The first edited collection of NHS founder Aneurin Bevan’s writings in Tribune.
Aneurin Bevan (1897–1960) is a revered figure in Welsh and British politics, celebrated for his role as the founder of the National Health Service. As a result, Bevan is continuously invoked, quoted, and praised for his principles. However, Bevan was not only a significant politician but also a prolific writer, contributing extensively to the socialist magazine Tribune from its founding in 1937 until his death in 1960. This is My Truth represents the first collection of these writings. Beginning with an introduction that charts Bevan’s career and legacy, the collection showcases Bevan’s analysis of class conflict, capitalism, democracy, and democratic socialism. It provides readers with the opportunity to read Bevan in his own words and to reflect on a figure who remains a source of inspiration and controversy today.
Aneurin Bevan (1897–1960) is a revered figure in Welsh and British politics, celebrated for his role as the founder of the National Health Service. As a result, Bevan is continuously invoked, quoted, and praised for his principles. However, Bevan was not only a significant politician but also a prolific writer, contributing extensively to the socialist magazine Tribune from its founding in 1937 until his death in 1960. This is My Truth represents the first collection of these writings. Beginning with an introduction that charts Bevan’s career and legacy, the collection showcases Bevan’s analysis of class conflict, capitalism, democracy, and democratic socialism. It provides readers with the opportunity to read Bevan in his own words and to reflect on a figure who remains a source of inspiration and controversy today.
Reviews
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Bevan and the search for truth
Bevan the writer
Bevan’s truth
Chapter 1: Capitalism, Power and Politics
People Versus Property – 11 February 1938
Class War In Commons Committee ‘A’ – 25 March 1938
Highwaymen in The Upper House – 8 July 1938
Make the government act! – 17 March 1939
Blind Men are Leading Us! – 11 October 1940
The Tories’ Prisoner – 18 October 1940
Next Steps to a New Society – 25 October 1940
Hope and new strength – 2 May 1941
The T.U.C.’s Two Voices – 13 October 1944
The Fatuity of Coalition – 13 June 1952
Can Parliament do it? – 26 November 1954
Automation: The Socialist Answer – 8 July 1955
Tory gamblers pour £1,500 million down the drain – 7 November 1958
Bevan on Parliament – 5 June 1959
Chapter 2: Labour and the Unions
Wanted – A New Drive For Wages – 22 July 1938
A job for the trade unions – 23 August 1940
M.P.s’ tongues must be loosed – 21 March 1941
To any Labour Delegate – 11 June 1943
Coalition of the Left – 18 June 1943
Trade Unions and the Labour Party – 23 July 1943
Rubber stamp M.P.’s – 20 August 1943
All set for a new thrust forward – 26 September 1952
Why we lost West Derby – 3 December 1954
Aneurin Bevan gives his verdict – 3 June 1955
The Struggle for Socialism: Why I am standing for treasurer – 7 October 1955
Being very, very practical – 24 February 1956
How to avoid shipwreck – 11 December 1959
Chapter 3: Ideas, Values and Society
A swastika nailed to England’s mast – 24 June 1938
This is How Fascism is Born – 1 July 1938
Freedom is not enough – 26 July 1940
Meaning of the Alliance – 18 July 1941
Wales – 20 October 1944
The Parties’ Line-up in Parliament – 1 December 1944
July 5th and the Socialist Advance – 2 July 1948
The People’s Coming of Age – 3 February 1950
Do not dismiss our ideas of freedom – 3 September 1954
Freedom and Socialism – 5 November 1954
Why Winston Churchill has been gagged – 20 May 1955
Russia must take her share of the blame – 25 November 1955
This famous victory – 3 February 1956
At last the Socialist International wakes up! – 12 July 1957
Spectre over Europe – 19 July 1957
Why Russia wins the space race – 11 October 1957
Communism or suicide? That’s not the real choice – 14 March 1958
Private enterprise v. public ownership: The moon and the £ – 9 January 1959
Chapter 4: War
Inside Teruel – 21 January 1938
The blackest page in Britain’s history – 3 March 1939
Are you a traitor – answer now – 24 May 1940
The way to win through – 31 May 1940
We and the Germans – 25 June 1943
What Eden cannot do – 14 April 1944
We asked for it – 18 September 1953
Aneurin Bevan attacks active nonsense – 15 July 1955
The disarmament breakdown – 11 May 1956
Destroy the bombs before they destroy us! – 24 May 1957
The clash of the giants – 23 August 1957
Platitudes won’t save mankind – 13 December 1957
Arms and the slump – 31 January 1958
Chapter 5: International Relations
Stop that nonsense now! – 20 December 1940
Why is Duff Cooper so bad? – 4 April 1941
Complacency will not win the war – 5 September 1941
Here is a real plan to put the war machine in reverse – 7 August 1953
Empire and the Tories – 18 December 1953
America must be told: ‘you go it alone’ – 16 April 1954
The second Cold War – 23 December 1955
It must be world control for all the commercial waterways – 3 August 1956
Give the United Nations a real job to do – 5 October 1956
Crisis time for United Nations – 1 February 1957
Warning to the wreckers – 28 June 1957
Back to free markets – and the jungle – 30 August 1957
We must save India – or lose democracy’s hope – 5 September 1958
Independence – then hard work: how to maintain the frontiers of liberty – 21 November 1958
Bibliography
Introduction
Bevan and the search for truth
Bevan the writer
Bevan’s truth
Chapter 1: Capitalism, Power and Politics
People Versus Property – 11 February 1938
Class War In Commons Committee ‘A’ – 25 March 1938
Highwaymen in The Upper House – 8 July 1938
Make the government act! – 17 March 1939
Blind Men are Leading Us! – 11 October 1940
The Tories’ Prisoner – 18 October 1940
Next Steps to a New Society – 25 October 1940
Hope and new strength – 2 May 1941
The T.U.C.’s Two Voices – 13 October 1944
The Fatuity of Coalition – 13 June 1952
Can Parliament do it? – 26 November 1954
Automation: The Socialist Answer – 8 July 1955
Tory gamblers pour £1,500 million down the drain – 7 November 1958
Bevan on Parliament – 5 June 1959
Chapter 2: Labour and the Unions
Wanted – A New Drive For Wages – 22 July 1938
A job for the trade unions – 23 August 1940
M.P.s’ tongues must be loosed – 21 March 1941
To any Labour Delegate – 11 June 1943
Coalition of the Left – 18 June 1943
Trade Unions and the Labour Party – 23 July 1943
Rubber stamp M.P.’s – 20 August 1943
All set for a new thrust forward – 26 September 1952
Why we lost West Derby – 3 December 1954
Aneurin Bevan gives his verdict – 3 June 1955
The Struggle for Socialism: Why I am standing for treasurer – 7 October 1955
Being very, very practical – 24 February 1956
How to avoid shipwreck – 11 December 1959
Chapter 3: Ideas, Values and Society
A swastika nailed to England’s mast – 24 June 1938
This is How Fascism is Born – 1 July 1938
Freedom is not enough – 26 July 1940
Meaning of the Alliance – 18 July 1941
Wales – 20 October 1944
The Parties’ Line-up in Parliament – 1 December 1944
July 5th and the Socialist Advance – 2 July 1948
The People’s Coming of Age – 3 February 1950
Do not dismiss our ideas of freedom – 3 September 1954
Freedom and Socialism – 5 November 1954
Why Winston Churchill has been gagged – 20 May 1955
Russia must take her share of the blame – 25 November 1955
This famous victory – 3 February 1956
At last the Socialist International wakes up! – 12 July 1957
Spectre over Europe – 19 July 1957
Why Russia wins the space race – 11 October 1957
Communism or suicide? That’s not the real choice – 14 March 1958
Private enterprise v. public ownership: The moon and the £ – 9 January 1959
Chapter 4: War
Inside Teruel – 21 January 1938
The blackest page in Britain’s history – 3 March 1939
Are you a traitor – answer now – 24 May 1940
The way to win through – 31 May 1940
We and the Germans – 25 June 1943
What Eden cannot do – 14 April 1944
We asked for it – 18 September 1953
Aneurin Bevan attacks active nonsense – 15 July 1955
The disarmament breakdown – 11 May 1956
Destroy the bombs before they destroy us! – 24 May 1957
The clash of the giants – 23 August 1957
Platitudes won’t save mankind – 13 December 1957
Arms and the slump – 31 January 1958
Chapter 5: International Relations
Stop that nonsense now! – 20 December 1940
Why is Duff Cooper so bad? – 4 April 1941
Complacency will not win the war – 5 September 1941
Here is a real plan to put the war machine in reverse – 7 August 1953
Empire and the Tories – 18 December 1953
America must be told: ‘you go it alone’ – 16 April 1954
The second Cold War – 23 December 1955
It must be world control for all the commercial waterways – 3 August 1956
Give the United Nations a real job to do – 5 October 1956
Crisis time for United Nations – 1 February 1957
Warning to the wreckers – 28 June 1957
Back to free markets – and the jungle – 30 August 1957
We must save India – or lose democracy’s hope – 5 September 1958
Independence – then hard work: how to maintain the frontiers of liberty – 21 November 1958
Bibliography