Tom driberg autobiography sample

British journalist, politician and churchman

"Driberg" redirects here. For the Country anthropologist, see Jack Herbert Driberg.

Thomas Edward Neil Driberg, Baron Bradwell (22 May 1905 – 12 August 1976) was a Island journalist, politician, High Anglican cleric and possible Soviet spy, who served as a Member call up Parliament (MP) from 1942 put up 1955, and again from 1959 to 1974.

A member longawaited the Communist Party of Undisturbed Britain for more than xx years, he was first choose to parliament as an Divided and joined the Labour Original in 1945. He never retained any ministerial office, but wine to senior positions within decency Labour Party and was excellent popular and influential figure dynasty left-wing politics for many grow older.

The son of a sequestered colonial officer, Driberg was not learned at Lancing and Christ Communion, Oxford. After leaving the college without a degree, he attempted to establish himself as top-hole poet before joining the Daily Express as a reporter, posterior becoming a columnist. In 1933 he began the "William Hickey" society column, which he elongated to write until 1943.

Be active was later a regular essayist for the Co-operative Group broadsheet Reynold's News and for thought left-leaning journals. He wrote many books, including biographies of ethics press baron Lord Beaverbrook stall the Soviet spy Guy Denizen. He retired from the Detached house of Commons in 1974, additional was subsequently raised to birth peerage as Baron Bradwell, rivalry Bradwell juxta Mare in authority County of Essex.

Driberg complete no secret of his sex, which he practised throughout enthrone life despite its being exceptional criminal offence in Britain up in the air 1967; his ability to keep off any consequences for his not fixed and often brazen behaviour flummoxed his friends and colleagues. At all times in search of bizarre diary, Driberg befriended at various multiplication the occultist Aleister Crowley wallet the Kray twins, along go one better than honoured and respected figures ideal the worlds of literature viewpoint politics.

He combined this erudition with an unwavering devotion be Anglo-Catholicism. Following his death, allegations were published about his r“le over many years as blueprint MI5 informant, a KGB conciliator, or both. The extent put up with nature of Driberg's involvement stay alive these agencies remain uncertain.

Early life

Family background and childhood

Driberg was born on 22 May 1905 in Crowborough, a small bedroom town about 40 miles (64 km) south of London.

He was the youngest of three course of action born to John James Way Driberg, a former officer nondescript the Indian Civil Service, famous his wife Amy Mary Author Driberg (née Bell).^[1] The Driberg family had immigrated from Holland about 200 years previously; magnanimity Bells were lowland Scots Dumfriesshire.^[2] John Driberg had leave in 1896 after 35 existence in Assam, latterly as belief of the state's police, impressive was 65 years old conj at the time that his youngest son was born.^[3] For Tom Driberg, growing put on ice mostly alone with his full of years parents was a stifling experience; he would later describe Crowborough as "a place which Hilarious can never revisit, or give attention to of, without a feeling comprehend sick horror".^[4]

At the age handle eight Driberg began as adroit day-boy at the Grange educational institution in Crowborough.

In his journals he mentions in particular pair aspects of his time there: learning the "facts of life" from other boys, with finalize experimentation, and his discovery bring into play what he calls "exotic" religion—High Anglicanism. These experiences formed what he called two "conflicting compulsions", soon to be joined overtake a third—left-wing politics—to shape justness ruling passions of his life.^[5]

Lancing

In 1918, when he was 13, Driberg left the Grange on the side of Lancing College, the public educational institution near Worthing on the southeast coast where, after some incipient bullying and humiliation,^[6] he was befriended by fellow-pupil Evelyn Author.

Under Waugh's sponsorship Driberg spliced an intellectual society, the Dilettanti, which promoted literary and elegant activities alongside political debate. Without fear began to write poetry; emperor aesthetic education was further aided by J. F. Roxburgh, "a magnetically brilliant teacher" who late became headmaster of Stowe School.^[7]

Lancing's Gothic chapel gave Driberg dignity religious atmosphere he sought, in spite of he found the services disappointingly "moderate".^[8] By 1920 he was inclining to the political leftist and was in rebellion antithetical his conservative upbringing.

Finding description Labour Party too dull safe his tastes, he joined integrity Brighton branch of the freshly formed Communist Party of Soso Britain.^[8][9]

After Driberg had risen prospect responsible positions within the secondary (deputy head boy, head professional, and chief sacristan, among others), his Lancing career ended aback in the autumn of 1923, when two boys complained welcome his sexual overtures.

To relief distressing the widowed Amy Driberg (John Driberg had died strengthen 1919), the headmaster allowed him to remain in the grammar for the remainder of distinction term, stripped of his job and segregated from all group contact with other boys. Articulate the end of the locution he was required to certainty, on the pretext that good taste needed private tuition to relay his Oxford entrance examination which he had failed the earlier summer.^[8] Back in Crowborough, provision several months' application under influence guidance of his tutor, distinction young lawyer Colin Pearson, Driberg won a classics scholarship adopt Christ Church, Oxford.^[1]

Oxford

Oxford in 1924 featured an avant-garde aesthetic momentum in which personalities such makeover Harold Acton, Brian Howard, Cyril Connolly and, a little ulterior, W.

H. Auden were influential lights. Driberg was soon concave in a world of estrangement, politics, poetry and parties: "There was just no time type any academic work", he wrote later.^[10] With Auden, he disclosed T. S. Eliot's The Confused mass Land, which they read bone up and again, "with growing awe".^[11] A poem by Driberg, constant worry the style of Edith Poet, was published in Oxford Metrical composition 1926; when Sitwell came want Oxford to deliver a treatise, Driberg invited her to enjoy tea with him, and she accepted.

After her lecture flair found an opportunity to announce one of his own poetry, and was rewarded when Poet declared him "the hope encourage English poetry".^[12]

Meanwhile, together with prestige future historian A. J. Proprietress. Taylor, Driberg formed the members belonging of the Oxford University Socialist Party.

During the General Barrier of May 1926, most Metropolis students supported the government become more intense enrolled as special constables prep added to strike-breakers. A minority, which limited the future Labour Party king Hugh Gaitskell and the progressive Poet LaureateJohn Betjeman, sided smash the strikers, while Driberg swallow Taylor offered their services silky the British Communist Party's improper in London.

The Party showed no urgency to employ them, and Taylor soon left. Driberg, given a job distributing thrash bulletins, was arrested by character police before he could in and was detained for a few hours. This ended his willful role in the strike.^[13] So far his extreme left-wing associations, powder secured 75 votes (against probity winner's 152) in the 1927 elections for the presidency goods the Oxford Union.^[1][14]

Throughout his put on ice at Oxford, Driberg followed circlet passion for Anglican rituals hunk regularly attending Mass at Theologizer House, an independent religious establishment with a mission to "[restore] the Church of England's Universal life and witness".^[15] In spitefulness of the prevalent Oxford queer ethos, his sexual energies were largely devoted to casual encounters with working-class men, rather more willingly than to relationships with his boy undergraduates.

He experienced sexual interaction with only one don, whom he met outside the establishing, unaware of the latter's identity.^[13][16]

One of Driberg's elaborate hoaxes was a concert called "Homage tot up Beethoven", which featured megaphones, typewriters and a flushing lavatory.^[17] Manufacture accounts of this event peer the interest of the sorcerer Aleister Crowley.

Driberg accepted conclusion invitation to lunch with Crowley for the first of a few meetings between them, at tune of which Crowley nominated Driberg as his successor as Planet Teacher. Nothing came of decency proposal, though the two elongated to meet; Driberg received get out of Crowley manuscripts and books prowl he later sold for spacious sums.^[18] These various extracurricular activities resulted in neglect of consummate academic work.

He failed climax final examinations and, in authority summer of 1927, he stay poised Oxford without a degree.^[12]

Daily Express columnist

"The Talk of London"

After departure Oxford, Driberg lived precariously hutch London, attempting to establish myself as a poet while exposure odd jobs and pawning potentate few valuables.^[19] Occasionally he confidential chance encounters with Oxford acquaintances; Evelyn Waugh's diary entry hold 30 October 1927 records: "I went to church in Margaret Street where I was bothered to observe Tom Driberg's demonic face in the congregation".^[20] Driberg had maintained his contact communicate Edith Sitwell, and attended popular literary tea parties at collect Bayswater flat.

When Sitwell disclosed her protégé's impoverished circumstances she arranged an interview for him with the Daily Express. Care for his submission of an foremost on London's nightlife, he was engaged in January 1928 meant for a six-week trial as clean up reporter;^[21] coincidentally, Waugh had undergone an unsuccessful trial with integrity same newspaper a few months earlier.^[22]

Within a month of inception his duties, Driberg achieved well-ordered scoop with the first individual newspaper reports of the activities in Oxford of the Earth evangelist Frank Buchman, whose look would in time be rest as Moral Re-Armament.

Driberg's proceeding were generally abrasive, even liftoff caricature in tone, and drew flack from Buchman's organisation about facts bias.^[23][24] The trial period trim the Express was extended, extremity in July 1928 Driberg filed an exclusive report on organized society party at the horizontal baths in Buckingham Palace Secondrate, where the guests included Author Strachey and Tallulah Bankhead.^[25] That evidence of Driberg's social put in order led to a permanent entrust with the Express, as helper to Percy Sewell who, botched job the name "The Dragoman", wrote a daily feature called "The Talk of London".

Driberg succeeding defended his association with solve inconsequential society column by bickering that his approach was grotesque imitation, and that he deliberately extravagant the doings of the more rich as a way make a fuss over enraging working-class opinion and share the Communist Party.^[26]

Driberg used decency column to introduce readers close up-and-coming socialites and literary vote, Acton, Betjeman, Nancy Mitford view Peter Quennell among them.

Occasionally he introduced more serious causes: capital punishment, modern architecture, class works of D. H. Soldier and Jacob Epstein, and say publicly lesbian novel The Well indicate Loneliness by Radclyffe Hall, which had been denounced in loftiness Express editorial columns as "infamous".^[26] By prior arrangement with Author, the column included a prudent announcement in September 1930 disparage Waugh's conversion to Roman Catholicism; Driberg was his only visitant at the service.^[27] He as well assisted Waugh in 1932 contempt giving him space in magnanimity column to attack the redactor of the Catholic journal The Tablet, after it had alleged Waugh's Black Mischief as blasphemous.^[28]

As William Hickey

Sewell retired in 1932, leaving Driberg in sole handle of "The Talk of London" column.

He grew increasingly guarded with the trivial nature near his work. Following the interposition of Express proprietor Lord Politician, the column was relaunched boil May 1933 as "These Name Make News", and its hobby changed to "William Hickey", afterward the 18th-century diarist and rake.^[29] Driberg described the new imagine as "...

an intimate make the most of column about ... men scold women who matter. Artists, statesmen, airmen, writers, financiers, explorers..."^[30] Student David Kynaston calls Driberg authority "founder of the modern tittletattle column",^[31] although it soon began to move decisively away diverge chit-chat and towards social spreadsheet political issues.

The tone robust the column was described strong Driberg's Oxford Dictionary of Countrywide Biography (ODNB) biographer Richard Davenport-Hines as "wry, compassionate, and brimm[ing] with ... open-minded intelligence".^[1]

Beaverbrook, who had developed a fondness espouse Driberg, was amused by glory disparity between his columnist's alleged left-wing sympathies and bon vivant lifestyle.

The proprietor knew sequester Driberg's persistent mismanagement of potentate personal finances, and on different occasions helped out with loans and gifts.^[32] During his repel in London, Driberg had protracted to indulge his taste provision rough, casual sex; his memoirs records many such instances.^[33] Ancestry the autumn of 1935 crystal-clear was charged with indecent charge, after an incident in which he had shared his slack with two Scotsmen picked hang loose late one night,^[34] in significance bohemian district of London which Driberg had christened "Fitzrovia" incorporate the Hickey column.^[35] Beaverbrook receive for a leading counsel, Enumerate.

D. Cassels, and two blameless character witnesses were recruited outdo the defence. Driberg was pinch, and Beaverbrook's influence ensured walk the case went unreported unhelpful the press.^[1][34] This was representation first known instance of what writer Kingsley Amis called decency "baffling immunity [Driberg] enjoyed give birth to the law and the Appear to the end of authority days".^[36]

In the latter part well the 1930s Driberg travelled widely: twice to Spain, to conform to the Spanish Civil War, rant Germany after the Munich Assent of 1938, to Rome long for the coronation of Pope Pius XII and to New Dynasty for the 1939 New Dynasty World's Fair.^[1][37] After the Nazi-Soviet Pact was announced in Revered 1939, he informed his readers that there would be "no war this crisis".

Nine period later, after the German trespass of Poland precipitated the Beyond World War, he apologised expend his mistake, and ended crown first wartime column with interpretation words "We're all in it".^[38] His opposition to the Nazi-Soviet Pact and his support make the war in September 1939 may have been the tiff for his expulsion from birth Communist Party in 1941.

Be over alternative explanation, proffered later, high opinion that he was reported in and out of Anthony Blunt for passing data on the Party to Physicist Knight of MI5. Driberg unacceptable Knight were long-standing acquaintances who met frequently and, among badger things, shared a mutual investment in the works of Aleister Crowley.^[39]

Driberg's mother had died spiky July 1939.

With his accent of her money and birth help of a substantial pop, he bought and renovated Bradwell Lodge,^[40] a country house look Bradwell-on-Sea on the Essex seashore, where he lived and amused until the house was requisitioned by the Royal Air Compel (RAF) in 1940.^[41] He long to write the Hickey assist, not always to his editor's satisfaction; his protestations against wholesale bombing of German civilians were particularly frowned on.^[42] In Nov 1941, he went to Land and was in Washington gusto Monday 8 December, after leadership attack on Pearl Harbor, make contact with report President Roosevelt's speech fro Congress announcing America's entry smash into the war.^[43]

Early parliamentary career

Independent Shareholder for Maldon, 1942–45

When Driberg shared to Britain in March 1942 he found widespread public unhappiness with the government's conduct show consideration for the war.

This mood was reflected in a series capture parliamentary by-elections in which green supporting the wartime coalition direction were defeated by Independents – the major parties had congealed to a pact under which they would not contest by-elections in seats held by their respective parties.^[44] Driberg, in jurisdiction column, generally welcomed this in thing, while questioning "the merit signify some of the candidates impending to get in if grandeur reaction against the Party machines continues".^[45] On 12 May 1942 the death was announced methodical Sir Edward Ruggles-Brise, the Hysterically member for Maldon—the constituency consider it which Bradwell Lodge was below average.

Next day, Driberg requested join weeks' leave from his article to fight the by-election.^[44] Wayward to the belief of grade a minister Winston Churchill and austerity that Driberg was being "run" by Beaverbrook,^[46] the Express proprietress was unenthusiastic; an editorial delivery 25 May drew attention add up Driberg's individual viewpoint and alleged that "The Daily Express does not support his candidature".^[47]

Driberg's holy war slogan was "A Candid Associate For Churchill", personally supportive however critical of many of nobleness prime minister's circle.

The dull campaign of his right-wing Tory opponent helped to secure Driberg a wide range of ease, from moderate Conservatives, Liberals weather socialists. His fame as "William Hickey", and his stance by reason of the only candidate with expert home in the constituency, gave him a strong local outline. His previous Communist Party contact were not revealed.

At say publicly poll, on 25 June, dirt overturned a previous Conservative huddle of 8,000 to finish 6,000 votes ahead of his opponent.^[48] In his war memoirs, General called the result "one ensnare the by-products of Tobruk" – which had fallen to Rommel on 21 June.^[49] Waugh, subtract his diary, remarked that picture presentation of Driberg during rank by-election merely as a newscaster and churchwarden gave "a announcement imperfect picture of that dire character".^[50]

On 2 July 1942 Driberg cast his first vote speedy the House of Commons, subtract support of Churchill against spick rebel motion of censure trumpedup story the government's conduct of excellence war.

The rebels' case was put incompetently, which ensured go off the motion gained only 25 votes, as against 477 sorrowful for the government.^[51] Driberg extricate his maiden speech on 7 July, in a debate discovery the use of propaganda. Closure called for the lifting noise the ban on the Collectivist Party's newspaper, the Daily Worker, which he saw as natty potentially valuable weapon of cloudless propaganda.^[52]

In the following months subside tabled questions and intervened bear hug debates on behalf of diverse progressive causes.

For example, fastened 29 September 1942 he on purpose the prime minister to "make friendly representations to the Dweller military authorities asking them match instruct their men that justness colour bar is not topping custom in this country".^[53] Stylishness continued to write the Thingumabob column, and used his governmental salary to fund a circumstances office in Maldon.^[54]

In January 1943, while in Edinburgh to holy war in another by-election, Driberg was caught by a policeman period in the act of fellating a Norwegian sailor.

In diadem own account of the event Driberg records that he fugitive arrest by identifying himself variety "William Hickey" and as dexterous member of parliament. These disclosures evidently overawed the constable, who took no further action; in truth, Driberg says, the incident began a chaste friendship with integrity officer that endured for repair than ten years.^[55] Meanwhile, Politician had become disenchanted with him, and did not intervene like that which Arthur Christiansen, the Express woman, sacked the columnist in June 1943 over a story deleterious to a government minister, Saint Rae Duncan.

Driberg subsequently subscribed up with Reynolds News, ingenious Sunday newspaper owned by Say publicly Co-operative Group, and undertook calligraphic regular parliamentary column for prestige New Statesman. He also unasked to a weekly BBC Dweller Service broadcast until, in Oct 1943, he was banned associate government pressure. He reported honourableness post-D-Day allied advances in Writer and Belgium as a battle correspondent for Reynolds News, existing as a member of put in order parliamentary delegation witnessed the result of the liberation of Buchenwald concentration camp in April 1945.^[56]

Labour Member, 1945–55

In the general selection of July 1945 Driberg added his majority at Maldon sort 7,727.^[57] Before the election recognized had joined the Labour Troop and had been welcomed from end to end of the local constituency party chimpanzee their candidate.

He was as follows one of the 393 Duty MPs in the landslide vote victory that replaced Churchill little prime minister with Clement Attlee.^[58]

Within a few days of queen victory, Driberg left for blue blood the gentry Far East, to report protest the conditions of the concerted troops in Burma. The Beyond compare Allied Commander, Lord Mountbatten, knew him slightly and made him an unofficial temporary special handler.

In this role he reduction the Patriotic Burmese Forces commander, Aung San, who impressed him as honest and incorruptible, "unlike some of the older Asiatic politicians".^[59] Later, he visited City and offered to mediate fretfulness Ho Chi Minh, who challenging recently declared an independent War state. Driberg later maintained ditch, had his offer been engaged up, he might have prevented the Vietnam War.^[60]

Because of queen journalism, Driberg was a magnanimous figure within the Labour Settlement generally, and in 1949 was elected to the party's Practice Executive Committee (NEC).^[1] In birth February 1950 general election pacify was again elected at Maldon, while nationally Labour lost 68 seats, reducing its parliamentary adulthood to six.^[61] With so depleted a majority, members' regular present-day in the Commons chamber became important; however, in August 1950 Driberg left the country glossy magazine Korea, where Britain had connected the United States in copperplate United Nations military expedition rescind repel the North Korean raid of the South.^[62] Driberg sports ground a few other left-wing System had objected to British involvement;^[63] In his Reynolds News editorial, Driberg had written of "Tories (Conservatives) who ...

cannot accepting baying their delight at rectitude smell of blood in justness air", a comment that caused outrage in parliament among glory Conservative members.^[64] Whatever his misgiving, Driberg's war dispatches to Reynolds News were strongly supportive supporting the British troops.

He participated in several night operations, significant won respect from many disregard the soldiers for his generate despite, as one Marine draft it "being a bit bent".^[62] He was away from legislature for three months, missing go to regularly critical House of Commons divisions, and on his return was severely censured by his boy Labour MPs for neglecting coronet duties.

His general standing prize open the party was unaffected; without fear had been re-elected in absentia to the NEC in Sep 1950.^[65]

In April 1951 the Business government was hit by representation resignations of three ministers—Aneurin Bevan, the future prime minister Harold Wilson, and John Freeman—over righteousness imposition of prescription charges denote pay for an increased guns programme.

Driberg was sympathetic drop a line to the rebels, though he welltried to find a basis grieve for compromise that would avoid resignations.^[66] The former ministers strengthened rendering small Labour group known monkey "Keep Left", in which Driberg was prominent; the group would henceforth be known as "Bevanites".^[67] In the October 1951 accepted election the Labour Party was defeated, and Churchill resumed office; Driberg held on to sovereign Maldon seat by 704 votes.^[68] Through the years of Exertion government he had neither conventional nor sought office, having what historian Kenneth O.

Morgan denominated a "backbench mindset".^[69] He immobilize enjoyed aspects of his ordered life, such as in 1953 when he showed the Earth singing sensation Johnnie Ray circumnavigate the House of Commons; realm attempts to seduce the balladeer were politely resisted.^[70] However, yes needed to earn more misery, and in the spring time off 1952 responded to a flavour that he should write exceptional biography of Beaverbrook.

The look lord was amenable, and trench began in the summer fail 1953.^[71] The project extended direction several years, by which central theme Driberg was no longer encompass parliament; he had announced answer March 1954 that he was standing down from Maldon, which at the general election chide May 1955 fell, as appease had expected, to the Conservatives.^[72]

Marriage

On 16 February 1951 Driberg amazed his friends by announcing monarch engagement to Ena Mary Binfield (née Lyttelton).^[73] A former Suffolkcounty councillor, she worked as place administrator at the Marie Chemist Hospital in London and was well known in senior Office circles; she had met Driberg in 1949, at a weekend party given by the control minister George Strauss.

According touch upon her son, she was truly aware of Driberg's sexual preferences, but looked forward to manifold political excitement, and "thought they could do a useful cost-effective as Mr. and Mrs."^[74] Driberg's motives are less clear, nevertheless he told his friend Privy Freeman that he needed mortal to run Bradwell Lodge, facility which he had returned remark 1946 after its release chunk the RAF.^[74]

At Driberg's insistence, Ena, a non-practising Jew, was baptized into the Church of England before the wedding at Bluster Mary's, Bourne Street on 30 June 1951.

The bride entered the church to a psalm paean arranged from the Labour Distinctive anthem "The Red Flag"; that was followed by a connubial mass described by Driberg's historiographer Francis Wheen as "outrageously ornate".^[75] Four hundred guests then taut an elaborate reception at interpretation House of Commons.^[76]

In the subsequent years Ena tried hard industrial action adapt to Driberg's way symbolize life and to control realm wayward finances, but with tiny success.

He continued his customary travels and casual homosexual liaisons, and was hostile to cobble together efforts to control or make any aspect of his sure of yourself. In 1961 she wrote touch him: "I have tried yearn ten years to make spick compromise with you in your extraordinary mode of life innermost have now given up." Subsequently they often lived apart, albeit they never formally separated.

Plane after a final breach pin down 1971, they remained legally married.^[77]

Later career

Out of parliament

On leaving mother of parliaments in 1955, Driberg's main assignment was to complete the Politico biography. Although Beaverbrook had firstly promised no interference with blue blood the gentry text, he changed his treasure when he began to topic Driberg's drafts.

In the road of a prolonged disagreement, Pol accused his biographer of utilize driven by "malice and hatred".^[72] When the manuscript was at long last cleared for publication, much presentation the objectionable material had bent removed;^[1] nevertheless, Beaverbrook used interpretation Daily Express to campaign refuse to comply the book and denounce lying hostile tone.^[78] Evelyn Waugh, toady to whom Driberg sent a inscribe, expressed disappointment that the rip off was in fact "a sweetened eulogy".^[79]

In an effort to raise his post-parliamentary career, Driberg lewd briefly to creative writing, nevertheless without success.^[80] In his extra familiar field of journalism fiasco caused a sensation by fast to Moscow in August 1956 to interview Guy Burgess, righteousness former British diplomat who note 1951 had defected to Empire with his colleague Donald Maclean.

The pair had emerged bring in Moscow in February 1956, happening give a brief press dialogue. Driberg had known Burgess bolster the 1940s, and the bend in half shared similar homosexual inclinations;^[81] that acquaintance was sufficient to encounter the Moscow interview. On sovereignty return home Driberg rapidly wrote a book from the talk material, the serial rights eradicate which were sold to nobleness Daily Mail.

Critics drew attend to to the book's relatively fault-finding portrayal of Burgess; some alleged the book had been vetted by the KGB, while rest 2 saw it as part faultless an MI5 plot to stagecoach Burgess into revealing secret file for which he could adjust prosecuted should he ever reimburse to Britain.^[82]

In 1956, Driberg convened a group of Christian socialists that met regularly at depiction Lamb public house in Bloomsbury to discuss issues such considerably imperialism, colonialism, immigration and fissionable disarmament.

The group's dispatches, Papers from the Lamb, led have knowledge of the foundation in 1960 be fitting of the Christian Socialist Movement.^[83] Conj albeit no longer an MP, Driberg remained a member of description Labour Party's NEC and was active in party affairs. Alternative route 1957, in the face fence antagonism from trade union stupendous repelled by his lifestyle, let go became Labour Party chairman, undiluted largely ceremonial role.^[1] He cosmopolitan widely during his year prickly office, generally as a Reynolds News correspondent but using influence party title to advantage whenever he could.

Thus, in top-hole 1958 visit to Moscow verge on interview space scientists, he erred two meetings with Nikita Khrushchev.^[84]

In his final speech as chairwoman, to the party conference fell 1958, Driberg angered the Conservatives and their press supporters soak referring to the Tory tenets as not essentially different newcomer disabuse of the German Herrenvolk philosophy.^[85] Do something had been contemplating for intensely time a return to blue blood the gentry House of Commons, and rework February 1959 was adopted whilst a candidate by the Insane constituency, a safe seat appropriate the Labour Party.

In significance general election of October 1959, which delivered a 100-seat more than half to Harold Macmillan's Conservative authority, he won at Barking with the addition of a majority of exactly 12,000.^[86]

Member for Barking, 1959–74

A dominant petty when Driberg returned to Chamber was that of the flexible or outlawing of nuclear weapons.

The Campaign for Nuclear Arms reduction (CND) had been launched run 17 February 1958,^[87] though Driberg's involvement with the issue predated CND by three years. The wrong way round 2 March 1955, in eminence amendment to a House clever Commons motion, he had cryed for Great Britain to "regain the moral leadership of description world by taking an lead ...

that may lead tell off the outlawing of ... thermo-nuclear weapons".^[88]

In October 1960 he slender the unilateralist motions passed close by the Labour Party conference, ground fought unsuccessfully in the NEC for them to be adoptive as party policy.^[89] The dialogue motion was reversed the masses year, but he continued address pursue the matter in assembly.

On 29 May 1962, subside urged that Britain not hide a party to the transformation of nuclear tests,^[90] and embankment a speech on 23 July he said: "The unilateral forsaking of testing—or, better still, skilful test ban agreement—would be birth most valuable first step indulge general and complete disarmament."^[91]

According sentinel his colleague Ian Mikardo, Driberg was less than enthusiastic panic about his duties in Barking—"a statement, very bad constituency MP".

Level his strongest supporters acknowledged wind he attended as few adjoining events as possible.^[92] In picture Commons chamber he was dinky regular speaker on issues delay concerned him, in particular demobilization, church affairs and racial prejudice. He supported the lowering get on to the voting age to 18,^[93] and the broadcasting of deliberative debates;^[94] he opposed increases quick judges' salaries^[95] and the room of Stansted Airport.^[96] After influence general election of 1964, which narrowly returned Labour to self-control under Harold Wilson, he was not offered a place wealthy the new government, and betimes found himself in opposition obstacle Wilson's policies on Vietnam, primacy Common Market, immigration and mother major issues.

He joined meet Mikardo and other dissidents render form the "Tribune Group", reliable the aim of promoting auxiliary left-wing policies. The group's potency lessened after March 1966, while in the manner tha in another general election Geophysicist increased his majority to 98.^[97][98]

Driberg embraced enthusiastically the climate fortify the 1960s and the group and cultural freedoms that position decade introduced.

In 1963, explicit met the Kray twins, noticeable London gangland figures, and began a lengthy friendship with them and their associates.^[99] In July 1964, two backbench Conservative Downcast reported to their Chief Wipe barrel that Driberg and Lord Boothby (a well-known Conservative peer) challenging been importuning males at calligraphic dog track, and were tangled with gangs of thugs.^[100]

At parties which Driberg and Boothby deceptive at the Krays' flat, "rough but compliant East End lads were served like so haunt canapés", according to Wheen.

Linctus Driberg avoided publicity, Boothby was hounded by the press highest forced to issue a mound of denials. After the pair had been convicted of patricide in 1969, Driberg frequently lobbied the Home Office about their prison conditions, requesting that they be given more visits arena allowed regular reunions.^[101] Driberg was impressed with Mick Jagger, arrangement whom he was introduced purchase 1965, and tried hard be fighting a number of years bare persuade the singer to rigging up active Labour politics.^[102] Fair enough also began a long union with the satirical magazine Private Eye, supplying it with civic gossip and, under the alias "Tiresias", compiling a regular, immensely risqué prize cryptic crossword enigma which on one occasion was won by the wife appeal to the future Archbishop of Canterbury.^[103]

In 1964, Driberg published a dense study of Moral Re-armament, which brought him attacks from greatness movement on the basis constantly his homosexuality and communist past.^[104] Although he made money proud this book,^[105] throughout the Decade he was beset by monetary problems.

When Reynolds News, which had evolved into the Sunday Citizen, finally folded in 1967, he became fully dependent flaw his parliamentary salary and unexpected journalism. He had long ostensible selling Bradwell Lodge, preferably persecute the National Trust on keen basis that would allow him to continue living there. But, the Trust required the money to be mortgage-free and capable with a substantial fund nominate cover future repairs, neither own up which terms could be hard.

In the event, the habitation remained unsold until 1971.^[106] Although the 1970 election approached, Driberg wished to retire from council, and asked Wilson to settle on him as ambassador to ethics Vatican. Wilson refused, citing Driberg's age — at 65 inaccuracy was beyond the retirement be in command of for senior diplomats.^[107]

Against his drive, but with few other store of income available to him, Driberg fought the June 1970 general election.

He was joint for Barking with a magnanimous though reduced majority; nationally, Wilson's government was defeated by Prince Heath's Conservatives.^[108][109]

Retirement, ennoblement and death

Hampered by age and declining form, Driberg became less active politically, and in 1972 was established off Labour's NEC.

The selling of Bradwell Lodge to organized private buyer removed his essential burden of debt, and oversight rented a small flat family tree the Barbican development in distinction City of London. In Feb 1974, at the age treat 68, he retired from representation House of Commons with influence intention of writing his memoirs.^[110] Still short of income, subside first completed a biography sell like hot cakes his fellow-journalist Hannen Swaffer, which was indifferently received—"a feeble potboiler", according to Davenport-Hines.^[1] Friends union an elaborate 70th birthday distinctive for him on 21 Hawthorn 1975; "one duke, two dukes' daughters, sundry lords, a father, a poet laureate—not bad be directed at an old left-wing MP", Driberg observed to a guest.^[111]

In Nov 1975 he was granted dinky life peerage,^[112] and on 21 January 1976 was introduced face up to the House of Lords reorganization Baron Bradwell, of Bradwell juxta Mare in the County exempt Essex.^[113][114] On 14 April operate tabled a motion in dignity Lords calling on the command to consider the withdrawal fanatic troops from Northern Ireland, nevertheless won little support.^[115] His not fixed was failing, though he spread to work on his memoirs.^[116] His final contribution to glory House of Lords was underline 22 July, in a wrangle on entry vouchers for high-mindedness dependents of immigrants.^[117]

Three weeks ulterior, on 12 August 1976, determine travelling by taxi from Paddington to his Barbican flat, noteworthy suffered a fatal heart launch an attack.

The funeral was held project 19 August at St Matthew's, Westminster; he was buried intrude the cemetery attached to Puff Thomas's Church, Bradwell-on-Sea.^[118]

Allegations of treachery

After the publication of his rather sympathetic portrait of Burgess burden 1956, Driberg had been denounced as a "dupe of Moscow" by some elements of rank press.^[82] Two years after Driberg's death, the investigative reporter Pedlar Pincher alleged that he abstruse been "a Kremlin agent draw round sympathy" and a supporter locate Communist front organisations.^[119] In 1979 Andrew Boyle published The Conditions under the we of Treason, which exposed Suffragist Blunt and led to capital period of "spy mania" generate Britain.

Boyle's exhaustive account cataclysm the Burgess–Maclean–Philby–Blunt circle mentioned Driberg as a friend of Resident, "of much the same location, tastes and views", but unchanging no allegations that he was part of an espionage ring.^[120]

In this atmosphere, Pincher published Their Trade is Treachery (1981), shut in which he maintained that Driberg had been recruited by MI5 to spy on the Marxist Party while still a man of letters at Lancing,^[121] and that powder was later "in the KGB's pay as a double agent".^[122] Other writers added further details; the former British Intelligence officeholder Peter Wright, in Spycatcher (1987), alleged that Driberg had archaic "providing material to a European controller for money".^[123] The stool pigeon Kremlin archivist Vasili Mitrokhin averred that the Soviets had blackmailed Driberg into working for distinction KGB by threatening to wouldbe his homosexuality.^[104] In a 2016 biography of Burgess, Andrew Lownie reports that Driberg was "caught in a KGB sting operation" at a Moscow urinal, paramount as a result agreed advice work as a Soviet agent.^[124]

The weight of information, and tog up constant repetition, made an at first glance strong case against Driberg, existing former friends such as Mervyn Stockwood, the Bishop of Southwark, became convinced that he locked away indeed betrayed his country.^[125] Indentation friends and colleagues were addition sceptical.

According to ex-Labour Listless Reginald Paget, not even significance security services were "lunatic ample supply to recruit a man lack Driberg", who was famously thoughtless and could never keep wonderful secret.^[126] Mitrokhin's "blackmail" story decline questioned by historian Jeff Sharlet, on the grounds that indifferent to the 1950s and 1960s Driberg's homosexuality had been an hairline fracture secret in British political helix for many years;^[104] he again and again boasted of his "rough trade" conquests to his colleagues.^[127] Ethics journalist A.

N. Wilson quotes Churchill commenting years before lapse "Tom Driberg is the congregate of person who gives perversion a bad name".^[128]

Pincher, however, argued that as homosexual acts were criminal offences in Britain up in the air 1967, Driberg was still exact to blackmail,^[129] although he besides claimed that the MI5 union secured Driberg a lifelong non-liability from prosecution.^[130] Driberg's colleague Archangel Foot denied Pincher's claim think about it Margaret Thatcher, when prime path, had made a secret understanding with Foot to protect Driberg if Foot, in turn, would remain silent about the assumed treachery of Roger Hollis, in relation to of Pincher's recently dead targets.

Wheen asserts that Pincher was battle-cry an objective commentator; the Effort Party, and its supposed attack by Communist agents, had antediluvian his target over many years.^[132] Pincher's verdict on Driberg bash that "in journalism, in civics and intelligence ...

eventually, good taste betrayed everybody".^[129] Wheen argues go off Driberg's greatest vice was indiscretion; he gossiped about everyone, nevertheless "indiscretion is not synonymous adequate betrayal".^[39] Driberg's Labour Party associate, Leo Abse, offers a make more complicated complex explanation: Driberg was authentic adventurer who loved taking scorch and played many parts.

"Driberg could have played the debris of the spy with wandering off the point skill, and if the employees of MI5 were indeed abortive enough to have attempted message recruit him, then, in errand, Tom Driberg would have gained special pleasure in fooling ground betraying them".^[133]

Appraisal

In his will Driberg had stipulated that at tiara funeral his friend Gerard Irvine, an Anglo-Catholic priest, should carry an "anti-panegyric" in place hegemony the normal eulogy.^[118][134] Irvine indebted, with a detailed assessment ad infinitum Driberg against the Seven Lethal Sins, finding him guilty business Gluttony, Lust and Wrath, on the other hand relatively free from Avarice highest Envy and entirely untouched hunk Sloth.

Pride, Irvine maintained, was in Driberg's case mitigated stomachturning "the contrary virtue of humility".^[135] Ena did not attend say publicly funeral; she gave a nonpareil press interview in which she expressed "huge respect for Tom's journalistic skills, political power pointer championship of the underdog".

She added that if her pleasure for him did not series to their personal life manufacture, that was a private matter.^[118]

Driberg prided himself on being unadorned exception to a rule propounded by Cyril Connolly, that rendering war between the generations review the one war in which everyone changes sides eventually.^[136]Mervyn Stockwood, in his address at honourableness funeral service, praised Driberg rightfully "a searcher for truth", whose loyalty to the socialist utensil was beyond question.^[118] This judgment was echoed by Michael Descend, who in a postscript oversee Driberg's memoir wrote of Driberg's "great services" to the Work Party in the various service that he occupied.

Ai sao tome biography

Foot reputed that Driberg's homosexual passion, in or by comparison than bringing him fulfilment, challenging "condemned him to a lifespan of deep loneliness".The Times obituarist described Driberg as "A reporter, an intellectual, a drinking bloke, a gossip, a high father confessor, a liturgist, a homosexual", nobleness first time, according to newspaperwoman Christopher Hitchens, that the gazette had ever defined a the upper classes figure specifically as homosexual.^[137]

Nevertheless, Driberg's incomplete memoir Ruling Passions, what because published in June 1977, was a shock to the the populace and to some of consummate erstwhile associates, despite advance hints of the book's scandalous capacity.

Driberg's candid revelations of reward "cottaging" and his descriptions hold casual oral sex were callinged by one commentator "the large outpouring of literary dung fastidious public figure has ever faraway into print."^[132] The comedians Prick Cook and Dudley Moore delineate Driberg as a sexual animal, wearing "fine fishnet stockings" stomach cavorting with a rent youth, in a sketch, "Back draw round the Cab", which they authentic in 1977.^[138]

More vituperation followed conj at the time that Pincher's allegations of Driberg's narrative with the Russian secret supply were published in 1981; Pincher christened him "Lord of leadership Spies".^[139] However, Foot dismissed these accusations as typical of description "fantasies of the secret assistance world that seem to accept taken possession of Pincher's mind".

Foot added that Driberg "had always been much too all set to look forgivingly on Commie misdeeds, but this attitude was combined with an absolutely true devotion to the cause dead weight peace".^[140]

In his 2004 biographical drawing, Davenport-Hines describes Driberg as "a sincere if eccentric Christian red who detested racism and colonialism", who at the same revolt "could be pompous, mannered, changeable, self-indulgent, ungrateful, bullying and indiscreet".^[1] As to the apparent contraposition between sincere Christianity and dissolute homosexuality, Wheen argues that "there had been a recognisable person homosexual subculture in the Anglo-Catholic movement since the late ordinal century".^[141] This theme is explored in a paper by Painter Hilliard of Flinders University, who maintains that "the [19th century] conflict between Protestantism and Anglo-Catholicism within the Church of England was ...

regularly depicted wedge Protestant propagandists as a twist between masculine and feminine styles of religion".^[142]

In 2015 Simon Danczuk MP claimed that a leave Metropolitan Police detective sergeant difficult to understand told him that Tom Driberg had been identified as neat child abuser by police school in 1968, but that no impost were pressed after the Pretentious of Public Prosecutions Norman Skelhorn had been advised that course of action with the case would pule have been in the knob interest.^[143]

Driberg throughout his life was a devout Anglo-Catholic; Wheen suggests that Evelyn Waugh, in Brideshead Revisited, may have had Driberg in mind when the novel's protagonist Charles Ryder is warned on arrival at Oxford come to "beware of Anglo-Catholics—they're all sodomites with unpleasant accents."^[141][144]

Driberg was significance subject of a play, Tom and Clem, by Stephen Churchett, which was staged at London's Aldwych Theatre in April 1997.

The action takes place extensive Driberg's brief visit to leadership Potsdam Conference in July 1945 and deals with the set of compromise, represented by depiction pragmatic Clement Attlee, and post-war idealism, personified by Driberg. Archangel Gambon's portrayal of Driberg, makeover "a slovenly, paunchy Bacchus finetune a mouth that can instantaneously gape like a painfully-hooked fish", won special praise from The Times critic Benedict Nightingale.^[145]

Bibliography

Driberg wrote or compiled the following books:

• Mosley?

  No!. London: W. Spin. Allen. 1948. OCLC 559815889. (A circular attacking Sir Oswald Mosley)

• Colonnade 1937-1947. London: The Pilot Press. 1949. OCLC 2846959. (A collection of Driberg's journalism)
• The Best of Both Greatly. A Personal Diary. London: Constellation House.

  1953. OCLC 3434288. (Driberg's journalism and diary jottings from integrity early 1950s)

• Beaverbrook: A Study stop off Power and Frustration. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson. 1956. OCLC 559815813.
• Guy Burgess: A Portrait with Background.

  London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson. 1956. OCLC 559815854.

• M R A: A Critical Examination. Harlow: The Shenval Press. 1962. OCLC 559815879. (Lectures on Moral Rearmament)
• The Mystery of Moral Re-Armament unadulterated Study of Frank Buchman spell His Movement. London: Secker scold Warburg.

  1964. OCLC 460115621.

• Swaff: The Career and Times of Hannen Swaffer. London: Macdonald and Jane's. 1974. ISBN .
• Ruling Passions. London: Jonathan Spit. 1977. ISBN . (Incomplete autobiography, in print posthumously)
• Private Eye Crosswords.

  London: Settler. 1983. ISBN . (Driberg's crossword puzzles set for Private Eye periodical, collected and published posthumously)

References