John R. Pinniger
Encyclopedia
John R Pinniger is a former Conservative
councillor for the London Borough of Lambeth
and an unsuccessful Conservative candidate for the European Parliament
. He was a leading activist and political adviser in the right-wing Conservative Monday Club
during the early 1980s but found himself at centre of a schism in the club in 1984.
Pinniger worked closely with the Conservative Member of Parliament Harvey Proctor
, who was then Chairman of the Monday Club's Immigration & Repatriation Committee. In 1981 he co-authored a pamphlet with Proctor which called for the repatriation of 50,000 immigrants per year, the abolition of the Commission for Racial Equality
and the repeal of all race relations legislation. His proposals were said to offend many mainstream Conservatives but were defended on the grounds that they would reduce racial tension.
His walkout was followed by several other Monday Club members, who supported Pinniger's assertion that the club had failed to tackle extremism and racism in its ranks . However, the club fought back strongly, circulating copies of speeches and pamphlets by Pinniger about immigration and claiming that he had been a prominent advocate of policies which he now labelled extremist. It accused him of trying to "cover up the fact that the club had suspended him and certain associates, with a view to possible expulsion." The club also claimed that Pinniger had been responsible for a "clandestine and unethical plot" to mount a take-over and that "his outrage at the club's policies is fake, and that his current manoeuvres are an attempt to destroy that which he cannot control."
The club subsequently produced a document that it claimed to be the minutes of a body called the Camberley Group, said to have been formed by Pinniger and others as the vehicle for a take-over bid. It was dismissed by Pinniger as a forgery and passed on to the police for examination. Members of the Camberley Group were reported to have said that the group was "formed to moderate the [Monday] club and steer it back into the mainstream of Conservative policy because it had failed to purge itself of extremists."
In the 1994 European elections he unsuccessfully stood for the European Parliament
as a Conservative candidate in the constituency of Greater Manchester East
(now part of the North West England constituency
), a safe Labour
seat. He came second to the Labour candidate, winning 19.32% of the vote as against the winning candidate's 60.44%.
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
councillor for the London Borough of Lambeth
London Borough of Lambeth
The London Borough of Lambeth is a London borough in south London, England and forms part of Inner London. The local authority is Lambeth London Borough Council.-Origins:...
and an unsuccessful Conservative candidate for the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
. He was a leading activist and political adviser in the right-wing Conservative Monday Club
Conservative Monday Club
The Conservative Monday Club is a British pressure group "on the right-wing" of the Conservative Party.-Overview:...
during the early 1980s but found himself at centre of a schism in the club in 1984.
Pinniger worked closely with the Conservative Member of Parliament Harvey Proctor
Harvey Proctor
Harvey Proctor was a British Conservative Member of Parliament. He represented Basildon from 1979 to 1983 and Billericay from 1983 to 1987. Proctor became known for his right-wing views and for the manner in which scandal forced the end of his Parliamentary career.- Background :Proctor's father...
, who was then Chairman of the Monday Club's Immigration & Repatriation Committee. In 1981 he co-authored a pamphlet with Proctor which called for the repatriation of 50,000 immigrants per year, the abolition of the Commission for Racial Equality
Commission for Racial Equality
The Commission for Racial Equality was a non-departmental public body in the United Kingdom which aimed to tackle racial discrimination and promote racial equality. Its work has been merged into the new Equality and Human Rights Commission.-History:...
and the repeal of all race relations legislation. His proposals were said to offend many mainstream Conservatives but were defended on the grounds that they would reduce racial tension.
Monday Club spit
In March 1984, Pinniger announced that he would be resigning, in protest, from the Monday Club. He told the media that there were members who were "simply anti-immigrant and anti-black - that is, racist" who wanted to expel immigrants from the UK. He also described the club as "fizzling out" and being out of touch with the Conservative mainstream.His walkout was followed by several other Monday Club members, who supported Pinniger's assertion that the club had failed to tackle extremism and racism in its ranks . However, the club fought back strongly, circulating copies of speeches and pamphlets by Pinniger about immigration and claiming that he had been a prominent advocate of policies which he now labelled extremist. It accused him of trying to "cover up the fact that the club had suspended him and certain associates, with a view to possible expulsion." The club also claimed that Pinniger had been responsible for a "clandestine and unethical plot" to mount a take-over and that "his outrage at the club's policies is fake, and that his current manoeuvres are an attempt to destroy that which he cannot control."
The club subsequently produced a document that it claimed to be the minutes of a body called the Camberley Group, said to have been formed by Pinniger and others as the vehicle for a take-over bid. It was dismissed by Pinniger as a forgery and passed on to the police for examination. Members of the Camberley Group were reported to have said that the group was "formed to moderate the [Monday] club and steer it back into the mainstream of Conservative policy because it had failed to purge itself of extremists."
Political career
Pinniger later successfully contested a seat on Lambeth Council as well as working as the head of communications for the Financial Intermediaries, Managers and Brokers Regulatory Association.In the 1994 European elections he unsuccessfully stood for the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
as a Conservative candidate in the constituency of Greater Manchester East
Greater Manchester East (European Parliament constituency)
Greater Manchester East was, from 1984 to 1999, a European Parliament constituency centered on Greater Manchester, in North West England.When it was created in England in 1984, it consisted of the Westminster Parliament constituencies of Ashton-under-Lyne, Cheadle, Denton and Reddish, Hazel Grove,...
(now part of the North West England constituency
North West England (European Parliament constituency)
North West England is a constituency of the European Parliament. For the 2009 elections it elects 8 MEPs using the d'Hondt method of party-list proportional representation.-Boundaries:...
), a safe Labour
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...
seat. He came second to the Labour candidate, winning 19.32% of the vote as against the winning candidate's 60.44%.
Publications
- Immigration, Repatriation, & the Commission for Racial Equality, by Harvey ProctorHarvey ProctorHarvey Proctor was a British Conservative Member of Parliament. He represented Basildon from 1979 to 1983 and Billericay from 1983 to 1987. Proctor became known for his right-wing views and for the manner in which scandal forced the end of his Parliamentary career.- Background :Proctor's father...
, MP, John R. Pinniger, MA, with a foreword by Sir Ronald BellRonald Bell (UK politician)Sir Ronald McMillan Bell, , QC , Knight Bachelor , was a Conservative Party Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom representing South Buckinghamshire from 1950 to 1974 and Beaconsfield from 1974 to 1982.-Family and education:The younger son of John Bell, Ronald was educated at Cardiff High...
, QC, MP, published by the Monday Club, 1981, (P/B)
- Immigration - An Untenable Situation by K.Harvey Proctor, MP, and John R. Pinniger, MA, Policy Paper from the Monday Club's Immigration and Repatriation Policy Committee, October 1981
- Race Relations & Immigration by K.Harvey Proctor, MP, and John R. Pinniger, MA, Policy Paper from the Monday Club's Immigration & Race Relations Committee, October 1982