George Nicoll Barnes - Definition and Overview

George Nicoll Barnes (January 2, 1859 - April 21, 1940) was a British politician.

He was leader of the Labour Party from February 14, 1910 to February 6, 1911. He was Minister for Pensions (1916-1917) and Minister without Portfolio (1917-1920) under David Lloyd George. In 1918 the Labour Party decided to leave the Lloyd George Coalition but Barnes refused to resign. As a result he was expelled from the Labour Party and founded the National Democratic Party. After finishing as a minister he played no further significant role in British politics.

Barnes was born in Lochee, Forfar. He was apprenticed as an engineer and became General Secretary of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers. In 1895 he stood for the Independent Labour Party in Rochdale. He was elected MP for Glasgow Blackfriars in 1906 for the Labour Party.