The Kier Hardie Myth

The myth about Keir Hardie’s attitude to war is very persistent. At an anti-Polaris rally in Glasgow last December, the Co-operative Movement representative had only to refer to him, “. . . if we could get Keir Hardie here . . .” to have his words drowned by applause. Whatever the sentiments of the audience may have been, it was certainly in error about Hardie’s attitude to war.