Robert Griffiths (politician)
Encyclopedia
Robert Griffiths is the general-secretary of the Communist Party of Britain
(CPB). He was elected by the CPB's Executive Committee in January 1998, in place of Mike Hicks, who, along with others, subsequently left the party he had a major role in founding.
Griffiths previously served as president of white-collar union AUEW-TASS
in Wales.
Employed as Plaid Cymru
research officer from 1974 until 1979, he published, with Gareth Miles, Sosialaeth i'r Cymry (Socialism for the Welsh People) in July 1979, and the following January founded the Welsh Socialist Republican Movement
(WSRM). The movement campaigned on a wide range of issues, including steel industry closures and holiday homes. In May 1982, the WSRM was active in support of Bobby Sands
and the other Irish
paramilitaries on hunger strike when Robert Griffiths was among those arrested and tried on bomb-related charges. Griffiths served time on remand but was found not guilty.
Griffiths joined the original Communist Party of Great Britain
in 1984 but was expelled a few years later as the conflict escalated between the party's Executive Committee and the faction in control of the journal Marxism Today
on the one side, and The Morning Star
management committee and major districts such as London
and the North West on the other. The immediate occasion for his expulsion was his authorship of the pamphlet Was Gramsci
a Eurocommunist? - A Reply to Roger Simon. He participated in the formation of the Communist Campaign Group, an alliance of members and former members of the Communist Party of Great Britain set up to defend the Morning Star in the early 1980s, becoming its Welsh secretary. He also edited and contributed to a paper critical of both the CPGB's programme, The British Road to Socialism and its Alternative Economic Strategy. The CCG split from the Communist Party of Great Britain in 1988 on the basis of the CPGB's party's existing rules, principles and programme, while dropping the 'Great' from its title to become the Communist Party of Britain (CPB)
. Griffiths subsequently took part in extensive redrafting of the party's programme, renamed Britain's Road to Socialism
.
In November 2004, Griffiths was a speaker at the Communist University - a now bi-annual event - hosted by the Welsh Communist Party in Pontypridd
under the question "How can we challenge the "New World Order
" and create a people's Wales?". Other speakers from across the progressive
, labour and socialist movements were George Galloway
, John Haylett, Andrew Murray
and Leanne Wood
.
He comes from the city of Cardiff
and was a Communist Party
candidate in the 2001 general election
standing for the Newport East constituency
and winning 173 votes (0.6%). He was a candidate in the Pontypridd constituency
for the 2005 general election
obtaining 233 votes (0.6%). Labour
held Pontypridd with 52.8% of the vote. Griffiths stood for the CPB
in
the Cardiff South and Penarth seat during the 2010 UK election and came bottom of the poll with 196 votes (0.4 per cent). The seat was held by Labour's Alun Michael (17,262 votes—38.9 per cent of the vote).
UK Parliament elections
Welsh Assembly elections
Communist Party of Britain
The Communist Party of Britain is a communist political party in Great Britain. Although founded in 1988 it traces its origins back to 1920 and the Communist Party of Great Britain, and claims the legacy of that party and its most influential members Harry Pollitt and John Gollan as its...
(CPB). He was elected by the CPB's Executive Committee in January 1998, in place of Mike Hicks, who, along with others, subsequently left the party he had a major role in founding.
Griffiths previously served as president of white-collar union AUEW-TASS
Technical, Administrative and Supervisory Section
The Technical, Administrative and Supervisory Section was a British trade union.In 1970, the Draughtsmen's and Allied Technicians' Association , Amalgamated Union of Engineering and Foundry Workers and Constructional Engineering Union amalgamated to form the Amalgamated Union of Engineering...
in Wales.
Employed as Plaid Cymru
Plaid Cymru
' is a political party in Wales. It advocates the establishment of an independent Welsh state within the European Union. was formed in 1925 and won its first seat in 1966...
research officer from 1974 until 1979, he published, with Gareth Miles, Sosialaeth i'r Cymry (Socialism for the Welsh People) in July 1979, and the following January founded the Welsh Socialist Republican Movement
Welsh Socialist Republican Movement
The Welsh Socialist Republican Movement was a short-lived political movement which was born out of frustration with Plaid Cymru's failure to oppose the first referendum on Welsh Devolution in 1979 in order to map out a specific policy of arguing for Independence...
(WSRM). The movement campaigned on a wide range of issues, including steel industry closures and holiday homes. In May 1982, the WSRM was active in support of Bobby Sands
Bobby Sands
Robert Gerard "Bobby" Sands was an Irish volunteer of the Provisional Irish Republican Army and member of the United Kingdom Parliament who died on hunger strike while imprisoned in HM Prison Maze....
and the other Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
paramilitaries on hunger strike when Robert Griffiths was among those arrested and tried on bomb-related charges. Griffiths served time on remand but was found not guilty.
Griffiths joined the original Communist Party of Great Britain
Communist Party of Great Britain
The Communist Party of Great Britain was the largest communist party in Great Britain, although it never became a mass party like those in France and Italy. It existed from 1920 to 1991.-Formation:...
in 1984 but was expelled a few years later as the conflict escalated between the party's Executive Committee and the faction in control of the journal Marxism Today
Marxism Today
Marxism Today was the theoretical journal of the Communist Party of Great Britain and was disestablished in 1991. It was particularly important during the 1980s under the editorship of Martin Jacques...
on the one side, and The Morning Star
The Morning Star
The Morning Star is a left wing British daily tabloid newspaper with a focus on social and trade union issues. Articles and comment columns are contributed by writers from socialist, social democratic, green and religious perspectives....
management committee and major districts such as London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and the North West on the other. The immediate occasion for his expulsion was his authorship of the pamphlet Was Gramsci
Antonio Gramsci
Antonio Gramsci was an Italian writer, politician, political philosopher, and linguist. He was a founding member and onetime leader of the Communist Party of Italy and was imprisoned by Benito Mussolini's Fascist regime...
a Eurocommunist? - A Reply to Roger Simon. He participated in the formation of the Communist Campaign Group, an alliance of members and former members of the Communist Party of Great Britain set up to defend the Morning Star in the early 1980s, becoming its Welsh secretary. He also edited and contributed to a paper critical of both the CPGB's programme, The British Road to Socialism and its Alternative Economic Strategy. The CCG split from the Communist Party of Great Britain in 1988 on the basis of the CPGB's party's existing rules, principles and programme, while dropping the 'Great' from its title to become the Communist Party of Britain (CPB)
Communist Party of Britain
The Communist Party of Britain is a communist political party in Great Britain. Although founded in 1988 it traces its origins back to 1920 and the Communist Party of Great Britain, and claims the legacy of that party and its most influential members Harry Pollitt and John Gollan as its...
. Griffiths subsequently took part in extensive redrafting of the party's programme, renamed Britain's Road to Socialism
Britain's Road to Socialism
Britain's Road to Socialism is the programme of the Communist Party of Britain and is adhered to by the Young Communist League and the editors of the The Morning Star...
.
In November 2004, Griffiths was a speaker at the Communist University - a now bi-annual event - hosted by the Welsh Communist Party in Pontypridd
Pontypridd
Pontypridd is both a community and a principal town of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales and is situated 12 miles/19 km north of the Welsh capital city of Cardiff...
under the question "How can we challenge the "New World Order
New World Order
New World Order, New world order or The New World Order may refer to:*New world order , any period of history evidencing a dramatic change in world political thought and the balance of power...
" and create a people's Wales?". Other speakers from across the progressive
Progressivism
Progressivism is an umbrella term for a political ideology advocating or favoring social, political, and economic reform or changes. Progressivism is often viewed by some conservatives, constitutionalists, and libertarians to be in opposition to conservative or reactionary ideologies.The...
, labour and socialist movements were George Galloway
George Galloway
George Galloway is a British politician, author, journalist and broadcaster who was a Member of Parliament from 1987 to 2010. He was formerly an MP for the Labour Party, first for Glasgow Hillhead and later for Glasgow Kelvin, before his expulsion from the party in October 2003, the same year...
, John Haylett, Andrew Murray
Andrew Murray (campaigner and journalist)
Andrew Murray is a British campaigner and journalist who has been Chair of the Stop the War Coalition from its formation in 2001. In this capacity he presided at the concluding rally of what is claimed as the largest political demonstration in British history, against the Iraq war in 2003...
and Leanne Wood
Leanne Wood
Leanne Wood AM , is a Welsh politician, born in the Rhondda, Wales, who has represented the South Wales Central region for Plaid Cymru as a Member of the National Assembly for Wales since 2003. Wood is known as a republican and socialist....
.
He comes from the city of Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
and was a Communist Party
Communist Party of Britain
The Communist Party of Britain is a communist political party in Great Britain. Although founded in 1988 it traces its origins back to 1920 and the Communist Party of Great Britain, and claims the legacy of that party and its most influential members Harry Pollitt and John Gollan as its...
candidate in the 2001 general election
United Kingdom general election, 2001
The United Kingdom general election, 2001 was held on Thursday 7 June 2001 to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. It was dubbed "the quiet landslide" by the media, as the Labour Party was re-elected with another landslide result and only suffered a net loss of 6 seats...
standing for the Newport East constituency
Newport East (UK Parliament constituency)
Newport East is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament using the first-past-the-post voting system.-Boundaries:...
and winning 173 votes (0.6%). He was a candidate in the Pontypridd constituency
Pontypridd (UK Parliament constituency)
-Elections in the 2000s:-Elections in the 1990s:-Elections in the 1980s:-Elections in the 1970s:...
for the 2005 general election
United Kingdom general election, 2005
The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005 to elect 646 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party under Tony Blair won its third consecutive victory, but with a majority of 66, reduced from 160....
obtaining 233 votes (0.6%). Labour
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...
held Pontypridd with 52.8% of the vote. Griffiths stood for the CPB
Communist Party of Britain
The Communist Party of Britain is a communist political party in Great Britain. Although founded in 1988 it traces its origins back to 1920 and the Communist Party of Great Britain, and claims the legacy of that party and its most influential members Harry Pollitt and John Gollan as its...
in
the Cardiff South and Penarth seat during the 2010 UK election and came bottom of the poll with 196 votes (0.4 per cent). The seat was held by Labour's Alun Michael (17,262 votes—38.9 per cent of the vote).
Elections contested
European Parliament| Year | Constituency | Party | Votes | % | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | South Wales Central South Wales Central (European Parliament constituency) South Wales Central was a European Parliament constituency covering south central Wales, including the city of Cardiff.Prior to its uniform adoption of proportional representation in 1999, the United Kingdom used first-past-the-post for the European elections in England, Scotland and Wales... |
CPB Communist Party of Britain The Communist Party of Britain is a communist political party in Great Britain. Although founded in 1988 it traces its origins back to 1920 and the Communist Party of Great Britain, and claims the legacy of that party and its most influential members Harry Pollitt and John Gollan as its... |
1,073 | 0.6 | Not elected; single member constituency |
| Year | Region | Party | Votes | % | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 European Parliament election, 2009 (United Kingdom) The European Parliament election was the United Kingdom's component of the 2009 European Parliament election, the voting for which was held on Thursday 4 June 2009, coinciding with the 2009 local elections in England. Most of the results of the election were announced on Sunday 7 June, after... |
Wales Wales (European Parliament constituency) Wales is a constituency of the European Parliament. It currently elects 4 MEPs using the d'Hondt method of party-list proportional representation.- Boundaries :... |
No2EU | 8,600 | 1.3 | Not elected; multi-member constituency |
UK Parliament elections
| Year | Constituency | Party | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 United Kingdom general election, 1997 The United Kingdom general election, 1997 was held on 1 May 1997, more than five years after the previous election on 9 April 1992, to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party ended its 18 years in opposition under the leadership of Tony Blair, and won the general... |
Pontypridd Pontypridd (UK Parliament constituency) -Elections in the 2000s:-Elections in the 1990s:-Elections in the 1980s:-Elections in the 1970s:... |
CPB Communist Party of Great Britain The Communist Party of Great Britain was the largest communist party in Great Britain, although it never became a mass party like those in France and Italy. It existed from 1920 to 1991.-Formation:... |
178 | 0.4 |
| 2001 United Kingdom general election, 2001 The United Kingdom general election, 2001 was held on Thursday 7 June 2001 to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. It was dubbed "the quiet landslide" by the media, as the Labour Party was re-elected with another landslide result and only suffered a net loss of 6 seats... |
Newport East Newport East (UK Parliament constituency) Newport East is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament using the first-past-the-post voting system.-Boundaries:... |
CPB Communist Party of Great Britain The Communist Party of Great Britain was the largest communist party in Great Britain, although it never became a mass party like those in France and Italy. It existed from 1920 to 1991.-Formation:... |
173 | 0.6 |
| 2005 United Kingdom general election, 2005 The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005 to elect 646 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party under Tony Blair won its third consecutive victory, but with a majority of 66, reduced from 160.... |
Pontypridd Pontypridd (UK Parliament constituency) -Elections in the 2000s:-Elections in the 1990s:-Elections in the 1980s:-Elections in the 1970s:... |
CPB Communist Party of Great Britain The Communist Party of Great Britain was the largest communist party in Great Britain, although it never became a mass party like those in France and Italy. It existed from 1920 to 1991.-Formation:... |
233 | 0.6 |
| 2010 | Cardiff South and Penarth | CPB Communist Party of Great Britain The Communist Party of Great Britain was the largest communist party in Great Britain, although it never became a mass party like those in France and Italy. It existed from 1920 to 1991.-Formation:... |
196 | 0.4 |
Welsh Assembly elections
| Year | Region | Party | Votes | % | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | South Wales Central | CPB Communist Party of Britain The Communist Party of Britain is a communist political party in Great Britain. Although founded in 1988 it traces its origins back to 1920 and the Communist Party of Great Britain, and claims the legacy of that party and its most influential members Harry Pollitt and John Gollan as its... |
653 | 0.3 | Not elected |
| 2003 | South Wales Central | CPB Communist Party of Britain The Communist Party of Britain is a communist political party in Great Britain. Although founded in 1988 it traces its origins back to 1920 and the Communist Party of Great Britain, and claims the legacy of that party and its most influential members Harry Pollitt and John Gollan as its... |
577 | 0.3 | Not elected |
| 2007 National Assembly for Wales election, 2007 The 2007 National Assembly election was held on Thursday 3 May 2007 to elect members to the National Assembly for Wales. It was the third general election. On the same day local elections in England and Scotland, and the Scottish Parliament election took place... |
South Wales Central | CPB Communist Party of Britain The Communist Party of Britain is a communist political party in Great Britain. Although founded in 1988 it traces its origins back to 1920 and the Communist Party of Great Britain, and claims the legacy of that party and its most influential members Harry Pollitt and John Gollan as its... |
917 | 0.4 | Not elected |
| 2011 National Assembly for Wales election, 2011 The National Assembly for Wales election 2011 was the most recent election for the National Assembly. The poll was held on Thursday, 5 May 2011 and decided the incumbency for all the assembly's seats... |
South Wales Central | CPB Communist Party of Britain The Communist Party of Britain is a communist political party in Great Britain. Although founded in 1988 it traces its origins back to 1920 and the Communist Party of Great Britain, and claims the legacy of that party and its most influential members Harry Pollitt and John Gollan as its... |
516 | 0.2 | Not elected |