John McGovern (politician)

John McGovern (13 December 1887 – 14 February 1968) was a Scottish socialist politician.

Born into a Roman Catholic family, McGovern soon became involved in the Labour movement and anarchism. Active in opposition to World War I, he joined the Anti-Parliamentary Communist Federation and became its treasurer, but soon left after disagreements with Guy Aldred. He emigrated to Australia in 1923, but soon returned and became a prominent member of the Independent Labour Party (ILP), at the time linked to the Labour Party. In 1929, he was elected to Glasgow City Council, a position he held for two years.

He was elected to Parliament to represent Labour in Glasgow Shettleston in a 1930 by-election. However, he was subsequently expelled from Labour following allegations that he had fixed the election to become the Labour candidate. This led him to become a leading proponent of the ILP disaffiliating from the Labour Party.

This was achieved the following year, but he was one of only five ILP members to retain their seats at the 1931 general election. He was active in a campaign to re-establish the tradition of free assembly and free speech on Glasgow Green, and after a heated debate in the Commons, refused to leave, eventually being forcibly ejected. He was fined for organising a meeting on the Green in support of this. His appeal against the charges, though unsuccessful, led directly to the reinstatement of the traditional rights. Despite often campaigning alongside communists in the unemployed movement, McGovern, with Richard Wallhead, led the opposition within the ILP to any official working relationship with the Communist Party of Great Britain. He was particularly critical of the Moscow Trials.

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