Andrew MacLaren (28 May 1883 – 11 April 1975) was a British politician who representedBurslem as aMember of Parliament for three separate terms during the 20th century.[1] A member of theLabour Party andIndependent Labour Party, his passions were economic justice and art. He persistently campaigned forLand Value Taxation, founding theSchool of Philosophy and Economic Science to advocate for the policy. He was also a painter.[2]
Andrew MacLaren was born in a poor district ofGlasgow. Early influences wereChristianity,Mozart,Palestrina, and recent Irish history. An engineering apprentice from age 14 (working alongside John laterLord Reith), he attended art classes in the evening when able. From 17, when his father died, he had to provide for the family.[2]
With an innate sense of justice and freedom, he looked for the causes of the poverty and deprivation observed around him, hoping to find solutions. He studiedMarx extensively, but failed to find answers. However, on discovering Glasgow’ssingle tax movement and readingHenry George’s "Progress and Poverty" (c 1905) he was set ablaze. From then on, his fine oratory was used to demand that everyone looked to the one issue that (as he believed) could solve the social and economic problems and hence men free:Land Value Taxation.[2]
Andrew MacLaren moved to London in 1914 and joined theLabour Party. He wasMP forBurslem 1922-3, 1924-31, and 1935-45. In 1943 he resigned from the Labour Party and finally lost his seat when standing forIndependent Labour. He died in 1975 after a short illness. He had 2 sons,Leon and John.[2]
Whilst an MP he often toured the most deprived parts of the country, raising the awareness of their plight in parliament. Whilst not an MP, he lectured extensively, encouraging and educating wherever he could to further the cause of land reform. Any remaining time was devoted to his art.[2]
Andrew MacLaren is the father of philosopherLeon MacLaren.[1]
Andrew MacLaren’s political hero wasCampbell-Bannerman, and he often repeated CB’s pledge " … to make the land less of a pleasure ground for the rich, and more of a treasure-house for the nation …".[2]
He was a vocal supporter ofPhilip Snowden’s 1931 budget which included a measure ofLand Value Taxation which reached the statute books in 1931. With the next election (1931) he lost his seat and then saw the act being repealed. He tried again with aprivate member's bill in 1937; it was rejected 141 to 118, and so he never saw his dream fulfilled.[1]
He founded theSchool of Economic Science, to teach courses on economics with a focus on theLand Value Taxation policies ofHenry George[3]
He was firmly against the welfare state, believing it merely appeared to be necessary due to the prevailing inequities in the economic system. As he saw it, without reforming land tenure the welfare state would bankrupt the state. This set him in conflict with the Labour leadership.[2]
When not in parliament he poured his effort and talent into education, hoping to make people see how land value taxation could relieve society of many unhelpful economic tendencies, and provide economic freedom for the common people.[1]
Andrew MacLaren was also an artist and cartoonist. One painting (ofNeville Chamberlain) is in the National Gallery.[4]
He was knowledgeable on renaissance art and in 1948 was commissioned byNational Gallery to write a report onLeonardo da Vinci’s "Madonna of the Rocks".
He corresponded with many well known people of that age; the letters withGeorge Bernard Shaw (on Land Value Taxation) are at the British Library.[5]
One other biography exists:
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| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forBurslem 1922–1923 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forBurslem 1924–1931 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forBurslem 1935–1945 | Succeeded by |
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