Andrew MacLaren

Andrew MacLaren (28 May 1883 – 11 April 1975) was a British politician who represented Burslem as a Member of Parliament for three separate terms during the 20th century. A member of the Labour Party and Independent Labour Party, his passions were economic justice and art. He persistently campaigned for Land Value Taxation, founding the School of Economic Science (later renamed School of Philosophy and Economic Science) to advocate for the policy. He was also a painter.

History

Andrew MacLaren was born in a poor district of Glasgow. Early influences were Christianity, Mozart, Palestrina, and recent Irish history. An engineering apprentice from age 14 (working alongside John later Lord Reith), he attended art classes in the evening when able. From 17, when his father died, he had to provide for the family.

He was firmly against the welfare state, believing it merely appeared to be necessary due to the prevailing inequities in the economic system. As he saw it, without reforming land tenure the welfare state would bankrupt the state. This set him in conflict with the Labour leadership.

He was knowledgeable on renaissance art and in 1948 was commissioned by National Gallery to write a report on Leonardo da Vinci’s "Madonna of the Rocks".

He corresponded with many well known people of that age; the letters with George Bernard Shaw (on Land Value Taxation) are at the British Library.