Harold Ewart Clay (1886 – September 1961) was aBritishtrade union leader, also known for his political and educational activities.
Born inLeeds, Clay worked as a tram driver.[1] He became active in theSocial Democratic Federation, then its successor, theBritish Socialist Party, and was a keen advocate of the BSP's affiliation to theLabour Party, serving as president of the Leeds Labour Representation Council in 1913/14. In 1914, he founded the Leeds Tenants Defence League,[2] which led an unsuccessfulrent strike in support of the construction ofmunicipal housing.[3]
Clay was prominent in theUnited Vehicle Workers union, presiding over its conference in 1913.[2] In 1922, it merged into the newTransport and General Workers' Union (TGWU), and Clay then served as the TGWU's first area secretary for Yorkshire. A supporter of theWorkers' Educational Association (WEA), he was appointed as a vice president in 1928. Around this time, he relocated to London, and was chairman of theLondon Labour Party from 1933 until 1948.[1] During this period, he was active in theSocialist League; he andArthur Pugh were the only two prominent trade unionists to maintain activity with the group.[4]
In 1940,Arthur Deakin, Assistant General Secretary of the TGWU, became its acting General Secretary, and Clay was appointed to fill his post. Three years later, he became president of the WEA, serving for fifteen years. In 1958, he stood down from his union and political posts, taking a post on theRoad Transport Executive.[1]
| Trade union offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | National Secretary of the Passengers Services Group of theTransport and General Workers' Union 1925–1946 | Succeeded by Sam Henderson |
| Preceded by | Assistant General Secretary of theTransport and General Workers' Union 1940–1948 | Succeeded by |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Chairman of theLondon Labour Party 1933–1948 | Succeeded by |
| Academic offices | ||
| Preceded by | President of theWorkers' Educational Association 1943–1958 | Succeeded by |