Movement for Socialism (Britain)
Encyclopedia
The Movement for Socialism is a socialist group in the United Kingdom
, led by Cliff Slaughter
. It originated as one half of the major split in the Workers Revolutionary Party of 1985, following allegations about Gerry Healy
's sexual activities. Initially, both halves continued under the WRP name and both published a newspaper named News Line, but Slaughter's group later renamed the publication Workers Press. As a result, the group was known as the WRP (Slaughter) or WRP (Workers Press).
.. Another early split was the International Communist Party, which later became the Socialist Equality Party (UK)
.
The group entered into a period in which its press became the focus of debate on the history of the WRP/ICFI for the members of the WRP and other Trotskyists in Britain and abroad. It was also very active in the Workers' Aid for Bosnia
movement and had close links with Searchlight South Africa. Important members included Peter Fryer
, Cyril Smithhttp://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/smith-cyril/ and Charlie Pottinshttp://randompottins.blogspot.com/search?q=%22workers+press%22.
Moves were made to organise an Open Conference of Trotskyists throughout the world, but this miscarried and in the end a minority of the WRP around veteran Bill Hunter
and Martin Ralph were to form the Bolshevik Faction in August 1987. This split in February 1988 to form the International Socialist League as a section of Argentinian Trotskyist leader Nahuel Moreno
's International Workers League (LIT).
In 1990, the WRP (WP), along with a few other Trotskyist groups, including the Group of Opposition and Continuity of the Fourth International (GOCFI), led by Balazs Nagy, formed the Workers International to Rebuild the Fourth International
.
The Movement for Socialism publishes an occasional journal Reclaim the Future. It should not be confused with the similarly named groups Movements for Socialism or Movement for a Socialist Future.
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...
, led by Cliff Slaughter
Cliff Slaughter
-Life:During the Second World War, Cliff Slaughter worked in a coal mine as one of the Bevin Boys. While there, he was injured when kicked by a pit pony.He later became a lecturer and writer on sociology and Marxism...
. It originated as one half of the major split in the Workers Revolutionary Party of 1985, following allegations about Gerry Healy
Gerry Healy
Thomas Gerard Healy, known as Gerry Healy , was a political activist, a co-founder of the International Committee of the Fourth International, and, according to former prominent U.S. supporter David North, the leader of the Trotskyist movement in Great Britain between 1950 – 1985...
's sexual activities. Initially, both halves continued under the WRP name and both published a newspaper named News Line, but Slaughter's group later renamed the publication Workers Press. As a result, the group was known as the WRP (Slaughter) or WRP (Workers Press).
Workers' Revolutionary Party (Workers Press)
The group was initially led by Slaughter and Michael Banda, but Banda left in 1986 to form the Communist ForumCommunist Forum
The Communist Forum was formed in 1986 by Michael Banda as a breakaway from the Workers' Revolutionary Party . It later became the Marxist Philosophy Forum in 1987, and died out shortly afterwards....
.. Another early split was the International Communist Party, which later became the Socialist Equality Party (UK)
Socialist Equality Party (UK)
The Socialist Equality Party is a Trotskyist group in Britain. It is part of the International Committee of the Fourth International, which publishes the World Socialist Web Site. The party's origins lie in the Workers Revolutionary Party until the majority of that party split from the ICFI in...
.
The group entered into a period in which its press became the focus of debate on the history of the WRP/ICFI for the members of the WRP and other Trotskyists in Britain and abroad. It was also very active in the Workers' Aid for Bosnia
Workers' Aid for Bosnia
Workers' Aid for Bosnia was founded in London, United Kingdom in 1993, after a call by the Campaign Against Fascism in Europe . Sixty people – socialists, trade unionists and Bosnian refugees – met to discuss how to organise solidarity with those people in ex-Yugoslavia defending a...
movement and had close links with Searchlight South Africa. Important members included Peter Fryer
Peter Fryer
Peter Fryer was an English Marxist writer and journalist.-Early life:Peter Fryer joined the Young Communist League in 1942 and the Communist Party in 1945. On leaving school in 1943 he became a reporter on the Yorkshire Post, and was dismissed by the paper in 1947 for refusing to leave the...
, Cyril Smithhttp://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/smith-cyril/ and Charlie Pottinshttp://randompottins.blogspot.com/search?q=%22workers+press%22.
Moves were made to organise an Open Conference of Trotskyists throughout the world, but this miscarried and in the end a minority of the WRP around veteran Bill Hunter
Bill Hunter (Trotskyist)
Bill Hunter is a veteran Trotskyist leader in Britain and a member of the International Socialist League.- Life :Hunter began his revolutionary career as a member of the Independent Labour Party during World War II, when he was a part of the circle around the Free Expression discussion magazine in...
and Martin Ralph were to form the Bolshevik Faction in August 1987. This split in February 1988 to form the International Socialist League as a section of Argentinian Trotskyist leader Nahuel Moreno
Nahuel Moreno
Nahuel Moreno was a Trotskyist leader from Argentina. Moreno was active in the Trotskyist movement from before World War II until his death....
's International Workers League (LIT).
In 1990, the WRP (WP), along with a few other Trotskyist groups, including the Group of Opposition and Continuity of the Fourth International (GOCFI), led by Balazs Nagy, formed the Workers International to Rebuild the Fourth International
Workers International to Rebuild the Fourth International
The Workers International to Rebuild the Fourth International is an Trotskyist international organisation. It is based in the United Kingdom and consists of a remnant of the Workers Revolutionary Party....
.
Movement for Socialism
In 1996 the decision was taken to abandon the name WRP, and the group renamed itself the Movement for Socialism. This later split again, with Slaughter's group continuing to use the name MFS and the Bob Archer and Dot Gibson group going by the name WIRFI.The Movement for Socialism publishes an occasional journal Reclaim the Future. It should not be confused with the similarly named groups Movements for Socialism or Movement for a Socialist Future.