Our History

The Manx Labour Party grew out of the turmoil and hardship of the First World War. Even before 1914, men and women were protesting against the injustices which caused many to live in poverty and misery on our Island and elsewhere.

The pressures of war caused a sharp increase in the price of food but wages did not keep up (only rising from twenty to twenty one shillings) and in 1917 a group of working men asked Alfred J Teare, a printer working for the Isle of Man Times, to help them form a trade union.

After giving it some thought, Mr Teare set up a local branch of the Workers’ Union with the initial aim of fighting for improved wages and working conditions. Since there was no other organisation of its kind or size which could stand up for poorer people however, the union leaders soon felt they had an obligation to use their power politically to fight for larger reforms such as the old age pension as well.

Early in 1918, the UK Government helped to alleviate their own situation by subsidising the price of flour to hold the price of the 4lb loaf at 9d (old pence). 

At once, there were demands from across the Island that Tynwald do the same for our people, since 8000 Manx men were fighting in the British armed forces they took the mantra ‘equal treatment for equal sacrifice’.

With some reluctance, Lt Governor Lord Raglan answered the call and agreed to subsidise the price of flour for six months.

Many believed that with such a great amount of public support, Tynwald would find a way to continue it but as doing so would require tax inceases they were reluctant to accept. In June 1918, when the 6 months was up Lord Raglan announced that the subsidy would be withdrawn .

There was deadlock; no tax bill had been passed and therefore no subsidy could be paid and the price of the 4lb loaf was set to increase to 12d while remaining at 9d in England.

The Worker’s Union weighed up their options and announced that a general strike would take place.

Despite the short notice, the strike had a surprising amount of public support. At its peak even Tynwald Day had to be cancelled as all means of transport across the Island were shut down. On his own initiative, Raglan announced that the subsidy would continue and be paid for by the introduction of income tax.

The news was announced to a mass meeting gathered around the Jubilee Clock on the Promenade. As A J Teare wrote about the event ‘this was a strike for a principle which was to mean much in the bringing about of old age pensions and other social legislation in the future.’

In September 1918, members of the Workers’ Union established the Manx Labour Party. Its first Annual Conference was held on 7th September 1918 and in the next General Election held in 1919, four members of the MLP were elected to the House of Keys; A J Teare (South Douglas), J R Corrin (Rushen), Christopher Shimmin (Peel), Gerald Bridson (Middle).

With their their help, the Old Age Pension was introduced in 1920 for men and women over the age of seventy and other social reforms quickly followed. A century has passed and while we have always been a minority within the House of Keys, we have consistantly achieved things out of all proportion to our numerical strength.