ABSTRACT
Undeterred by the failure of the Spa Fields and Orbiston communities, George Mudie relocated to London in the early 1830s, embracing the cause of the Labour Exchanges in 1832. Despite his enthusiasm, he found himself increasingly at odds with Robert Owen’s views on the subject, which were put to the test at the Gray’s Inn Road National Equitable Labour Exchange. In retaliation, Mudie founded the short-lived Gazette of the Exchange Bazaars , where he attacked two of Owen’s policies – the decision to lower the value of labour notes to attract new customers, and the suggestion that part of the Labour Exchange’s profits should be given to the government to reduce the national debt. Mudie saw this as an attack on working-class economic independence, and advocated producer-operated Labour Exchanges and a minimum wage to guarantee a fair reward of labour. He attempted to found a bazaar upon these principles, but to no avail.
