United Socialist Movement

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The United Socialist Movement was a libertarian communist political organisation based in Glasgow. It published a journal, The Word.

The group's roots lay in the Anti-Parliamentary Communist Federation. Guy Aldred, a leading figure in the group, came to believe that Parliamentarianism was essentially dead, and so there was no longer a need for an anti-Parliamentary propaganda group. In February 1933, he left, with supporters including Ethel MacDonald. In 1934, they linked up with some members of the Independent Labour Party to form the United Socialist Movement.

Aldred used the support of the group to stand for Parliament on an abstentionist platform, and also to stand for Glasgow City Council. The group opposed World War II, while trying to build a broad-based opposition.

The group was wound up in 1965, a couple of years after Aldred's death.

[edit] References

• The British Communist Left 1914-45, Mark Hayes (International Communist Current)
• Encyclopedia of British and Irish Political Organizations, Peter Barberis, John McHugh and Mike Tyldesley