Background
Lansbury was the son of Elizabeth (Brine) and Labour Party politician George Lansbury. He grew up in Poplar in the East End of London, and joined the Civil Service at a young age. Lansbury was elected to Poplar council in 1912, serving alongside his father.
Career
He represented both the Labour Party and the Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB). Later in the year, he worked on his father"s campaign for re-election on a radical platform of women"s suffrage at the Bow and Bromley by-election. He also supported Sylvia Pankhurst"s East London Federation of Suffragettes, serving as Honorary Treasurer in 1915.
From 1924 to 1925, he served as Mayor of Poplar, the country"s second Communist mayor after Joe Vaughan.
Subsequent twin sons, Bruce and Edgar, Junior., later became prominent film and television producers. In 1927, Lansbury"s firm was declared bankrupt.
In 1934, Lansbury wrote George Lansbury, My Father. In the work, he inadvertently quoted from confidential documents.
He was found to be in contravention of section 2 of the Official Secrets Acting 1911, and fined.
His book was recalled in order for the text to be censored.
Membership
In 1921, Lansbury was one of 29 Poplar councillors to be jailed as a result of the Poplar Rates Rebellion, while in 1924, he was elected as a substitute member of the CPGB"s Central Committee.