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Socialist Alliance (England)
Encyclopedia
The Socialist Alliance was a left-wing electoral alliance in England between 1992 and 2005.
In late 2005, a small group reformed with the name "Socialist Alliance", with a mutual affiliation with the larger Alliance for Green Socialism
.
, Independent Labour Network
and independent socialists, from 1992 onward. They gradually coalesced into the national Network of Socialist Alliances. The Welsh Socialist Alliance
was closely allied to the SA but had separate origins.
The Socialist Alliance was named and expanded in 1999 when other Trotskyist groups including the Socialist Workers Party
, the International Socialist Group
and Workers Power joined, as did the formerly separate London Socialist Alliance
. In the 2002 local elections, the alliance gained one councillor in Preston. The Socialist Alliance had fraternal relations with the Scottish Socialist Party
.
The Socialist Alliance was riven by feuds, mostly concerning the behaviour of the Socialist Workers Party, which was by far the largest group participating in the Alliance, and which many felt dominated it. The Socialist Party of England and Wales left the Alliance in 2001 while Workers Power left in 2003.
In 2003, the SWP, supported by the ISG, led the SA into an alliance with George Galloway
and other figures involved in the Stop the War Coalition
to form the Respect Coalition
. A minority of the SA objected to the way this decision was carried out and argued that the SWP were using their block vote to push their line. Many of these dissidents objected to Respect on principle and all objected to the way the decision to join it was carried out, many forming the Socialist Alliance Democracy Platform
.
In late 2004, some Socialist Alliance member organisations, which had remained outside Respect, joined with the Socialist Party and the Alliance for Green Socialism
to establish the Socialist Green Unity Coalition
.
As the SWP switched its priorities to working within Respect the Socialist Alliance became virtually moribund during 2004 and was formally wound up in February 2005.
, Alliance for Green Socialism
, the Communist Party of Great Britain
, the Democratic Socialist Alliance
, the Republican Communist Network (Scotland), the Revolutionary Democratic Group
, the Socialist Unity Network
, the United Socialist Party, and the Walsall Democratic Labour Party) met again and claimed the name of the Socialist Alliance for a re-founded political organisation,http://www.cpgb.org.uk/article.php?article_id=92014 registered with the Electoral Commission
. In 2007, this small group entered into a mutual affiliation with its largest supporting organisation, the Alliance for Green Socialism.
In late 2005, a small group reformed with the name "Socialist Alliance", with a mutual affiliation with the larger Alliance for Green Socialism
Alliance for Green Socialism
The Alliance for Green Socialism is a socialist and environmentalist political grouping operating across Britain...
.
Origins
The alliance grew out of local Socialist Alliances, many of which ran in elections as the United Socialists. These were formed by the Socialist Party of England and Wales, Alliance for Workers' LibertyAlliance for Workers' Liberty
The Alliance for Workers' Liberty , also known as Workers' Liberty, is a Trotskyist group in Britain. The group has a complex history but has always been identified with the theorist Sean Matgamna...
, Independent Labour Network
Independent Labour Network
The Independent Labour Network was a left wing political organisation in the United Kingdom.It was founded in 1998 by MEPs Ken Coates and Hugh Kerr following their expulsion from the Labour Party. They stood candidates in the 1999 European Parliament election and were involved in setting up first...
and independent socialists, from 1992 onward. They gradually coalesced into the national Network of Socialist Alliances. The Welsh Socialist Alliance
Welsh Socialist Alliance
The Welsh Socialist Alliance was a socialist political organisation in Wales. It was closely related to, but separate from the Socialist Alliance.It was founded by the Socialist Party of England and Wales and Cymru Goch and some independents...
was closely allied to the SA but had separate origins.
The Socialist Alliance was named and expanded in 1999 when other Trotskyist groups including the Socialist Workers Party
Socialist Workers Party (Britain)
The Socialist Workers Party is a far left party in Britain founded by Tony Cliff. The SWP's student section has groups at a number of universities...
, the International Socialist Group
International Socialist Group
The International Socialist Group was a Trotskyist organisation in Britain. It was the British section of the Fourth International until July 2009 when it dissolved into Socialist Resistance.- Origin :...
and Workers Power joined, as did the formerly separate London Socialist Alliance
London Socialist Alliance
The London Socialist Alliance was an alliance of far-left socialist groups and individuals in London. It stood candidates in the for the Greater London Assembly Election in 2000, but supported Ken Livingstone in the mayoral elections held at the same time...
. In the 2002 local elections, the alliance gained one councillor in Preston. The Socialist Alliance had fraternal relations with the Scottish Socialist Party
Scottish Socialist Party
The Scottish Socialist Party is a left-wing Scottish political party. Positioning itself significantly to the left of Scotland's centre-left parties, the SSP campaigns on a socialist economic platform and for Scottish independence....
.
Contraction and dissolution
In late 2001, the Network of Socialist Alliances was transformed into a one-member-one-vote political party called the Socialist Alliance (a title already registered for electoral purposes). This new structure allowed the largest and most disciplined group within the Socialist Alliance to exercise a dominant and controlling role - if that organised group was a Democratic Centralist political party (i.e. able to instruct its members how to vote) then this was essentially a block vote. The new rules adopted by the Socialist Alliance in late 2001 (pushed through by the organised block-voting of SWP members) meant that activists and members of local Social Alliances affiliated to the national body had, in effect, to expel any members who declined to join the Socialist Alliance Party. In cases where a local Socialist Alliance declined to join the national body under these conditions the SWP instructed their local comrades to withdraw en-masse in an attempt to close the local Socialist Alliance down.The Socialist Alliance was riven by feuds, mostly concerning the behaviour of the Socialist Workers Party, which was by far the largest group participating in the Alliance, and which many felt dominated it. The Socialist Party of England and Wales left the Alliance in 2001 while Workers Power left in 2003.
In 2003, the SWP, supported by the ISG, led the SA into an alliance with 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...
and other figures involved in the Stop the War Coalition
Stop the War Coalition
The Stop the War Coalition is a United Kingdom group set up on 21 September 2001 that campaigns against what it believes are unjust wars....
to form the Respect Coalition
RESPECT The Unity Coalition
Respect is a socialist political party in England and Wales founded in 2004. Its name is a contrived acronym standing for Respect, Equality, Socialism, Peace, Environmentalism, Community and Trade Unionism.-Policies:...
. A minority of the SA objected to the way this decision was carried out and argued that the SWP were using their block vote to push their line. Many of these dissidents objected to Respect on principle and all objected to the way the decision to join it was carried out, many forming the Socialist Alliance Democracy Platform
Socialist Alliance Democracy Platform
The Socialist Alliance Democracy Platform was a faction of the Socialist Alliance , a left-wing political group of England and Wales which existed between 1999 and 2005....
.
In late 2004, some Socialist Alliance member organisations, which had remained outside Respect, joined with the Socialist Party and the Alliance for Green Socialism
Alliance for Green Socialism
The Alliance for Green Socialism is a socialist and environmentalist political grouping operating across Britain...
to establish the Socialist Green Unity Coalition
Socialist Green Unity Coalition
The Socialist Green Unity Coalition is an electoral alliance formed by leftist parties and political organisations in Great Britain prior to 2005 parliamentary election after the Respect Unity Coalition rejected requests to discuss an electoral arrangement to avoid clashes in...
.
As the SWP switched its priorities to working within Respect the Socialist Alliance became virtually moribund during 2004 and was formally wound up in February 2005.
Reformed group
In March 2005, a few groups and former members of the SA who did not join Respect met as the Socialist Alliance (Provisional). On November 12, 2005, most of the provisional grouping (independent members, and members of the Alliance for Workers' LibertyAlliance for Workers' Liberty
The Alliance for Workers' Liberty , also known as Workers' Liberty, is a Trotskyist group in Britain. The group has a complex history but has always been identified with the theorist Sean Matgamna...
, Alliance for Green Socialism
Alliance for Green Socialism
The Alliance for Green Socialism is a socialist and environmentalist political grouping operating across Britain...
, the 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:...
, the Democratic Socialist Alliance
Democratic Socialist Alliance
The Democratic Socialist Alliance is a left-wing political organisation in the UK.The DSA name was adopted for public political work, in June 2005, by a group of members of the Socialist Alliance Democracy Platform who declared an intention to continue the SADP against what the DSA claims was a...
, the Republican Communist Network (Scotland), the Revolutionary Democratic Group
Revolutionary Democratic Group
The Revolutionary Democratic Group is a socialist organisation in the United Kingdom. They were founded in the early 1980s as a split from London and Scottish branches of the Socialist Workers Party, of which, for many years, they considered themselves an "external faction".The ideological centre...
, the Socialist Unity Network
Socialist Unity Network
The Socialist Unity Network is a small network of the British left which is not affiliated with any single political party. It grew out of the Socialist Alliance in England, and was originally initiated by several non-aligned members of the SA executive in March 2004.Members of the Network are ...
, the United Socialist Party, and the Walsall Democratic Labour Party) met again and claimed the name of the Socialist Alliance for a re-founded political organisation,http://www.cpgb.org.uk/article.php?article_id=92014 registered with the Electoral Commission
Electoral Commission
An Electoral Commission or Election Commission is an election management body, in charge of overseeing the implementation of election procedures:*Albania: Komisioni Qendror i Zgjedhjeve*Australia: Australian Electoral Commission...
. In 2007, this small group entered into a mutual affiliation with its largest supporting organisation, the Alliance for Green Socialism.
List of supporting organisations
- Alliance for Workers' LibertyAlliance for Workers' LibertyThe Alliance for Workers' Liberty , also known as Workers' Liberty, is a Trotskyist group in Britain. The group has a complex history but has always been identified with the theorist Sean Matgamna...
- Communist Party of Great Britain (PCC)
- Democratic Labour PartyDemocratic Labour Party (UK)The Democratic Labour Party is a small British left-wing political party in Walsall, sometimes known as the Walsall Democratic Labour Party...
- Independent Labour NetworkIndependent Labour NetworkThe Independent Labour Network was a left wing political organisation in the United Kingdom.It was founded in 1998 by MEPs Ken Coates and Hugh Kerr following their expulsion from the Labour Party. They stood candidates in the 1999 European Parliament election and were involved in setting up first...
(disbanded before 2003) - International Socialist GroupInternational Socialist GroupThe International Socialist Group was a Trotskyist organisation in Britain. It was the British section of the Fourth International until July 2009 when it dissolved into Socialist Resistance.- Origin :...
- International Socialist League
- Lewisham Independent Socialists
- Red ActionRed ActionRed Action is a small British leftist political group formed in 1981. It became known for violently confronting racist and fascist opponents on the streets, and for supporting Anti-Fascist Action...
(left 2001) - Revolutionary Democratic GroupRevolutionary Democratic GroupThe Revolutionary Democratic Group is a socialist organisation in the United Kingdom. They were founded in the early 1980s as a split from London and Scottish branches of the Socialist Workers Party, of which, for many years, they considered themselves an "external faction".The ideological centre...
- Socialist Party of England and Wales (left 2001)
- Socialist Perspectives
- Socialist ResistanceSocialist ResistanceSocialist Resistance is a Trotskyist and ecosocialist organisation in Britain which publishes a Marxist periodical of the same name. In July 2009 the International Socialist Group merged into it, making SR the British Section of the Fourth International.-Origins:It was launched on 8 September...
- Socialist Solidarity NetworkSocialist Solidarity NetworkThe Socialist Solidarity Network is a grouping of socialists in the United Kingdom most of whom are former members of the Socialist Party of England and Wales...
- Socialist Workers PartySocialist Workers Party (Britain)The Socialist Workers Party is a far left party in Britain founded by Tony Cliff. The SWP's student section has groups at a number of universities...
- Workers International
- Workers Power (left 2003)
External links
- Socialist Alliance (2005)
- Democratic Socialist Alliance (formerly the Socialist Alliance Democracy Platform)
- People Before Profit SA 2001 Election Platform 1.6MB PDF
- 2001 Official UK Electoral Commission Report on the 2001 General Election
- Socialist Unity Network
- Set of documents relating to the Socialist Alliance hosted by the Socialist Party of England and Wales.