Background
Jenkins was born in Enfield, Middlesex into a "modest" family, his parents being a dairyman and a butcher"s daughter.
Jenkins was born in Enfield, Middlesex into a "modest" family, his parents being a dairyman and a butcher"s daughter.
He attended Enfield Grammar School and went to work for the Prudential Assurance 1930-1940.
He was the Chair of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament () between 1979 and 1981, succeeded by Joan Ruddock. His private papers are held at the London School of Economics. During World World War II he served with the Royal Observer Corps and the Royal Air Force from 1941, and after the war worked at Rangoon Radio until 1947, where he was director of English programmes.
An ardent left-winger, Jenkins was active in the Prudential Staff Association, the National Union of Bank Employees and the actors" union Equity, of which he was assistant general secretary 1957-1964.
Jenkins chaired his local Upper Norwood Labour Party and stood for the Council, and Marie was elected to Croydon Council for Whitehorse Manor ward in 1949. He stood for Parliament without success in Enfield West in 1950 and Mitcham in 1955.
In 1958 he became a London County Councillor for Hackney North & Stoke Newington until 1965 and served on the London Labour Party executive in 1962. He was also involved with the Arts Council.
He was made Shadow Arts Minister in 1973 and became the Arts Minister in 1974, being sacked in 1976 by the Prime Minister James Callaghan.
He lost his seat in the 1979 General Election and became Chair of in the same year. He was made a life peer as Baron Jenkins of Putney, of Wandsworth in Greater London on 14 May 1981. He continued to write pamphlets and radio plays, serving on the board of the Royal National Theatre.
Jenkins was a long time anti-nuclear campaigner and supporter of His anti-nuclear activities before the formation of led to rightwingers within the Labour Party attempting to block him as a parliamentary candidate.
He was Chair from 1979-1981 and Vice-Chair from 1981. This was the period in which underwent a major revival known as the "Second Wave".
Jenkins was involved in the Victory for Socialism group opposed to the 1956 Suez War and had been a supporter of and nuclear disarmament since its foundation in 1957.
43rd United Kingdom Parliament. 44th United Kingdom Parliament. 45th United Kingdom Parliament.
46th United Kingdom Parliament.
47th United Kingdom Parliament]
Jenkins was Member of Parliament for Putney and served as Arts Minister from 1974 to 1976. As a Member of the House of Lords, he was chair of the Lords group.