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ABSTRACT
This article explores Richard Gott’s candidacy in the 1966 by-election at Hull North. Gott stood on a platform emphasising anti-nuclear and anti-militarist concerns, and crucially, vehement opposition to the Vietnam War. The candidacy, which threatened to undermine the Labour Party’s chances of success in the constituency, had national significance, due to the precariousness of the Labour government’s majority. Opinion amongst influential left-wing activists—both within Hull and beyond—was therefore bitterly divided on Gott’s intervention. This article argues that the reaction to Gott was indicative of wider debates within the British left. In particular, there were conflicting views regarding the extent to which anti-Vietnam War activism should be channelled through the Labour Party. More generally, Gott’s candidacy encouraged anti-war campaigners to reflect on the tactics which should be employed through their activism.
Acknowledgements
The author wishes to thank Richard Gott for agreeing to be interviewed for this article. She gratefully acknowledges the helpful comments and suggestions from Daniel Laqua and the journal’s anonymous reviewers as well as the support she received from staff at the Hull History Centre.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.
Notes
1. Thomas, “Protests Against the Vietnam War,” 338.
2. DeGroot, The Sixties Unplugged, 355–63.
3. Green, All Dressed Up, 242.
4. Anon, “Early signs of Neurosis at Hull North.”
5. Ibid.
6. Hoefferle, British Student Activism, 29.
7. Ibid.
8. Ibid., 64.
9. For examples of more general anti-war activism in Britain, see e.g. Taylor and Young, eds., Campaigns for Peace; Brock and Young, Pacifism in the Twentieth Century; Carter, Peace Movements; Cortright, Peace; and Lent, British Social Movements.
10. Ellis, “A Demonstration of British Good Sense?”, 58–9.
11. Interview with Richard Gott, 8 June 2017.
12. The most comprehensive account of the relationship between CND and the Labour Party is Taylor, “The Labour Party and CND: 1957 to 1984.”
13. See e.g. Burkett, Constructing Post-Imperial Britain; Burkett, “Re-defining British Morality”; Klimke, The Other Alliance; and Nehring, Politics of Security.
14. McGlashan, “Mr Gott Makes it Hard for Hull’s Radicals.”
15. See note 11 above
16. Draft of press release for The Week, undated, RGPA.
17. Ibid.
18. Lewis, “Hull Election is Agony for Left; Foe of U.S. Perturbs Radicals.”
19. Greville, “Giving beards the right image again.”
20. Meyer, “Labor in a Pinch to Save Critical Seat in Parliament.”
21. Jones, “London Diary.”
22. Johnson, “Only ‘fringe’ support for the Radical Alliance.”
23. “Notes on Hull-by-election,” undated, RGPA.
24. Lewis, “Laborite Scores Sweeping Victory.”
25. Richard Gott campaign flyer, undated, RGPA.
26. Anon, “Mr Gott says he has Labour support.”
27. Ibid.
28. Jeremy Tunstall to Gott, undated, RGPA.
29. See note 14 above.
30. Anon, “Radical Alliance may fight seat again.”
31. Johnson, “Radical Alliance may fight Hull again.”
32. Toby Jessel campaign flyer, undated, RGPA.
33. David Butler to the Editor of The Guardian, “Intervention at Hull”, 28 December 1965.
34. Mervyn Jones to Mike Craft, 28 January 1966, RGPA.
35. Ibid.
36. See note 11 above. 2017.
37. Michael Craft, “Origins of the Radical Alliance,” undated, RGPA.
38. See note 11 above. 2017.
39. Byrne, “Nuclear Weapons and CND,” 424.
40. Duff, Left, Left, Left, 128.
41. Brock and Young, Pacifism in the Twentieth Century, 251.
42. See note 40 above, 207.
43. Ibid.
44. Ali, Street Fighting Years, 132.
45. Vickers, The Labour Party, 4.
46. Ibid.
47. Ellis, Britain, America, and the Vietnam War, 14.
48. Quoted in Fraser, 1968, 108.
49. See note 11 above. 2017.
50. “Notes of a meeting concerned with the possible intervention in North Hull of a Radical Alliance candidate,” PTT, U DTO/3/2.
51. Fraser, 1968, 109.
52. Ibid.
53. Phythian, “CND’s Cold War,” 146.
54. See note 40 above, 169.
55. Nehring, “British and West German Protests against Nuclear Weapons”, 228.
56. Collins, Faith Under Fire, 319.
57. Taylor, Against the Bomb, 84.
58. Foote, The Labour Party’s Political Thought, 286.
59. Ellis, “Promoting Solidarity at Home and Abroad,” 564.
60. See note 11 above. 2017.
61. See note 37 above.
62. See note 40 above, 127.
63. Anon, “Hull and the strategy for the Left.”
64. See note 58 above, 262.
65. See note 57 above, 85.
66. See note 34 above.
67. Anon, “‘I’ll spoil Mr McNamara’s chances’, he says.”
68. See note 50 above.
69. “Notes on the Radical Alliance,” undated, RGPA.
70. Ibid.
71. Saville, Memoirs from the Left, 147.
72. See note 44 above, 133.
73. See note 22 above.
74. Ibid.
75. See note 63 above.
76. Ibid.
77. See note 14 above.
78. See note 34 above.
79. See note 67 above.
80. Val Gribbin to Richard Gott, 21 November 1965, RGPA.
81. Jane Streather to Richard Gott, 17 December 1965, RGPA.
82. Ibid.
83. See note 11 above. 2017.
84. Ibid.
85. See note 44 above, 136.
86. Ibid., 137.
87. See note 11 above. 2017.
88. Johnson, ‘Much may depend at Hull N. on Labour’s unofficial “Voices”.’
89. Ibid.
90. Ibid.
91. See note 18 above.
92. Ibid.
93. Notes: “The Voice campaign in N. Hull Bye-election [sic.],” PTT, U DTO/3/2.
94. See note 88 above.
95. Johnson, “Hull North electors know little of Labour candidate.”
96. See note 44 above, 136.
97. Ibid.
98. Sandbrook, White Heat, 503.
99. Johnson, “Hull N. predictions may be upset by confusing elements.”
100. See note 11 above. 2017.
101. “Biographical Notes of Candidates on Short list for the Kingston-Upon-Hull By-election”, undated, PKMcMP, U DX124/4a.
102. Anon, “Mr Gott shakes rivals in Hull ‘warm-up’, outsider provides a turn-up for the book.”
103. Anon, “Gunter sent to ‘pep up’ Labour for poll battle.”
104. Kevin McNamara MP to C. Brady; McNamara to W.E. Allen; McNamara to W. Joestar; McNamara to C. Lancaster; McNamara to B. Braim, all dated 4 February 1966, PKMcMP, U DMC/119.
105. Anon, “McNamara has youth support.”
106. Anon, “Top Brass for N. Hull.”
107. Kevin McNamara campaign flyer, undated, RGPA.
108. Draft of statement, 7 January 1966, RGPA.
109. Sydney Silverman to the Editor of The Guardian, “Intervention at Hull: agonising choice,” 6 January 1966.
110. David W. Stayt to the Editor of Socialist Leader, “Expelled by Labour,” 26 February 1966, RGPA.
111. Ibid.
112. Anon, “Gott helpers face Labour Party Sack.”
113. See Anon, “Labour Party has Victories at Polls, in Commons”; Veysey, “Labourites win Double Test”; Beloff, “Wilson listens to the March hares but keeps options open”; Anon, “Swing to Labour Bolsters Wilson”; Boyd, “Hull losers look for the silver lining.”
114. Wilson, The Labour Government, 199.
115. Anon, “Swing to Labour Bolsters Wilson.”
116. Peter David Flinn to the Editor of The Economist, “Mikardo’s Old Clothes,” 12 February 1966.
117. Johnson, “Mr Gott a highly important factor at Hull N.”
118. See note 20 above.
119. “Transcription of live BBC telediphone recording, by-election special,” 27 January 1966, PKMcMP, U DMC/95.
120. Ibid.
121. Ibid.
122. Meyer, “What They Think in Wilson Country.”
123. See note 115 above.
124. Gott, “Through Hull and low water.”
125. [illegible] to Richard Gott, undated, RGPA.
126. Ian Hussey to Richard Gott, 29 December 1965, RGPA.
127. Otter, “Measure of Votes was not measure of success.”
128. Ibid.
129. Taylor and Pritchard, The Protest Makers, 71.
130. See note 122 above.
131. Vickers, “Harold Wilson,” 56.
132. Ibid.
133. Gott, “How I won Hull £345m.”
Additional information
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Sophie Roberts
Sophie Roberts' research deals with multiple dimensions of anti-war activism in 1960s Britain and America. Her doctoral thesis at Northumbria University examines the role of women activists in British campaigns against the Vietnam War.