COMMUNISTS from four branches of the Communist Party of Britain (CPB) in north-west England gathered in the home town of Harry Pollitt, the party’s general secretary from 1929 to 1939 and from 1941 until 1956 and chair until his death in 1960, to commemorate his eventful life — a life which included imprisonment for alleged conspiracy to publish seditious libels and incite mutiny.

Members of Manchester, East Lancashire, Merseyside and Preston branches of the CPB, along with representatives of the International Brigades Memorial Trust and the Young Communist League, gathered in Droylsden, where Pollitt was born.

Pollitt was born on November 22 1890, and died on June 27 1960, aged 69.

The commemoration was held to mark his death this month almost 63 years ago.

It was addressed by Les Doherty, secretary of North West District of the CPB and Eddy Redmond, Manchester CPB branch secretary.

Each dealt with different aspects of Pollitt’s life.

Doherty spoke about the prosecution of Pollitt when in November 1925, he and other leading members of the CPGB were charged with conspiring to publish seditious libels and incite mutiny. Despite mounting a comprehensive and spirited defence, Pollitt was sent to prison for 12 months.

Doherty identified parallels between the Establishment’s attack on leaders of the left in Britain and attacks on the labour and trade union movement today.

In 1925 the Labour Party was attacking its own left wing and the Communist Party.

“On seeing communists expelled from the labour movement, the Conservative government thought we were isolated and unpopular, and we had been disowned,” he said.

“This was the time to attack us, so that the rest of the labour movement would not come to our defence.

“This point was clearly an error of judgement due to the respect and high regard of Pollitt and his comrades, by the way all sections of the movement rallied and responded to requests to act as bail.

“The second trigger point was the Tory government were in difficulties as a result of the mining crisis of 1924 where they were compelled to make a settlement as a result of the threat of direct action by the trade unions.

“The Communist Party was the only party to forward the doctrine of united action, and because the government did not feel strong enough to attack trade unions head on, it was the communists they came for and who paid the price.”

He asked the rally: “Does this remind you of anything today? Can you see the parallels? Weak labour leadership, purging of militant forces, coupled with a free hit on the working class by the Tories. I’ll leave you to draw your own conclusions.”

Manchester CPB secretary Eddy Redmond spoke about Pollitt’s life and activism nationally and internationally and urged activists “to take inspiration” from Pollitt’s dedication into their own work in the trade union and labour movement.

“Today the North West District takes inspiration from this local lad with exemplary leadership qualities,” he said.

“We salute this great leader and pledge his legacy will continue to guide our work and growing presence in the wider trade union and labour movement.”

Manchester CPB can be found on Facebook at Manchester Communists and on Twitter @CpbManc.