George Matthews (journalist)
Encyclopedia
George Matthews was a British
communist activist and newspaper editor.
Born to a wealthy family in Bedfordshire
, Matthews studied agriculture at the University of Reading
and joined the Labour Party
. In 1938, he secretly joined the Communist Party of Great Britain
(CPGB), while retaining his Labour Party membership. From 1939–1940, he served as vice president of the National Union of Students, and was also the Labour Party's prospective parliamentary candidate
for Mid Bedfordshire
.
In 1940, Matthews left the Labour Party, and during the war he was active in the National Union of Agricultural and Allied Workers
. In 1943, he was appointed to the CPGB's Executive Committee, and in 1949, he became the party's Assistant General Secretary. He attended the 20th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in 1956, and was acting editor of the party's Daily Worker newspaper during the Soviet invasion of Hungary. In 1947, he became the paper's Assistant Editor, moving to become Editor in 1949. In 1966, he gained agreement to rename the paper as The Morning Star
.
Matthews stood down as editor in 1974 and spent the next five years in charge of the CPGB's press and publicity. He then retired, but continued to supervise the party's archives, and strongly backed party leader Gordon McLennan
, working on many of his speeches. When the party dissolved in 1991, he joined Democratic Left.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
communist activist and newspaper editor.
Born to a wealthy family in Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire is a ceremonial county of historic origin in England that forms part of the East of England region.It borders Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Northamptonshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the west and Hertfordshire to the south-east....
, Matthews studied agriculture at the University of Reading
University of Reading
The University of Reading is a university in the English town of Reading, Berkshire. The University was established in 1892 as University College, Reading and received its Royal Charter in 1926. It is based on several campuses in, and around, the town of Reading.The University has a long tradition...
and joined the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
. In 1938, he secretly joined the Communist Party of Great Britain
Communist Party of Great Britain
The Communist Party of Great Britain was the largest communist party in Great Britain, although it never became a mass party like those in France and Italy. It existed from 1920 to 1991.-Formation:...
(CPGB), while retaining his Labour Party membership. From 1939–1940, he served as vice president of the National Union of Students, and was also the Labour Party's prospective parliamentary candidate
Prospective parliamentary candidate
Prospective parliamentary candidate is a term used in British politics to refer to candidates selected by political parties to fight individual constituencies in advance of a general election. This terminology was motivated by the strict limits on the amount of expenses incurred by an actual...
for Mid Bedfordshire
Mid Bedfordshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Mid Bedfordshire is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
.
In 1940, Matthews left the Labour Party, and during the war he was active in the National Union of Agricultural and Allied Workers
National Union of Agricultural and Allied Workers
The National Union of Agricultural and Allied Workers was a trade union in the United Kingdom.It was established as the Eastern Counties Agricultural Labourers & Small Holders Union at a conference of Norfolk agricultural workers at the Angel Hotel, North Walsham on 20 July 1906...
. In 1943, he was appointed to the CPGB's Executive Committee, and in 1949, he became the party's Assistant General Secretary. He attended the 20th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in 1956, and was acting editor of the party's Daily Worker newspaper during the Soviet invasion of Hungary. In 1947, he became the paper's Assistant Editor, moving to become Editor in 1949. In 1966, he gained agreement to rename the paper as The Morning Star
The Morning Star
The Morning Star is a left wing British daily tabloid newspaper with a focus on social and trade union issues. Articles and comment columns are contributed by writers from socialist, social democratic, green and religious perspectives....
.
Matthews stood down as editor in 1974 and spent the next five years in charge of the CPGB's press and publicity. He then retired, but continued to supervise the party's archives, and strongly backed party leader Gordon McLennan
Gordon McLennan
Gordon McLennan was General Secretary of the Communist Party of Great Britain between 1975 and 1990.Born in Glasgow, McLennan worked as an engineering draughtsperson before taking on various full-time posts within the CPGB...
, working on many of his speeches. When the party dissolved in 1991, he joined Democratic Left.