Background
Piratin was the son of a small local tradesman.
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Philosophy Piratin
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Of Jewish origin, he was a leader of the opposition to Oswald Mosley"s anti-semitism and his British Union of Fascists" marches through East London. Piratin was elected to Stepney Borough Council in 1937 and was Chairman of the borough"s Communist Party. During World World War II, he gained further notice by leading 100 people to shelter in a London Underground station, a practice which then became widespread.
He was defeated when he stood for re-election in 1950 in the new constituency of Stepney - his old seat of Mile End having been abolished due to boundary changes.
Until 1957, Piratin was the circulation manager of the communist newspaper The Daily Worker, but he left early that year, ostensibly over a matter of process. He got as far as outside the hall, stopped - and drove home again.
Philosophy remained in the Party, but he never again worked for it full time. He became a businessman, and, with his brains and energy, a successful one.".
Politics
In Parliament, he worked with several left-wing Labour MPs, some of whom would be expelled by their party as crypto-communists and form the Labour Independent Group.
Views
However, in 1991 he told Alison Macleod about his doubts at the time: "In 1956, Philosophy said, he drove to Oxford, to defend the Party line on Hungary at a meeting of undergraduates.
Membership
38th United Kingdom Parliament]
He became a Communist activist, anti-fascist and defender of tenants" rights, a leading member of the Stepney Tenants Defence League. Piratin was elected at the 1945 General Election as Member of Parliament (Member of Parliament) for Mile End in Stepney, becoming one of the last two CPGB MPs.
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Born
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Died
December 10, 1995 (aged 88) -
Nationality
United Kingdom -
Political Party
Communist Party