, explaining Soviet. But what of the character of that it was infinitely more peaceful those self-serving KGB reports that than the USA’s. I also said that in purport to record supposedly friendly my opinion British people wanted conversations with Jones? to see him improve America’s relationship with the USSR and In 1972 Jack Jones was elected China (China was the No.1 ‘hate’ of Chairman of the International the Americans then). I suggested he Committee of the British TUC and should visit countries like Romania. through the course of the following year It was wrong to think that our he played a key role in the creation of countries lived in separate worlds. I the European TUC, being elected to was impressed by Nixon’s keenness its first Executive Board. Along with and clarity of mind.” (pp. 211-2). TUC General Secretary Vic Feather, he headed up an ETUC delegation to Nixon went on to take Jones’s

9 The Vindication Of Jack Jones advice, at least in respect of Romania been based in Indonesia in the mid 60s. and China. And given that Lovestone, And when I asked what had he seen of having been ousted in 1929 by the the 1965 army coup in which Sir Andrew Comintern from his leadership of the Gilchrist, the then British Ambassador CPUSA, swung so far to the right that to Indonesia (and later UK Ambassador he did indeed operate unashamedly on to Ireland), had been complicit, he behalf of the CIA in the post-war world shuddered. Yes, he had seen the river of international trade unionism, there choked with the bloated bodies of can be no doubt that, if Stalinist show some of the half a million Indonesian trials were still in operation, Jack would Communists who had been massacred. have been vilified as a CIA agent. And I also remember, at a 1985 USSR Embassy reception to celebrate the th I myself remember how, in 40 anniversary of the Soviet victory 1974, invoking as “evidence” the over Nazi Germany, that somebody unquestionable fact that I had been a had been crass enough to ask him, in student in the USA from 1969 to 1971 a most indelicate manner, if he himself (see the free downloads area of the had personally known any people killed Athol Books Website for the introduction in that War. Yes, he replied. His father to my thesis Connolly in America—Note had been killed while fighting in the Two), the Irish Times facilitated the Red Army in the first month of Hitler’s Head of the Workers’ Party’s Industrial invasion, while his elder brother and Department—Official IRA godfather only sibling had also fought in the Red and guru Éamon Smullen—in accusing Army and had been killed at the very me of being a CIA agent—which, in the end of the War. circumstances of those violent years, and given Smullen’s own track record, I have always had a personal policy constituted active incitement for some of being willing to express verbally to all gunman to contemplate my murder. and sundry the very same views which I have been willing to place in writing Ironically enough, the only attempt in the public domain. I have no doubt made to enlist me for intelligence that this was also Jack’s approach, gathering purposes actually came in whether speaking to Nixon, Kissinger the late 1980s from a KGB operative and Lovestone, or to Soviet officials. based in the USSR’s Dublin Embassy So I have had exchanges of views with as its First Secretary, Vladimir Minderov, Embassy officials of the USSR, the who asked if I could get him invited to UK, Cuba, Israel etc.—though not the social gatherings where he might be USA. (This has not, however, been a able to engage with people of political matter of policy on my part, no more importance. I politely declined, but I do than it was of my father, who did accept not judge him harshly for having made an invitation from a third party to have the attempt. He sought to serve the lunch with George Dempsey, one of the interests of his own country. And in his most politically active officials who ever case I feel I ought to put a human face served in the US Embassy in Dublin). on a real KGB operative. In a previous I have little doubt that some of these conversation he told me that he had conversations would have been filed

10 The Vindication Of Jack Jones as intelligence reports, even though no lying charge that Jack was a “paid KGB spying was required, since my views agent”. Gordievsky’s moral cowardice, would have already been an open book. of course, undoubtedly made sound financial sense. He could not risk yet Andrew, however, does not quote another libel action. Back in 1995 the from any actual Soviet documentation Sunday Times had been required to on Jones, although I have no doubt pay substantial damages to Michael that some of Jack’s frank exchange Foot, after publishing Gordievsky’s of opinions would similarly have been earlier libel that this former leader of the presented as intelligence reports. British Labour Party was such a “paid Andrew relies on the gossip of KGB agent”. Once bitten, twice shy M16’s agent within the KGB, Oleg accordingly became a new maxim for Gordievsky—and yet his own last Gordievsky. quote from Gordievsky on Jones gives the game away, in boasting how Cambridge Professor Andrew intelligence agents regularly justify their behaves no better than a contemptible existence by turning perfectly normal creep in so gleefully engaging in the conversations into the appearance of character assassination of Jack Jones intelligence scoops. while, as a “historian”, he studiously ignores the evidence—from everyone Jack Jones died on 21 April 2009. who knew him—just how puritanically What Oleg Gordievsky immediately modest was Jack’s whole lifestyle. went on to allege did not, of In Union Man he recalled leading an course, constitute a libel on Jack, earlier union delegation to the USA in since,according to law, one cannot libel 1968: a dead person. But his unashamedly malicious lies most certainly s l a n d e r e d “I met a district leader of the Jack: Teamsters’ Union in Los Angeles. Having discussed comparative “Former KGB colonel says he paid conditions in the haulage trade … late union leader Jack Jones £200 for I was taken to dinner in a luxurious information”. That Daily Telegraph report restaurant … During the meal he was a lie in more in ways than one, turned to me and asked: ‘What do when it stated that such an allegation you think of this place?’ ‘Splendid’, had first surfaced in 1995. It m o s t I replied, ‘it must be one of the c e r t a i n l y h a d n o t . In 1995 Gordievsky best around.’ ‘It sure is—I own it maintained that some KGB files held and it makes eleven dollars to the “information obtained” in conversations invested dollar!’ was his amazing which Jack Jones might have held response … I came home from the with Soviet Government or Embassy USA more determined than ever officials. Jack chose to answer that to resist ‘business unionism’ in the charge politically. He did not need to UK and to eliminate any tendency take it further, for it was only when towards corruption. Strict financial he was safely dead that the cowardly disciplines were necessary. The Gordievsky dared to proceed with his result was not pleasant, for more

11 The Vindication Of Jack Jones than one national official left the by Andrew, is eagerly taken up by service of the union in a hurry. Gordievsky. And so, last 10 February, One officer claimed expenses for on Ulster TV, we saw in the self-serving an engagement in Dublin. Since “documentary” INSIDE M15—with I knew he had no business there, its closing words “M15 is proud of its I challenged him, only to be told history”—a smirking Professor Andrew lamely that ‘he’d been on a secret insist “These are KGB sources”, as mission’.” (pp. 200-1) Gordievsky maintained that he greased Jack’s palm with money (rather than What of the claim that Jones was pocket it himself). On the same paid £200 or £250 by Gordievsky? The programme, with good reason, Jack’s amount varies in Gordievsky’s telling son Mick Jones, called a spade a of the yarn. I do not believe for one spade when he referred to Gordievsky moment that Jones ever saw a penny as “a professional liar”. Indeed, on 20 or was ever offered any such “gift”. But February 1995, in a report in the London I am not at all questioning that KGB Independent headed “Foot’s friends rally records in Moscow might very well show to quash spy theory”, it emerged that, at that, in submitting his own claim for that early stage, M15 held the view that expenses, Gordievsky also claimed that Gordievsky was jumping the gun far too he had paid Jones either £200 or £250, soon in smearing people before they or that he might even have foolishly were actually dead: submitted claims that inconsistently cited both amounts. Nor do I believe “M15 is growing increasingly that possible KGB investigations into uneasy about the allegations being a £50 discrepancy, or a request for made by a former M16 double- receipts for the full £200 or £250, were agent, Oleg Gordievsky, who was what led to Gordievsky’s defection. at the centre of a new story after He had worked for British intelligence claims were made yesterday in the long before that, and undoubtedly felt Sunday Times that Michael Foot that he was worth far more. One is was a KGB agent. It was alleged indeed reminded of the apocryphal that the Soviet spies knew Mr. conversation attributed to George Foot by the codename ‘Boot’; Jack Bernard Shaw, with its punch line: Jones, the former general secretary “We’ve already established what you of the TGWU, was codenamed are, ma’am. Now we’re just haggling ‘Dream’ … Sir Edward Heath, over the price.” who saw M15 and M16 reports on espionage contacts during his That Gordievsky is a British time as prime minister, dismissed intelligence Prostitute with a capital the claims about Mr. Foot. ‘People P is beyond dispute. And the fact that used to meet ambassadors of all Christopher Andrew is a Cambridge countries, whether in government Professor with a capital P does not or in Opposition. Obviously, we make him any less Gordievsky’s Pimp don’t tell them things they ought with a capital P. Any opportunity for not to know but I would have turning a trick for money, facilitated thought it was most unlikely’, he

12 The Vindication Of Jack Jones said. The former Labour leader had ‘no particularly helpful friends’ denied a charge that he accepted among Labour leaders. So which money from the Soviets on behalf Gordievsky are we to believe? After of Tribune … Mr. Foot, who is all, he was a Soviet spy for twelve consulting his lawyer over the years and then a double agent allegations, said yesterday: ‘The for M16 for eleven. His trade was headline—KGB: Michael Foot was treachery and dissimilation. In 1985, our agent—that appeared in the as acting head of the KGB’s London Sunday Times is an absolute lie’ station, he defected and was given … Jack Jones, who is considering a substantial Surrey stock broker- whether to consult his lawyers over belt house by M16 with a pension the allegations, said: ‘I have never said to be worth about £20,000 a knowingly known anybody from the year…” KGB. If they were, I would have shunned them like a bargepole. There was even an editorial, entitled I have met Russians. They could “Michael Foot’s tainted accuser”, in the very well have been. I don’t know. same issue: I mean who knows who is a CIA man and so on; it is very difficult. “Yesterday provided the latest It is a farrago of lies designed by example of Mr. Gordievsky’s a man who wants to make a lot of lucrative scheme for making money money quickly’ … Last night, Mikhail … In February 1992 he said there Lyubimov, a former KGB officer, were no more revelations to come denied in Moscow that Mr. Foot had about the Labour Party. He told been paid or was an agent.” this newspaper: ‘In the Labour Party some people showed a In the same issue, under the heading lot more warmth and kindness of “Former KGB agent is double-dealer to the Russians, but none was in deceit”, it further reported: indiscreet or too helpful. Politically or diplomatically, none of them “Oleg Gordievsky, the former committed any blunder or mistake. KGB double agent, is a difficult I think they were impeccable. man to pin down. In the Sunday There are no revelations to come.’ Times yesterday, he and six other It seems extraordinary that such former KGB officers claimed that an unreliable figure should now be in the 60s the KGB had regarded allowed, given the lack of supporting Michael Foot as one of its ‘agents evidence, to damage the reputation of influence’. They maintained that of figures such as Mr. Foot. His a number of small cash payments claim that money changed hands had been made to help to fund should have been substantiated Tribune, the left-wing newspaper before publication. Instead, the Mr. Foot then edited. Yet in 1992, Sunday Times seems to have been Mr. Gordievsky told the Independent happy to accept Mr. Gordievsky that in the early 80s, when Mr. Foot at his word and so cast a shadow was party leader and a potential over Mr. Foot … But the campaign prime minister, that the Soviet Union of innuendo being waged against 13 The Vindication Of Jack Jones Labour politicians seems likely to admitted on BBC Radio that the achieve little more than make Mr. allegation that Mr. Foot was an Gordievsky an even wealthier man agent might be ‘utter rubbish’, than he already is.” adding that the Sunday Times was merely suggesting that the KGB But it actually achieved more than believed he was an agent. Mr. Foot that. It also made Rupert Murdoch ever immediately fired off writs to the so slightly poorer. Little more than four Sunday Times and News of the months later, on 8 July 1995, under the World; which printed a follow-up heading of “Sunday Times pays Foot story, branding the allegations ‘a damages over KGB claim”, the London McCarthyite smear’. The News of Independent was now happy to report: the World settled within hours of the writ arriving, paying Mr. Foot “The Sunday Times was forced £35,000…” into a humiliating climb-down at the High Court yesterday over its Never interested in money, however, allegations that Michael Foot was Jack Jones did not sue, being content considered ‘an agent of influence’ with making a political response. But by the KGB … Foot had sued the then it was not until the very night he paper and its proprietor Rupert died that Jack was ever smeared with Murdoch … The story alleged the Gordievsky slander that he had Mr. Foot had operated under the taken KGB money. And, of course, a codename ‘Boot’ and that the Soviet dead man, even if not yet cold, can intelligence agency made cash never bring a libel action. There is only payments … Under a settlement one thing that Jones and Gordievsky read out in open court, the paper have in common, but for different offered Mr. Foot ‘substantial’ reasons. Even though the Independent damages—which with legal costs had mercilessly exposed and called are believed to run to at least him a consummate liar, Gordievsky did £100,000—and an assurance not sue either. But how could he? Yet that it had never intended to this is the very espionage courtesan suggest that he had been a spy that Cambridge academia, operating … In need of corroboration, John on behalf of British intelligence, now Witherow, the newspaper’s editor, presents as a “historical witness”. dispatched a reporter to Moscow, Having been politically associated, in where interviews were conducted one way or another, with Jack over a 35 with several former KGB officers, year period, and having been a close including Mikhail Lyubimov and personal friend of his for 25 of those Viktor Kubeykin. However, Mr. years, I can testify that the greatest Lynbimov later told the Independent refutation of M15 smears is to be found that to suggest Mr. Foot had been in both the character and politics of Jack an agent was ‘a ridiculous smear’, Jones. And it is to such politics that I will while Mr. Kubeykin called the article now turn. ‘a 100% distortion’ of what he had told the reporter. On the day the story appeared, Mr. Witherow

14 The Vindication Of Jack Jones Irish Political Review, August 2010

JACK JONES VINDICATED - Part Two

ambridge University’s M15 Professor Christopher Andrew writes of that CBritish intelligence service’s telephone tapping: “The telecheck on the Communist leader of the Scottish miners, Mick McGahey, revealed that he spoke freely, if not always comprehensibly over the phone about the strike plans and tactics of the Scottish area NUM … The bugging of the CPGB’s King Street HQ revealed that McGahey was in close touch with the Party’s industrial was in the British Battalion. As we will organiser Bert Ramelson. As well see, the period of any shared purpose as having a 1st class degree in law, in trade union politics was quite brief, the Ukrainian-born and Canadian- and Ramelson remained vehemently educated Ramelson had an opposed to the efforts of Jones to engaging manner. Even the Sunday move the movement forward. But Times called him ‘a charming and while Ramelson was undoubtedly a erudite man with a keen sense of CPGB schemer, I do not for a moment humanity’. The sympathetic history accept the M15 Andrew charge that of the CPGB by Francis Beckett, he was also a KGB agent. Still less, of published in 1995, concludes, like course, was this in any way true of Jack Secret Service reports in the 1970s, Jones, as Part One of this exposure of that Ramelson, rather than any of Andrew’s book set out to demonstrate. the Party’s general secretaries, was its most influential post-war One of Andrew’s “tricks of the trade” member, becoming ‘the face of entails blurring the distinction between British Communism in the only Communist Party activism and being a place after 1956 where it really Soviet intelligence agent. A review of mattered, the trade unions’…” (The Andrew’s book in the London Observer Defence of the Realm, 2009, p. 592) last 11 October similarly had a blurred- meaning reference to Jones as a Bert Ramelson was the CPGB’s “communist agent”. On 18 October it National Industry Organiser from 1965 evoked the following response from to 1977, coinciding with the period that Jack’s son Mick Jones, under the Jack Jones served as TGWU General heading of “These lies about my father Secretary from 1969 to 1978. They had must cease”: one very definite thing in common; they had both been International Brigader “In his review of Defence of the volunteers who fought in the Spanish Realm by Christopher Andrew, Anti-Fascist War’s battle of the Ebro Robert McCrum repeats a notion in 1938, although Ramelson was in from that book that my father, Jack the Canadian Battalion while Jones Jones, the former Transport and

15 The Vindication Of Jack Jones General Workers’ Union leader, There have been three great James was a ‘communist agent’. There Larkins in the trade union struggles is, however no substantiated proof of these islands, and all three of them offered for this totally fictitious born in the city of Liverpool: (1) Big allegation other than the highly Jim Larkin, born in 1874; (2) His son, dubious reports of that notorious James Larkin Junior, born in 1904; double agent, Oleg Gordievsky. (3) Jack James Larkin Jones, born in The book also states, as if it were 1913 and named after Big Jim. There somehow accepted fact, that is no denying the fact that the first two Jones was an ‘open’ member of had been Communists before they the Communist party between the embraced Social Democracy. As Seán years 1932 to 1941. During that Nolan wrote in Communist Party of period, my father was a Labour City Ireland—Outline History: (1975): Councillor in Liverpool and it was against all Labour Party rules, with “In the years from 1938 the Dublin the threat of instant dismissal, for Branch of the CPI had to contend any Labour councillor also to be a with serious difficulties and set member of the Communist Party. backs … (Some leading members) My father was never a member of retired from active involvement in the Communist Party at any time, the Party without indicating any nor, as is most shamefully and political disagreement. This was ludicrously implied, a ‘communist the case of Jim Larkin Junior. He agent’. I challenge anyone never expressed disagreement to provide unassailable proof with the Party, but ceased to play otherwise.” his part as a member at any level; he became involved in the affairs Andrew’s M15 “thesis” is that Jack of the Workers’ Union of Ireland Jones was a “paid agent” of the KGB and played the principal part of from 1964 to 1968, and again from 1983 the next few years in transforming to 1985. This slander has been refuted the organisational structure and in Part One. But the M15 Professor democratic functioning of the union. also has a parallel “thesis”, designed The loss of Larkin Junior to the to bolster his KGB one, but which Communist Party was a grievous nonetheless needs to be scrutinised in blow, as was the departure of Larkin its own right. The M15 allegations are Senior ten years earlier.” (p. 29) that Jack Jones was:— An open member of the CPGB 1932- Larkin Junior had already been 1941; twice elected to the Dail when, in the A secret member of the CPGB 1941- course of the 1948 General Election, 49; Fianna Fail Minister Sean MacEntee Drifting from the CPGB 1949-54; launched a vitriolic “red-baiting” attack, Disassociated from the CPGB 1954- published by the Catholic Standard that 69; 30 January and supplemented by that A fellow-traveller of the CPGB 1969- newspaper’s own set of questions to 76. Larkin:

16 The Vindication Of Jack Jones “(1) Were you at any time prior alleged disinterested concern of to its dispersal a member of the your journal and its anonymous Communist Party of Ireland? (2) writer in the welfare of the Labour Did you at any time hold office in Movement, and am fully aware that the CPI? (The honest answer to a repudiation of ‘Communism’ as either of these questions is a simple defined by your journal and its writer ‘Yes’ or ‘No’). (3) If the answer to would exclude any and every form either of these questions (1 or 2) is of belief or activity which would be in the affirmative will you here and of any real or lasting benefit to the now issue a statement repudiating working class.” Communism?” Larkin’s reputation for integrity was Larkin replied: more than enhanced and his vote rose from 3,600 in June 1944 to 4,500 that “The moral courage of the writers February 1948, as it would rise still of anonymous letters and articles is further to 5,700 and then 5 ,900 in proverbial, the journalistic standards the May 1951 and May 1954 General of a journal which resorts to them Elections respectively. also hardly merit comment, and the coincidence of putting forward But what of Jack James Larkin questions such as those of your Jones? I served as Head of Research anonymous querist three days at Liberty Hall from March 1971 until my before polling day clearly reveals retirement this past May, and from 1972 that concealed motive. To the onwards it became clear to me that the queries I reply: I was a member of trade union perspective I shared with the CP, a fact publicly known, and Jones was opposed by both the CPGB which I never attempted to cloak or and the CPI. But I also knew that, while evade; I was not an official of the not a Communist himself, Jack had Communist Party.” forged unbreakable bonds with fellow International Brigaders who remained Since Larkin no longer subscribed to life-long Communists. Communism—either organisationally or ideologically—he might have been See, for example, the Ireland & The tempted to consider it reasonable to Spanish Civil War Website, when Jack now repudiate such beliefs in replying sprang to the defence of my own father to question (3) and gain some electoral in response to a vicious “red-baiting” advantage as a result of such a attack which the Irish Times published repudiation. But Larkin’s integrity was in October 2005. What, then, to make of too high a calibre for him to ever of the wire-tap that recorded Bert become an ex-Communist of the ‘God Ramelson saying in 1969 that “the only that failed’ breast-beating variety. He dishonest thing about Jack was that he effectively told the Catholic Standard to gave the impression that he was never get lost: in the (Communist) Party”. Perhaps the problem was that Jack was never “As to the remaining query, directly asked the obvious question! from past experience I reject the

17 The Vindication Of Jack Jones I myself missed a golden opportunity that he himself was not ethnically Irish. to ask such a question in 2003. As that year was the 90th anniversary of This was not too unreasonable a both the epic 1913 struggle led by conclusion, even though it took me by Big Jim Larkin and Jack Jones’s own surprise. Jack’s own account of the first birth and naming after Larkin, I was time he stood as a Labour candidate successful in my request that Jack be in 1936 portrayed a Liverpool of that invited to address the SIPTU Delegate period that was more akin to an Ulster Conference in Galway. I first brought rather than an English city: Jack and his son Mick to visit Dublin’s Kilmainham Jail, where they were “Labour politics in Liverpool were both profoundly moved in the prison different to those in the rest of the yard where the 1916 leaders had been country in the 1930s. What was executed, especially at the spot just called ‘religion’ had a big influence inside the gate where Connolly had because of the mixed nature of the been shot while propped up in a chair. population. There was a separate Protestant party represented in The next day, having driven to the City Council, known as the Galway, I also brought them to visit ‘Protestant Reform Party’, and a Pearse’s Gaeltacht cottage in Rosmuc, Catholic party to balance it called Conamara. Long aware of Jack’s Irish the ‘Centre Party’. If that wasn’t enthusiasms, and not least his singing enough, the Labour Party itself was of “Kevin Barry”, I asked when had he pretty well divided. Sections of the first met Frank Ryan, of whom he spoke party were strongly influenced by with such personal affection. I had the Catholic hierarchy, especially on assumed it was probably 1937, before issues affecting Catholic schools. Jack himself went to Spain, but when For years the Scotland Road area Ryan, having been wounded, was on of Liverpool was represented in recuperative leave in both Britain and Parliament by an Irish Nationalist Ireland before returning to Spain again. MP, T.P. O’Connor, and when he “1931” was Jack’s reply. died and was replaced in 1932 by a Labour MP, David Logan, there This flummoxed me. Jack, I knew, didn’t seem much difference in had been a Labour Party member of outlook. In my early twenties I was Liverpool City Council since 1937. Frank selected to stand for the Labour Ryan did not split from the IRA to set up Party as the candidate for Breckfield the left-wing Republican Congress until Ward in the elections for the City 1934. In 1931 Ryan was still an IRA Council. Part of the ward was in leader, and editor of its newspaper An the centre of a militant Protestant Phoblacht. “How come?” I asked. “Leo area, where the King was ‘King McGee sent me over to Dublin to meet Billy’ and the man to follow was Ryan.” “Who?” But Jack only smiled ‘Pastor’ Longbottom, the Liverpool enigmatically. I concluded therefore that equivalent in his time of the present Jack was no mere Labourite. He must day Reverend Ian Paisley. Since have had some involvement with the the area was one of serious poverty Liverpool IRA, notwithstanding the fact (like most of Liverpool) I launched 18 The Vindication Of Jack Jones my campaign with an attempt at an nosed proletarian mother-figure open-air meeting. After I had been with a heart of gold, published in speaking for about five minutes, a 1957 does mention husband Jack’s number of the women present in involvement with the IRA, and the the traditional black shawls of my trouble he bought upon himself …” home town, were screaming out, (Left to the Wolves: Irish Victims of ‘Go home, you Fenian bastard’ and Stalinist Terror, 2007, p. 239) other less polite messages. Then stones and bottles began to fly and Since I had never once had any we retreated fast.” (Union Man, indication of CP-type politics from 2008 edition, pp. 55-6) Jack, I concluded that he must have had some clandestine Irish Republican The Redmondite legacy of O’Connor background. Jack’s wife Evelyn, of was not, however, the only variety course, was rightly honoured in her of Irish politics that overlapped with own right for her 1930s heroism in Liverpool Labour. The complexity of operating as a Comintern courier to the political traditions in Liverpool has been underground CPs of Fascist Europe. further highlighted by Barry McLoughlin And her first husband George Brown, in respect of a leading Labour Party killed in Spain’s battle of Brunete in politician, Jack Braddock, who had 1937, had been CPGB Manchester been a member of the Liverpool IRA. organiser. But even his own children Braddock had been put on trial in 1923 assumed that Jack himself had never on explosives charges connected with a been in the CP. And when I spoke in murder committed during the course of Jack’s memory at the second George an IRA “fund-raising” robbery, and only Brown commemoration in the latter’s walked free when the “King’s Evidence” birthplace of Inistioge, Co. Kilkenny against him was withdrawn. in June 2009, I only half-jokingly speculated that, while it might have McLoughlin further relates: been dead everywhere else, the Irish Republican Brotherhood had survived in “Until they left the CPGB in 1924, Liverpool, and that Jack Jones himself Bessie and Jack Braddock were the had been an IRB member! (Search the leaders of Scouse Bolshevism … SIPTU website for my George Brown In the Braddocks’ joint biography, commemoration address in 2008.) published in 1963, Jack omits to mention his involvement with It was just my luck to have misheard the IRA … The Braddock’s break the name that Jack had dropped and to with Communism is described in have it fail to ring a bell from the brief some detail, a plausible retelling reference in Jack’s memoirs. I now of trust betrayed and inner-party belatedly realise that if I had greeted machinations which persuaded Jack’s enigmatic smile with something them that their home was in the more than ignorance about Leo G, he Labour Party, for which Bessie was would probably have been prepared a forthright and popular MP from to continue with a conversation based 1945. The first biography of Bessie, on an informed line of questioning. A a hagiographic portrait of a hard- squandered opportunity! For the name 19 The Vindication Of Jack Jones he had mentioned was not that of some in the Spanish Civil War (2004), who Fenian leader named McGee, but the has brought to light a most significant man described as follows by Jack: document which now fills in the missing pieces in the jig saw. At the close of “On odd days off work from the International Brigade involvement docks I often took part in meetings in the Spanish Anti-Fascist War in and demonstrations and I listened, 1938, as a mark of solidarity with the with increasing sympathy, to Spanish Communist Party which would speeches by Leo McGree [NOT now have to carry on the struggle McGee!], the communist leader in unaided, there were mass membership Liverpool and chief spokesman for applications for that Party. For the most the unemployed He impressed me part, these came from Brigaders who greatly with his vigorous exposition had already been CP members in their of the facts, laced with sharp own countries, as was the case with my Liverpool wit. He became a thorn own father. But what of Jack Jones? in the side of authority and even of The following are key excerpts from the my own friends in the Labour Party Spanish CP document brought to light like Jack and Bessie Braddock. by Richard Baxell: While they were experts in dealing with the bureaucrats, Leo McGree “All comrades who are not on the other hand advocated direct Spanish but who wish to join the action against housing evictions. ranks of the Spanish Communist The massive demonstrations he Party must write a biography organised gained the support of following the form of this thousands of the unemployed. questionnaire and send it, with For his pains Leo landed up with their application, to the central twenty months in gaol. The police commission for admission into authorities panicked, even at one the Party. This disposition applies stage arresting Jack Braddock for equally to all of those comrades leading an unemployed action at who were, in the past, member of which he was not even present!” one of their national parties and who (p.40) also wish to obtain a membership card for the current year.” There is no further mention of McGree “PERSONAL AND TRADE UNION in Jack’s memoirs and no ostensible LIFE. Name: JAMES LARKIN reason for the reader to necessarily JONES; Place and date of birth: become more curious about him. LIVERPOOL 29/3/13; Name of your Those of us—including Mick Jones and parents, their political opinions: myself—who served on the Executive GEORGE HENRY JONES - ANNE of the International Brigade Memorial CONSTABLE – COMMUNIST; Trust under Jack’s Presidency, welcome Profession: TRANSPORT and have no fears of genuine historical WORKER; Place of work: DOCKS, investigation. Indeed, it is one of our GARSTON, LIVERPOOL; Member fellow Executive members, Richard of a trade union: TRANSPORT AND Baxell, author of British Volunteers GENERAL WORKERS UNION

20 The Vindication Of Jack Jones (DOCKS SECTION) LIVERPOOL; LABOUR MONTHLY, IMPRECOR, Position of Responsibility in COMUNIST INTERNATIONAL, Union: NATIONAL COMMITTEE DAILY WORKER, Which books on AND AREA DELEGATE; Union communist doctrine and politics representation in place of work: 4 have you studied? WORKS OF YEARS.” MARX, ENGELS, LENIN, STALIN; Which are the political questions “POLITICAL LIFE. When did that have drawn your attention you begin to be interested in the most and which do you enjoy workers’ movement? 1929. STRIKE studying most? INDUSTRIAL MOVEMENT; On w h a t d a t e d i d y o u POLICY; Have you written articles j o i n t h e CP? 1930; In what cell were for newspapers? YES. VARIOUS you? LIVERPOOL DOCKS; Wh i c h - CHIEFLY TRADE UNION. r e s p o n s i b l e c o m r a d e s p r e s e n t e d y o u r “RECORD” (TU Journal). ‘MILITANT r e q u e s t t o j o i n t h e Pa r t y ? LEO TRADE UNION’; When did you MCGREE; Ar e y o u s t i l l a m e m b e r arrive in Spain ? MAY 1938; Via o f t h e Pa r t y ? Ye s ; Have you had what means? PARTY; With what any leadership role or responsible objective? TO FIGHT FASCISM; position in the Party? LIVERPOOL What military and political functions ORGANISER 1932-38 MEMBER have you had in Spain? COMPANY LANCASHIRE DIST. CTTEE. 5 COMMISSAR; In which battles YEARS. STRIKE FUNCTION IN have you been? EBRO, JULY 1938, THIS CAPACITY; Which party ATTACK ON HILL 481, JULY 31ST work have you undertaken most? 1938. SHOULDER WOUNDS. INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITY ASSISTING Which comrades do you know LEADERSHIP IN DOCKS; Have you best and which responsible person participated in a Party Congress? can confirm the veracity of your BATTERSEA 1932. MANCHESTER statement? WILLIAM RUST, H 1934; To which countries have you POLLITT (Daily Worker editor been? GERMANY 1931. FRANCE; and CPGB General Secretary, Ar e y o u k n o w n a s a c o m m u n i s t in respectively - MO’R) Pl a c e : y o u r c o u n t r y ? NO; An d a b r o a d ? Ba r c e l o n a ; Da t e : 5t h o f Se p t e m b e r NO; Which leaders of political, 1938; Sig n a t u r e : J.L. Jo n e s .” trade union organisations do you have a personal relationship with? “The Party expels those who give FRANK BRIGHT, WILLIAM RUST false information or try to deceive it. AND PETER KERRIGAN CP. Comrades must report all aspects of G. GIBBONS (DISTRICT SEC. their current circumstances; in the TGWU) ALD HOGAN, LEADER event of them wanting a guarantee LIVERPOOL LABOUR PARTY; of maximum confidentiality, they can What political courses organised deliver the questionnaire directly to by the Party have you taken? the central committee of the PCE”. SPECIAL PARTY SCHOOL, LONDON 1935. 2 MONTHS; Jack may not have been the “Fenian Which Party newspapers and bastard!” that the Orange hecklers of magazines do you normally read? Liverpool accused him of being. But he 21 The Vindication Of Jack Jones certainly behaved like a Fenian Centre Party. But with this added information who only divulged certain categories of we can also read Jack’s autobiography information on a “need to know” basis. in a more informed manner, including If Ramelson complained that Jack never seeing between the lines, and discover publicly “owned up” to having been a the most independent-minded of 1930s CPGB member in the 1930s, neither did communists, who had already decided his application to the Spanish CP once to part company with the CPGB by mention his membership of the Labour 1940.

Irish Political Review, October 2010

JACK JONES VINDICATED - Part Three

n a programme entitled “The 20th Century Remembered”, which was broadcast by the BBC on 7 January 1984, veteran Labour correspondent GeoffreyI Goodman interviewed his good friend and the even more veteran and retired British union leader, Jack Jones, about his life and times—although there was still another quarter of a century of that life yet to run. Jack spoke of how he had left school in 1927, aged 14, and joined the TGWU in 1929, aged 16, and the Labour Party at the same time, becoming secretary of his local ward organisation. We now know from his open member. The question remains, answers to a 1938 Spanish Communist however, how long did he remain Party questionnaire—brought to light by such a secret member? Jack’s own International Brigade historian Richard autobiography, Union Man (first edition Baxell—that Jack was recruited into 1986, second edition 2008), reveals a the CPGB by Liverpool communist personality and intellect who formed his leader Leo McGree in 1930, but kept own independent judgment throughout his membership secret and became a his dual party membership of the 1930s: Labour Party member of Liverpool City Council in 1937. “Within the union and the local Labour Party I was continually pressing for action against In his 2009 book Defence of the unemployment... When early in Realm M15’s Professor Christopher 1934 a national ‘hunger’ march Andrew, speaking as His Master’s was being organised I offered to Voice, regurgitates the pronouncement join the Liverpool contingent to that “Jones had been an open CPGB march to London. My union branch member from 1932 to 1941 and the endorsed the idea and I had the Service believed, did not leave the sympathy and support of fellow party until 1949.” (p. 535) Yet we now Labour Party members, although know for a fact that Jones joined the the main organisers of the march CPGB in 1930, but had NEVER been an were members of the Communist

22 The Vindication Of Jack Jones Party. The Independent Labour test and the poverty represented Party (ILP) was also active in by the low rates of unemployment getting recruits for the march. In benefits... He agreed to do all he my youthful enthusiasm I could could to press our case and to urge never understand why the different the leader of the Liberal Party, Sir socialist groups could not work Herbert Samuel, to do the same. together, and here was evidence of He created a better impression that ambition being, in part at least, than some of the Labour MPs, fulfilled... I felt that some means but Clem Attlee, the leader of the must be found to provide work for Labour Party came up trumps. the unemployed of Liverpool. In He led the fight in the House for a this I must have been influenced by deputation to be received by the the speeches made by Ernie Bevin Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald, which put forward a strong case and the Cabinet. I was pleased with for work or maintenance for the Attlee’s efforts and the way he had unemployed.” (p. 40) met us. I said to my mates: ‘He is a small man and he doesn’t look Jones described what happened when very strong but you must admit he’s the hunger march reached London and got guts!’ He strengthened my faith sought to have a deputation received at in the Labour Party at a time when Westminster: circumstances were inclining me to move further towards the left.” (pp. “Only a few hundred of the 42-3) two thousand managed to gain admission... I was amongst them, “My respect for Ernie Bevin increased and led a group of the Liverpool each time he denounced Fascism men in seeking to make contact and I began to appreciate the thinking with Liverpool Members of behind the formation of the TGWU … Parliament. One of those who It was, and is, a great conception, but met us was David Logan, Labour my experience in the docks underlined member for the Scotland division of for me that any trade union had also Liverpool. He wasn’t the brightest to be a living, democratic reality at the of men and he offered little by place of work.” (p. 47) As Jones told way of action, but he showed his Goodman in 1984, it could not be “just sympathy by handing me a ten a union of Bevin—although Bevin was shilling note which he asked me a great man—but a members’ union, a to share ‘amongst the lads’. The live union to challenge employers.” Central Lobby was packed but in the middle of the throng I saw a Jack Jones also used his own distinguished looking man, who, I independent judgment in assessing was told, was Dingle Foot, then a the Liverpool Labour leadership of the Liberal MP. I took my group over Braddocks – noting that both the CP and we surrounded him, urging and LP were hostile and suspicious, our point of view. He was visibly for their own separate organisational shaken by the examples we cited reasons: of hardship caused by the means

23 The Vindication Of Jack Jones “In August 1936 Ernest Bevin greater union democracy, far from praised ‘the heroic struggle being leading to any victimisation of him, only carried on by the workers of Spain served to enhance Bevin’s appreciation to save their democratic regime’... of Jack’s own leadership qualities. In In some churches Franco was August 1939 he appointed Jones to the proclaimed as the defender of position of Coventry District Organiser, Christianity against atheistic on the eve of World War Two. And materialism, church burning, Jack’s response to that War was outrages against nuns and other Bevinite rather than CP. things too horrible to relate. A few Catholic Labour City Councillors The outbreak of War evoked a swallowed the propaganda and variety of responses from left-wing declared their support for Franco, anti-Fascists. I remember in 1970 but they were the exceptions. The asking Sam Rosen, my Professor of Catholic leader of the Party, Luke Economics in the US University of New Hogan, supported the Loyalist Hampshire, whether or not he and his Government from the start and wife, Mary Berman, had any qualms of encouraged me in my endeavours... conscience, as Jewish Communists, While I was in his office he urged in championing the CPUSA’s anti-war me to continue to try to gain a seat stance during the 1939-41 period of on the City Council. ‘We need young Hitler-Stalin Non-Aggression Pact. men from the Unions like you’, he Certainly not! Their conviction in its said. ‘I’m not afraid of a left-wing correctness remained as firm as ever view, I expect some young men to in their recall, notwithstanding the fact be on the left’. He was scathing in that Sam later served in Europe with his criticism of the loyalty of Jack the US Army during the period when and Bessie Braddock. I queried it had become an actual anti-Fascist this attack for I was friendly with War, while in 1978 Mary’s sister-in- the Braddocks and I had a youthful law, Isabella Leitner, would author one wish for unity in the movement, of the most searing autobiographies but a doubt remained with me after penned by a survivor of the Auschwitz that interview. The Braddocks were Holocaust, Fragments of Isabella. In a controversial figures. Together with Guardian obituary for her own father Bessie’s mother, Mrs. Mary Bamber, Leslie, on 18 March 2008, the late Nina they had been founders and leaders Fishman (1946-2009) also recalled that of the Communist Party in Liverpool “Les had joined the CPUSA on news but had then left it. Although they of the 1939 Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact”. continued to advocate left-wing Similarly, other Jewish anti-Fascists policies, they were attacked as in the USA, most notably those who traitors by the communists yet were had actually fought against Fascism in looked upon with a suspicious eye Spain, like Moe Fishman (no relation to by all of the Labour Councillors.” Nina), were to the fore in the opposition (pp. 57-8) of the Veterans of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade to any US involvement in World The constant tension between Bevin War Two prior to the invasion of the the union boss and Jack’s drive for Soviet Union. 24 The Vindication Of Jack Jones This was not the position of Jack patriotism. Like Bevin, Jones had come Jones. But neither was his the to believe in a domestically-honed somersault record of the CPGB. The British Road to Socialism. For Jones, Party General Secretary Harry Pollitt the decisive change in the character of had initially supported the War in the War came not with the Nazi invasion September 1939. But the Comintern of the USSR in June 1941, but with forced his temporary removal and it was Bevin becoming Minister for Labour in R. Palme Dutt and Andrew Rothstein March 1940. It was no accident that who articulated the revised anti-War Jones entitled a Bevin centenary lecture line of the CPGB until the invasion of he delivered on 5 March 1981 as Ernest the USSR allowed for Pollitt’s return Bevin—Revolutionary by Consent. And as General Secretary in order to lead their shared revolutionary perspective the CPGB in its now-pro-war-again ruled out any wartime truce in the class stance. Jack Jones participated in war until the achievement by Bevin of none of this jumping back and forth. If, working class executive powers for the following his return from Spain in 1938, rest of that war confirmed that change he had resumed being a secret CPGB in character. As Jones argued in his member in Liverpool, there is nothing lecture: to suggest that he remained one when he moved to Coventry in August 1939, “He always had his feet on the and there is everything to suggest ground. It was this quality which the contrary. From start to finish, Jack carried him through the war years Jones functioned as a left-wing Bevinite and made him such a great Minister throughout the course of the War. Jack of Labour... Bevin’s wartime Jones described his own position on achievement were centred on two the War in a manner that was decidedly main themes, firstly the maximum indifferent to the CPGB’s own internal mobilisation of manpower, secondly difficulties: the recasting of social values and the permanent alteration of the “I was for the war from the status of working people. These very beginning. For me it was a two themes fitted together, as being continuation of the war in Spain, the only way to win the war. As far the war against Fascism. Support as Bevin was concerned, it could for the war in Coventry was virtually not be won by totalitarian methods. universal and any doubts were Britain had to stick to government removed by the bombing (the by consent in order to secure the November 1940 blitz). The decision willingness of people to make by the Communist Party to oppose sacrifices greater than those that the war in its early stages had no could be obtained from them by impact in Coventry.” (p. 99) compulsion. And this consent was closely tied up with consultation This is evidence of a very definite and respect for the dignity of the break with any constraints of CPGB worker. This philosophy did not discipline. Jones, nonetheless, was far exclude coercion, but confined its from being amenable to any “There’ll use to those occasions when the always be an England” all-class

25 The Vindication Of Jack Jones time was right and it was generally the Government, as he did in the acceptable to those at whom it person of Bevin. Despite Churchill’s might be directed... But this was not viciously anti-trade union past, he handed to him on a plate. During at least was capable of making the early part of the war, the attitude this pragmatic adjustment. Bevin of the Chamberlain Government however clearly realised that office was thoroughly reactionary towards alone was no guarantee of his wider labour and totally incapable of aims. After six months in office he understanding the mood of working defined the problem in the following people and their willingness to way: ‘They (the trade unions) are fight fascism, and the opportunities tolerated so long as they keep this presented. Bevin was not their place and limit their activities willing to lead the trade unions to industrial disputes, industrial into cooperation with such a relations and similar matters, and government. In October 1939 he are willing to bury all their memories stated: ‘It must be recognised that and feelings and assist the nation in their heart of hearts the powers- or industry when in difficulties and that-be are anti-trade union... We go back to their place when the represent probably the most vital war is done. But there will have to factor in the state: without our be a great recasting of values. The people the war cannot be won, concept that those who produce or nor can the life of the country be manipulate are inferior and must carried on. The assumption that the accept a lower status than the only brains in the country are in the speculator, must go.’ His years as heads of the Federation of British Minister of Labour were to see him Industry and big business has yet to carry through these objectives to a be corrected.’ ” remarkable extent.”

“Bevin was not willing to “No, Bevin was not perfect. He place the support of the unions was not always right – no one is. Yet unconditionally in the hands of few would or could deny that he was the government in the cause of an outstanding trade union leader patriotism. Indeed in February 1940 and a truly great Minister of Labour. he stated: If the Government is His contribution to winning the war going to take the occasion of this against fascism was second only to war to invade the liberties of my that of Churchill if not equal to it. We people, I will lead the movement should remember the considerable to resist this Government – or any amount of good that he did in his other Government.’ This stand life as we commemorate his birth created a position of strength a hundred years ago. Surveying in that, as Churchill recognised, that momentous period as a trade the strengths of the unions could unionist and as Minister of Labour only be tapped for the war effort one can say that he served the if he was prepared to bargain cause of labour splendidly.” with them and bring them into Jack Jones had the greatest of

26 The Vindication Of Jack Jones respect for the CPGB shop-stewards union’s national conference in 1949 who worked with him in wartime to ban communists holding office in Coventry. But the CPGB had very the TGWU caused a commotion in definitely ceased to be the Party for him. the ranks of the active members. I And his memoirs make clear that he felt shared their view that the decision that Harry Pollitt’s talents might have smelled of McCarthyism. Since a been better deployed: number of shop stewards in my district were communists I felt that “In October 1942 the District the union could only be harmed Committee joined forces with by the decision. Some members the Coventry Trades Council in did, in fact, leave the TGWU and organising a mass meeting in the join the ETU. Determined to be no Opera House to discuss the need party to victimisation, I managed to for a second front. The meeting was protect the shop stewards and they packed to overflowing, with Harry continued to function in my district” Pollitt, the Communist leader, as (p. 134) the main speaker. I spoke for the Confederation and although I got a Jack valued the commitment of his good reception it was nothing to the CPGB shop stewards and protected enthusiasm which greeted Pollitt. them from Deakin’s purges. But he had He made an outstandingly brilliant no desire to share in their Party life. speech and as I listened I thought to His own concept of a British Road to myself: ‘If only Harry had gone into Socialism saw no advantage for that the Labour Party, what a marvellous project in taking any stand, on one side impact he would have had on the or the other, in the dispute between the nation.’ I always found Pollitt to be USSR and Yugoslavia. He had seen a sincere and able man, a fine trade what had happened to Alfred Sherman, unionist, and certainly a credit to the a fellow member of the International Communist Party which he led for Brigade’s British Battalion. In 1948 so many years.” (p. 117) Sherman headed up the CPGB branch formed by students at the London Arthur Deakin, the TGWU’s second School of Economics. He had been General Secretary, was no Ernie Bevin. due to deliver a paper on politics in Quite the contrary, Jack Jones recalled Yugoslavia, following his visit to that the 1949 reaction that enveloped the country, when Moscow announced Union: Stalin’s break with Tito. Asked to amend his paper, Sherman refused, and was “Generally what happened in expelled from the CPGB on charges London had little impact on the of “Titoist deviationism”. From 1948 to Coventry district. We had built a 1953, until after the death of Stalin, the substantial membership and day- CPGB maintained that not alone was to-day activates in the plants, Tito’s Yugoslavia not a Socialist state, it where trade unionism is properly was actually ruled by a Fascist clique. judged, were going well. National In 1952 Jack Jones had no intention of events passed most people by. turning down the opportunity to see for Nevertheless the decision of the himself: 27 The Vindication Of Jack Jones “There came an opportunity to We were the guests of the Motor visit Yugoslavia. The Coventry Transport Union, which enabled us District Committee of the to visit many factories in Moscow, Confederation of Engineering Leningrad, Odessa and Kiev. Our and Shipbuilding Unions had practical experience meant that we been invited to send a delegate could appreciate what was good to the Yugoslav Metal Workers and what was bad. Despite the Congress at Zagreb, who would language barrier we felt a sense of then tour the engineering industry camaraderie; that sort of immediate in that country. I was selected to understanding cannot be disguised. make the trip. In 1952 Yugoslavia Of course we saw the sights was still ‘a far-away country’ and and met many important political I was intrigued by the chance to and trade union leaders, but our explore this new world... Yugoslavia overwhelming impression was of a was very much on its own and people struggling against a difficult industrially backward. It was not past, painfully but successfully. unusual to come across a heap of From then on I thought it would be horse manure in the centre of a a good thing for working people machine stop or witness some other from both countries to get to know evidence of the close link between each other by two-way exchanges. industry and agriculture. Horses Barriers could be broken down in and carts were used to transport a way diplomats were unlikely to materials to and from the factories. achieve.” (p. 172) Former peasants were being trained slowly and painfully to acquire It was this visit which led M15’s engineering skills. I was impressed Professor Andrew to regurgitate by the early attempts at workers’ double agent Gordievsky’s claim that self-management, and from that the KGB reported on Jones as being time onwards have watched the a contact from 1964 to 1968. If such experiments with keen interest. ” (p. reports exist, it was obviously a case 138) of self-promotion on the part of KGB operatives, posing under other hats It was in 1964 that Jack visited the and inflating the significance of normal Soviet Union for the very first time: exchanges of views. But what of the supposed KGB claim that “Jones “In November 1964 I led a TGWU accepted, without visible enthusiasm, delegation to the USSR. I hadn’t modest contributions towards holiday been to Russia before and was expenses”? (p. 536) pleased that the opportunity had fallen to me. Those accompanying The distortion of reality is also quite me were all rank-and-file members apparent to me in this regard. In 1965, of the Union’s Executive... We were when I was aged 16, and a year after a good team and conscientious Jack’s visit, I myself visited the Soviet in our efforts to find out as much Union for the only time in my life, as possible about that most accompanying my father. There was a interesting country and its people. great desire on the part of the Soviet 28 The Vindication Of Jack Jones hosts that their guests would not feel raised the question of Jews wishing the need to exchange currency and to emigrate from the Soviet Union, come into contact with the black market, explaining that there was much of which they were rather ashamed. interest in the subject in Britain. “Modest contributions towards holiday Their president had obviously been expenses” were precisely that—some fully briefed and provided a lot of pocket money in roubles that would information. He said that 97 percent cover the purchase of souvenirs. They of applications from Jewish people would have paled into insignificance to emigrate had been granted, but compared with expenses regimes on there were reservations over people all fronts in the western world. Yet I can in possession of secret information well believe that Jack accepted even or with high scientific or academic these small amounts with reluctance. qualifications. He went to great Having driven Jack around Dublin and pains to assure us that they were Galway as SIPTU’s guest in 2003, I not anti-Semitic, and that many know how reluctant Jack was on every Jewish people occupied important single occasion to accept being treated positions. There was some sharp to meals as befitted our guest. questioning... There was still a deep division, on this issue, which The other visit to the Soviet Union remained a sharp cause for concern recorded in Jack’s memoirs occurred in for a long period. The British 1973, when Jack led a TUC delegation: Ambassador told me that he had been delighted with our visit and felt “The visit was a short one... The sure that it would help to improve industrial part was covered during relations. A number of high-ranking a visit to Minsk; we looked over a Soviet trade unionists accepted new heavy vehicles plant and had his invitation to attend a party in discussions with management, trade the Embassy, including a member union and party representatives. of the Politburo. The Ambassador I was not happy that the working was all smiles, because it had not conditions and lay-out of the plant previously been possible to talk were as good as they might have informally with such influential been, but at least I felt satisfied people. ” (pp. 270-1) that a trade union system, not unlike our own, was operating at a In Tribune on 10 December 2009, plant level. The political influence, Geoffrey Goodman recalled: however, was alien to our British traditions, and we began to realise “Jack Jones a traitor? Don’t make the difference between the political me laugh. Allegations that Jack and industrial systems of our Jones was a Soviet agent taking two countries... On our return to cash from the KGB are laughable. Moscow we resumed talks with the If the cremated remains of James leaders of the all-Union Central Larkin Jones have not already Council of Trade Unions in their turned to dust they may, I suspect, substantial headquarters. In the be jumping around with great course of our lengthy meetings I

29 The Vindication Of Jack Jones

mirth in their casket. I feel quite fighter for social justice? Do I detect certain it is laughter rather than this posthumous bid to humiliate his anger that is their response to the record as the usual coward’s way of extraordinary campaign which has speaking ill of the dead who cannot been launched to discredit their answer for themselves? Perhaps. owner. Indeed, I vividly recall when, Then let me again remind a younger some 35 years ago, I was reporting generation who probably know a TUC delegation to Moscow little of Jones’ record in fighting for led by Jones as chairman of the what is finest in British democratic TUC’s international committee, he tradition that this was a man whose took the lead in attacking Soviet personal modesty never changed policies in face to face meetings as he rose in trade union power and with Soviet leaders. I wonder if that influence; a man for whom financial is recorded in the secret archives or any other form of corruption, of the security systems in Moscow political bribery, or even the odd or, for that matter, here? Of course expensive lunch was anathema. he was resented by those on In short, the anti-Jones clatter is the right who, during his lifetime, about a man of principle and sheer spent considerable time, money integrity that was unshakeable by and powerful influence seeking to spies or newspaper proprietors.” undermine him and his trade union activities. Some of his opponents It has been shown that Jack Jones’s were even from his own side of relationship with Soviet officialdom was the political divide—well known such as to render unbelievable any members of the Labour Party at that suggestion that he was a Soviet agent. time. None of his critics demurred And yet over the course of 1969-70 M15 at supporting dubious elements sought to justify wire-tapping Jones on to combat Jones, especially when the basis that his contacts with CPGB he was general secretary of the Industrial Organiser Bert Ramelson Transport and General Workers rendered him a Soviet stooge, and now Union, then the strongest trade MI5’s Cambridge Professor again seeks union in Britain and, indeed, across to justify it all retrospectively. That the the non-communist world. Do I actual relationship between Jones and detect similar influences at play Ramelson was, in the main, one of today in this campaign to discredit fundamental strategic conflict, will now his reputation as one of Britain’s be explored. greatest trade union leaders and a

30 The Vindication Of Jack Jones Irish Political Review, December 2010

JACK JONES VINDICATED – Part Four

he M15 request to wire-tap Jack Jones, on the grounds that he was in contact with the British Communist Party’s Industrial Organiser Bert Ramelson,T was rejected by the Wilson/Callaghan Labour Government in November 1969 but authorised by the Heath/Maudling Tory Government in October 1970. It was, however, withdrawn in 1971. (Professor Christopher Andrew, The Defence of the Realm: The Authorised History of M15, pp 535- 6 and pp 588-9) Cambridge Professor Andrew - Party, they were going in the same not only MI5’s authorised “historian” direction and wanted the same things” but a sworn member of that British and that Jack was “sound politically” intelligence agency for such a strategic with “courage and guts”. (pp 535-6 project - launched his smear narrative, and 667) And yet even that M15 chief alleging that Jack Jones had been a had to admit in 1971 that “in present supposed “paid agent” of the Soviet circumstances the realities of Jones’ KGB, on the very day that Jack’s Union position as General Secretary of the was celebrating the life of its fourth largest trade union in the country press General Secretary on 5 October 2009. more heavily on him than any influence That smear also coasts along on the the CPGB could bring to bear upon assumption that a relationship between him”. (p. 589) None of the context for Jones and Ramelson was itself a a close working relationship between sufficient reason for treating Jones as Jones and Ramelson between 1969 a Soviet stooge. And yet Andrew, the and 1971 is presented by Andrew. And history professor, is either unfathomably yet it is such a context that establishes incompetent or unforgivably this two year period as the exception disingenuous as a historian (it is not for that proved the rule. Jones always me to come to a definitive conclusion valued the hard work, discipline and as to whether he is a fool or a knave) in commitment of CP shop stewards, failing to seriously examine what exactly and if there was a common viewpoint were the relations between Jones and about a particular phase of the trade Ramelson, and what exactly was their union movement’s struggle, it was in context. the TGWU’s interest to maximise the combined effectiveness of all the forces So, what was the precise product of that required to be marshalled. wire-tapping Ramelson’s telephone conversations that leads M15 and its In Part Three of this series of mouthpiece Andrew to portray Jones articles I established that Jack Jones in such sinister terms? It is the M15 had been a dual member of both the chief’s report that Ramelson “claimed British Labour Party and the CPGB in August 1969 that Jones had said from 1930, but concluded that when that although there would be tactical he transferred from Liverpool to differences between himself and the 31 The Vindication Of Jack Jones Coventry in 1939 he had ceased to with a smaller reduction. I urged be a member of the CP and was in early restoration of the cuts, which disagreement with the line it held on he resented.” (p. 55, 2nd edition) World War Two before Hitler’s invasion of the USSR in June 1941. Jones And yet, five years later, Jack Jones supported the pro-War stance of the was prepared to revisit that conflict, TGWU’s founding General Secretary, with a somewhat different narrative, Ernie Bevin, particularly after the latter suggesting that the reader should not joined the Government as Minister take for granted that he himself was for Labour in May 1940. In politics still of the view that his 18 year-old’s Jack Jones could most accurately be “audacity of youth” had necessarily described as a left-wing Bevinite. The been vindicated against Bevin’s own fullness of that description, of course, strategy at the time. In a lecture which presumes ongoing tensions. In his he delivered on 30 September 1991 to 1986 autobiography, Union Man, Jack the Ernest Bevin Society —associates recalled the beginnings of such a of the Irish Political Review in Britain – “dialectical” relationship: Jack now related:

“I had been already elected as “Employers, of course, a shop steward, and to the branch followed the pattern set out by and area committees of the TGWU, the government, and sought to as well as on the National Docks reduce wages. They succeeded Group Committee of the union. This in many cases. There were in fact meant that I came into contact with ten per cent wage cuts in a whole Ernie Bevin General Secretary of range of industries. In the Docks the union, who took a keen interest Bevin negotiated a seven per cent in the Docks Group and was present reduction on basic pay, and five at all the national meetings. He had per cent on piece work. It took been the driving force in building the quite a few years to start to go union and he let everybody know back on that and get a restoration it. On occasions we had to listen of the 1931 cuts. Indeed, the to Ernie orating about the financial trade union movement conducted problems of the world... He may not campaigns to restore these cuts. I have been the clearest exponent of remember having a big argument complicated issues but he achieved with Bevin; I was a very young man remarkable results by his driving then, and I had come on to the power... Earlier I had been active in docks from engineering, and was a campaign to make good the wage questioning him about how the trade reductions in the docks industry union leadership could negotiate that had been applied in 1931. At a reductions in pay, which I did not meeting attended by Bevin I had the think was a good idea. He replied audacity of youth and asked why he that he had done better than other had ever agreed to a pay reduction. industries, and indeed he was able His argument was that other to persuade my fellow-workers that industries had fared worse and he he had done a satisfactory job in had done a good job by escaping that sense. He managed to hold 32 The Vindication Of Jack Jones the situation, and eventually we got Nye Bevan’s problem in the past a restoration. That was Bevin. He had been his lack of trade union wanted to maintain organisation, support, although his public despite adversity, rather than meetings were always packed and disorganisation and anarchy. He enthusiastic. Nye didn’t always help succeeded in doing so in a very himself. He was a distant man who difficult industry, the docks industry.” developed an element of grandeur in his style. I stopped him once in Jack always remained loyal to Bevin’s Parliament to introduce him to a achievements. While he also admired Yugoslav trade unionist, whom I had the achievements of the latter’s near- taken up to see Parliament from namesake Nye Bevan as architect of Coventry where he had been on the National Health Service that had a delegation. Nye could scarcely been established by Britain’s Post- conceal his impatience. Perhaps war Labour Government led by Clem it was because I was a TGWU Attlee, in no way could Jack ever be man – it was Deakin’s time. This described as a Bevanite, for he had little was not the only occasion I felt he time for the Labour Left iconography was losing the common touch, but that simplistically designated Bevin as I consoled myself with the thought: “Right/bad” and Bevan as “Left/good”. Politicians are like that!” (p. 151) Of Bevan he wrote: The Labour Party under Harold “(From 1956) the outlook of the Wilson won the British General Labour Party establishment towards Elections of 1964 and 1966. The Nye began to change and it was TGWU’s Jack Jones served on the not long before he was chosen Labour Party’s NEC from 1964 to 1967. as shadow Foreign Secretary. In This is the period when it appears retrospect it is difficult to understand that Soviet officials might well have why Bevan moved away from sought to nurture their own sense of unilateral nuclear disarmament importance in Moscow by reporting when trade union support for it was normal conversations with Jack as growing. Probably he thought the “intelligence reports”. It was, however, only opportunity he would have to clear that Jack’s own interests in the secure the leadership of the Party NEC – from which he was very happy was to win the centre and this was to retire in 1967 (although elected to one way of doing it. Unfortunately serve until 1968) – had nothing to do when his prospects were at their with wanting access to any Government highest he fell ill and later died. It “secrets”, but everything to do with could be that his critics from the advancing the economic interests of left, whom he himself had nurtured, his Union’s members. He secured the accelerated the disease that killed Labour Party NEC nomination to serve him. I did not worship at his feet, on the Economic Committee of the so I write without adulation, but I TUC. But by 1965 he was already at think his leadership would have odds with both Labour’s Deputy Prime united the Party in a way Hugh Minister George Brown and the TUC Gaitskell never could have done.

33 The Vindication Of Jack Jones General Secretary George Woodcock: doing the employers’ job for them.’ He did not like sharp criticism of “For some reason George this kind and his response was Woodcock joined forces with to bluster and bully. I strongly George Brown, First Secretary of resented the fact that economic the new Department of Economic controls and planning were missing Affairs, in promoting a joint in the Government’s policies. Statement of Intent on ‘productivity, Brown, who had manipulated prices and incomes’, shortly after himself into the role of guru of the the formation of the new Labour Government’s economic affairs, Government. The TUC signed was, I thought, making a half-baked the statement, together with the approach to the crisis. I could not CBI and the Government. It was stomach the idea of pushing wages hurriedly constructed and highly down while Brown and others were generalised and I saw it as a attempting to justify big increases in gimmick designed to conceal the salaries of MPs... His response the introduction of a statutory was that I was a carping critic.” (pp incomes policy. It was launched 167-8) in theatrical fashion at a ceremony in Lancaster House with George But Jack also saw the need to have Brown performing an evangelical an alternative strategy: role, over-selling the benefits of an incomes policy. What a “I had thought for some time that smooth-tongued operator he was opposition to wage restraint on the ... Perhaps the hurry in issuing part of the union was in itself not the Joint Statement was due to enough. We needed to develop a the pressure on the pound, but the policy which would unite the union, iron fist soon replaced the velvet develop constructive discussion glove with the setting-up of a Prices and help to raise the standard of and Incomes Board. George living of the low-paid workers. We Woodcock and George Brown had should come forward with a positive, been at great pains to stress the alternative policy. In opposing the voluntary nature of the policy, but Government’s prices and incomes the wage restraint aspect could not policy the TGWU had been in a be disguised and the TGWU voted minority at both the 1966 Trades against it at the Special Conference Union Congress and the Labour of the TUC. George Brown seemed Party Conference ... I prepared a to be obsessed with incomes policy. paper setting out a detailed case Running into him in the House of for £15 as a minimum wage and Commons I told him: ‘The trouble proposing that an attempt should with you, George, is that you’re be made to set up negotiations miles away from the shop floor. The between the TUC and the newly norms you are talking about will constituted Confederation of British mean a bad deal for the low-paid Industry (CBI). This, I argued, workers and you know it. You are would put the spotlight on low wages. Other issues could be the

34 The Vindication Of Jack Jones forty-hour week, leading to a thirty- but also the opportunity for workers five hour week, and a minimum of to have a larger ‘say’ in industrial three weeks’ holiday with pay. Of decisions which affect their working course I know that these targets lives’.’” (pp 182-3) looked unrealistic at first sight but my idea was to arouse the Since Bert Ramelson was by this movement to a united campaign... stage the CPGB’s Industrial Organiser, True, our ideas were accepted in Jack’s reference to that Party being a routine kind of way by the TUC “unhappy” about his strategy is an General Council, and adopted at the allusion to Ramelson and himself being following Congress, and were seen very much at odds with each other as good points for discussion, but during that period. Ramelson was there was no effort by the TUC to also “unhappy” with Jack’s industrial win public support. The Communist democracy strategy and—no less than Party and the Left in general were did Labour’s Minister for Transport not happy about the policy, but Barbara Castle—he was to regard Jack the real reason for lack of action as a “syndicalist” deviationist on such was the overwhelming inertia of issues. Jack described his interaction most union leaders. They tended with Castle as follows: to oppose change and in any case were afraid to upsetting the “After spending some time Government.” discussing transport integration and the plans for regional transport “One aspect of our policy was authorities, we turned to my views the emphasis on productivity on industrial democracy and how agreements. I addressed dozens they might fit into the machinery of conferences and wrote articles Barbara and her friends had on the theme for a variety of in mind. The discussion was publications from the News of inconclusive, for Barbara thought the World to Tribune. In my my ideas ‘way out’, ‘syndicalist’, article in the News of the World even ‘anarchist’. I found her I said: ‘Too many disputes in reaction incomprehensible, for I industry…seem to arise from was simply urging that when she inadequate communication, lack of came to set up regional transport understanding of agreements and authorities, working people in the lack of consultation. To deal with employment of the authority, such this situation, trade union officials as busmen, should be appointed to and shop stewards should surely serve on the board. She conceded have the right to hold meetings of that it would be useful to have their members on works premises, people on the authorities with and when necessary during practical experience, but did not working hour. Given this approach, agree that they should represent productivity agreements represent the workers. Neither did she agree not only the chance to secure bigger that employees should serve on pay packets and shorter hours the authority in which they worked. combined with employment security Her ideas prevailed in subsequent 35 The Vindication Of Jack Jones legislation. In my many dealings than improve industrial relations’. with Barbara Castle I found her A great deal of press speculation anxious to do things for the workers occurred and leaks suggesting but not with them. Her outlook was early legislation began to appear. not all that unusual in politicians of The General Council responded the Left.” (p. 193) to pressure from Frank Cousins, myself and others to seek a meeting Harold Wilson’s promotion of Barbara with the Prime Minister. Meantime Castle to the position of Secretary State shop stewards were upset at what for Employment and her White Paper appeared to be a direct attack on on Trade Union legislation coincided them. Those of us on the General with Jack Jones’s election as General Council who had lived through the Secretary of the TGWU. He recalled: rough and tumble of life on the “The White Paper In Place of shop floor know there would be real Strife caused much division and trouble if coercive measures were bitterness. It shook the Labour applied. The meeting with the Prime movement. Yet through it all, there Minister took place on 11 April 1969. was no desertion from the ranks. I He was accompanied by Barbara was the Executive Officer of the Castle. We told them that (except in union (or to give the job its full title – wartime) there had been no criminal Assistant Executive Secretary) but law in industrial relations for over a my standing had been enhanced hundred years, and that we would by the overwhelming majority I had not co-operate with the operation of received in the ballot for election as legal sanctions...” (pp. 203-4) General Secretary. The vote had been concluded in December 1968 The British General Election of 1970 but Frank Cousins was not due to saw Labour’s defeat and Ted Heath’s retire until September 1969, so I Tory Government take its place. was still in the designate stage. I Jones’s spearheading of the struggle had, however, been elected to against the penal clauses of Labour’s the General Council of the TUC in proposed Industrial Relations Bill was September 1968 and this enabled now succeeded by the need to struggle me to play a leading role in the against an even more penal Bill enacted debate on the White Paper. The by the new Tory Government. This, twofold nature of the Government’s then, was the context for the Jones/ proposals put the General Council Ramelson cooperation in the years in a dilemma. Some proposals were 1969-71—which had nothing to do with favourable, but they appeared to me any “KGB agent” activity on the part of a sugar coating on a very bitter pill. either party, despite the smears inherent The government was determined in M15 Professor Andrew’s “exposure” to apply legal sanctions. It had of such contacts. To Labour Prime tried it with the prices and incomes Minister Wilson’s credit, knowing this to legislation and had failed, now it be the case, he refused outright M15’s sought to control the trade unions request for permission to tap Jack’s by other means. This approach, the phone; and to Tory Prime Minister TUC declared, would ‘worsen rather Heath’s credit, as soon as the wire- 36 The Vindication Of Jack Jones taps that he had initially authorised for him to do an about turn-on his also proved this to be the case, be legislation, yet had he been able insisted that they should cease in to it would have transformed his 1971. Moreover, it was the character relationship with the trade unions of the trade union strategy developed and his future in the Tory Party. by Jones in the subsequent years of Should we talk to the Government, his leadership (until his retirement in if they want to talk to us? That 1978) that led to his decisive break question became an issue the with Ramelson. Jack wrote of new General Council debated over many developments, commencing with a months. I became convinced that it meeting between himself and Prime was in our members’ interests not to Minister Heath in 1972: miss an opportunity of changing the Government’s mind. Unemployment “Although I had known that Heath was growing rapidly, and inflation was not unsympathetic to labour, was rising, our attitude on these from the days when I had met him developments needed to be put as Minister of Labour (in 1963), strongly, as did our concern over the exchange strengthened my low-paid workers and pensioners...” conviction that he genuinely wanted to get on with working people. There “In the event, the industrial was a marked change in his attitude membership of the National towards the unions following Economic Council (the TUC the early abrasive months of his and the CBI had six members Government. He was always ready each) was called in for the joint to meet TUC representatives... In discussions Ted Heath seemingly April 1972 the TUC was invited to wanted. Examination in detail of the meet the Prime Minister to discuss problems of low-paid workers and the economic situation... At the of prices was on the agenda. We April meeting and subsequently could not say ‘no’ to that, and we Health and his ministers wanted were soon into a series of meetings to concentrate on economic at Downing Street or Chequers. cooperation, with an eye to wages The talks were a little abrasive at restraint, despite the Government’s times, but always Heath was at earlier protestations of opposition his most courteous with the TUC to the idea. We for our part were representatives … I for one was determined to make the Industrial not willing to be swallowed up, and Relations Act the major issue. Our that went for Hugh Scanlon too. approach was constructive, trying We continued to press the trade to gain acceptance of improved union case doggedly... Of all the conciliation and arbitration people around the table, Hughie procedures as an alternative to and I were in the most difficult the Act. I made much play with position, because in both our Ted Heath’s own statement on TV: unions there was strong opposition ‘We have to find a more sensible to our participation. In Scanlon’s way of settling our differences.’ It case his union decided he must was perhaps too much to expect withdraw from the second round

37 The Vindication Of Jack Jones of talks... Proposals and counter- the presence of the CBI and proposals were argued over the Hugh Scanlon. The TUC team table. The TUC and the Government consisted of five, including myself. spokesmen did most of the talking, Presumably Heath talked to the the CBI contribution was very CBI separately, but the media limited. Then, after countless no longer wrote of ‘tripartism’ or hours of meetings, there was an ‘corporate states’. A battle for public abrupt ending. To the surprise of support was in progress. Although the trade union side, Ted Heath I became increasingly despondent declared that certain important about the possibility of changing items we had been emphasising— the Government’s policies, I was pensions, rents, the impact of convinced that we had to put our EEC membership, the Industrial point of view at every opportunity. Relations Act – were outside the If the spotlight shone on Downing scope of negotiation. Such matters, Street then we should be there, we were told, were for the House otherwise our members would of Commons to determine. A rigid feel we were not doing our job. posture was suddenly adopted by At the TGWU Biennial Delegates the Government; even to this day conference in July 1973 I was under I am unable to understand why. strong pressure to oppose talks No one could have been more with the Government. In reply I told disappointed than TUC General the Conference: ‘The Union should Secretary Vic Feather. He had not place itself in the position of been a firm supporter of the talks being blamed for not talking when throughout and had taken at face our people expect it of us … You value the Government’s claim do not pay me to sit dumb. You that it was prepared to enter into pay me to speak, to act, to help, to a real partnership with both sides advise, and part of the process is of industry in the management publicly to present our case…’ Our of economy. He felt that Ted difficulties in establishing our case Heath had thrown away a golden with Ted Heath and his ministers opportunity. And yet he himself served to strengthen my efforts may have been responsible for in the TUC/Labour Party Liaison the disappointment, by misleading Committee. The programme we had Heath into thinking the Government been urging on the Prime Minister, could get agreement on wages and I believed, should become Labour’s prices without commitment on the policy. Getting this accepted did wider issues we had raised, while at not prove easy; I found myself the same time encouraging me and having to argue as strongly with the others to feel that agreement was Labour leaders as I had done with possible on those very issues...” Heath and his colleagues over the control of retail prices, for example. “In 1973 there were almost No Prime Minister, either before as many meetings between the or since, could compare with Ted TUC and the Government as in Heath in the efforts he made to the previous year, but without establish a spirit of camaraderie 38 The Vindication Of Jack Jones with trade union leaders and to workers in the public sector most offer an attractive package which of all. This was especially the case might satisfy large numbers of with the miners who had a strong work-people. That was the case case for much more than the with his ‘stage three’. He and his Government schemes would allow.” advisers offered a deal permitting (pp 256-9) limited free collective bargaining on top of thresholds agreements to 1971 was the year in which I myself help the low paid and compensate commenced work in the Irish trade for increases in the cost of living. union movement. Two years later— Attractive as this was, it meant influenced by Jones’s strategic “New the continuation of the Industrial Departure” for the 1970s—I set out Relations Act and a failure to meet to counteract the influence of an Irish our social programme. Statutory would-be Ramelson. control over wage increases hit

39 The Vindication Of Jack Jones Irish Political Review, January 2011

JACK JONES VINDICATED – Part Five

he only left-wing organisation to support the British trade union strategy being pursued from 1972 onwards by the then TGWU General Secretary JackT Jones (1913-2009) was the British & Irish Communist Organisation, through the theoretical journal of its London branch, The Communist. In Ireland the argument for a similar left-wing stand—embracing Jones’s advocacy of industrial democracy as an essential component—was articulated by an ITGWU shop steward Pat Murphy (1937-2009), of the B&ICO’s Dublin branch, and one of its founding members. I joined that branch in 1971, at the same time as I took up employment in Liberty Hall in March argued: 1971 as Head of Research with the ITGWU (retiring as SIPTU Head of “In this pamphlet we find the Research in May 2010). A would-be traditional economic half-truths of Irish version of Bert Ramelson, British the ‘Left’, only on a more intensified Communist Party Industrial Organiser scale in certain directions, since and outright opponent of the Jones ASTMS is a trade union catering strategy, emerged in the shape of the very much for the higher-paid. Communist Party of Ireland’s Noel Whatever the economic arguments Harris, Southern Irish Divisional Officer concerning National Agreements, of ASTMS (which later became TASS, and despite the fact that the then AMICUS, and finally merging with acceleration in food price inflation the TGWU in 2009 to form UNITE). reduced the real value of money I was to be very much influenced by wage increases secured under both Jack Jones and Pat Murphy in them, it must still be recognised the strategic arguments that I tried to that in relative terms, the position develop in both the ITGWU journal of the lower paid workers has Liberty and the B&ICO theoretical improved compared with that of journal The Irish Communist in the higher-paid. The worker on £15 addressing such key questions of union in December 1970 has received strategy. money wage increases totalling 54 percent over the 3 years of In August 1973 the Communist Party the Agreements compared with of Ireland—of which my father was the percentage money wage increases then General Secretary—published of 42 percent for the worker on a pamphlet authored by Noel Harris £20 and 33 percent for the worker and entitled Challenge to Irish Trade on £30. Noel Harris, however, Unionism—National Wage Agreements. dismisses arguments in this area by In an article entitled Workers’ Control— claiming that: “It is false to suggest The Need for Communist Clarification, that the gains of the 14th Round for which was published in the December the lower paid have been brought 1973 issue of The Irish Communist, I by the sacrifices of the better-

40 The Vindication Of Jack Jones paid…’ Noel Harris argues that component a growing element of the better-paid worker should have control by workers over investment, done relatively better than he did with industrial democracy beginning under the National Agreements and to extend at the levels of both the that the total wages-bill should have individual firm and the economy as been increased on this basis. Noel a whole.’ Harris shirks the fact that this would be at the expense of the lower- “Noel Harris makes it perfectly paid, because a further expansion obvious elsewhere in his pamphlet of the wage-bill at a faster rate than that there is no more determined the growth in productivity would a person than himself in resisting necessarily further undermine the the whole perspective of such a real wage gains of the lower paid resolution. He argues: ‘Whether by an acceleration in the rate of one likes it or not, employees are inflation, if increased unemployment concerned primarily about their were not to result...” wages. They have no direct interest in capital, its growth, the use of “In the August 1973 issue of profits or decisions on investment, Liberty I argued the following which in our society are taken by economic realities which Noel Harris other people. Whether one likes chooses to ignore: it or not the mass of wage and salary earners feel that capital is ‘During the course of the National alien to them, belonging to others, Wages Agreement there has not and that investment requirements been any significant alteration in are no reason to restrain wage the income shares held by wages demands.’ Such is the ‘Communist’ and profits … Consequently an leadership given to the trade attempt to redress the inflationary union movement by Noel Harris. losses suffered by workers on At a time when the objective pre- the basis of a wages policy alone requisites are coming more and would be inadequate and ultimately more to the fore for a qualitative have results other than desired. In development in the consciousness previous ‘Liberty’ articles we have of trade unionists with regard to referred to the fact that if wage the hitherto unchallenged control of increases begin to continuously production by the bourgeoisie, Noel exceed the growth in productivity, Harris does his utmost to prevent they must either lead to a drop in such a consciousness emerging investment, with its consequent by encouraging a fatalistic view unemployment, or, alternatively, an that there is nothing that the trade increased inflationary situation must unions with proper leadership could be accepted to allow profit levels accomplish in terms of workers’ to be restored in order to generate control. Consequently Noel Harris the necessary investment funds. advocates an acceptance of the For this reason, it has been argued, system as it is in order to pursue the wage bargain struck by trade an intensified policy of economism. unions should have as a necessary On no account, it would seem, 41 The Vindication Of Jack Jones should workers be encouraged to become a major issue of struggle transcend their traditional trade inside the labour movement. As union consciousness.” I understand it, the T.U.C. might even come forward with the idea of “The economism of Noel Harris supervisory boards and election of consists in pouring cold water directors. I am not concerned at the on any attempt to take the first moment with the method of election. necessary steps towards developing I am against workers’ directors, a socialist consciousness among no matter how they are elected, workers, namely, activating a or to whom they are responsible, concrete struggle in the direction being part of management of a of workers’ control . Instead he private firm.’ It was along these upholds, as the be-all and end- lines that Bert Ramelson also all of trade union action, the attacked the document entitled intensification of a type of economic ‘Labour’s Programme for Britain’ struggle which has begun to prove where it stated: ‘And since itself more and more self-defeating, collective bargaining does not particularly for the lower paid seem to be adequate enough on workers (although maybe not so its own we are considering the much for the managerial staffs that provision of some kind of direct Noel Harris’s union caters for).” representation for workers.’ In the Morning Star of 21 June 1973 Bert Ramelson’s indignant response this I proceeded to highlight how Harris is to exclaim: ‘Who says collective was essentially regurgitating Ramelson: bargaining does not seem to be adequate enough?’ And that just “In the October 1968 issue of about sums up Bert Ramelson’s Marxism Today, the CPGB Industrial position...” Organiser: Bert Ramelson, wrote: ‘In private industry worker “The British Trade Union directors would, in my view, be a Congress’s Interim Report on red herring.’ This is a position that Industrial Democracy, while Bert Ramelson has reiterated five emphasising the extension of the years later, on 30 June 1973, in scope of collective bargaining as the CPGB’s Comment: ‘We have an essential element in extending had something of this sort (of class industrial democracy, also pointed collaboration) in Western Germany, to the limitations of confining the where in coal and steel 50 percent struggle for industrial democracy of the board are elected by the within such a rigid framework: workers; I don’t think it is accidental ‘Major decisions on investment, that it is Western Germany that location, closures, takeovers and we have seen less struggle during mergers ... are generally taken at the past period than any other levels where collective bargaining part of Europe... In the period we does not take place, and indeed are are moving into, this (question subject matter not readily covered of workers’ directors) is going to

42 The Vindication Of Jack Jones by collective bargaining. New on the right and on the left, who forms of control are needed. This were inclined to dismiss such problem is particularly acute in the deals as ‘phoney’. Wage restraint private sector … A large number was the big issue of the Trades of decisions of vital importance to Union Congress, according to workpeople are made at national the newspapers. They made the managerial levels, but are not most of any sign of division, and susceptible to collective bargaining. when the Amalgamated Union Institutional involvement in these of Engineering Workers at a decisions fills a gap between worker meeting on the Saturday before the participation and control at local Congress decided to vote against level and the influence of the trade the Social Contract it became big union movement as a whole which headlines. As always the reports exists in the national level.’ ... But were highly personalised: ‘Jack Bert Ramelson would prefer the Jones appealed to Scanlon to be T.U.C. to adopt his philosophy of more realistic, to think again’, or ‘On economism: ‘The right to strike is Wednesday, Scanlon dramatically the be all and end all of industrial capitulated, and the Social Contract trade union struggle’...” was voted through Congress with virtual unanimity.’ In fact it wasn’t This sustained CPGB attack, on both quite like that... The opponents of the industrial democracy and social the Social Contract were led by Ken contract campaigns of 1974-75 in Gill of TASS (also of the CPGB, and Britain, was a campaign orchestrated Noel Harris’s boss – MO’R) ... The by Bert Ramelson against the whole danger of losing the advantages strategy being developed by Jack we had already received, let alone Jones. And the CPGB line also gathered prospects for further advance, support from much of the Tribunite Left. if Labour lost the Election, concentrated the minds of a lot of Jones related some of these people including Hugh Scanlon. episodes as follows: He asked Ken Gill to withdraw his resolution. So strong was the desire for unity in the Congress that Gill “And what about the trade union agreed, against what he said was side of the Social Contract? I had his better judgment. Next day he said publicly that the Government was condemned by the Morning was entitled to look for a response... Star (in other words, by Ramelson – I had been an advocate of MO’R) ...” (pp 284-5) productivity agreements from the beginning and saw in them opportunities for widening the area “At the September 1975 Trades of collective bargaining as well as Union Congress I moved the bringing about increased earnings. motion supporting the £6 policy My advocacy of the idea over and outlining the many measures the years had led to differences the TUC hoped to achieve through with some union leaders, both cooperation with the Government.

43 The Vindication Of Jack Jones When we got to the Labour Party shouted to the chairman: ‘I object Conference a month afterwards to these attacks on the trade unions there appeared to be more and the TUC. We want unity, not acrimony than unity. Whatever my splitting attacks like this!’ (See Note misgivings I was determined to back Three – MO’R) ... There were many the Government, ‘warts and all’. less spectacular incidents in the Not least because Harold Wilson, campaign for the £6 policy, but to Barbara Castle and others had told the consternation of some people me that there were members of both on the Right and on the Left, the Government who were looking it succeeded. We proved that the for a break-up, and were ready trade union movement could deliver, to move towards a coalition. The and not one instance of a breach threats from the Right worried me, of the policy from the trade union but I wasn’t surprised. On the other side was reported. Within the twelve hand I was shocked to learn from months of operation which had been Barbara Castle that Ian Mikardo stipulated, inflation fell by more MP was going to make a savage than half, from 25 percent to 12 attach on me and the General percent. An egalitarian approach to Council at the Tribune Rally in the the solution of economic problems middle of the Conference. I felt had been attempted, but before indignant that a man I regarded the effects of the £6 policy could as a friend and colleague could be assessed demands went up to plan so meticulously to attack maintain the sacred principle of the Government and the General ‘differentials’. In the main the cry Council, suggesting in effect that came from academics, politicians, the latter had sold the workers down and some white-collar unions. The the river. This was no spontaneous overwhelming majority of people attack; it was designed to get the in industry had accepted the £6 maximum publicity. Mik was a solution, but forces, in the main not member of the NEC of the Labour directly connected with industry, Party and represented them on the were determined that favourable Economic Committee of the TUC. lessons should not be drawn from Why had he not made his attacks that.” (pp 298-300) there? What troubled me most was the prospect of Mik’s references “Part of the Social Contract to the TUC going through without which was repeated in the Labour challenge and the media getting Party’s manifesto of 1974 was the impression that the Tribune a commitment to an Industrial rally unanimously backed his Democracy Act ‘to increase the statement... and I decided to protest control of industry by the people’. at the point where Mik referred to Closer contact with Europe through the General Council. I stood at the the EEC and the European trade back of the meeting, then moved upon movement increased our forward swiftly to the platform when interest in the subject. It meant the moment came. All eyes were on a lot to me personally. From my me. When I reached the platform I youthful days I had been associated 44 The Vindication Of Jack Jones with the extension of collective concerning the practical problems bargaining. Now I saw the possibility of any meaningful developments of elected shop stewards taking in this field. Much of this interest their place in the boardrooms of has, of course, been heightened private companies and publicly- by the proximity of legislation owned industries... I wanted to providing for worker directors in avoid at all costs the sort of fiasco semi-state enterprises. It is not, which occurred when Harold however, sufficient to have a merely Wilson’s Government of 1966- responsive approach to such 70 experimented with industrial developments. Trade unionists democracy in the steel industry. must articulate their own demands When the idea was first considered I if in fact industrial democracy is to personally urged on Barbara Castle have any vitality... This has proved the need to ensure that worker to be an issue which has not so directors should be elected and far resulted in any unanimity in the accountable to the shop stewards, British trade union movement. The and through them to the workforce. interesting point to note is that the Their reaction was that my idea division of opinion has not been was ‘syndicalist’, if not ‘anarchist’, along traditional left-right lines in and could not be entertained. that movement. The major advocate In fact, as it worked out, the of the worker director policy of the procedure became meaningless TUC has been Jack Jones of the and patronising. The men who were Transport and General Workers’ appointed had to give up any active Union, and he has been opposed connection with their union.” (p. as much by Frank Chapple of 310) the Electrical Trade Union on the right as by Hugh Scanlon of the In 1976 I sought to draw some Amalgamated Engineering Union lessons for the Irish trade union on the left. The division has rather movement by covering Jack Jones’s been between those who feel that struggle for industrial democracy in current economic problems demand Britain in considerable detail in a series a new dimension to trade unionism of articles I had published in Liberty, and those who, for whatever journal of the ITGWU, of which the reason, regard traditional trade following are some excerpts: unionism as sacrosanct. Since it is highly unlikely that any meaningful developments in industrial “One of the most heartening democracy can take place without aspects of our Union’s Annual first coming to grips with debating Conference this year was the these controversial issues in the manner in which delegates were Irish Congress of Trade Unions, it no longer content to formally adopt might be of interest to readers to motions supporting industrial take a look at how the argument democracy, before moving hurriedly has progressed to date in Britain. on to the next business, but felt We might also learn something the need to make contributions from the fact that the limited extent

45 The Vindication Of Jack Jones and inconclusive outcome of this to get to grips with clarifying its British debate has now resulted demands on industrial democracy. in the TUC itself and some of its In the meantime, developments important affiliated unions currently in this area subsequent to that pursuing policies on the question of 1974 Congress of the TUC, and worker directors which are in direct particularly the diverse evidence contradiction with one another... submitted to the Bullock Committee The TUC General Council’s call for on Industrial Democracy will be parity of representation for worker looked at in greater detail in a future directors elected by trade union issue.” (Liberty, August 1976). members, was to be supported by the TGWU and NUPE but opposed “The oppositionist approach from the right by the EETPU and stood in sharp contrast with the from the left by the AUEW. How stand adopted by the Transport the 1974 Congress debate further and General Workers’ Union, progressed will be examined next whose General Secretary, Jack month.” (Liberty, July 1976) Jones, has been one of the chief architects of the TUC policy... The “The issue was not fought TGWU championed parity board out decisively and the verbal representation in the private as reconciliation which was attempted well as the public sector and its only resulted in a confused General Secretary, Jack Jones, is outcome. The TUC General at present a member of the Bullock Council interpreted the Congress Committee of Inquiry into Industrial vote as giving it the go-ahead to Democracy... The major handicap demand the enactment of enabling facing the TUC in the pursuit of its legislation for 50 per cent worker policy aims nevertheless lay in the representation on company boards. ambiguity of its 1974 Conference The TUC submission to the Bullock decisions. If further progress was Committee on Industrial Democracy, to be made, the issue needed to be however, came under fire from the resolved when industrial democracy EETPU on the right, the GMWU was again debated at this year’s on the centre, and the AUEW TUC Conference on September on the left—since these unions 8. On the previous day the TUC also felt that the indecisiveness General Secretary, Len Murray, had represented by the all-things-to- taken the argument into the camp all-men Congress vote justified of those opposing the Congress their continued opposition to Report when he wrote in the any system of worker directors. Morning Star: Hopefully the Irish trade union movement will be in a position to ‘We say ‘yes’ to the extension avoid the pitfalls which inevitably of collective bargaining and ‘yes’ result from such indecisiveness, to parity representation on policy and such papering-over of important boards. Neither one is substitute differences, whenever it decides for the other... In accepting their

46 The Vindication Of Jack Jones share of responsibility for jointly- combined opposition of the AUEW, made board decisions trade the EETPU and the GMWU. It now union representatives will not remains for the Bullock Committee be accepting some new and to make up its mind.” (Liberty, alien form of responsibility as is October 1976) sometimes implied. Every time a union representative signs a “In a series of articles last year collective agreement he is assuming we detailed the debate within the responsibility for a decision. That British trade union movement as decision, while possibly not ideal, to whether or not it should pursue represents the best bargain that can a policy of demanding equality be achieved at that particular point of representation on company of time. These are hard facts of boards in both the public and industrial life which are all too often private sectors. The Trade Union buried under abstract rhetoric about Congress decided that it should unions as independent oppositional press for these demands. The bodies, totally uncontaminated British Government accordingly by any shared responsibility appointed a Committee of Inquiry for company policy. All that can on Industrial Democracy, chaired be achieved through a totally by Lord Bullock, whose purpose ‘oppositional’ role is a de facto right was to investigate the reform of of veto over management decisions, the company law to take account which unions are increasingly of the TUC proposals. The Bullock realizing isn’t always the best way to Committee subsequently issued further membership interests. Trade its Report earlier this year and unions want to be in a position to called for legislation in the private have a decisive say not just over sector which would permit workers what they don’t want but on what to have an equal number of they do want.’..” representatives with shareholders on a single-tier board in companies “The line of reasoning pursued employing over 2,000, while a third in that article set the framework for outside element would be jointly the TUC debate on the following co-opted on to the board by both day. Len Murray and Jack Jones sets of representatives. Such a would argue that their policy for system of worker directors would, board representation fully complied moreover, be firmly based on trade with such terms by virtue of being a union machinery... Whether or not further advancement of the power legislation is introduced into the UK of the trade union movement... The Parliament along the lines of the 1976 TUC Conference at long last Bullock Report’s recommendations grasped this contentious nettle depends very much on the by heavily defeating the AUEW willingness of the British trade union amendment and overwhelming movement to strongly campaign carrying the NUR pro-General for such legislation. Either way, a Council resolution against the debate has been opened up that will

47 The Vindication Of Jack Jones not easily go away.” (Liberty, June Employment Gazette. 1977) It was this lecture that led to my first All four articles have since been direct collaboration with Jack, when reproduced by the Ernest Bevin Society he agreed to Dublin’s Labour History in the April-May, June-July, August- Workshop jointly re-publishing both September and October-November of our Bevin tributes in 1983. And a 2008 issues of the journal Problems of year before he died came our final Capitalism and Socialism: The Workers’ collaboration when, in January 2008, Control Debate from 1975 to now. Jack agreed to my request to him to See the Athol Books website for free provide an Introduction to the launch download of these magazines in pdf of that new series of Problems of format [see note four]. Capitalism and Socialism. Jack Jones proceeded to provide the following parting thoughts on the labour struggles In its predecessor journal, Problems that he had led: of Communism, the B&ICO had been the only leftwing organisation to mark the centenary in 1981 of the birth of “The great power of the Ernest Bevin in 1881, and an article by trade unions and sympathetic myself appeared in the Summer 1981 Governments in the late 1960s and issue, entitled “Bevin and the British the 1970s provided an opportunity Road—a Problem for Leninism”. for the working class in Britain to start becoming the ruling class. Ramelson’s successor as CPGB These conditions were the result Industrial Organiser, Mick Costello, of the social and economic and presided over that Party’s hostility reforms introduced by Clement towards any centenary commemoration Attlee and Ernest Bevin following of Bevin. the Second World War. The Government was prepared to admit “Transport Union members are the unions as equal partners in somewhat bemused by the fuss being planning the economy. The Bullock made by the union’s leadership over the Committee, on which I had the publication of a book on right-winger privilege to sit, was set up under Ernest Bevin”, was the Morning Star’s terms of reference devised by contemptuous comment on 12 March the Trade Union Congress and 1981. A week earlier, on 5 March, the recommended a parity of power TGWU’s retired General Secretary, Jack between employers and unions Jones, had been determined to have on the Boards of large private his own personal commemoration, in companies... The opportunities a centenary lecture which be delivered offered were unfortunately not taken in the London School of Economics. up in the wider union movement Entitled “Ernest Bevin—Revolutionary and Britain moved in a Thatcherite by Consent”, Jack’s lecture was also direction. This all happened over published by the UK Department of thirty years ago. A whole generation Labour in the March 1981 issue of does not know about these things

48 The Vindication Of Jack Jones or about the world as it was at this There was, indeed, more than one time. I am glad therefore that two of political opponent to whom Jack gave the workers’ control activists of that such gentle treatment. Sir Alfred time, Joe Keenan and Conor Lynch, Sherman—who had been expelled are publishing an account of these from the CPGB as a “Titoist” in 1948— times and these events as a series went on to become co-founder of the in their magazine ‘Problems of Tory Party’s Centre for Policy Studies Capitalism & Socialism’. I am also and to serve as Margaret Thatcher’s pleased that most of the material key ideological mentor and speech will be in the form of reprinting writer. And yet, in the September 2006 journals, pamphlets and articles Newsletter of the International Brigade from that era.” Memorial Trust, Jack wrote: “I am sad to report that we have lost some Jack Jones had little hesitation in comrades and friends of the Trust displaying his contempt for some of since our last issue. We pay tribute the mindless Left by naming them, for particularly to comrades Alan Menai example Reg Birch, AUEW Deputy Williams and Sir Alfred Sherman.” Why General Secretary and leader of the had Jack been so kind? Because, just Maoist Communist Party of Britain like Bert Ramelson, Alfred Sherman had (Marxist-Leninist). Writing of a Ford the shared personal experience with Motors dispute, Jack recalled in Union Jack Jones of having fought bravely, Man: “’Let the grass grow over the and go on to suffer accordingly, as an plants!’ was the view of Reg Birch, International Brigade volunteer in the secretary of the trade union side, who Spanish Anti-Fascist War. As I myself favoured a prolonged strike. I did not also wrote in the Abraham Lincoln share his idea; had I done so trade Brigade Archives’ ALBA Forum Digest unionism at Ford’s could have been on 31 August 2006: weakened beyond repair.” (p. 235) “Alfred Sherman was indeed a I trust I have shown up M15 Professor veteran of the 15th International Andrew’s slander—that Jack Jones and Brigade’s British Battalion. He Bert Ramelson were both “KGB agents” had, following his capture on the engaged in a common Soviet-inspired Aragon front, also been a prisoner industrial conspiracy—for the nonsense for the best part of a year (or, that it is. I trust that I have further perhaps, I should re-phrase it as demonstrated how, from 1972 onwards, ‘the worst part’) in the notoriously their trade union strategies were vicious fascist concentration camp diametrically opposed to each other. of San Pedro de Cardeñas. During And yet Ramelson never spoke of Jack such incarceration his record with anything but the height of personal continued to be an honourable respect, while Jack refrained from one (as personally testified to me criticising Ramelson by name, referring by two of his fellow-prisoners, instead to depersonalised Morning Star Dubliners Maurice Levitas and Bob criticisms. Doyle. See Note Five). Because of that record, notwithstanding his

49 The Vindication Of Jack Jones subsequent reactionary politics that relating and concluding: were loathed by the overwhelming majority of his fellow IB veterans, “Before the battle of the Ebro, I he continued to be welcomed met up with young Ted Heath (later in their ranks at Spanish Civil the Tory prime minister). He came War commemorations. In 1996 out with a small group of students, Sherman was among those British while we were in training. He was veterans who participated in the then chairman of the Federation International Brigade Association of University Conservative delegation to the 60th anniversary Associations and was to the commemoration ceremonies in right of the five-man delegation. I Spain, as well as receiving the suppose he reflected a strand of honorary citizenship awarded to all Conservative thinking which had IB vets by unanimous decision of some sympathy with the Republic… the Spanish Parliament. Sherman He was very sympathetic and I built remained particularly loyal to the up a friendship with him. It was memory of those who had been amazing to me that a Conservative his fellow prisoners at San Pedro. would come out there in favour of In 2001, when I gave the oration the Republic—as he was, genuinely. at the London funeral of the I established a link with him which Dublin IB veteran and former San I maintained afterwards. He was Pedro prisoner Maurice Levitas, I always very friendly—more so than observed that Sherman, despite some of the Labour Party. I say that the handicaps of advancing old now, but I wouldn’t have said it at age, had been among those IB the time. I found I identified more vets who had made a special effort with Ted Heath than with Harold to be present in order to pay their Wilson, for example.” respects—even though Morry’s membership of the New Communist Jack would also always leap forward Party placed him unequivocally at to defend the good name of honourable the opposite end of the political men whenever they were slandered by spectrum to Sherman’s Thatcherism guttersnipes. Again, see the Ireland & (or was it Thatcher’s Shermanism?). The Spanish Civil War Website [Note On account of his courageous Six] for how unhesitatingly he defended role in Spain, the memory of the my own father against an Irish Times young Alfred Sherman continues, attack by Kevin Myers in 2005. Three accordingly, to be honoured by decades earlier, he had done the same those inspired by the history of the for Ernie Bevin: International Brigades.” “Towards the end of 1977 I was The Real Band of Brothers was involved in several controversies. therefore the most appropriate title I took issue with the author A.L. for Max Arthur’s 2009 book on such Rowse, who had claimed in an brigadistas. And, in his Observer article in the Daily Telegraph that obituary for Jack Jones on 26 April Ernest Bevin, in his last words, 2009, Max Arthur again quoted Jack as had said of Britain’s ordinary 50 The Vindication Of Jack Jones people, ‘The buggers won’t work.’ It is therefore no less incumbent I challenged him to prove this; he upon those of us who knew, loved and dithered and claimed that Bevin admired Jack James Larkin Jones, had said something of the sort to and who were honoured to have been Lord Boothby, but there was no able to work alongside him in several verification. I did not believe that fields, to thoroughly expose the British Ernie Bevin had ever said that of intelligence smear campaign against his his own people, and said so…I memory for the monstrosity that it is— was indignant that what I regarded even if this has entailed subscribing to as anti-worker prejudice should Jack’s own maxim of providing a reply gain publicity and replied in detail, of some considerable detail! using the New Statesman as my platform.” (p 324)

Notes.

Note One (page 4): http://free-downloads.atholbooks.org/

Note Two (page 10): http://free-downloads.atholbooks.org/

Note Three (page 44): See http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/ 3390633.stm for a TV clip of that confrontation

Note Four (page 48): http://free-magazines.atholbooks.org/problems_2/index. php

Note Five (page 49): See http://www.irelandscw.com/obit-MLevitas.htm and http://www.irelandscw.com/ibvol-BobDoyle.htm for their obituaries.

Note Six (page 50): http://www.irelandscw.com/

51