James Allen Skinner (16 January 1890 – 20 January 1974) was a British

pacifist Pacifism is the opposition or resistance to war, militarism (including conscription and mandatory military service) or violence. Pacifists generally reject theories of Just War. The word ''pacifism'' was coined by the French peace campaign ...

and trade unionist. Born in Dulwich, Skinner began working for the Post Office, firstly delivering telegraphs, then as a postman, and as a sorter. He became active in the Independent Labour Party (ILP), probably under the influence of his wife, Phillis Emerson, who also convinced him to become a vegetarian and

free thinker Freethought is a philosophical viewpoint that holds opinions should be formed on the basis of logic, reason, and empiricism. It may also refer to: Organizations * De Vrije Gedachte, the Dutch freethinkers association "The Free Thought" Pub ...

.John Saville, "Skinner, (James) Allen", ''Dictionary of Labour Biography'', vol.5, pp.198-200 Skinner opposed World War I as a socialist and a

. He was a

conscientious objector A conscientious objector (often shortened to conchie) is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service" on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, or religion. The term has also been extended to object ...

, but also refused to take up alternative employment, and so was imprisoned in Wormwood Scrubs in 1916. The prison authorities refused to provide vegetarian food, so Skinner suffered greatly from hunger. Although he was released three months later, he again refused military service, and was imprisoned a second time. While imprisoned, he contracted tuberculosis, which left him with a permanent disability affecting his knee and elbow. In 1919, Skinner found work with the

Union of Post Office Workers The Union of Communication Workers (UCW) was a trade union in the United Kingdom for workers in the post office and telecommunications industries. History The union was founded in 1919 as the Union of Post Office Workers (UPW) by the merger ...

(UPW), and relocated to Manchester in 1920 as the union moved its head office there. He soon became assistant editor of the union's journal, ''The Post'', and wrote numerous articles for it. He moved back to London a few years later, continuing to work for the union, but became increasingly prominent in the ILP. He stood as the Labour Party candidate for

Hendon Hendon is an urban area in the Borough of Barnet, North-West London northwest of Charing Cross. Hendon was an ancient manor and parish in the county of Middlesex and a former borough, the Municipal Borough of Hendon; it has been part of Great ...

at the

1924 United Kingdom general election Nineteen or 19 may refer to: * 19 (number), the natural number following 18 and preceding 20 * one of the years 19 BC, AD 19, 1919, 2019 Films * ''19'' (film), a 2001 Japanese film * ''Nineteen'' (film), a 1987 science fiction film Music ...

, and for Clapham in

1929 This year marked the end of a period known in American history as the Roaring Twenties after the Wall Street Crash of 1929 ushered in a worldwide Great Depression. In the Americas, an agreement was brokered to end the Cristero War, a Catholic ...

, and also served as secretary of the ILP's London and Southern Counties division. He supported the ILP's disaffiliation from the Labour Party in 1931 and remained active in the smaller party. During World War II, Skinner served as an adviser to the Central Board for Conscientious Objectors, and after the war, he was secretary of the No Conscription Council and chair of the board of '' Peace News''. He retired from the UPW in 1950, and devoted more time to ''Peace News'', including a period as editor from 1952 to 1955. During this period, he worked closely with A. J. Muste and the two were leading members of the "Third Way Movement". He was also involved in anti-nuclear campaigning, becoming a sponsor of the Emergency Committee for Direct Action against Nuclear War and was active in the

Direct Action Committee The Direct Action Committee Against Nuclear War or the Direct Action Committee (DAC) was a pacifist organisation formed "to assist the conducting of non-violent direct action to obtain the total renunciation of nuclear war and its weapons by ...

. For demonstrating at a rocket base in

Harrington Harrington (or Harington) may refer to: People as a surname * Harrington (surname) People as a forename * Arthur Raikes (Arthur Edward Harington Raikes, 1867–1915), British army officer *Charles Harrington Elster, American writer *Edward Josep ...

, he was sentenced to two months in prison, spending his seventieth birthday there.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Skinner, J. Allen 1890 births 1974 deaths English pacifists English socialists English conscientious objectors English male journalists English newspaper editors English trade unionists Independent Labour Party National Administrative Committee members Labour Party (UK) parliamentary candidates People from Dulwich