Idris Cox
Encyclopedia
Idris Cox was a Welsh
communist activist and newspaper editor.
Born in Maesteg
, Cox grew up in Cwmfelin, where he worked in a coal mine from a young age. His family was highly religious, and he attended chapel three times each Sunday, but he lost interest in religion after becoming active in the trade union
movement, and was involved in the South Wales miners' strike of 1915. He was elected to the Management Committee of the Garth Miners' Institute at the age of 18 and, in 1920, he became the lodge's delegate to coalfield conferences. Becoming interested in Marxism, he served as Chairman of the local miners' lodge during the 1921 lockout.
In 1923, the South Wales Miners' Federation
granted Cox a scholarship, enabling him to study at the Central Labour College
in London and, after the 1924 UK general election, he joined the Communist Party of Great Britain
(CPGB). He returned to Wales in 1925, but was unable to find work, other than a short spell as a deputy checkweighman. Instead, he founded a National Unemployed Workers' Movement
branch in Maesteg, and continued his communist activity there.
By 1926, Cox was an Area Organiser for the CPGB in Mid Glamorgan
. However, he was also active in the Labour Party
, and became vice-chairman of its Maesteg branch in 1927. He continued his rise in the CPGB, becoming District Secretary that year, and was co-opted to its National Executive in 1928, attending the Sixth Congress of the Communist International that year.
Cox returned to London in 1929 to join the CPGB's political bureau. He also worked as a correspondent for the Workers' Weekly
, and soon became National Organiser of the party. In 1935, he became editor of the replacement party newspaper, the Daily Worker
. Shortly after, he returned to Wales, as Secretary of the Welsh District of the CPGB. He served in this role until 1951, and stood unsuccessfully for the party in Rhondda East
at the 1951 UK general election. Later that year, Cox became Secretary of the International Department of the CPGB, and was heavily involved in the Movement for Colonial Freedom
. He retired in 1970, and wrote his autobiography, Story of a Welsh Rebel.
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
communist activist and newspaper editor.
Born in Maesteg
Maesteg
Maesteg is a town and community in Bridgend County Borough, Wales. Maesteg lies at the northernmost end of the Llynfi Valley, close to the border with Neath Port Talbot. In 2001, Maesteg had a population of 17,859, but it is now at an estimate of 20,000....
, Cox grew up in Cwmfelin, where he worked in a coal mine from a young age. His family was highly religious, and he attended chapel three times each Sunday, but he lost interest in religion after becoming active in the trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
movement, and was involved in the South Wales miners' strike of 1915. He was elected to the Management Committee of the Garth Miners' Institute at the age of 18 and, in 1920, he became the lodge's delegate to coalfield conferences. Becoming interested in Marxism, he served as Chairman of the local miners' lodge during the 1921 lockout.
In 1923, the South Wales Miners' Federation
South Wales Miners' Federation
The South Wales Miners' Federation , nicknamed "The Fed", was a trade union for miners in South Wales.The union was founded on 24 October 1898, following the defeat of the South Wales miners' strike of 1898...
granted Cox a scholarship, enabling him to study at the Central Labour College
Central Labour College
The Central Labour College was a British higher education institution supported by trade unions. It functioned from 1909 to 1929.The college was formed as a result of the Ruskin College strike of 1909. The Plebs' League, which had been formed around a core of Marxist students and former students of...
in London and, after the 1924 UK general election, he 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). He returned to Wales in 1925, but was unable to find work, other than a short spell as a deputy checkweighman. Instead, he founded a National Unemployed Workers' Movement
National Unemployed Workers' Movement
The National Unemployed Workers' Movement was a British organisation set up in 1921 by members of the Communist Party of Great Britain. It aimed to draw attention to the plight of unemployed workers during the post World War I slump, the 1926 General Strike and later the Great Depression, and to...
branch in Maesteg, and continued his communist activity there.
By 1926, Cox was an Area Organiser for the CPGB in Mid Glamorgan
Mid Glamorgan
Mid Glamorgan is a preserved county of Wales. From 1974 until 1996, it was also an administrative county, with a county council.Mid Glamorgan was formed in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972...
. However, he was also active in 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...
, and became vice-chairman of its Maesteg branch in 1927. He continued his rise in the CPGB, becoming District Secretary that year, and was co-opted to its National Executive in 1928, attending the Sixth Congress of the Communist International that year.
Cox returned to London in 1929 to join the CPGB's political bureau. He also worked as a correspondent for the Workers' Weekly
Workers' Weekly
The Workers' Weekly was the official newspaper of the Communist Party of Great Britain, established in February of 1923. The publication was succeeded by The Daily Worker in 1930.-Forerunners:...
, and soon became National Organiser of the party. In 1935, he became editor of the replacement party newspaper, the Daily Worker
Daily Worker
The Daily Worker was a newspaper published in New York City by the Communist Party USA, a formerly Comintern-affiliated organization. Publication began in 1924. While it generally reflected the prevailing views of the party, some attempts were made to make it appear that the paper reflected a...
. Shortly after, he returned to Wales, as Secretary of the Welsh District of the CPGB. He served in this role until 1951, and stood unsuccessfully for the party in Rhondda East
Rhondda East (UK Parliament constituency)
Rhondda East was a parliamentary constituency which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons to the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1918 until 1974...
at the 1951 UK general election. Later that year, Cox became Secretary of the International Department of the CPGB, and was heavily involved in the Movement for Colonial Freedom
Movement for Colonial Freedom
The Movement for Colonial Freedom was a UK based political civil rights advocacy group founded in the United Kingdom in 1954. It had the support of many MPs including Harold Wilson, Barbara Castle with Tony Benn as treasurer. It had support also amongst celebrities such as Benjamin Britten and in...
. He retired in 1970, and wrote his autobiography, Story of a Welsh Rebel.