'The North-East and the Campaigns for the Popular Front, 1938-39'

Mates, L.H.

Abstract

This article examines the Popular Front campaigns in 1938 and 1939 at grassroots level. It does this by taking the North-East region as a case study. The north-eastern labour movement was traditionally moderate and loyal. Substantial support for the policy in regions like the North-East was vital if the labour movement as a whole could be won over to the Popular Front. The article concentrates on Sir Stafford Cripps's 'Petition Campaign' launched in February 1939 and compares it with the earlier United Peace Alliance campaign. It discusses the individuals and organizations that supported or opposed the Popular Front project, and the problems with the nature of their reaction. The explanation of the failure of the Popular Front campaigns in the North-East necessitates the exploration of the attitudes of Labour, Liberal and Conservative Party supporters and grassroots activists, thereby throwing light on the political culture of the region.

Citation

Mates, L. (2006). 'The North-East and the Campaigns for the Popular Front, 1938-39'. Northern History, 43(2), 273-301. https://doi.org/10.1179/174587006x116176

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Sep 1, 2006
• Deposit Date: Jul 9, 2007
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 28, 2009
• Journal: Northern History
• Print ISSN: 0078-172X
• Electronic ISSN: 1745-8706
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 43
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 273-301
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1179/174587006x116176
• Keywords: North-East, Labour Movement, Popular Front, Petition campaign, Labour Party, Sir Stafford Cripps.
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1550625