Richard
Crossman, the son of a judge, was born in Cropredy, Oxfordshire, in
1907. He was educated at Winchester
and New College, Oxford,
where he obtained a first-class degree.
Crossman
worked as a philosophy tutor at the university before becoming a lecturer
at the Worker's Educational Association. In 1934, Crossman became
the leader of the Labour Party group on
Oxford City Council. He was also a staff member of the New
Statesman.
During
the Second World War Crossman worked as a Civil
Servant and by 1945 was Assistant Chief of the Psychological Warfare
Department. He was awarded an OBE for his services in the war.
Crossman
was elected to the House of Commons in
the 1945 General Election. Over the next
few years Crossman was associated
with a group of left-wing members that included Konni
Zilliacus,
John Platts-Mills, Ian
Mikardo, Lester Hutchinson,
Leslie Solley, Sydney
Silverman, Geoffrey Bing, Emrys
Hughes, D. N. Pritt, William
Warbey, William Gallacher
and
Phil Piratin.
In 1947
Crossman joined Konni
Zilliacus,
Michael Foot and Ian
Mikardo to produce Keep Left.
In the pamphlet the authors criticized the cold
war policies of the United States and urged
a closer relationship with Europe in order to create a "Third
Force" in politics. This included the idea of nuclear disarmament
and the formation of a European Security Pact.
As a result of his left-wing
political views Crossman did not obtain high political office under
Clement
Attlee. However,
after the Labour victory in the 1964 General
Election, Harold
Wilson appointed
him as Minister of Housing (1964-66), Leader of the House of Commons
(1966-69) and Secretary of State for Social Studies (1970).
The Conservative
Party returned to power after the 1970 General
Election Crossman became editor of the New
Statesman.
Richard Crossman died in 1974.
Crossman had kept a detailed
diary since entering the House of Commons
in 1945. This included the period when he was a government minister.
Despite attempts by the government of James
Callaghan the
Crossman Diaries began appearing
in 1975. It was the first time a cabinet minister had revealled the
inner workings of government.
(1)
Herbert
Morrison, An
Autobiography (1960)
Richard Crossman has undoubtedly a sparkling brain and
his abilities as
a parliamentary speaker ensure that he gets a good hearing in the
House. He has two troubles to master - if he can. The first is that
he is prone to change his opinions from month to month or even week
to week. In the 1945 Government I regarded him as a personal friend,
though at times his waywardness necessitated a gentle reprimand.
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