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| Keir Hardie is not amused. |
From the October 1975 issue of the Socialist Standard
Sad cases are often reported when old people die and lie undiscovered for weeks or months. Another has come to our attention. The Independent Labour Party, aged 83, was recently found dead. A note beside the body said it had given up the ghost in a conference hall at Easter.
The coroner said the deceased had been ailing for many years, having existed on milk-and-water alone; there was a severe congenital malformation, making it remarkable that he had lived so long. Witnesses testified that he had plenty of money but became lonely and unable to make friends. He was known in the neighbourhood as “I Yell Pea”. As a younger person he had appeared fit and well, though probably overtaking his strength; in 1931 he quarrelled with his brother, a Mr. Leigh Burr-Parti, and had never been the same man since. The deceased’s landlady said he rambled a good deal about his godfather’s cap and his desire to emulate his Aunt Cleopatra, who had been all things to all men.
His will desired that his surviving relatives should go to the aid of Leigh Burr-Parti, whom he described as a good fellow who had only got into bad company. The executors are sending out monthly funeral cards headed “Labour Leader”, and would like to hear from anyone who can think of anything else to put because they can’t.
A number of wreaths and tributes were received, many of them from obscure people who signed themselves “M.P.” A Mr. Benn wished everyone well; Syd Bidwell wanted to see “real socialist literature”, as this is something he has missed reading; Mr. Heffer, Mr. Allaun, Mr. Atkinson and others sent messages of goodwill but were interrupted by coughing fits while they were writing. There was also a message from Highgate Cemetery saying that one of the occupants was turning in his grave.
Our suggested inscription for the tombstone is: The ILP was one of those who were going to show how to achieve Socialism by swifter and surer methods than Socialist ones. Its present-day counterparts repeat that they know quicker ways. The ILP’s history shows the boot to be on the other foot. Those who want Socialism are constantly made to wait — by the likes of them.
Robert Barltrop
1 comment:
An unsigned article from the Socialist Standard, but it is definitely by Robert Barltrop. The giveaway is the reference to "Mr. Leigh Burr-Parti" in the article, which is a reference to a Socialist Standard comic strip written and drawn by Robert Barltrop , which appeared in the Standard in the mid-70s.
Though it's a funny dig at the ILP, it does have to be pointed out that Barltrop himself - in his political wilderness years in the 60s when he outside the SPGB - did in fact occasionally write for the ILP newspaper, the Socialist Leader. I don't believe he was ever a member of the ILP during this period but he must have sometimes moved in their circles.
The mention of the 'Labour Leader' in the article is in reference to the fact that when the ILP reaffiliated to the Labour Party, it changed the name of its journal, the 'Socialist Leader', back to its original title of 'Labour Leader', in keeping with its return to its Labour Party roots.
Also, " . . . his godfather’s cap" is probably a reference to Keir Hardie and his cloth cap.
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