 He is a nephew of the former Independent Labour Party leader and World War I conscientious objector, James Maxton.His father, also named John Maxton, was also a conscientious objector in World War I, and the younger John Maxton was himself a conscientious objector from 1955 to 1957, working on building sites and in farming.He was educated at Lord Williams's Grammar School, Thame, and subsequently attended University College, Oxford.