British left

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Contents

[edit] Active in England

[edit] Labour Party

Main article: Labour Party (UK)

The biggest (formerly) left-wing party in the UK in terms of members and representation is the Labour Party. The party had 201,374 members on 31 December, 2004 according to accounts filed with the Electoral Commission. The Labour Party grew out of the trade union movement and socialist political parties of the 19th century, and continues to describe itself as a party of democratic socialism. Under Tony Blair's leadership, however, the party has adopted a number of Thatcherite policies; this has led many observers to describe the Labour Party as social democratic or neo-liberal rather than democratic socialist. Blair himself has described New Labour's political position as a "Third Way". The Socialist Campaign Group is a left-wing grouping of Labour Party Members of Parliament in the United Kingdom. It was formed in 1981 by Tony Benn's supporters as a split from the Tribune Group. In the 2005 General Election Labour won 9,556,183 votes.

[edit] Respect - The Unity Coalition

Main article: Respect - The Unity Coalition

The next largest group is the Respect coalition which has the support of; Communist Party of Great Britain (Provisional Central Committee), The International Socialist Group, The Socialist Unity Network, Socialist Resistance and The Revolutionary Communist Party of Britain (Marxist-Leninist). Before its dissolution the coalition had the support of The national council of the Socialist Alliance. Respect allows its members to hold membership of other political organisations. It includes George Galloway, Respect's sole Member of Parliament, expelled from the Labour Party, The Socialist Workers Party, Members of the Muslim Association of Britain and Muslim Council of Britain, People of no other political organisation. Although the leader of Respect is listed in the register of political parties as Linda Smith (until November 22, 2004 Nick Wrack), George Galloway is often assumed to be its leader by the mainstream media. In fact, Respect does not have a leader as such and is run by an elected "national council", a full list of whom can be found on their website. In the 2005 general election, the respect coalition won 68,065 votes.

[edit] Other groups

[edit] Less than 500 votes

Including those who did not stand on principle or for practical reasons

[edit] Media (unaffiliated)

Main article: List of left-wing publications in the United Kingdom

[edit] Publications affiliated to parties

[edit] Further reading

  • Socialism in Britain by John Callaghan
  • A Socialist World is Possible by Peter Taffe
  • Britain's Road to Socialism by the CPB
  • A Dictionary of Alternatives by Martin Parker

[edit] See also

[edit] People

[edit] External links

[edit] Critiques