Big Flame (political group)
Encyclopedia
Big Flame was "a revolutionary socialist feminist organisation with a working-class orientation" in the United Kingdom
. Founded in Liverpool
in 1970, the group initially grew rapidly, with branches appearing in some other cities. Its publications emphasised that "a revolutionary party is necessary but Big Flame is not that party, nor is it the embryo of that party". The group was influenced by the Italian Lotta Continua
group.
The group published a magazine, Big Flame, and a journal, Revolutionary Socialism. Members were active at the Ford plants at Halewood
and Dagenham
. and devoted a great deal of time to self-analysis and considering their relationship with the larger Trotskyist
groups. In time, they came to describe their politics as "libertarian Marxist". In 1978 they joined the Socialist Unity electoral coalition, led by the Trotskyist International Marxist Group
.
In 1980, the anarchists of the Libertarian Communist Group joined Big Flame. The Revolutionary Marxist Current
also joined at about this time. However, as more members of the group defected to the Labour Party
, the journal ceased to appear in 1982, and the group was wound up in about 1984.
Ex-members of the group were involved in the launch of the mass-market tabloid newspaper the News on Sunday
in 1987, which folded the same year.
The name 'Big Flame' came from a television play, The Big Flame (1969), written by Jim Allen
and directed by Ken Loach
for the BBC
's Wednesday Play season. It dealt with a fictional strike in the Liverpool
Docks.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Founded in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
in 1970, the group initially grew rapidly, with branches appearing in some other cities. Its publications emphasised that "a revolutionary party is necessary but Big Flame is not that party, nor is it the embryo of that party". The group was influenced by the Italian Lotta Continua
Lotta Continua
Lotta Continua was a far left extra-parliamentary organization in Italy. It was founded in autumn 1969 by a split in the student-worker movement of Turin, which had started militant activity at the universities and factories such as Fiat...
group.
The group published a magazine, Big Flame, and a journal, Revolutionary Socialism. Members were active at the Ford plants at Halewood
Halewood
Halewood is in Merseyside, England and is located in the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley. The district lies near Liverpool's southeastern boundary, bordered by the suburbs of Hunts Cross and Woolton....
and Dagenham
Dagenham
Dagenham is a large suburb in East London, forming the eastern part of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and located east of Charing Cross. It was historically an agrarian village in the county of Essex and remained mostly undeveloped until 1921 when the London County Council began...
. and devoted a great deal of time to self-analysis and considering their relationship with the larger Trotskyist
Trotskyism
Trotskyism is the theory of Marxism as advocated by Leon Trotsky. Trotsky considered himself an orthodox Marxist and Bolshevik-Leninist, arguing for the establishment of a vanguard party of the working-class...
groups. In time, they came to describe their politics as "libertarian Marxist". In 1978 they joined the Socialist Unity electoral coalition, led by the Trotskyist International Marxist Group
International Marxist Group
The International Marxist Group was a Trotskyist group in Britain between 1968 and 1982. It was the British Section of the Fourth International. It and its youth organisation had had around 1,000 members and supporters in the late 1970s...
.
In 1980, the anarchists of the Libertarian Communist Group joined Big Flame. The Revolutionary Marxist Current
Revolutionary Marxist Current
The Revolutionary Marxist Current is a Trotskyist tendency within the United Socialist Party of Venezuela ....
also joined at about this time. However, as more members of the group defected to the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
, the journal ceased to appear in 1982, and the group was wound up in about 1984.
Ex-members of the group were involved in the launch of the mass-market tabloid newspaper the News on Sunday
News on Sunday
The News on Sunday was a left-wing British tabloid newspaper. It was launched in April 1987. Publication ceased seven months later, in November 1987.-Origins:...
in 1987, which folded the same year.
The name 'Big Flame' came from a television play, The Big Flame (1969), written by Jim Allen
Jim Allen (playwright)
James "Jim" Allen was a socialist playwright from England, best known for his collaborations with Ken Loach.- Early life :...
and directed by Ken Loach
Ken Loach
Kenneth "Ken" Loach is a Palme D'Or winning English film and television director.He is known for his naturalistic, social realist directing style and for his socialist beliefs, which are evident in his film treatment of social issues such as homelessness , labour rights and child abuse at the...
for the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's Wednesday Play season. It dealt with a fictional strike in the Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
Docks.
Further reading
- Thompson P., Lewis G. The Revolution Unfinished? A Critique of Trotskyism at Encyclopaedia of Trotskyism On-Line (ETOL) (from original article in Big Flame Liverpool 1977)