Phil Chamberlain’s excellent article, “Finding the blacklist“, reveals how the ‘Services Group’ blacklist held by the Consulting Association was discovered, as well as the events that led up to that. A much larger blacklist – of workers, ‘extremists’ and political radicals – was held by the Economic League (the predecessor to the Consulting Association’s). Much of that list was leaked and the story of how that took place has been told in part both here and elsewhere – notably via Spies At Work. The campaign to destroy the EL could be characterised, in retrospect, as ‘part one’ of a drama that eventually saw, some thirty years later, a £250 million payout to blacklisted construction workers, with the CA expose as the crucial ‘part two’. But, in some ways, it could be argued that the first domino to fall was an own goal by the EL: what happened is described in detail in an internal document that was subsequently leaked, together with masses of other documents, to political activists under the name of ‘League Watch’. A link to that document is published below, together with selected extracts and background commentaries that show, for example, that the “Services Group” existed as far back as the early 1980s…
(Disclaimer: the author of this article was a co-founder of League Watch.)
Note: extensive appendices are given at the end of this article – lists of companies and EL organisers, derived mostly from the leaked documents.
A. Introduction
Earlier this week Open Democracy published a well written research paper on how political activists may have been forced to change tactics as a consequence of the extensive infiltration by #spycops of several political campaigns over several decades. The research, however, does not take into account other forms of direct action that have emerged since then – such as the Occupy movement, the student protests, and the London riots, etc. Nor does it examine the counter-intelligence operations that quietly but determinedly acted as a rearguard to protests over several decades.
One such operation took place some thirty years back and involved no more than a handful of individuals, deploying very unconventional methods (for activists) and which led, in time, to enormous repercussions – namely, the multi-million pound payout to blacklisted workers in recent settlements.
A. Background
The Economic League was created in 1919 by a small group of men, including Rear Admiral William Reginald Hall – who had retired as the Head of Naval intelligence to stand as a Conservative MP – and representatives from leading industries. Originally the EL was named the National Propaganda Committee and was itself part of an organisation known as the British Commonwealth Union. In 1925 the NPC was renamed the Central Council of the Economic League. Core to its work was blacklisting, intelligence-gathering and propaganda. The EL – as it eventually became known by – continued to expand in the years leading up to World War Two, during the war and in the post-war period. But by the 1980s its fortunes were on the wane.
In 1983 Peter Savill, the EL’s national director attempted to rationalise the organisation via amalgamations of regions. This did not go down well with EL stalwarts, who were very protective of their manors. That same year saw an attempted mutiny within the EL and the publication of the document, “The need for a change in direction”. This document was later leaked to League Watch by Richard Brett (by then the EL was run by Michael Noar, who was determined to rid the League of all the regions and discipline Brett in the process).
Based on the actual numbers known for certain regions, it is estimated that between 30,000 and 45,000 names of workers were blacklisted throughout the UK.
B. The leaked document: “The need for a change in direction”
“Of course, the police and Special Branch are interested in some of the things we are interested in. They follow the activities of these groups in much the same way as we do and therefore they do get in touch with us from time to time and talk to us and say ‘were you at this demonstration or that’.. In the course of discussions, there is an exchange of information just in the ordinary course of talking.” Michael Noar, Economic League director-general.
Here is the full text (pdf) of that internal Economic League document (marked “Strictly Private & Confidential”) and authored by Sir Gerald Thorley, chairman of the EL. The document clearly shows that by 1983 the rot was setting in.
The leaked document included evidence how the EL was in a perilous state and so provided an impetous to activists to step up their sabotage campaign and an all-out assault on EL credibility and security (see section ‘D’).
C. Deconstructing “The need for a change in direction”
According to the document the malaise within the EL had already set in by the early 1980s:
Then there was the lack of morale…
The EL was clearly dying. But it was not until the leaks from the Economic League had turned into a flood and after that organisation had been infiltrated by activists, that the coffin was ordered.
Back to the document and the matter of poor security…
The EL had been employing ‘old spycraft’ methods: staff visiting radical bookshops, financing ‘apprenticeships’, nods and winks to sympathetic trade union officials, distributing propaganda bulletins at factory gates, and liaising with the state security services as they’d always done. But what the EL did not anticipate was that a new breed of political activist would subvert those outdated ‘spycraft’ methods and use them against the EL itself.
As the document emphasised, there was also a lack of staff and poor service…
D. Recap on how the leaks happened…
It all happened at a hotel in Crewe in 1988. Two individuals, who had founded League Watch, met up with the EL’s north-west regional director, Richard Brett (he had made the first move), though the activist pair did not know in advance what to expect from the meeting.
They were, of course, ecstatic when Brett simply handed to them wads and wads of EL documents that exposed in every way the dreadful state that organisation was in.
The documents included a copy of “The Need for a Change in Direction” (the document published here); minutes of the Central Council meeting of 17 November 1987; notes of a meeting of the Policy and Finance Committee on the same date; Memorandum from the North Western Region’s Regional Co-ordinator to the Region’s Regional Director (Mr Brett) dated 22 June 1987; a letter to all Economic League subscribers from Michael Noar, Director General, dated 19 December 1988; a copy of a speech made by Michael Noar at a lunch for industrialists held on 5 June 1986 ‘The Future of The League’; and Notes of a Meeting of the Director General’s Advisory Committee. There were also many more documents, including lists of EL committee members.
This was dynamite. The leak was in effect the beginning of the end of the Economic League.
But the two activists had no idea at the time what the consequences of this clandestine meeting would be some 30 years later (when workers within the construction industry received payouts in compensation for being blacklisted by the EL’s successor).
In the days immediately following the rendevous at Crewe the pair were able to appraise the documents and pass on selected copies to trusted trade union leaders and media contacts, with some material also being used for stories in the underground press (notably Knee Deep In Shit, Black Flag, Leeds Other Paper and League Watch News).
The anarchist periodical “Black Flag”, for example, reported on a number of documents that listed those construction companies which had attended a meeting of The Services Group on 9 March 1982 as well as names of representatives of those companies who had been invited to a special meeting of The Services Group on 16 February 1983. (See also, below, extract of minutes from an August 25th, 1987 Economic League Advisory Committee meeting which references the Service Group.)
Note the dates of those meetings quoted above: this is crucial, for it provides evidence that the Services Group, which formed the core of names held by the Consulting Association, had existed since at least the early 1980s and that there was a direct continuum between the EL and the CA (re the Services Group of blacklisted workers). This also explains why the Services Group list was sold (for £10,000) to the CA by the EL on its demise as it was undoubtedly the most profitable aspect of the blacklisting industry.
But more was to come… One of the League watch co-founders, together with some local help, decided to infiltrate the EL via its most important meeting of the year – the Economic League AGM in London. And that is exactly what happened: the entire 1989 Economic League AGM was surreptitiously recorded and the League Watch activist also arranged for the EL delegates to be photographed as they left for home.
The tactics were all about sabotage and employing dirty tricks so as to destabilise and ridicule the EL – an organisation that had a seventy-year history of close collaboration with MI5 and the police. It was also about morale-busting: pitting EL members against members and pitting the EL against its clients.
The MSM – notably The Guardian, The Observer and the New Statesmen and ITV’s ‘World in Action’ – as well as Labour Research, all played a part with exposes and publication of more leaks, helping to maintain the pressure.
The tactics worked – partly, it has to be said, because the EL had been hemorrhaging members (clients) anyway. The sabotage campaign just happened to take place at the right time when morale in the EL was at rock-bottom (as evidenced, retrospectively, by the leaked documents).
E. After the Economic League’s demise
Here is a brief anatomy by Mike Hughes (co-founder of League Watch) of the files that were held by the Economic League (includes a sample of redacted copies of pages of blacklisted workers) some of which were subsequently passed on to the Consulting Association.
In retrospect, the Consulting Association, the main beneficiary of the Economic League files, was probably on borrowed time from the first day of its existence. Ian Kerr, its mainstay, was earmarked to be the sacrificial lamb – literally dying after he was forced to give evidence against the very people he had been working for – the blacklisting industries (mostly construction companies). Kerr was old school, never lied (though probably was economical with the truth) and believed wholeheartedly in the work of the EL and the CA. But his time was up too and so another domino fell with the raid on the CA offices by the Information Commissioner’s Office.
More recently there has been the litigation, further exposes and payouts. More – the “long haul” – is to come…
F. Appendices
The following list, courtesy of Powerbase, was mostly compiled from the leaked EL documents to League Watch, Labour Research and World In Action.
Crucially the list shows that the EL was not linked to the establishment – it was the establishment. Understanding this demonstrates that its downfall was even more momentous than it seemed – not just the death of a blacklisting agency, but the end of an era of old-school class war (to be replaced, of course, by more modern methodologies and technologies).
Appendix 1: who was who in the Economic League
The list takes two historical snapshots of the membership of the Economic League’s main governing bodies: in the mid 1920’s and at the time of the formation of the Limited Company in 1951. “1925”, “1926” or “1927” after a name indicates the first known date of appointment; in some cases it might have been earlier be earlier. “1951” indicates that the person was a founding member of the Economic League Co Ltd.
Edwin Airey Leeds 1926,Titles: Knighted
H. Russell Allday 1951
H. G. Allen Central Council 1925
John Sandeman Allen Liverpool 1925,Titles: (MP)
E. D. E. Andrewes Central Council 1972-1976 Res 1977
Arthur Andrews Central Council 1925
D. Andrews-Jones Central Council 1984
William Appleby Hon Treasurer North East Coast 1933 1951,Titles: Captain
A. W. Archer Leeds 1926
O. C. Armstrong Central Council 1925,Titles: Colonel
Peter E. Ashworth Central Council 1982
A. W. Astbury Lancashire & Cheshire 1925,Titles: Commander (MP)
F.W. Bain Liverpool 1925
J. Ellis Baker Central Council 1925
Arthur Balfour Founder, Sheffield Executive 1926,Titles: Lord Riverdale
H. Ballantyne Liverpool & District Organiser 1933
J. B. Bardsley Sheffield 1926
T. B. Barker Lancashire & Cheshire 1925
ArthurKentish Barnes Liverpool 1925
Walter Barnet Midlands 1925
David Barran Central Council 1972-79 (Resigned).,Titles: Knighted
President 1972/3
C. M. Bateman Central Council 1925Keighley 1926,Titles: Lieut. Colonel
Christopher Beckett Central Council 1972-8,Titles: Lord Grimthorpe
Rupert Beckett ,Titles: The Hon
E. R. Benson Central Council 1925 Huddersfield (President) 1926
P. A. Best London Exec
M. M. Bidder Central Council 1925 Leeds 1926,Titles: Lieut. Colonel
G. H. Bland Hull Executive 1925
A. Blenkinsop Sheffield 1926
Charles Boot Sheffield 1926
W. J. Bridge Central Council 1984,Titles: Major
Harry Brittain 1951,Titles: Knighted (MP)
E. S. Brocklehurst Hull Executive 1925,Titles:
Thomas Brodie Central Council 1984 (Vice President),Titles: Major
Raymond Brookes Central Council 1972-77 Resigned 1978,Titles: Lord Brookes from 1975
W. Brooksbank H
J. Spencer Binns Keighley 1926
uddersfield & District Organiser 1933.
F.E. Brown Huddersfield Executive 1926
Peter Boswell Brown Sheffield 1926
Maurice B. Buchanan 1951,Titles: Colonel
F. H. Burrell Hull Executive 1925
Vincent Caillard Central Council 1925
Angus Dudley Fbi Campbell 1951,Titles: The Hon
Alderman Thomas Canby Huddersfield Executive 1926
A. J. Capro Sheffield 1926
W. H. Carey Nottinghamshire Committee 1927
Carlile Central Council 1972-83 Resigned 1984
E. G. Carter Central Council North East Area 1971-1978 Died
Nicholas Cayzer Central Council 1972,Titles: Lord Cayzer
F. T. Chadwick Leeds 1926
J. Challen Lancashire & Cheshire 1927,Titles: Major
Chamberlain Central Council 19761977
E. P. Chappell Central Council 1977-79,Titles: R
R. Charlesworth Sheffield 1926
M. Cheverton-Brown Hull 1925,Titles: Alderman
Alwyn Child Leeds 1925
I. J. Chorley South Wales 1925
William Bertram Chrimes Liverpool 1926
EdwinKitson Clark Leeds 1927,Titles: Lieut. Colonel
Henry Clark North East Coast 1925
W. Clark Sheffield 1926
William Joseph Clarke 1951
Robert Clive Sheffield 1926
Henry S. Clough Keighley President 1926
William Henry Coates Central Council 1927
Charles Coggan Treasurer 1927Nottingham
Clive Cookson North East Coast 1925 1951
H. B. Cordingley Keighley 1926
Clifford Cory Central Council 1925,Titles: Knighted (MP)
James Coull Central Council 1987
G. Craig Leeds. Hudersfield 1926
Archibald Crawford National Director of Policy and Propaganda 1925 1926
Lawrence Crowther Huddersfield 1926
C. A. W. Dawes Central Council 1971-1982 Died
W. B. Denison Leeds 1926
A. J. Denniss London 1925
John Stanley Dettmer Central Council 1977-78 Vice President, Director General
Edward Dixon Sheffield President. 1926 Central Council1925,Titles:
B. Paulin Dobson Lancashire & Cheshire 1927,Titles: Colonel
E. Dobson London 1925
Frank Dudley Docker Central Council 1925
Arthur Dorman North East Coast 1926
Lord Dowding Central Council 1984
W. Newton Drew Sheffield 1926
R. J. Dunlop Central Council 1976-79
John Eaglesome Leeds 1926,Titles: Knighted
S. G.T. Earle Midlands 1926
P. G. Edwards Central Council North East 1977 – President?
Elliott Sheffield 1926
G. A. Ellis Huddersfield 1926
William Henry Ellis Sheffield 1926,Titles: Knighted
H. C. Else Sheffield 1926
Lord Erroll Central Council 1977-83
J. Ormund Evans Midlands 1925
John Evetts Central Council 1972-1976,Titles: Lieut. Gen.Knighted
D. Fahey Central Council 1983
Walter C. Fairer Lancashire & Cheshire 1927,Titles: Major
Henry Fildes Lancashire & Cheshire 1925,Titles: Knighted (MP)
Victor Harold Finney Area Officer Lancashire & Cheshire 1933,Titles: (MP)
Bertram James Firkins 1951
Algernon F. Firth Central Council 1925,Titles: Knighted
C. Firth Central Council 1976-84 Resigned 1985
D. Flather Sheffield 1926
H. Glover Ford Nottingham General Committee,Titles: Alderman
J. H. B. Forster North East Coast 1925
William Forster Nottingham 1927
W. Forster Leeds. Midlands 1925,Titles: Major
N. Fowler Central Council Resigned 1976
J. D. Fraser Central Council 1972-1974 Resigned 1975
R. Fremantle Central Council 1983
Henry Frith Keighley 1927
A. J. Gainsford Sheffield 1926,Titles: Major
D. Gardner Central Council 1972-77
Aukland C. Geddes Chairman 1925-26,Titles: Knighted
Philip Gee Central Council 1925
Maurice S. Gibb North East Coast 1925
Finaly A. Gibson Central Council 1925 South Wales 1925
Robert Gladstone Liverpool 1925
J. P. R. Glynn Central Council 1973-78 Resigned 1979
W. Gosling Hull 1925
Gould P. Leeds. South Wales 1926
James Childs Gould Central Council 1925 ,Titles: (MP)
Maxwell Harper Gow Central Council 1984
A. B. Gowan North East Coast 1925
William Graham South Wales 1925,Titles: (Knighted
H. A. Bennie Gray Huddersfield 1926
P. D. C. Greenaway Central Council 1983
John Horsley Gresham 1951
T.A.R Grieve Central Council11974-79
John Edward Grimble Groves Lancashire & Cheshire 1925,Titles: Colonel
Nevile Gwyn Gwynne Central Council 1925
M. Haddon-Grant Central Council 1980-1983
Robert A. Hadfield Central Council 1925,Titles: Knighted
Graham Hale Central Council 1987
C. A. C. Hamilton Central Council 1976-1979 Resigned 1980
A. B. Hampton Central Council 1976
Edmund Lawrence Hann South Wales 1925
H. D. S. Hardie Central Council 1980-1983
Harding Central Council 1986
A. H. Hardisty Huddersfield 1926
R. Harper South Wales 1925
Joseph Harrison Lancashire & Cheshire 1925-1926
A. D. Hartley Keighley 1926
Arthur W. Heard South Wales 1925
R. Henderson-Tate Chair North Midlands 1965-71 Central Council 1965-71
John Henry Central Council 1925,Titles: Knighted
Lord Hewlett Nw Region 1976-79 Central Council 1978/79
W. L. Hey Central Council 1972-75,Titles: Colonel
Hickingbotham Midlands 1925
W. S. Hide Vice-pres Hull 1925
E. J. Hill London 1925
J. W. Hind Nottingham
W. E. Hinde South Wales 1925
Geoffrey A. N. Hirst Central Council 1934 To 1967,Titles: (MP)
W. P. Hitch Leeds 1927
Robert Rawdon Hoare Joined Early 1930’s As Regional Director Lancs And Cheshire Dg 1945-1959 Central Council 1959-75 ,Titles: Colonel
John Richard Hobhouse 1951,Titles: Knighted
C. E. Hodgkin London 1925 1926
Knighted Derrick Holden-Brown Central Council 1975-82
H. Hollingworth Hudders 1926
H. A. L. Hope Central Council 1973-1976
E. Hoult Sheffield 1926
William Bolton Howarth
Charles Hudson Hull 1925,Titles: Colonel
R. Hudson Keighley 1926
J. E. Hughes Central Council 1977,Titles: Dr
Edward Hulton Central Council 1925,Titles: Knighted
E. C. C. Hunter Lancashire & Cheshire 1925
Lindsay Clive Hunting Central Council 1975-1977
A. E. Hurst Midlands 1925
C. F. Hurst Central Council 1972-1977
James R. H. Hutchison 1951,Titles: Colonel (MP)
William G. Ibberson Central Council 1972-1977
Frank Impey Midlands
Lord Invernairn Central Councili1925e (MP) Until 1933) 1951
C. F. Jackson Midlands 1926
H. F. Jakeman 1986
Edgar J. Jenkins Sheffield 1926
Henry F. Joel London 1925
J. A. Johnson Leeds 1927
J. A. Jones Leeds 1927
Trevor S. Jones South Wales 1925
Walter Benyon Jones 1951,Titles: Knighted
Richard C. Kelly Central Council 1925
D. Keys Central Council 1980-84
Ernest R. Kilner 1951
Newman King Keighley 1926
Thomas King London 1926
H. H. Kitson Leeds 1927
Lionel Kitson Central Council 1927
E. C. Lambert Vice-Pres Hull 1925
A. Lynden Lawrence London 1925
G. Alistair Lean Central Council 1982
Harry Douglas Leather 1951
R. E. Ledbury Midlands 1925 1926
A. N. Lee Sheffield 1926,Titles: Lieut Colonel
A. S. Lee Sheffield 1926
William Alexande Lee Central Council 1925, 1951
Percival Leigh Leeds 1927
Hugh Lewis Liverpool 1926
C. W. Lillie Leeds 1927
S. Lineham Leeds 1927
C. E. Linton Sheffield 1926
David Little Leeds 1926
M. C. Lloyd Central Council 1972
Benjamin Longbottom Lancashire & Cheshire 1925,Titles: Knighted
A. P. Low Central Council 1972
H. E. D. Mabbott Central Council 1927 Chair In Late 30’s Lancashire & Cheshire 1925
T. S. Macaskie Leeds 1927
A. R. Macdonal Secretary Of West Of Scotland (?)
Stanley Machin London 1925,Titles: Knighted
J. Mackay Sheffield
A. Mackenzie Central Council 1927 Leeds 1926 ,Titles: Dr
Robert Maclean Central Council 1973-1983 Vice President 1977-83,Titles: Knighted
D. Macleod Central Council 1974-1983
W. W. Macpherson Leeds 1927,Titles: Major
Knighted Michael MalColonelm Central Council 1952-75
Later Scotland Central Council
H. Vivian Mander Midland Counties 1926,Titles: Capt.
F. O. Mannion Organiser Nottingham 1933,Titles: Major
Edward Manville Central Council 1925 Fbi Etc,Titles: Knighted
D. S. Marjoribanks North East Coast 1925
Ducan P. Marshal-Andrew Central Council 1982
D. S. Martin Central Council 1976-1978
Victor C. Matthews Central Council 1975-80. Enobled 1980(1981?)
Hay Ingham Matthey Central Council 1972-1981 President 1980
A. Maxwell Treasurer 1925,Titles: Brig Gen
James May Leeds 1927
N. Mccaskie Huddersfield 1926
Harry McGowan Central Council 1925,Titles: Lord McGowan
Douglas McCraith Nottingham 1927,Titles: ir
R. P. L. Mcmurtrie Central Council 1977-1980
W. H. Mewton South Wales 1925
James Miles Central Council 1925 South Wales 1925
John L. Mills Central Council (Co-Opted) 1983 Central Council 1984,Titles:
Anthony E. Minns Central Council 1952-74 Member Of The El Executive Finance committee (Est. 1956) Later Called The Policy-Finance Committee.
N. R. M. Moir Central Council 1972-73
R. A.Kerr Mongomerry North East Coast 1925,Titles: Major GenKnighted
Herbert Morgan Central Council 1925,Titles: Knighted
A. N. Mould Central Council 1972-1975
M. J. Mowat Sheffield 1926
P. Maxwell Muller London 1925
Alaister Murray Central Council 1958-1973 (Died) Chair Scotland 1958-1969 Pres Scotland 1969-1973,Titles: Knighted
Max Muspratt Central Council 1925 Chair Liverpool 1925,Titles: Knighted
Michael Nall Central Council 1983-,Titles: Knighted
Leonard Neal ,Titles: Knighted
George Horatio Nelson Sheffield 1926
N. R. Newsholme Keighley 1926
Frank Nicholson North East Coast 1925
J. L. Nicholson London 1925
S. T. Nicholson Hull 1925
Adam Nimmo Central Council 1925,Titles: Knighted
Saxton William Noble Central Council 1925,Titles: Knighted
Ernest Fitzjohn Oldham London 1925 1926,Titles: Knighted
M. D. Oliphant Central Council 1972-1973
Lawrence W. Orchard Central Council 1975-77
John Ormeroyd Lancashire & Cheshire 1925
S. Osborn Sheffield 1926
W. Palmer Leeds + District Organiser 1933
J. J. Parkes Central Council 1972-76
Jimson Parsons Central Council 1975-
H. Pearce Lancashire & Cheshire 1925
Peter L. H. Pearson Central Council 1985
Jack Pease President Central Council 1925 1926 ,Titles: Lord Gainford
Reginald Pease North East Coast 1925
Sydney L. Pepper Midland Counties Counties Organiser 1933
J. H. Portway Leeds 1927
J. Murray Prain Central Council 1972-74
G. Prentice Liverpool 1926
N. G. Price Central Council 1977-79
Francis Priestman North East Coast 1925
F. E. Pritchard Liverpool 1925
Thomas Putnam North East Coast 1925,Titles: Knighted
R. B. Raworth Central Council 1974-83
Edward Rea Central Council 1985- President South Wales
Halford Walter Lupton Reddish 1951Central Council 19??-1976 Vice President
Edward Reed 1951
Alfred Ree Lancashire & Cheshire 1925,Titles: Dr
D. Morgan Rees South Wales 1925
Knighted James P. Reynolds Central Council 1926 Liverpool 1925
R. C. Reynolds Lancashire & Cheshire 1927
D. Rhodes Keighley 1926
R. E. Rhodes Hull 1925
Edward Rimmer Liverpool 1925,Titles: Lieut. Colonel
W. H. Ritson North East Coast 1925,Titles: Lieut. Colonel
A. Robertson Central Council (Co-Opted) 1983 Central Council 1984-,Titles: Dr
G. Fox Robinson Central Council 1925 Hull 1925
Thom Robinson Central Council 1987-1989
P. Robson Hull 1925,Titles: Major
George Kemp 1951 Central Council ?-1977 Vice President,Titles: The Rt Hon Lord Rochdale
R. Roger North East Coast 1925
Knighted Hallewell Rogers Central Council 1925
T. G. Parry Rogers Central Council 1982
Leonard Ropner North East Coast (Tees/Hartlepool) 1925,Titles: Colonel (MP)
A. D. Rose Central Council 1972-1974,Titles: Group Capt
Morton Ross Central Council 1980-1983
P. Ross Hull 1925
Ronald R. Rowles Central Council 1983
J. P. Rudolf Liverpool 1926
Walter Runciman 1951 Central Council ?-1977,Titles: The Rt Hon The Viscount Runciman
C. D. Rundge Central Council 1986
Arnold Rushton Liverpool 1925,Titles: Knighted
A. E. Rushworth Huddersfield 1926
H. L. Rust Sheffield 1926
Stanley Sadler North East Coast 1925
A. W. Midland Counties Sanders
Oswald Vice Pres. Sanderson Hull 1925 1926,Titles: Colonel
Leonard R. Sandford London & District Organiser & General Secretary 1933 Joint Orgn (With J. B. White) Of South Of England
W. H. Sargeant Secretary of Sheffield & District 1933
Peter Savill Director General -1985 Central Council 1986 –
A. Senior Sheffield 1926
Frank Sherman Central Council 1925 Chair Of South Wales 1925
J. F. Simpson Central Council 1972-1983
W. S. Skelton Sheffield 1926
Clarence Smith D. North East Coast 1925
Launcelot Eustace Smith Central Council 1925 Chair North East Coast 1925
Waldron Smithers 1951,Titles: Knighted (MP)
Frank Southern Lancashire & Cheshire 1925
Rupert Speir Central Council 1972-1976,Titles: Knighted
Hugh Baird Spens 1951,Titles: Colonel
Douglas Spicer London 1925
Stacey Liverpool 1925,Titles: Capt.
Alfred J. Stanyard 1951
Stevens 1951
Stockwell Leeds 1926
Lord Colonelumn Chrichon (MP) Stuart South Wales 1925,Titles: Lord Colonelumn Chrichon (MP)
Hunter Summers North East Coast 1925
E. Swan Liverpool 1925
Alan J. Sykes Central Council 1925 Lancashire & Cheshire 1925(President),Titles: Lieut. ColonelKnighted (MP)
Charles D. Sykes Midland Counties 1925
H. Saxon Tate Central Council 1973-83 Chairman (?) 76-82
Alderman Charles Terry 1951
J. D. Thompson Lancashire & Cheshire 1925,Titles: Capt.
W. G. Thompstone Central Council 1973-1975
Gerald Thorley Central Council 1973-198? 1980-? President,Titles: Knighted
R. M. Tilling London 1925
Philip J. Toosey Central Council 1960-1976 Liverpool& District,Titles: Knighted
Anthony G. Touche Central Council 1975-?,Titles: Knighted
Eric Turner Central Council 1965-1980 Chair Policy & Finance Committee 1967 1972 Chair Of Investment Sub-Committee Formed In 1977
Edmund G. Underwood Nottingham 1927 1951,Titles: Alderman
M. E. Unwin Sheffield 1926
Norman D. Vine Leeds 1927
Adolph Vines London 1925 1951
M. Vines Central Council 1972-1975
Julius L. F. Vogel Liverpool 1925
Gilbert C. Vyle Central Council 1925 Chair Midland Counties 1925
F. F. Wagstaffe Keighley 1926
Ridley Warham North East Coast 1925
J. B. Warner Nottingham 1927
Robert J. Webber South Wales 1925
A. Wedgewood Lancashire & Cheshire 1925
Harold West 1951,Titles: Knighted
B. J. Whitehouse Central Council 1985-
W. H. Whitehouse London 1925
F. Whitfield Huddersfield 1926
R. H. Wilkins Central Council 1972-78,Titles: Vice Pres 1975?
Robert M. Willan Central Council 1982-??,Titles: North West
G. C. H. Willans Huddersfield 1926
Francis Vernon Willey Central Council 1925,Titles: (MP) Baron Barnby From 1929
Llewellyn Williams Lancashire & Cheshire 1927
D. R. H. Williams Huddersfield 1926
R. S. Williamson Midland Counties 1926,Titles: Colonel
E. Wilson London 1925 1926 1927(Chair)
Arthur N. L. Wood North East Coast 1925,Titles: Knighted
Percy Woodhouse Lancashire & Cheshire 1927,Titles: Knighted
J. Wrathall Keighley 1927
Appendix 2: Central Council Members1988 – 1990
D Andrews-Jones 1984
Peter Edward Ashworth 1982
Hon Mark R Balfour 1988
C T C Brinton 1988
Maj-General Thomas Brodie 1984
John Stanley Dettmer 1977
Lord Dowding 1984
P G Edwards 1977
M Fairclough 1988
Dennis Fahey 1983
Robin Freemantle 1983
D Greenhalgh
Anthony Barmore Hampton 1976
J Harding 1986
Richard Ian Hughes
Richard H. Hunting
Sir Peter Huthchison 1989
H F Jakeman 1986
Sir William Mather 1990
Sir Michael Nall 1983
F J Norton 1988
Jimson Parsons 1975
D J J Ramsay 1989
Ronald Robert Rowles 1983
Peter Savill 1986
J F Stephen 1989
A C Thompson 1988
B J Whitehouse 1985
Appendix 3: Central Council Members Who Resigned/Died Between 1988 And 1990:
Maj. W J Bridge 1984-1988
William Nicholas Cayzer 1972 – 4/7/89- Lord Cayzer
James Coull 1987
P D C Greenaway 1983
Sir Maxwell Harper Gow 1984-17/1/89
Christopher Beckett – Lord Grimthorpe
M Haddon-Grant 1980
Graham Hale 1987
Lindsay Clive Hunting
John Lawrence-Mills 1983-4/7/89
G Alister Lean 1982
Duncan P. Marshall-Andrew 1982
Lawrence William Orchard 1975 – 4/7/89
Peter L. H. Pearson 1985
H Price -1990
Edward Rea 1985-17/1/89
Dr A. Robertson 1983
T. G. Parry Rogers 1982
C D Runge 1986
Gerald Bowers Thorley
Sir Anthony Touche 1975
Robert M. Willan 1982-17/1/89
Appendix 4: Economic League Directors & Workers
A. Director Generals:
John Baker-White, 1926-1945; Robert Rawdon Hoare, 1945-1959; John S Dettmer, 1959-1977; Michael Noar, 1986-1989; Stan Hardy, 1989 – 1993.
B. Senior Staff in August 1987:
Michael Noar, Director General Thom Robinson, Company Secretary & Director Of Information John O Udal, Liaison Director P Thackery, National Co-Ordinator Of The Services Group Jack Winder, Research
C. Regional Directors:
Richard T Brett (North West Region); J S Bromley (North Eastern Region); Assistant Director Alan Harvey (was said to have been sacked following the first “World In Action” programme in which he had been covertly filmed boasting of contacts within the police); E Dover (Western Region); Peter Leach (Eastern Region); Hamish MacGreggor (Scotland); Jack Winder (Midland Region); A L P Weeks (South Eastern Region).
By 1989 Thom Robinson had been replaced by M James and F Barnes and P Thackery had been replaced by Ian Kerr. The supervisor of the Information and Research Department was Joanne Wood. Richard Brett had been sacked, alleging unfairly dismissal.
Appendix 5: the companies that subscribed to the Economic League
The list here shows how blacklisting was not just confined to construction workers but across the entire UK population, covering workers in companies large and small in diverse industries.
Note: those companies marked + had a Director on the League’s Central Council 1975-1989.
600 Group
A Anderson & Sons
A Longworth & Sons +
A E Symes
A. Monk & Co
A. P. C. M. +
Acme Signs and Displays
Acrian (UK) +
Addle Shaw & Latham
AEGT Pension Trust +
Air UK +
Air Holdings +
Airwork +
Akroyd and Smithers +
Alcan Enfield Alloys
Alder & Mackay
Alexanders Discount +
Alldee Nominees +
Allied Lyons +
Allmay & Layfield
Alpine Double Glazing
AMEC Construction Services
Amey Roadstone
Anchor Chemical Co +
Anthony Gibbs Holdings
Arbuthnot & Savory Mills +
Ardon Contractors
Ashton Court (Sale) +
Associated Engineering
Associated Fisheries
Augustus Barnett
Automotive Products
Avenfield (Pty) Limited – South Africa +
B.A.C.
Babcock Power Engineering
Babcock & Wilcox +
Baker Perkins Holdings
Balfour Beatty Construction
Bankers I T +
Barclays Bank
Barfab Reinforcement
Barrow Hepburn Group
Bass Charington
BAT Industries
Battle Farm Lands +
Baxter Bros (1920) +
Baxter Fell International
Beagle Nominees +
BEC
Beecham Products
Benson Turner
Berkley Hambro Property
Bernard Sunley
BICC
Biggs Wall
Birmid Qualcast
Blue Circle Group +
Boddingtons
Bomag (GB)
Border & Southern Stockholders IT +
Bovis Construction
Bowater +
BPB Industries
Bradford & District Newspapers
Braithewaite Engineering
Brammer
Brewers Society
Bricomin Farms +
Bricomin Investments +
Bridon
Bridon +
Brintons
Britannic Finance Trust +
British Telecom
British Manufacture & Research
British Engine
British Commonwealth Investment Co +
British Ropes
British Leyland
British & Commonwealth (Group Management) +
British & Commonwealth Shipping Co (Hotel & Travel
Enterprise) +
British & Commonwealth Shipping Co PLC +
British Air Transport (Holdings) +
British & Commonwealth Shipping Co (Aviation) +
British And South American Steam Navigation +
British and Commonwealth
British Vita Co
British United Industrialists +
British Aluminium
British Investment Trust Bullock Construction
Brocklehurst Mews Maintenance +
Brooke Bond Leibig
Brooklands House +
Bryant Construction
Brymo Steel
Building Joinery Components +
Building Employers Federation
Burmah Oil
C T Bowring
C.B.I. Management Education Committee +
Caledonia Investments +
Cambrian Soft Drinks +
Cape Industrial Products
Cape Boards
Capital and Countries Property
Carlton Mansions +
Carpets International Clayton Dewandre
Cawoods Holdings
Cayzer Irvine Shipping +
Cayzer Ltd +
Cayzer Gartmore Investments +
Cayzer Irvine (Investments) +
Cayzer Irvine (Property Management) +
Cayzer Irvine (Group Finance) +
Cayzer Irvine (Insurance Management) +
Cayzer Irvine & Co +
Cayzer Trust – The +
Cedar IT
CEGB
Cementmakers Federation
Centre for Policy Studies – The +
Chanton Engineering
Chapel Court (Ashton) +
Charles Stephenson Funeral Directors
Charlton Leslie Construction
Chartered Trust Agency +
Chevron Foods +
Chloride Industrial Batteries
Christian Coull Consultants +
Chritian Salvessen PLC +
Chrysler UK
Ciba Geigy
City National Investment Trust +
Clan Line Investments +
Clan Line Steamers – The +
Clanair +
Clos-o-mat (Great Britain) +
Clothing & Allied Products Industrial Training Board
Clyde Nominees +
Coalite
Coates Bros & Co
Coldflow
Commercial Union +
Commercial Street Nominees +
Compair Broomwade
Compaq Computer Corporation
Concrete
Consolidated Goldfields +
Consumer & Video Holdings +
Continental Union Agricultural Holdings +
Continental Union Finance Co +
Cookson Group
Corals Racing
Costain (UK)
Courage +
Courthaulds
Coutts & Co
Crabtree Vickers
Crane Fruehauf Trailers
Crewkerne Investments +
Dalepak
Daniel Thwaites
Davidsons Ltd
De La Rue
Dean Craft Fahey +
Delta Enfield Cables
DFM Holdings +
Dickinson Robinson Group
Distillers
Dock & Airport Services +
Dominion General Trust
Doncasters Shefield(Inco Europe)
Donkin & Co +
Dow Scandia
Dowsett Engineering Construction
Dowty Communications
Drake & Skull Holdings
Drayton Japan Trust +
Drummonds Branch Nominees +
Dundee Office Royal Bank Of Scotland Nominees +
Dunlop
Dupont Plastic Gas Pipes
Duritas Trustees +
E C Stenson
Eagle Star
East Lancashire Papers Group
Eastman Kitchens
Edbro (Holdings)
Edgar Allen Balfour
Edifice Trustees +
Edinburgh West End Nominees +
Edmund Nutall
Electra IT +
Engineering Employers Federation +
English and New York Trust
English Electric
English China Clays
Equity Capital Trustees +
Evans Medical
Ever Ready Holdings +
Everards Breweries +
Faber Prest Holdings
Fairclough Construction
Fairey Co
Fairey Group
Fairport Engineering
Fasco
Federated Employers’ Press +
Field Tanksteamship Co +
Field Industries Ltd – Zimbabwe +
Field Industries Africa Ltd – South Africa +
Field Aviation Co Ltd – Canada +
Fitch Lovell
Flemming Technology IT +
Flemming Far East Trust +
Fluor
Ford Motor Company
Foreign And Colonial IT +
Formica
Forthaven +
Forward Chemicals +
Fraser House commercial Developments +
Frederick Robinson +
Freemantle & Co +
French Kier
Friends Provident Life Office +
Frobisher Gardens Maintenance +
Fry Construction
Furness Withy & Co
G Percy Trentham
G.K.N +
Gallagher
Galliford Sears
Gartmore Investment Management +
Gartmore Securities +
GEC
Geest Holdings
General Combustion
Geoffrey Osborne
George Wimpey
Gerrard & National Discount
GES
Gibson Crude Oil Purchasing Co Ltd – Canada +
Gillinghm Woodcraft
Glasgow Stockholders
Glass Bulbs
Glaxo
Goldsmiths Research Foundation +
Gordon Street Nominees +
Grand Metropolitan Contract Services
Greater Manchester Economic Development Corporation +
Greater Manchester Residuary Body +
Green’s Economiser +
Greenall Whitley +
Greene King
Greene King +
Greenhalls +
Group 4 Total Security
Guardian IT
Guardian Royal Exchange
H & J Quick
H J Heinz
Hall Engineering (Holdings) +
Halmatic +
Hampton’s Wholefoods +
Hanley Economic Building Society +
Hanson Engineering
Hanson Trust
Hardys & Hanson
Harlands of Hull Hambros
Harry Neal
Harrytown Hall Maintenance +
Hartwells of Oxford
Hawker Siddeley +
Hazleton UK
Head Office Nominees +
Hector Whaling +
Helix
Hepworth Ceramic Holdings Henry Barratt
Herbert Ferryman
Hereford English Wine
Hewden Stuart Crane
Hiram Walker & Sons (Sctl)
Hogg Robinson +
Homfray & Co +
Hotpoint
Houlder Bros
Howard Doris Construction
Howson Algraphy
Huntaven Properties Ltd +
Hunters Foods
Huntfield Trust Ltd +
Hunting & Son +
Hunting Firecracker +
Hunting Associated Survey Holdings +
Hunting Associated Industries +
Hunting Group +
Hunting (Eden) Tankers +
Hunting Petroleum (America) +
Hunting Survey & Photographic +
Hunting Painting Contractors +
Hunting International (Holdings) +
Hunting Gibson +
Hunting Investments +
Hunting Surveys and Consultants +
Hunting Steamship Co +
Hunting Aviation Management +
Hunting Engineering Management +
Hunting Associates Limited – Canada +
Hunting Composites +
Hunting Oil & Gas +
Hunting Holdings +
Huntley & Sparks (Lands) +
Huntley Cook & Co +
Huwood
Hyphen Fitted Furniture
ICI
Ilford
Imperial Group
Inner Guard
Institute of Personnel Management +
Institutional Fund Managers +
Insulated Buildings Ltd Interiors
Intercosmetics +
International Shipping Information Services +
International Westminster Bank +
Iron Trades Insurance +
J H Fenner & Co
J Bibby & Sons +
J R Govett
James Longley
James Galt & Co
James Neill Holdings +
James Walker
Jenks & Cattell +
John Jones Excavations
John E Wiltshire
John Mowlem
John I Jacobs
John Laing Construction
John Wilmott Group
Johnson Matthey
Jonas Woodhead & Sons
Jones Laing Wootton
K Wool Products
Keeton & Sons
King Line +
King Investigation Bureau
Kingsway Nominees +
Kleinwort Overseas IT +
Kleinwort Charter IT +
Kleinwort Benson Lonsdale +
Komatsu UK
Kyle Stewart
L.D.C. Trust Management +
Lake View IT +
Lamson Industries
Law Debenture Overseas +
Law Debenture Trust Corporation PLC +
Law Debenture Intermediary Corporation +
Law Debenture Corporation PLC +
Laycock Engineering Lloyds Bank +
Lead Industries Group
Legal and General
Lincoln Woodworking
Lindsay Oil Refinery
Lindustries
Lister Peter
Lloyds
Lombard Street Nominees +
London & Southhampton Stevedoring Co. +
London-American Maritime Trading +
London Brick Co
London Prudential IT
Low & Bonar
Lyon & Lyon
M & G
M & G Group +
M J Gleeson
MacDonalds
Magnet Joinery
Magnet Metals
Main Gas Appliances
Maintenance Chemicals +
Management Search International +
Manchester Chamber of Commerce +
Manor House Hotel (Castle Combe) – The +
Markham Systems
Marlar International +
Marley Group
Marples International Holdings
Massey Ferguson
Matthew Hall Engineering
Matthew Clark & Son +
Maxwell UK
McCarthy & Stone
McGlauchlin & Harvey
McKenhie Bros
Meldrum Investment Trust PLC +
MEPC +
Metal Box +
Midland Bank +
Miller Buckley
Miller Construction
Mineral Drilling International +
Missouri Maintenance +
MJN Newcastle
Mono Pumps
Morgan Crucible +
Morgan Grenfell +
Mount Nelson Hotel +
National & Commercial +
National Westminster Bank +
Neepsend
NEI
Nestle & Co
Nicholas Lane Nominees +
Nico Construction
North British Hire Purchase +
Northern Petroleum and Bulk Freight +
Northern Engineering Estates
Norwest Holst
Norwich Union Insurance
Norwood Estates (Stretford) +
Ocean Transport & Trading +
Ondawel (GB) +
Oxford University Appointments Committee +
P C Harrington Contracts
P Hassall
Parkfield Jersey +
Pauline Hyde & Associates +
Pegler-Hattersley
Penrith Door Co
Pentland IT
Phoenix Steel Tube
Phoenix Assurance +
Picadilly Nominees +
Pilkingtons
Plaxtons (Scarboro)
Plessey Group +
Plessey Group
Pochins
Portland Group Factors +
Powell-Piggott
Powell Duffryn
Power Steels
Powers Samas
Precision Cast Parts Corporation
Press Offshore
Project Direction Ltd +
Provincial Insurance
Ptarmigan (Nove Leather)
R & M Fabrications
R R & J Willan +
R W Willan (Estates) +
R M Douglas Construction
R.B. Property Nominees +
Racal Guardall (Sctl)
Radio Forth +
Rank Hovis McDougall Royal Insurance
Ransome Sims & Jefferies
RCO Contract Services
Readicut International +
Reckitt & Colman
Record Ridgeway +
Redhill Aerodrome +
Redhill Flying Club +
Redland Engineering
Regent Street Nominees +
Reliance Security ServicesRuberoid
Rexodan +
Rexshire Ltd +
Richard Costain
Rockware Group +
Rockwell (UK) +
Roland Long Associates +
Ross Foods
Rosser & Russell Building Services
Royal Bank of Scotland & Prosper Nominees +
Royal Insurance
Royal Bank of Scotland – The +
Royal Bank of Scotland Group – The +
Royal Bank of Scotland (Aberdeen) Nominees – The +
Royal Bank of Scotland (Central Branch, Glasgow) Nominees – The +
Rudolf Wolff & Co +
Rush & Tomkins Group +
Samuel Webster Breweries
Samuel Jones
Sanderson Walker & Sons (Sctl)
Sanderson Kayser
Sankey Sugar +
SBAC (Farnborough) +
Scandura
Schreiber
Scotcom Nominees +
Scottan Investments +
Scottish Council for Development and Industry – The +
Scottish Lion Insurance Co – The +
Scottish Lion Investments +
Scottish National Trust +
Scottish and Newcastle Breweries
Scottish United Investors +
Scottish Shire Line – The +
Scottish lion Holdings +
Scottish Tanker Co. – The +
Sea Lion Investments +
Seabridge Shipping +
Seapool +
Secdee Nominees +
Second Industrial Trust +
Securites Limited +
Senior Engineering
Sheffield Testing Works +
Shell Petrol +
Shell
Shephard Hill
Shepherd Neame +
Sinclair & Collis
Singer & Friedlander +
Sir Robert McAlpine & Sons
Sir Alfred McAlpine
Skefco
SKF (UK)
Slough Estates
Slough Newspaper Printers
Smiths Warehousing Group +
Smiths Industries
Society of British Aerospace Companies – The +
South Wales Electricity Board +
Spath Holme +
Spear & Jackson
Spirax-Sarco +
St Vincent Street Nominees +
St Mary Axe Holdings +
Stag Line +
Standard Broadcasting Corporation of Canada +
Standard Continuous
Staveley Industries +
Sterling Industries +
Stockbridge Engineering Steels
Stockholders IT
Stone Platt Industries
Storreys of Lancaster
Streed Ltd
Sulzer (UK)
Sun Alliance +
Swan Hunter Group
Symbol Biscuits
Symmonds English Wine +
Syntex Pharmaceuticals
T C Harrison
T S Overy
Tabuchi Electrical UK
Tanganika Concessions
Tanks Consolidated IT +
Tarmac Construction
Taskman Security Services
Tate & Lyle +
Taylor Woodrow
Thermal Syndicate
Thirsk Racecourse Ltd +
Thomas Borthwick & Sons
Thomas Grice & Co Tallent Engineering
TI Domestic Appliances
Tilbury Contracting
Total Oil Marine
Touche, Remnant & Co +
Touche, Remnant Holdings +
TR Industrial & General Trust PLC +
TR North American Investment Trust PLC +
[[TR Technology Investment Trust PLC+
TR City of London Trust +
TR Pacific Basin IT +
TR Holdings (1974) +
TR Natural Resources +
TR Trustees Corporation +
TR Australia Investment Trust PLC +
Trafalgar House +
Tragen Finance +
Trans Oceanic Trust +
Transmanche Link
Transport Development Group
Travel Savings (I) +
Travel Savings +
Travel Savings (XII) +
Trico Folberth
Tube Investments +
Tube Investments
Turner & Newall
Turner & Newall +
Turriff Corporation
Twill
Tysons (Contractors)
Tytherington Court +
Union Castle Mail Steamship Co – The +
Union Street Nominees +
Union castle Line +
Union Discount Co of London
Uniroyal Englebert Tyres
United Kingdom Temperance and General Provident Institution +
United Molasses
Urquhart Engineering +
Valour Heating
Varian TEM
Vaux Breweries
Venesta International Components
Vickers Instrument Co
Vickers
Victor International Plastics
W & T Avery
W H Smith Electrical Engineers Group
Wadkin
Wagon Industrial Holdings +
Walsall Conduits
Walter Lawrence
Walter Llewelyn & Sons
Wandel & Halterman & Co
Wardle Court +
Wardley Group
Weir Group
West George Street Nominees +
Western Royal Bank of Scotland Nominees +
Westments +
Westminster Contractors
Westminster Bank +
Westminster Press
Wests Group International
WGI
Whalley House +
Whinney Murray & Co +
Whitbread +
Wilkinson Match
Willan Home Improvements +
Willan Bros (Sale) +
Willan Properties +
Willans of Macclesfield +
William H Herbert +
William Baird & Co
William Latimer & Co +
William Boulton Group +
William Jackson
Williams and Glyns +
Wilmot Breeden +
Wilsons Breweries
Wm Teacher Ltd +
Woodhunt Property +
Woolsey house +
Worthington Simpson
Y J Lovell Construction
Yorkshire Bank PLC +
Yorkshire Post Newspapers +
Filed under: Economy, Intelligence, no category, Resistance, Surveillance Tagged: Consulting Association, Economic League, League Watch