The General Strike 1926

This chapter examines the operation of general strike and includes detailed regional and sectoral trade union responses to it, highlighting in particular the wholehearted involvement of the TGWU and Bevin’s initial enthusiastic supportive leadership. However, the chapter examines how after 9 days the TUC on the initiative of the NUR leader, J.H.Thomas, fell into a trap, and called off the strike on the false assumption indicated by the Samuel memorandum, of government involvement in securing a settlement. This was not forthcoming –TUC called off the strike without winning a single concession and the miners were defeated. Baldwin’s portrayed the strike as a constitutional challenge to State authority, encapsulated in the question: ‘Who rules Britain?’ TUC answered with a white flag.