The political cartoonist, Alan Hardman (1936-2024), was born in Barnsley, the son of a Yorkshire miner, but spent his latter years living at Laycock, near Keighley. After leaving school he completed a six year apprenticeship in lithographic printing in Barnsley.
He was called up for national service after which he moved to Maidenhead area in the Thames Valley to work. He became politically active in the early 1960s and joined the Labour Party. He came into contact with the left-wing Militant group, was attracted to their committed style of politics and became the group’s first printer when the Militant newspaper was first launched.
Although Alan had no formal art training, he was a talented artist and was drawn to cartooning as an effective way of delivering succinct and powerful political messages in a way that words on a page often struggle to match.
‘State Machine’
In addition to his many duties as a printer for the group, he began to create cartoons for the newspaper that were immediately popular with its readership. He was particularly influenced by the work of George Grosz, a German artist in the 1930s, who depicted in his drawings the often savage political struggles between the working and ruling classes in the country.
In 1971 Militant moved their printing operation to new premises in east London to produce Militant on a fortnightly basis, and Alan was to play a key and committed role in the establishment and operation of this, including the maintenance of the printing presses, as well as the design and production of the newspaper.
He was particularly and personally affected – given his family background – by the 1984-5 miners’ strike and the impact it was having on his Yorkshire home town and elsewhere in Britain. He produced a series of striking cartoons, often drawn following discussions with miners and other Militant supporters, which would then appear on the picket lines within days.
Alan produced many striking covers for Socialism Today (see example below). He also illustrated other Socialist journals, including the Militant International Review, and books, including the ‘Miners’ Long Road to Defeat’ (2004) by Ken Smith, published by Socialist Publications. He also illustrated publications by the journalist, John Pilger.
The Daily Cartoonist described Hardman as a person whose commitment, skills and dedication helped to amplify the message of socialism through his entire life:
“His skill lay in the political cartoons he regularly produced, which could convey quickly and simply political messaging which were usually designed as a commentary on ongoing events.”
After moving back to Yorkshire with his wife Sue. and children, Anna and Ben, Alan became an active member of the Yorkshire Socialist Party and was in 2014 invited to set up an exhibition of his many cartoons to mark 50 years since the founding of Militant. He also spoke at the anniversary meeting about his artwork, where he argued that ‘…every action in the struggle to transform society is a brushstroke in the greatest art possible.’ He later sold his cartoons, raising thousands of pounds to fund political events for the party.
Alan, left, on the platform of the 2014 meeting. His cartoons are shown on the wall behind the speakers.
In 2023 Alan Hardman worked with Bluecoat Press to produce the book, Need Not Greed, a collection of his cartoons from 1936 onwards, with the book sponsored by his many admirers. This was launched in 2024, although unfortunately Alan had died before the publication date.
See the Socialist Party obituary of Alan Hardman at Alan Hardman – cartoonist