Lansbury, George

Lansbury, George ( 1859 – 1940 )
British Labour politician and pacifist. As leader of Poplar Council in east London in 1921 , he went to prison rather than reduce relief payments for the unemployed. Refusing to join the National government in 1931 , he became leader of the rump of the Labour Party ( 1931 – 35 ). His rejection of sanctions against Italy, following that country's invasion of Ethiopia in 1935 , alienated his colleagues, and he resigned.