Edward J. Pay (died 1931), often known as Teddy Pay, was a British labour movement activist, who was known for his interest in rural affairs.

Biography

Pay joined the Social Democratic Federation (SDF) in about 1898,[1] at which time he was based in Hastings. However, opposition to his views led him to leave the town and move to Tunbridge Wells,[2] where he became a manager in the local co-operative society.[3] Having worked for many years as a farm labourer, this gave him a keen interest in rural affairs, and he held numerous administrative posts within the co-operative movement, including sitting on its General Agricultural Committee, Land Cultivation Sub-Committee, and Wages and Conciliation Committee.[1]

The SDF became the British Socialist Party (BSP), and Pay was member of the minority in the party who supported British involvement in World War I. As a result, he joined the National Socialist Party, a split from the BSP which affiliated to the Labour Party.[1] After a few years, the National Socialist Party was renamed the "Social Democratic Federation", and Pay became its National Organiser in 1932.[3] In this role, he travelled around Britain, and was based at various times in Buckingham, the East Riding of Yorkshire and Surrey.[1]

Pay stood as the Labour candidate for Buckingham at the 1923 and 1924 general elections, with the sponsorship of the SDF, although he missed out on election on both occasions.[1][4] He stood in Rugby at the 1931 general election, his Labour Party obituary claiming that he made a "good fight" of the contest.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Labour Party, Report of the Annual Conference (1932), p.74
  2. ↑ Bill Coxall and Clive Griggs, "The critical reception of the Ragged Trousered Philanthropists in 1914", Labour History Review, vol.56, no.1, p.209
  3. 1 2 "E. J. Pay", Justice, January 1932, p.3
  4. ↑ F. W. S. Craig, Minor Parties in British By-elections, 1885-1974, pp.104–105.
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