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Agitation and the Internal Politics of British Communism, 1907–1977

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The Harry Pollitt papers

Though Pollitt took some time to establish his authority, by the mid-1930s he functioned as de facto party 'leader' and a sort of tribune of the anti-fascist left.
Professor Kevin Morgan,  University of Manchester

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Discover Harry Pollitt's activities at the forefront of communist agitation in Britain

This collection is derived from the personal papers of one of the titans of British communism, Harry Pollitt. Born in 1890, Pollitt embraced communism after witnessing the hardships inflicted on his family by poverty. He was a founding member of the Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB) in 1920, before going on to assume the crucial role of General Secretary in 1929. 

His role as leader of the CPGB is remembered for his unwavering support of Stalin and the Soviet Union, as well as overseeing the CPGB’s most successful years in terms of influence and mass appeal around the time of the Second World War. As such, this collection offers a vivid insight into Pollitt’s personal and political thought, and the complex machinations of being premier of the CPGB.

This collection is accompanied by three contextual essays written by Professor Kevin Morgan.

Contents

Agitation and the Internal Politics of British Communism, 1907–1977...

The Harry Pollitt papers

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Highlights

Section of a handwritten letter addressed to Harry Pollitt, dated 23 May 1931.

Licensed to access Party disputes during the "Third Period", 1931

This document shows lively debates between Harry Pollitt and Palme Dutt on the correct "line" for the CPGB to take during the "Third Period", in which Stalin advocated non-cooperation with social democratic parties in domestic politics.

Section of a typed document titled Spain.

Licensed to access Pollitt’s experience of the Spanish Civil War, 1937–1940s

Pollitt was a key figure during the Spanish Civil War, visiting the ailing Republic five separate times to speak with the International Brigades and lend support to the cause.
Section of a flyer from the Rhondda East Parliamentary Division with the title As Christians we say to You, regarding the General Election 1945. On the left of the page is a photograph of Henry Pollitt.

Licensed to access Pollitt’s candidature for East Rhondda, 1945

Pollitt ran for parliament numerous times during his life, with the closest he got coming in 1945, when he missed out on the seat of East Rhondda by around 1000 votes. This document shows campaign material from this tightly fought contest in South Wales.
Black and white photograph of Henry Pollitt with several Sikh men, dated 17 December 1953 and captioned The Golden Temple. Amaitsa, The Most Famous Religious Shrine of the Sikhs.

Licensed to access Pollitt’s trip to India, 1953–1954

During his twilight years, Pollitt took up the mantle of representing the CPGB abroad. He spent a month in India immersing himself amongst the communist and labour movements of the newly independent country.

Insights

  • Harry Pollitt was a prolific communist activist and the most prominent leader of the Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB). The enormous scope of material featured in this collection reflects his widespread activities and dedication to the labour movement and communist party.
  • Pollitt started his early career as a boilermaker and metal craftsman and through these occupations he became intimately involved in trade unionism. As seen through the collection, he was an activist and officer for the Boilermakers Society, before going on to be national secretary of the National Minority Movement.
  • Pollitt, who joined the CPGB as a founding member in 1920, became General-Secretary of the CPGB in 1929 and established his authority as de facto leader by the mid-1930s.

  • Pollitt was at the centre of the CPGB’s attempts to build up a "United Front" with other labour movement organisations during the 1930s in response to fascist advances in continental Europe, having previously advocated non-cooperation with social democratic organisations at the behest of Stalin.

  • After the Second World War, Pollitt’s CPGB enjoyed unparalleled popularity and sought to capitalise with electoral gains. Pollitt ran for parliament numerous times and his attempts are documented in the collection.
  • Pollitt spent his later years on speaking tours across the world. By this time he was seen as a titan of communism in both Britain and internationally. The collection contains files from his trips to India, China, as well as Australia and New Zealand.
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