In its early years, leading figures included Howard, representing East Kent, Neame, representing West Kent, G. Tapp, who led its Sussex District, and George Roots, its chairman.
Howard, Neame, Simmons and Tapp all attended the March 1873 conference organised by the London Trades Council, which formed the Federal Union of Labourers.
This led to a widespread lockout, but due to the time of year, the union was unable to sustain support.
[3] Three years later, he was "publicly disgraced", and in an effort to make a new start, the union was renamed as the London and Southern Counties Labour League, still retaining 8,500 members.
[1][2] The following year, its executive decided to start a pottery, leading complaints that this would be a distraction and drain on resources, with some branches resigning from the union.