Independent Socialist Party (UK)
Encyclopedia
The Independent Socialist Party (ISP) was a political party
in the UK. It was formed in 1934 as a breakway from the Independent Labour Party
(ILP) in protest at the increasing power of the Revolutionary Policy Committee
within the ILP.
The ISP was led by Elijah Sandham, a former ILP MP who had been Chairman of the Lancashire
Division of the ILP. The Lancashire ILP newspaper Labour's Northern Voice also supported the ISP. Outside Lancashire, the ISP was supported by the literary critic John Middleton Murry
and his Adelphi magazine - and a small ISP based community was founded around his East Anglian home to show socialism
as a living entity.
The ISP was socialist and resolutely anti-war
, but was firmly anti-communist.
It failed to gain substantial support after its formation, and, following the death of its founders in the 1950s, the party wound itself up.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in the UK. It was formed in 1934 as a breakway from the Independent Labour Party
Independent Labour Party
The Independent Labour Party was a socialist political party in Britain established in 1893. The ILP was affiliated to the Labour Party from 1906 to 1932, when it voted to leave...
(ILP) in protest at the increasing power of the Revolutionary Policy Committee
Revolutionary Policy Committee
The Revolutionary Policy Committee was a faction within the former political party Independent Labour Party of the United Kingdom.The RPC was formed in 1931 by members of the Independent Labour Party who were especially unhappy with the gradualist policies of the Second Labour Government...
within the ILP.
The ISP was led by Elijah Sandham, a former ILP MP who had been Chairman of the Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
Division of the ILP. The Lancashire ILP newspaper Labour's Northern Voice also supported the ISP. Outside Lancashire, the ISP was supported by the literary critic John Middleton Murry
John Middleton Murry
John Middleton Murry was an English writer. He was prolific, producing more than 60 books and thousands of essays and reviews on literature, social issues, politics, and religion during his lifetime...
and his Adelphi magazine - and a small ISP based community was founded around his East Anglian home to show socialism
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
as a living entity.
The ISP was socialist and resolutely anti-war
Anti-war
An anti-war movement is a social movement, usually in opposition to a particular nation's decision to start or carry on an armed conflict, unconditional of a maybe-existing just cause. The term can also refer to pacifism, which is the opposition to all use of military force during conflicts. Many...
, but was firmly anti-communist.
It failed to gain substantial support after its formation, and, following the death of its founders in the 1950s, the party wound itself up.