Isaac Hayward
Encyclopedia
Sir Isaac James Hayward (usually known as 'Ike' Hayward) (17 November 1884 - 3 January 1976) was Leader of the London County Council
from 1947 until it was abolished in 1965.
Hayward was the son of a miner from Blaenavon
, Monmouthshire
, and himself went down the mines from the age of 12. He became involved in trade union
affairs and was chosen as a union official, which brought him to London
. From 1932 he was General Secretary
of the National Union of Enginemen, Firemen, Mechanics and Electrical Workers, retiring in 1946 when his other commitments precluded continuing.
As a trade unionist he also became active in the Labour Party
and was selected in 1928 to stand for the party in the London County Council
elections in the safe seat of Rotherhithe
. Herbert Morrison spotted him and in 1932 appointed him Chief Whip to the Labour Group, a job he retained until he became Leader. Hayward switched to representing Deptford
in 1937, and sat until 1955; he served as an Alderman from 1955 until the LCC was abolished in 1965 - a record of 36 years unbroken service which was more than any other member in the LCC's history.
When Labour won power in 1934, Morrison appointed Hayward to the crucial job of Chairman of the Public Assistance Committee. His job there was to turn the antiquated Poor law
system into a genuine system of welfare, and he instituted more generous programmes of help with rents and fuel, as well as building homes for the elderly that allowed for genuine privacy. Hayward had several other important Chairmanships from 1937.
From 1945 Hayward was given the Education Chair. He was convinced that the future of education lay in comprehensive schools, of which there were none at the time. This was a highly controversial policy and Hayward had to steer it through opposition while restraining the demands of its strongest supporters.
This success, and his skill in managing the party machine, led to his election as Leader in 1947.
The LCC was invited by the Government to build a concert hall in time for the Festival of Britain
in 1951. Despite the short timetable Hayward was convinced that it could do it, and the Royal Festival Hall
was opened on time. He expanded patronage of the arts and commissioned contemporary works. The Hayward Gallery
on the South Bank is named in his honour. He was knighted in 1959.
Hayward led the Labour Party's opposition to the Herbert Report recommendations that the LCC be abolished and replaced by a Greater London Council
, pointing to the work the LCC had done. However there was a great deal of self-interest involved as the LCC had by this time become merely the inner city and thus a permanent Labour majority. When the fight was lost, Hayward retired.
London County Council
London County Council was the principal local government body for the County of London, throughout its 1889–1965 existence, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today known as Inner London and was replaced by the Greater London Council...
from 1947 until it was abolished in 1965.
Hayward was the son of a miner from Blaenavon
Blaenavon
Blaenavon is a town and World Heritage Site in south eastern Wales, lying at the source of the Afon Lwyd north of Pontypool, within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire. The town lies high on a hillside and has a population of 6,349 people...
, Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire (historic)
Monmouthshire , also known as the County of Monmouth , is one of thirteen ancient counties of Wales and a former administrative county....
, and himself went down the mines from the age of 12. He became involved in 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...
affairs and was chosen as a union official, which brought him to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. From 1932 he was General Secretary
General Secretary
The office of general secretary is staffed by the chief officer of:*The General Secretariat for Macedonia and Thrace, a government agency for the Greek regions of Macedonia and Thrace...
of the National Union of Enginemen, Firemen, Mechanics and Electrical Workers, retiring in 1946 when his other commitments precluded continuing.
As a trade unionist he also became 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 was selected in 1928 to stand for the party in the London County Council
London County Council
London County Council was the principal local government body for the County of London, throughout its 1889–1965 existence, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today known as Inner London and was replaced by the Greater London Council...
elections in the safe seat of Rotherhithe
Rotherhithe
Rotherhithe is a residential district in inner southeast London, England and part of the London Borough of Southwark. It is located on a peninsula on the south bank of the Thames, facing Wapping and the Isle of Dogs on the north bank, and is a part of the Docklands area...
. Herbert Morrison spotted him and in 1932 appointed him Chief Whip to the Labour Group, a job he retained until he became Leader. Hayward switched to representing Deptford
Deptford
Deptford is a district of south London, England, located on the south bank of the River Thames. It is named after a ford of the River Ravensbourne, and from the mid 16th century to the late 19th was home to Deptford Dockyard, the first of the Royal Navy Dockyards.Deptford and the docks are...
in 1937, and sat until 1955; he served as an Alderman from 1955 until the LCC was abolished in 1965 - a record of 36 years unbroken service which was more than any other member in the LCC's history.
When Labour won power in 1934, Morrison appointed Hayward to the crucial job of Chairman of the Public Assistance Committee. His job there was to turn the antiquated Poor law
Poor Law
The English Poor Laws were a system of poor relief which existed in England and Wales that developed out of late-medieval and Tudor-era laws before being codified in 1587–98...
system into a genuine system of welfare, and he instituted more generous programmes of help with rents and fuel, as well as building homes for the elderly that allowed for genuine privacy. Hayward had several other important Chairmanships from 1937.
From 1945 Hayward was given the Education Chair. He was convinced that the future of education lay in comprehensive schools, of which there were none at the time. This was a highly controversial policy and Hayward had to steer it through opposition while restraining the demands of its strongest supporters.
This success, and his skill in managing the party machine, led to his election as Leader in 1947.
The LCC was invited by the Government to build a concert hall in time for the Festival of Britain
Festival of Britain
The Festival of Britain was a national exhibition in Britain in the summer of 1951. It was organised by the government to give Britons a feeling of recovery in the aftermath of war and to promote good quality design in the rebuilding of British towns and cities. The Festival's centrepiece was in...
in 1951. Despite the short timetable Hayward was convinced that it could do it, and the Royal Festival Hall
Royal Festival Hall
The Royal Festival Hall is a 2,900-seat concert, dance and talks venue within Southbank Centre in London. It is situated on the South Bank of the River Thames, not far from Hungerford Bridge. It is a Grade I listed building - the first post-war building to become so protected...
was opened on time. He expanded patronage of the arts and commissioned contemporary works. The Hayward Gallery
Hayward Gallery
The Hayward Gallery is an art gallery within the Southbank Centre, part of an area of major arts venues on the South Bank of the River Thames, in central London, England. It is sited adjacent to the other Southbank Centre buildings and also the Royal National Theatre and British Film Institute...
on the South Bank is named in his honour. He was knighted in 1959.
Hayward led the Labour Party's opposition to the Herbert Report recommendations that the LCC be abolished and replaced by a Greater London Council
Greater London Council
The Greater London Council was the top-tier local government administrative body for Greater London from 1965 to 1986. It replaced the earlier London County Council which had covered a much smaller area...
, pointing to the work the LCC had done. However there was a great deal of self-interest involved as the LCC had by this time become merely the inner city and thus a permanent Labour majority. When the fight was lost, Hayward retired.
| Preceded by: Lord Latham Charles Latham, 1st Baron Latham Charles Latham, 1st Baron Latham was a British politician and Leader of the London County Council from 1940 to 1947.... |
Leader of the London County Council London County Council London County Council was the principal local government body for the County of London, throughout its 1889–1965 existence, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today known as Inner London and was replaced by the Greater London Council... 1947-1965 |
Followed by: LCC abolished |