George Lansbury

George Lansbury was the Labour Mayor for Poplar and led the Poplar Rates Rebellion in 1921. The rebellion enjoyed huge popular support. The borough council, instead of forwarding the precept of collected tax monies to the LCC (London County Council), dispersed the money as aid to the poor. Thirty councillors, including six women, were jailed by the High Court for six weeks. Council meetings during this time were held in Brixton Prison, until the government grew uneasy about the imprisonment and the LCC asked the High Court to release the prisoners. A rates revision was achieved and Lansbury was returned to Parliament at the 1922 general election, when he regained his old seat of Bromley and Bow. The ‘Poplar Revolt’ was a great example of how direct action and solidarity could lead to positive change in favour of the poor.

The photomontage below was published in the Tower Hamlets Unison branch magazine ‘Tower Power’ before the Mayoral election in 2010. It made use of existing Council BIll Boards advertising Council services.

Photomontage published before the election of Mayor in Tower Hamlets, 2010