[1] In 1937, he wrote a comprehensive account of the movement, England: Cradle of Co-operation,[3] while he also launched the United Peace Alliance to campaign against Franco in the Spanish Civil War.
[4] In 1941, Elliott moved to London to work on the Evening Standard, then showing sympathy with radical causes under its editor, Michael Foot.
He succeeded Foot as editor in 1943, but left during the run-up to the 1945 general election after owner Lord Beaverbrook began pressing him to advocate a vote for the Conservative Party.
He later moved to supervise the Mirror's newspaper and radio operations in Australia, but returned to become general manager of the Daily Herald in 1952.
[5] He was then engaged by Tim Hewat to research a brief for a television documentary strand on ITV, to be based on social issues.