Sir Oswald Mosley is one of the main antagonists of Peaky Blinders, serving as the main antagonist of Season 5 and the overarching antagonist of Season 6. He is the Minister of the Duchy of Lancaster, the deputy to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and the Cabinet adviser to the Prime Minister of Great Britain. He is also the MP for Smethwick, the constituency bordering South Birmingham, Thomas Shelby's constituency.
Character History[]
Background[]
He is a descendant of King John. He was a fencing champion in his youth. Prior to 1929, he met with many men in the UK who he thought could help him with his strategy; one of these men was Jimmy McCavern.
Series 5 · 1929[]
Mosley first introduces himself to Thomas after he gives a speech in Parliament, citing that he has done research on Thomas and is surprised to see someone with his history in a position of political power.
Meeting with Ada and Thomas Ada warns that she believes Mosley to be moving towards fascism, admitting that she advised Thomas not to meet with him. Mosley admits that the reason for his approaching Thomas is that he needs help with business in London, however Thomas declines, remarking that Birmingham is his constituency.
Mosley's past begins to be known when he meets with Arthur, Michael, and Thomas in Westminster. Thomas questions Mosley's previous meetings with men to rally support for his cause, including Jimmy McCavern, however Mosley denies knowing anyone by that name. He does push Arthur's patience by revealing that Linda Shelby has been seen with other men. However Arthur is persuaded to let it go.
Later, Thomas holds a party at his house for Lizzie, Mosley admits that he once knew Lizzie back in their youth when she would trade sex for money, something she stopped doing once Tommy hired her as his secretary. This is something that jitters Tommy, causing him to retaliate by making Mosley aware that he knows he is serially sleeping with members of his own family. At the party, Tommy makes it clear that if Mosley touches Lizzie, he is fair game for Johnny Dogs. Mosley takes the party as an opportunity to rally support for his new political party: the British Union of Fascists.
Mosley's actions soon become known to Churchill, who meets with Tommy to ask about the situation. Tommy explains the situation, and Churchill tells him to do whatever possible to stop the revolution and to contact him if he should need help. Unknown to Mosley, Churchill is referring to the assassination plot that Tommy has been forming, with Mosley as the target. Tommy recruits his former friend Barney to do the killing, which is planned to happen on the night of Mosley's speech, when Tommy is also on the stage, to keep the suspicion that the Peaky Blinders are involved at bay. Unfortunately, the assassination does not go as planned, and Mosley is able to escape alive.
Series 6 · 1934[]
Laura McKee informs Thomas that the IRA are the ones who foiled his assassination attempt of Mosley. The IRA want to protect Mosley's future in British and Irish politics.
Diana and Oswald get married at the home of Joseph Gobbels, with Adolf Hitler as guest of honor.
Real Life[]
Oswald Mosley is based on the real person Sir Oswald Ernald Mosley, 6th Baronet. He was a British politician during the 1920's and 1930's. He rose to fame when he turned to fascism after becoming disillusioned with mainstream politics. He was a member of parliament and founded and led the British Union of Fascists. His family traces its roots to Ernald de Mosley of Bushbury, Staffordshire in the time of King John in the 12th century. His first marriage was to Lady Cynthia Curzon. They had three children, Vivien Mosley, Nicholas Mosley, and Michael Mosley. During this marriage, Mosley began an extended affair with his wife's younger sister and a separate affair with their stepmother. When Cynthia died of peritonitis in 1933, Mosley married his mistress Diana Mitford in Nazi Germany at the home of Joseph Goebbels with Adolf Hitler as their guest of honor. Oswald and Diana had two sons, Alexander Mosley and Max Rufus Mosley.
Appearances[]
| Series 5 Appearances | |||||
| Black Tuesday | Black Cats | Strategy | The Loop | The Shock | Mr Jones |
| Series 6 Appearances | |||||
| Black Shirt | Gold | Sapphire | The Road to Hell | Lock and Key | |
Quotes[]
- "Welcome, men and women of Birmingham. Thank you for coming here on this cold, dark night, in spite of the obstruction and provocation of our enemies. Our enemies deal in bricks and stones and bottles. We deal in reasoned principle, argument and fact. Among those enemies, we can number Mr Winston Churchill, who last night condemned me in the House as a threat to democracy. But then Mr Churchill has never been a friend of the common people. Faced with the alternative of saying goodbye to the gold standard, and therefore to his own employment, he characteristically selected the latter, but of course not all attending tonight will be convinced of our cause. Some will have come here tonight to find out for themselves what we stand for."
- "I'm going to fuck the swan."
Gallery[]
