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100 years for socialism WELCOME to our Party’s centenary and to this by Liz Payne special celebratory supplement. Communist Party chair It is very fitting that this pull-out is an edition of Unity. A hundred years ago the founding event of our Party was a Unity Convention in London on Today, our Party welcomes all of you as we reflect 31 July and 1 August 1920, bringing together the once again on all that unites us in our struggle most progressive organisations and individuals into against British imperialism and for ever greater a revolutionary force to fight for socialism. democracy and justice as we take our first steps Our first chair, elected by the convention, Arthur into our second century along Britain’s Road to MacManus welcomed the delegates, presented a Socialism. report on the unity negotiations that had led to the We invite you to join us, not only in celebration, great coming-together of the day, and read greetings but in the class struggle to win state power and from sister parties and leading comrades, including build a Britain free of all oppression and exploita- one from Lenin himself. tion. Forward to the next 100 years! Unity! Centenary Special co-edited by 2 Solidarity Phil Katz and James Rodie August 2020

International greetings to Britain’s Communists Vera Dehle-Thaelmann, granddaughter of Ernst Thaelmann

Dear comrades, I wish you, all of us, a lot of crea- and others to solve the problems For a world I, Vera Dehle-Thaelmann grand- tive energy for the struggle of the for us. We must remain active of peace and daughter of Ernst Thaelmann, unity of the working class, for the ourselves and stay in dialogue freedom, interna- would like to congratulate you unity in action of all anti-fascist with all people who fight against tional understanding and interna- on the 100th anniversary of the forces. all kinds of racism, anti-semitism tional solidarity against war and founding of your party. We cannot rely on parliaments and sexism. destruction.

Communist tinue strengthening the relationship of time – a century, as a Communist Party The SACP acknowledges the invalu- Party of China friendship between our parties. for working class unity for socialism, for able role played by the CPB and the the international solidarity of working British working-class in our South Afri- On the occasion of the Progressive people and against imperialism and war. can struggle against apartheid. centenary of the found- Party of We also think that there is no class The SACP expresses its message ing of communist party in Britain, struggle without international col- of solidarity with the British working- the International Department of the Working People laboration and unity of the comrades class as it battles the novel coronavirus Central Committee of the Communist (Akel, Cyprus) abroad. Therefor we highly welcome (Covid-19) and its impact. The SACP Party of China (CPC) would like to On the centenary of the Communist all initiatives for future collaboration further conveys its sincere condolences extend its heartfelt congratulations to Party of Britain, the Central Commit- between our two parties. to all the families that lost their loved all comrades of the Communist Party tee of Akel extends to you fraternal I wish you good health, happiness and consequent on the deadly disease. of Britain (CPB). greetings and wishes every success in success. May our traditional relationship For years, the CPB has made posi- the challenges ahead. be strengthened and further developed. tive efforts to disseminate Marxism, Akel highly appreciates the strug- JP (Juha-Pekka) Väisänen, Chairperson, Communist uphold British workers’ rights and gles waged by British Communists for The Communist Party of Finland Party of interests and promote social justice. the rights and interests of the working The CPC stands ready to further people, the longstanding international- Communist Ukraine strengthen exchanges and co-oper- ist and principled solidarity extended Party of the Please accept my personal ation with the CPB and learn from throughout the years to national lib- and the Communist Party of Ukraine’s each other, so that we can make new eration movements, against British Russian sincere and heartfelt congratulations on contributions to enhancing China- colonialism, against fascism, for the Federation the 100th anniversary of the founding of Britain relations and safeguarding noble ideals of peace and socialism. The Central Committee of the Com- the Communist Party of Great Britain. world peace. British and Cypriot communists munist Party of the Russian Federation We, the Communists of Ukraine, International Department Central Com- fought together in the International warmly congratulates you on the occa- are convinced that the Communist mittee Communist Party of China. Brigades, their relations were forged sion of the 100th anniversary since the Party of Britain consistently and in the class struggle in Britain. Akel foundation of the CP Britain. principally upholds the position to Communist values particularly the CPB’s solidarity Since that date in 1920 the Party protect the real interests of workers. N 1918, the so-called war to end Party of Cuba in the struggle to end Turkish occu- has covered a long way of struggle for The Communist Party of Britain makes wars finished. pation and achieve the reunification peace, human and democratic rights, every effort to fulfil its role as the Europe was impoverished. Mil- On behalf of the Com- of Cyprus and the dismantling of the justice and socialism in the country revolutionary, ideological and political lions had been slaughtered in the munist Party of Cuba, we British bases in Cyprus. heading the fight of national prole- vanguard of the working class. grand scramble for colonies. extend our congratula- tariat along with contribution to the It is our joint task to rally the com- Revolts had taken place in the tions on the occasion of the centenary Communist international struggle for our common munist and workers’ parties in a single armedI forces of many of the belliger- of the foundation of the Communist Party of ideals and socialism. international movement in the struggle ent countries. Attempts were made at Party of Britain. This commemora- The centenary of the CPB is marked for the triumph of socialism — the revolution in Hungary and Germany, tion takes place amid an extremely Finland by uneasy atmosphere of global eco- most just and humane society. and workers’ occupations in Italy. complex international situation, which On behalf of the Central nomic crisis followed by Covid-19 Today, the international communist One of the major reasons the war demands higher unity and co-opera- Committee of the Commu- pandemic covering all countries of the and labour movement, the working finished was the Bolshevik Revolution tion among communist and left-wing nist Party of Finland I would like to world and aggravating social conflicts. people of all countries must organise in Russia in November 1917. The Bol- parties against imperialist aggression. extend to the Central Committee of But despite such a complicated situ- and show their strength, giving a deci- sheviks took Russia out of the war, as We take advantage of this oppor- the Communist Party of Britain and the ation, communists of Great Britain are sive rebuff to imperialism, anti-com- they said they would. That was not tunity to express gratitude from our leadership of the Communist Party of always at the front line of social battle munism, neo-fascism and terrorism, their only success Party for the permanent solidarity Britain my best regards and wishes by keep on fighting for national prole- while breaking the multifaceted traps Their achievement had given hope work developed by the Communist congratulating the Communist Party tariat and Marxism-Leninism. that the bourgeoisie and imperialist to millions the world over that a new Party of Britain to end the criminal of Britain in its 100 years celebration. The CPRF expresses its solidar- unions like the EU and Nato set up. socialist society was possible. Here economic, financial, and commercial The Communist Party of Finland ity with your fight. Today our joint Workers of all countries, unite! was a concrete example of workers blockade imposed on the Cuban peo- finds it for the international communist efforts are required more than ever, Long live the 100 years of the struggle taking power into their own hands. ple for more than 60 years. movement highly important that CP of we appreciate them and pay tribute to of the Communist Party of Great Britain! Enthusiasm for Russia was wide- We reiterate the willingness to con- Britain has campaigned a monumental your contribution in our joint activity. Petro Symonenko, First Secretary, spread especially in Britain. Support Communist Party of Ukraine groups sprang up, local councils passed South African resolutions calling for no intervention STANDING UP: Communist against the new Soviet republic. Women march Communist Party of Industrial unrest affected the major against Party industrial centres. Ireland was in revolt. unemployment The South African Com- Venezuela Revolution was in the air. in the early ’30s munist Party (SACP) congratulates the With great joy, the Communist These factors combined to give Communist Party of Britain (CPB) on Party of Venezuela congratulates you birth to Britain’s Communist Party. its 100th anniversary since its founding on the celebration of the 100th anni- Many had been discussing the need on 31 July 1920. versary of the founding of the Com- for a unified revolutionary socialist The founding of the CPB marked a munist Party of Britain. party since the collapse of the Social- welcome development in the building Safeguarding for 100 years the very ist International at the start of the war of the world working class movement existence of the Communist Party when, with honourable exceptions, Visit against the system of capitalist exploi- against multiple attacks by the class socialists had beat the same war drum tation and its consequent forms of enemy, consequently carrying the flags of as their respective capitalist govern- our website dispossession and oppression. Marxism-Leninism, defending the rights ments. communistparty.org.uk The CPB has endured attacks from of the working class and of all workers The British Socialist Party (BSP) and for more among the most advanced capitalist is a great example for the Venezuelan Independent Labour Party (ILP) were centenary regimes of the world, based on its communists. Our parties will strengthen two of the most prominent and had greetings structural location in Britain, an impe- their ties and we will fight together for formed a United Socialist Council in rialist and former colonial power. social justice, peace and socialism. August 1916 Credit and thanks for permission to reproduce some images go to Marx Memorial Library Despite the relentless attacks, the CPB Long live the Communist Party of The following year the BSP pushed & Workers School, the Working Class Movement Library and the International Brigades continued to wage the struggle for social- Britain! Long live proletarian interna- unity. The Socialist Labour Party (SLP), Memorial Trust and for the loan of various images. ism and played its internationalist role. tionalism! Long live socialism! mainly based in Scotland, lent support. www.communistparty.org.uk @CPBritain Foundation 3

PIONEERS: The first Communist Party central committee Meet the party of a new type HROUGHOUT its 100- by Rob Griffiths year history, the Com- munist Party has never had a membership of itself in every major area of economic, more than one in 625 of social, cultural and political struggle. the adult population in Thirdly, the Communist Party bases TBritain or one in 150 of the unionised itself on the working class, as the force workforce. Individual membership of in society with the potential and the the Labour Party has usually been at necessity to liberate itself from the least 20 times higher than that for the exploitation, crises, insecurity, inequali- CP, even before taking several million ties and inhumanities of capitalism. political levy payers into account. Understanding that this alone makes Yet Communists have played out- possible the liberation of society as a standing roles in a wide range of pop- whole, the CP welcomes all into its ular movements and mass struggles ranks regardless of class, race, national- over much of that period, out of all ity, sex, gender and sexual orientation. proportion to their number. We promote unity in the common This is not due to any superhuman struggle to abolish all the forms of qualities on their part. While they have exploitation and oppression fostered shown themselves to be among the and sustained by capitalism's class- most dedicated, hard-working and based society. clear-headed activists in the trade Fourth, the CP seeks to assist the union, peace, tenants and other move- labour and progressive movements to ments, many others have been their fight consciously and strategically, not Uniting Britain’s equals if not their betters. just from day to day. Ideally, today’s Clearly, working in alliance with victories should help lay the basis for non-CP activists has often helped bigger victories tomorrow, enabling elevate Communists to influential the working class and its allies to make positions at every level. ever deeper inroads into the preroga- But even this cannot explain the tives, wealth and state power of the achievements and acclamations won monopoly capitalist class. working class by CP members over the decades. Fifth, as a small party, it is all the more The key to their disproportionate important that the CP draws upon the by Mike Squires munist strategy for years to come, her opposition to the majority view impact in the labour and progressive commitment, creativity and initiative delegates voted to do both. of parliamentary struggle led her to movements has been their active of its members in order to make the Although the July Unity Convention stay outside the new party. membership of a party of a different, most effective contribution possible to More discussion took place throughout had united the bulk of the organisa- There was a sizeable number of ILP special type. the labour and progressive movements. 1918 and in May 1919 the main con- tions wanting a Communist Party, members, known as the Left Wing The new updated edition of party One of the ironies of recent decades stituents of what was to become the there were still significant groups and Group, who observed the merger programme Britain's Road to Socialism is that the party's “anti-Stalinist” critics CPGB held a representative meeting. individuals outside. process rather than participate while identifies the essential features which, include political organisations which The core of the new party was Some of these had been attending pushing for the ILP to affiliate to the combined, distinguish the Communist tolerate little or no internal dissent to be made up of members of the the Second Congress of the newly Communist International after staying Party from all others. and are dominated by leaderships that BSP, the largest group; the SLP; the created Communist International in outside the reformed Socialist Interna- First, the CP bases itself on the ideas dictate policy with little or no regard Workers Socialist Federation (WSF), Moscow, which took place at the same tional at its 1920 conference. of Marx, Engels and Lenin about the for the preferences of their members. mainly based in London’s East End and time as the Unity Convention The next year it also decided against class character of capitalist society, the Finally, the CP in Britain is part of a virtual fiefdom of Sylvia Pankhurst; On their return they pressed for a affiliating to the Communist Interna- exploitation of labour power, the role the international communist move- and the South Wales Socialist Society. further convention that would incor- tional, leading around 500 ILP mem- of the state, the development of impe- ment. It participates in the annual The SLP later split over unity. Those porate those groups and individuals bers to jump ship to the new Com- rialism and the need for a revolution- meeting of more than 90 Communist supporting the proposal became know who were still outside the CPGB. munist Party. ary party to ensure that the working and workers’ parties and benefits from as the Communist Unity Group. These included the Shop Stewards and These included another future Com- class and its allies take political power extensive bilateral links with scores of Numerous local groups had sprung Workers Committee Movement, the munist MP, Shapurji Saklatvala; Emile and use it to overthrow capitalism and parties and national liberation move- up in the immediate aftermath of the newly created Scotland-based Com- Burns, who became a prominent its state. ments around the world. war, Hands Off Russia committees, munist Labour Party — of which Wil- Marxist theorist; and Rajani Palme This means that, as a top prior- The struggle for human emancipa- militant shop stewards in Glasgow and lie Gallacher, later a Communist MP, Dutt, editor of Labour Monthly who ity, the CP consciously and actively tion and socialism is universal. Sheffield began liaising and organising. was a member — various communist would become a leading party theo- engages in the battle of ideas against But our first responsibility is, as Marx Daily Herald groups and local socialist guild groups and some from the WSF retician and activist. those which serve the interests of the and Engels put it in the original Com- societies proliferated. whose leader Sylvia Pankhurst had just The CPGB came about after the ruling class. munist Manifesto, to “settle accounts” Members of all these groups played returned from Moscow. world turned upside down amid the Hence the emphasis within the with our own ruling capitalist class. a part in the first Communist Unity The Second Unity Convention took first world war and Russian Revolution. party's own ranks on political educa- Only then will the peoples of England, Convention in July/August 1920 along- place in Leeds during January 1921. It Those heroic pioneers here who tion, discussion and debate. Scotland and Wales — and their united side the parties mentioned. was pretty much a done deal. The del- created the Communist Party did so Hence too, the role played by Com- British labour movement — develop There was much that the delegates egates agreed to merge their respec- against a backdrop of police surveil- munists through a range of bodies, their own forms of socialism. agreed on at the founding conference, tive organisations into the CPGB and lance and persecution, plus the usual publications and initiatives to place However, as recent events clearly but two issues divided them: seeking accept the 21 conditions for affiliation onslaught from the press. those ideas before masses of people. confirm, there will be no significant parliamentary representation and affili- to the Communist International. They and their successors kept alive Second, because theory and practice advance towards socialist revolution ation to the Labour Party. Although Sylvia Pankhurst in Mos- the hope of a socialist society. That must constantly enrich and reinforce one without a stronger, more influential These issues would effect com- cow had agreed with the merger plans, dream still lives thanks to their efforts. another, the CP also seeks to organise Communist Party. 4 A people’s press

READ ALL OVER: Builders on S THE Communist Party the Royal Festival Hall site read celebrates its cente- their papers of choice in 1951 nary, the newspaper it founded in 1930 marks 90 years of struggle for peace and socialism. AWhen the first Daily Worker, as we were then called, rolled off the presses Communist Party general secretary Harry Pollitt declared: “The paper is born and must never be allowed to die.” Since Lenin founded Iskra in 1902, revolutionary Marxists had seen the rela- tionship between a revolutionary party and a revolutionary paper as crucial. A newspaper was “capable of uniting all forces and guiding the movement in practice” and could be “ready at any time to support every protest and every outbreak,” the Russian revolu- tionary wrote in What Is To Be Done? Those aims have been at the heart of everything the Daily Worker and, since 1966, the Morning Star have done. The paper was established at the start of a turbulent decade. The 1930s saw mass unemployment and poverty as the Great Depression dev- astated working-class communities; it saw the rise of fascism and the descent into world war. The paper plunged into action straight away as an uncompromising champion both of the British working class and of oppressed peoples interna- tionally, especially in Britain’s colonies. It immediately provoked Estab- lishment hatred that we have lived with ever since: on its second day, the Times called for the government to act against the paper for printing greetings from the presidium of the Communist International. But the Worker and the Morning Star that succeeded it have never shied away from challenging the crimes of Workers’ voice our ruling class and its allies. In the ’30s we condemned the brutal attacks on those struggling for Indian independence; in the ’50s we exposed war crimes such as the use of napalm on Korean civilians by US forces in the Korean war, and pub- lished photographs showing a British as loud as ever marine commando holding up the by Ben Chacko Beveridge report outlining recommen- ping and gave unstinting solidarity to the readers and to the labour movement. severed head of a rebel during the dations for the shape of the post-war miners during the great 1984-5 strike. It maintains its anchor in our edito- so-called “Malayan Emergency.” welfare state, including an exclusive This close connection to the labour rial commitment to the Communist Our reporter Sam Russell was on object when the England football team series of articles by Beveridge himself. movement meant that the Morning Party programme Britain’s Road to the spot when a CIA-backed coup gave the nazi salute in Berlin in 1938. Its determination that the world Star and its shareholders resisted Socialism, but has become a paper of brought Augusto Pinochet to power The paper campaigned for a united should not be allowed to return to the advance of “eurocommunism” the broad left, with regular contribu- in Chile and we covered the dirty wars front against fascism and against its pre-war shape included a focus on in the Party, and the paper became tions from MPs, trade union activists, that secured US dominance in Latin appeasement. decolonisation. the champion of those members of left parties and campaign groups. America in the 1980s. Its support for the Molotov-Rib- And it ended the war with a giant the CPGB who fought to keep it a 2020 has been a troubled year. The The counterpart to our relentless bentrop Pact in 1939, signed to buy conference, “with delegates repre- Marxist-Leninist party in the 1980s in Covid-19 pandemic has killed tens of exposure of imperialist crimes has been the Soviet Union breathing space after senting nearly 1,900,000 organised a bitter dispute that saw rival factions thousands in Britain, one of the worst an equally impressive record of solidar- France and Britain betrayed Czecho- workers” from across the trade union organise coaches to thousands-strong affected countries in the world, its public ity with the oppressed and those fight- slovakia and rejected Moscow’s efforts movement, to place the paper on a new PPPS AGMs and even punch-ups on services and infrastructure weakened by ing for social justice in Britain. to form a united front against the footing, transferring ownership from the meeting floor. privatisation and austerity, its govern- In the ’30s the paper gave unrivalled nazis, was controversial. the Communist Party to a co-operative, The collapse of the Soviet Union ment irresponsible and incompetent. It coverage of the hunger marches and Its justifiable doubts about British the People’s Press Printing Society. was a serious blow to the paper, but now looks set to cost millions of jobs the National Unemployed Workers ruling-class intentions during the “pho- To this day, we are the only national it survived. Under the editorship of and employers are taking advantage to Movement — that concern for the ney war,” combined with a relentless daily in Britain owned by and answer- John Haylett from 1995 it continued to drive down wages and conditions. most vulnerable endures in modern focus on the government’s failure to able to our readers. fight against imperialism, prominent in The United States is whipping up a times, with the campaign against protect working-class people in the It was in the postwar period that support of the Stop the War Coalition, new cold war against China, tearing up today’s inhuman benefit sanctions and Blitz and the use of war powers to the Daily Worker began to earn the and reached out to the trade union international disarmament agreements “fit for work” tests. suppress the labour movement and name “daily paper of the labour move- movement, bringing trade unions onto and walking out of global bodies like In the same decade it was the fore- the left in France and Britain, led to ment,” building up over decades a our management committee when the World Health Organisation and most anti-fascist voice in the British it being banned by order of Labour reputation for unrivalled coverage of they bought maximum shareholdings Unicef. Britain’s government is going media. Our founding editor William home secretary Herbert Morrison. trade union and industrial matters that — the first to do so was transport along for the ride, egged on by a pro- Rust was among those who covered The 14 months of illegality — bro- ensured prime ministers from Winston union RMT under Bob Crow. imperialist Labour leadership. the Spanish Civil War, while other ken by mass campaigning — are the Churchill to Margaret Thatcher con- We now have 11 national trade The role of the daily paper of the Daily Worker staff fought among the longest period any British paper has sidered it essential reading. unions and one trade union region left, fighting workers’ corner in the International Brigades. been outlawed by government fiat. The Morning Star (as it became in on board, representing a majority of workplace while providing a consistent The paper championed those who From then the Daily Worker cam- a 1966 name change) fought for the Britain’s organised workers. principled voice for peace and socialism came together to beat back the Black- paigned for the transformation of the causes of the Pentonville Five and That ownership structure is what is more vital than ever in a world that shirts at the Battle of Cable Street and war into a people’s war against fascism. the Shrewsbury Pickets, exposed the makes us unique — the Morning Star is becoming more dangerous. Buy, read was the only paper on Fleet Street to It gave extensive coverage to the duplicity of Rupert Murdoch at Wap- cannot be bought. It belongs to its and support the Morning Star! www.communistparty.org.uk @CPBritain Born in struggle 5 Getting hands on to halt imperialism N MARCH 1918, Britain led the Working as a docker in east London, military intervention in Russia Harry Pollitt had refused to load two by more than a dozen foreign barges with munitions for Poland. He armies in the hope of destroying was sacked, while his workmates car- the young Soviet Republic led by ried on earning double-time. Lenin and the Bolsheviks. Already a popular speaker for the IAn expeditionary force landed at Workers Socialist Federation in places Murmansk, soon followed by a Japa- such as Whitechapel, Bow and Poplar nese invasion on the other side of alongside Sylvia Pankhurst and Melvina Russia in Vladivostok. When counter- Walker, Pollitt helped lead the fight revolutionary “White” forces led by to stop the Jolly George from sailing. Tsarist officers launched their full-scale Their speeches, pamphlets and leaflets revolt against the new regime, they had the desired effect. Early on Mon- received arms, training and troops day afternoon, May 10, the stevedores from the Western powers and Japan. stopped loading the ship. In solidarity, the British and Empire forces were sent “coalies” refused to supply any more fuel. to Arkhangelsk and Siberia as well as The 4,000-strong local dockers’ reinforcements to Vladivostok. Roma- union branch decided to stop all nian, Polish, French, Italian, Greek and munitions exports. Liberal MP Capt US soldiers joined the fray along with a Wedgwood Benn and railway workers’ rogue Czech and Slovak legion, Ukrainian leader JR Clynes tried to raise Brit- nationalists, anarchists and ultra-leftists. ish arms to Poland in the House of In Britain, a coalition of socialist and Commons, but the speaker ruled their trade organisations formed the Hands motion out of order. Off Russia Movement in January 1919. In the face of a gathering storm, the Its first executive committee included Walford Shipping Line quickly backed Pat Coates (national secretary), Harry down. Later that week, by agreement Pollitt (national organiser) and other with the union, the military supplies soon-to-be Communist Party mem- were taken off the Jolly George and bers William Paul, Willie Gallacher, Alex replaced with non-lethal merchandise. Gossip, Mary Bamber, Tom Mann and One large unloaded cargo bore the MP Colonel Malone as well as labour label: “This case is RAF property.” movement leaders such as John Brom- by Rob Griffiths to assist the Polish aggression with muni- The Miners Federation of Great Brit- ley, James Winstone, Rhys Davies, tions, while denying the policy in public. ain and the National Union of Railway- Archie Kirkwood and George Lansbury. On May 6, the Daily Herald revealed men demanded an end to British military Huge rallies and marches were held Polish and Ukrainian representatives. that a Danish steamship had just left the support for Poland’s offensive. In August across Britain as the Red Army fought In spring 1920, imperial Japan sent Port of London for Poland, carrying six 1920, the TUC and the Labour Party back heroically, culminating in the with- more troops to Siberia. Marshal Pilsud- military aircraft. Another Polish-bound formed a National Council of Action to drawal of most British personnel by ski's Polish forces, armed and financed vessel had been forced by firefighters organise a general strike should Britain early autumn 1919. by France and the US, launched a fresh and a collision to unload its heavy guns go to war with Russia again. Nonetheless, the major imperialist offensive to extend their occupation of and planes at Gravesend in Kent. Not for the last time, a combination of powers had not given up all hope of western Ukraine eastwards in alliance Now the Jolly George was being left unity, working-class action and public strangling the Bolshevik baby in its cra- with anti-semitic Ukrainian nationalists. loaded in the East India Dock with opinion had frustrated the ambitions of dle. British diplomats and agents contin- In Britain, prime minister Lloyd aircraft, guns and ammunition cases for British imperialism, with Communists ued their plotting with White Russian, George’s government decided in secret shipment to Polish-occupied Danzig. making a prominent contribution. ONE OF THE great editors of the Morning Star/Daily Worker, John Haylett dedicated himself to the labour movement, the struggle TOM MANN was born in 1856 in barely 500 members in all of Britain, to develop and focus opinion, and ere against racism and the cause of the Foleshill, Warwickshire. His mother joining the Social Democratic Federa- long enable us to reach the commu- exploited and oppressed around died when he was two and he left tion, the first Marxist party. He, along nist ideal.” the world. school at nine to work in the fields, with lifelong friend and brilliant organ- In 1932, aged 77, he went to Bel- A native of Liverpool, he became then in coal mining aged 10 to 14, iser, and sometime Liberal lord, Ben fast, helping to bring together religious the secretary of a large, militant before starting a toolmaking appren- Tillett, led the Great Dock Strike of communities in a struggle against the branch of communications workers ticeship in Birmingham. 1889. Mann became president of the Means Test. He was imprisoned for in London. Mann left the pits to become Dockers’ union and later founder of sedition. The judge said to him on sen- His fluency in French and Russian a highly skilled engineer, but took the militant Workers’ Union. tencing: “Someone your age should and close links with South Afri- with him an unyielding hatred of the In the heat of the struggles that fol- know better.” Mann responded, “Sir, can and Caribbean revolutionaries capitalist system. The rest of his life lowed the first world war, including the the longer I live and the more I see served him well as the Commu- was spent at the pioneering edge great engineering lock-out, it was but a here and around the world, I know nist Party of Britain’s international of the new ideas which forged our short step for Mann to join the Com- my course is right.” secretary. As editor of the Morn- modern labour movement, passing munist Party. He would be a prominent The last words should go to the ing Star from 1994, he forged a from temperance and the Christian member for the next to decades. man himself, “Trade unionism is of dynamic alliance with Labour left church movement, to new unionism, His note to the founding Com- no value unless the members of the MPs Tony Benn and Jeremy Cor- social democracy, then syndicalism, to munist Unity Convention held 31 unions are clear as to their objective byn and trade union leaders such communism. In each shift of political July 1920, in the Canon Street Hotel, — the overthrow of the capitalist as Rodney Bickerstaffe, Mick Rix gear, he was an agitator, organiser and states: “I desire therefore to express system — and are prepared to use and Bob Crow. RED LIVES above all, educator. my sincere hope that real success the unions for that purpose. Political His strategy for expansion It was Mann who embedded the will attend the efforts of those who action is of no value unless all political ensured the survival of the paper struggle for an eight-hour day into assemble, and that we may as a result effort is used definitely and avowedly through one of its most perilous Tom the DNA of the British and Austral- have a thorough-going Communist for the same end, the abolition of the periods. Mann ian labour movements. He signed up Party, equal to carrying on the educa- profit-making system.” ROBERT GRIFFITHS to the socialist movement when it had tional and propagandist work needed PHIL KATZ Communist Party Plaid Gomiwnyddo Executive Committee l Cymreig – Welsh Communist Party For 100 years, resisting capitalist exploitation, oppression and imperialist Celebrating 100 years of struggle war! for socialism Forever dedicated to the struggle for Y GIG – ganwyd yng Nghymru. Edmygir ar socialism and the liberation of humanity! draws y byd. “Let the ruling classes tremble at a The NHS – born in Wales. Admired across communist revolution!” the world. Today, the Welsh Communist Party and the Welsh Young Communist League are growing, united around our programmes Britain’s Road to Socialism and Real Power for the People of Wales/Grym Go lawn i Bobl Cymru. Communist Party Join us and help us build the non- sectarian alliances with South East London other left and progressive forces that will advance us to socialism in Wales, as part of a socialist federated republic of Britain. 100 Years A biennial Welsh Communist Party Congress elects an Organising Executive Committee that organises members in our six branches: North Wales; Cardiff; Swansea; Pontypridd; South East Merthyr Tydfil & Cynon Valley; Newport and Valleys. London offi[email protected] • www.welshcommunists.org Twitter: @WelshCommunists @WalesYCL Workers Facebook: Welsh Communists, Young Communist League - Wales / Comiwnyddi on Ifainc Cymru South East London Branch: selcp.org www.communistparty.org.uk @CPBritain General Strike 7 Nine days that shook capitalism

RITAIN experienced a ris- by David Horsely TUC capitulated and called off the lutionary opportunity presented by a ing spirit of working-class strike. The miners fought on with the general strike. RED LIVES militancy in 1925, culmi- full support of the Communist Party. National Union of Railwaymen nating in Red Friday on 31 Unemployed Workers Movement The strike did not fail because Brit- leader CT Cramp declared: “We have July, when a united alliance meant the government was largely ish workers lacked of solidarity but not to blame the General Council for Shapurji of mine, rail and transport unsuccessful in recruiting scabs from because their leaders feared the revo- taking the action they did in calling off Saklatvala Bworkers forced the government to the large ranks of the jobless. the strike. The pity of it is temporarily subsidise the coal industry The government refused that it was ever called SHAPURJI SAKLATVALA, Sak to and avoid huge cuts to colliers’ wages. to extend the subsidy, instead on.” those who knew him, was briefly the But later that year, the Labour supporting mineowners’ drive Nonetheless, the still Labour MP and then the Communist Party banned Communists — the to reduce wages and lengthen fledgling Communist MP for Battersea North, south-west government saw the opportunity to hours. Reluctantly, the TUC Party equipped itself London, in the 1920s attack the most advanced working- declared a general strike, well. He was a remarkable individual. class organisation and within days, intending to call out successive As Communist his- Born into the wealthiest family in arrested 12 leading Communists. waves of workers rather than torian James Klugmann India he came to Britain in 1905. Five defended themselves in all unions at once. wrote: “The Party itself Originally for a short stay but upon court and harsh sentences were The CP swung into action, and its members put meeting his future wife, who was handed down. Willie Gallacher, calling for councils of action to themselves at the ser- English, he made Britain his home. Albert Inkpin, Wal Hannington, Wil- be set up, drawing in “every vice of the manifold strike Already a supporter of the Indian liam Rust and Harry Pollitt received political, industrial co-opera- organisations without National Congress, upon his arrival 12-month prison sentences, with Tom tive and unemployed organisa- demanding a receipt.” he gradually became influenced by Bell, Arthur Macmanus, Robin Page tion” to defeat mine owners Forty thousand copies socialist writers and speakers and Arnot, JT Murphy, Tom Wintringham, and the government. of Workers Daily were joined both the Independent Labour Ernie Cant and JR Campbell getting Many local councils organ- issued by the Communist Party and the Social Democratic Fed- six months. ised successful mass pickets, Party on the first day of eration. After the outbreak of the Despite its leading members being in for example in London the the strike and then for 10 first world war he became an increas- prison, the Communist Party repeat- workers immobilised Clapham consecutive days, they dis- ingly active member of the ILP. He edly made unheeded calls for the trade tram depot. tributed many thousands joined the Communist Party after the unions to prepare, pointing out that Local bulletins and leaflets of copies of The Workers ILP refused to affiliate to the Com- the subsidy on Red Friday was only were produced throughout Bulletin. munist International in March 1921. due to last for nine months. the country often showing All this despite the At the 1922 general election he By contrast, the government built its great humour directed against police raiding homes of was elected as the Labour MP for defences. It supported a new Organi- scabs. Communists, confiscat- Battersea North. He lost the seat sation for the Maintenance of Supplies, The strike was solid from ing printing materials and the following year but regained it a group of volunteer strikebreakers the first day, with the TUC arresting many. at the 1924 general election, this set up in the wake of Red Friday. Even General Council admitting it During the strike, 2,500 time standing as a Communist, the Daily Express branded it fascist was having more difficulty women and men were though backed by his left-leaning but it received tacit support from the keeping its second wave to arrested, half of them local Labour Party. government and when the strike was go to work than call mem- Party members. Such was By the 1929 election the ban on declared it folded into the government. bers out. the respect felt by many communists in the Labour Party had In the event, the sterling work of But after nine days, with that the Party doubled its come in and he lost his seat to the Wal Hannington and the National the strike at its strongest, the membership to 10,000. Labour candidate. Unlike many Labour MPs, Sak involved himself in the extra parlia- mentary struggle. He was arrested in BORN ON 2 December 1883, Fanny for the mothers. If she had a coat of seen working with others in the Cath- 1926 during the General Strike and Rebecca Davenport spent her early arms they’d put it in Latin: Fighting for olic church showing children how to on his release addressed mass meet- years at her parents’ farm on Farmers the mothers.” put on gas masks. In 1941, she became ings all over the country. He was a Bank, Silverdale, a mining village near In 1927 she retained her seat, this the first Communist in the country to fantastic orator and one of the CP’s Newcastle-under-Lyme. time standing as a Communist. She be appointed an alderman, in this case leading and most popular speakers. She married Noah Deakin in 1901 was very popular with local people, for the Newcastle-under-Lyme bor- He visited India in 1927 and met and she and her husband moved to who nicknamed her Red Fanny after ough, with the honour being extended Gandhi. Both men agreed over Wolstanton, today on the north side she visited the Soviet Union in 1927 to Staffordshire county level in 1946. India’s freedom from British rule of Stoke-on-Trent. and 1930. The following year, she achieved but disagreed how this was to be Throughout her life, she was noted Of her five children only one sur- what most local people remember achieved. While there, Sak met many for her campaigns for better nourish- vived into adulthood. her for when a maternity home was Indian communists and laid the basis ment of young children and maternity In an era of high infant mortality she opened bearing her name for use by for the cotton workers strike in care for mothers. campaigned for better maternity care the women of the borough. Meerut, which lead to the famous On leaving school, she worked on of women and free milk for children She is still popularly remembered Meerut Conspiracy Trial. the farm where her family lived but under five. through the many children born there He wrote pamphlets about India, her lifelong vocation came to her after She went to Downing Street with and also due to a ward named after contributed to commissions on being the first woman to be elected unemployed miners to see prime min- her in a local hospital. India’s welfare and was regarded onto Wolstanton Council as a Labour ister Ramsay MacDonald and demand Although Fanny died on 24 March by some in the right-wing media as member in 1923. that local councils give free milk to 1968, she is still regularly remembered India’s MP in Parliament. During the General Strike in 1926, pregnant mothers and children up to locally. In 1991, Joyce Holliday wrote In 1934 he visited the Soviet she was a major figure in local activ- the age of five. the play Go See Fanny Deakin! about Union. He spoke at meetings about ity in support of the miners. One Re-elected to the now merged Silverdale’s mining community that the progress its eastern Muslim RED LIVES observer recalled seeing her “coming Newcastle Council in 1934, again as appeared on BBC local radio. Joyce republics had made under Soviet up past St Giles Church in Newcastle- a Communist, she became a County Holliday also wrote “Silverdale People” rule on his return. It was on his Fanny under-Lyme at the head of these min- Councillor. She played a key role in sev- which includes a biography of Fanny visit that he suffered a heart attack. ers, 200 or 300 miners … Fancy, one eral committees relating to maternity Deakin. He survived another two years Deakin woman — and she’s leading them!” and child welfare. BIRMINGHAM AND and died in January 1936. She herself used to say: “I’m fighting During the war years she could be DISTRICT CP BRANCH MIKE SQUIRES 8 Anti-fascism

HOME FRONT: As well as providing troops for the front, communists also built support at RED LIVES home for the republic, like this Spike march in Robson Manchester in 1938

ALEC ‘SPIKE’ ROBSON was born active in the seamen’s section of the on 18 March 1895 into a coalmining Minority Movement (MM), and in family in South Shields. the National Unemployed Workers At age 11 he started work at the Movement (NUWM). Cambois pit near Blyth, participat- In early 1937, during the Spanish ing in 1910 in the national miners’ Civil War, Spike was shipped on strike for an eight-hour day. At 16 the SS Linaria in Boston, US, when he joined a boxing booth, travelling the crew learned that they were to country fairs and boxing for a living. deliver nitrates to Seville, the fascists’ In 1912 Spike joined a tramp ship headquarters. as a cabin boy, learning about class Suspecting that the cargo was to politics from old sailors. be used for explosives, Spike led the After he was demobbed from crew in holding a sit-down strike for the first world war he married his three weeks. They were deported sweetheart Evelyn and signed on a and charged at Liverpool under the stoker on the SS Tzarita, carrying Merchant Shipping Acts. They were 700 British troops for Murmansk fined for “impeding the navigation of and Archalgensk. a ship,” but this was overturned on Fraternising with Red Guards in appeal. Murmansk, he learned about the Blacklisted until the outbreak of class struggle, and on return to Liv- World War II, Spike then joined the erpool joined the Hands Off Russia Royal Navy as a petty officer. movement. After the war, Spike went back During the winter of 1920-1, unem- into the Merchant Navy, and in 1947 ployed in London, he came across a became the first communist to be protest march which led to his joining elected to the NUS executive. the Communist Party and becoming MARTIN LEVY Their open eyes could see no other way

TAND on the battlefield in by Lynne Walsh leys. Only weeks after the falangists the Valley of Jarama today revolted, some 10,000 people turned and see, between the rows out in Neath to support Spain, with of olive trees, trenches, from Britain, Ireland and the Com- party pamphlet ‘Spain’ being sold in dug-outs and machine-gun monwealth. More than 500 died. such number that its immediate reprint positions. Were they the poets and dreamers brought 140,000 copies into mining SWith your boots tramping over wild that some cynics claimed? Were they communities. thyme, follow in the footsteps of the misguided adventurers or escapees On the instruction of CP leader International Brigaders who fought from unemployment at home? It was Harry Pollitt, South Wales district fascists here. certainly in the interests of the British secretary Will Paynter demanded to March up to the splendid Clenched government to portray them as such. see prime minister Stanley Baldwin. Fist memorial, a rusting metal behe- Typical brigaders, though, included Paynter took Stratton and although moth on a plateau. an artist from suburban Surrey, a taxi ambushed by police, their effort made Look across the open plains and hilly driver from Swansea, and an Egyptol- the BBC national news. The following areas where hundreds died. ogy graduate from London. year, they were both in Spain. Look down at the soil, picture it red These knew what was needed. The That Egyptologist was Sam Lesser, with blood, know that there are good democratically elected government who had joined the Party at univer- comrades there, their bones forever desperately needed help in overthrow- sity in 1935. He told his mother he mingled with the soil of Spain. ing Franco and his fascist allies Hitler was joining a dig in Egypt, but went to There is often a romanticism in and Mussolini. Spain in September 1936 as one of the recalling this fighting force. There is Artist Felicia Browne, the first first Britons to join the International poetry, magnificent memorials, songs Briton to die, had said: “I am a mem- Brigades. sung, and flowers laid, almost always ber of the London Communists and I He saw action around Madrid, was in the red, yellow and purple of the can fight as well as any man.” She had injured at Lopera, and unable to rejoin Spanish Republican flag. Add the three- seen fascism rising in Berlin in 1933. his comrades, went to Paris and the IB pointed red star to that flag and you Taxi driver Harry Stratton was a recruitment office, before returning to have the emblem of the International member of the CPGB, a considerable Spain and working on radio broadcasts Brigades. Some 2,500 volunteers came force in his native south Wales val- from Barcelona. Using the byline Sam www.communistparty.org.uk @CPBritain Anti-fascism 9

CLEM BECKETT was a champion the sport, particularly the rising death BATTLE FRONT: speedway rider who throughout his toll among untrained youngsters, he Communist leader all-too-short life put his political and formed a union for speedway riders, Harry Pollitt trade union values ahead of fame or the Dirt Track Riders Association. addresses Brigaders monetary rewards. He wrote an article for the Daily on the Ebro Front in On 12 February 1937 he made Worker headed Bleeding the men 1937 during one of the supreme sacrifice while manning who risk their lives on the dirt track, his numerous trips a machine-gun at the Battle of Jarama. prompting promoters to blacklist him. to Spain Born in Oldham in 1906, Clem As an exhibition rider he inaugurated became a blacksmith on leaving school the Wall of Death in Sheffield and toured and his radical politics were forged in Europe and the Soviet Union in 1931. the hardship and discrimination he suf- Despite all the success, his dare- fered during the 1920s. He was saved devil exploits won for him, Clem from unemployment by his skills as a remained loyal and committed to his speedway driver. working-class origins and socialist phi- He began his speedway career in losophy. So, when in 1936 General 1928 at Audenshaw, when dirt track Franco launched his fascist uprising racing was in its infancy, and he was he joined the International Brigades. soon the leading rider of his day. In November of that year he set off When he won the Golden Helmet to join the anti-fascist forces, in which at the Owlerton Stadium, 15,000 he was in turn a mechanic, ambu- RED LIVES spectators watched him. His presence lance driver and machine-gunner. He was in such demand that he would explained why he had gone in a letter Clem often have to hire a plane to fly to to his wife: “I’m sure you’ll realise that three different events in a single day. I should never have been satisfied had Beckett But at the height of his fame, I not assisted.” angered by the growing exploitation in JIM JUMP

BILL ALEXANDER commanded the to the 15th Brigade’s Anti-Tank Bat- British Battalion of the International tery, an elite unit equipped with high- Brigades during the Spanish Civil War calibre Soviet guns. Russell, he became a correspondent accounts at the Imperial War Museum. and was for 30 years until his death He became the battery’s political for the Daily Worker. While Paul Preston’s canon of work a leading member of its veterans’ commissar and was promoted to com- The British government response is seen as the heft of this history, look organisation, the International Brigade mander of the British Battalion at the was shameful. The non-intervention also to Richard Baxell’s Unlikely War- Association. Battle of Teruel, during which he was agreement in August 1936 was signed riors, which makes these lives leap from In various capacities, from IBA wounded in the chest and shoulder by 28 countries, including Germany, the page. Hywel Francis’s Miners Against vice-chair to secretary, he was a for- and eventually repatriated in June 1938. Italy and Russia. The London commit- Fascism is a superb source, reminding us midable defender of the honour of On his return to Britain he became tee overseeing this “pact” allowed no that many struggles are fought in spite his comrades in Spain, doing battle Merseyside area secretary of the Spaniard to sit on it, banned sales of of parliament, not because of it. in particular with anyone who used Communist Party until 1940, when arms to the elected Republican gov- Many surviving brigaders came home cold war and anti-communist tropes he was accepted for a commissioning ernment and did nothing to stop sup- to unemployment, with more than to denigrate the memory of the 2,500 course at Sandhurst. plies to the Francoists. half helped by the IB Dependants and volunteers from the British Isles who He finished top of his year and Baldwin said: “We English hate fas- Wounded Aid Committee. Feminist went to Spain — and those 530 of served in north Africa, Italy and Ger- cism, but we loathe olshevism as much. author Charlotte Haldane, a CPGB them who gave their lives. many, rising to the rank of captain in So, if there is somewhere where fas- member from 1937, was its secretary. Born into a large, working-class the Reconnaissance Corps. cists and bolsheviks can kill each other The Daily Worker reported in March family in rural Hampshire — his On his return he spent six years as off, so much the better.” 1938 that a deputation of six wounded RED LIVES father was a carpenter — Bill Alex- secretary of the Midlands area, and The then foreign secretary Anthony volunteers and six widows of men killed ander joined the Communist Party another six years as secretary for Wales, Eden advised him: “On no account, in Spain asked to see Labour leaders Bill in 1932, influenced by his mother’s became assistant general secretary of French or other, must [you] bring us and TUC general secretary Walter politics and the sight of the hunger the party in 1959, a position he held into the fight on the side of the Rus- Citrine, who refused to meet them. Alexander marchers. until 1967. He later taught chemistry sians.” If you look for the motivations of He joined the International Brigades in south-east London until retirement. Far from those safe committee these anti-fascist comrades, read the in the spring of 1937 and was assigned JIM JUMP rooms, Elizabeth Wilkinson, in the US denouement of Cecil Day Lewis’s Daily Worker (12 May 1937), reported poem The Volunteer: “It was not fraud on communities outside Bilbao razed or foolishness, glory, revenge, or pay: to the ground, where a devastated We came because our open eyes could THORA SILVERTHORNE was born became heavily involved in the Com- citizen said: “I should like to put the see no other way.” in the south Wales mining town of munist Party activities in the city, taking London Non-Intervention Committee And come to Spain. Join comrades Abertillery on 25 November 1910, time to tender to the health needs of the right in the middle of all this.” as we follow in those anti-fascist foot- daughter of George Silverthorne, a hunger marchers that regularly passed For Communists — and the Inde- steps. As Dr Almudena Cros, presi- miner at the Vivian & Six Bells Pit and through Oxford on their way to London. pendent Labour Party — there was dent of Spain’s association of friends Sarah Boyt of Bargoed. At the out break of the Spanish Civil mobilisation. Senior party member of the International Brigades (AABI), Thora recalled that “everyone in War, Thora volunteered for the medi- Bob Cooney of Aberdeen recalled says: “It is so heartening to welcome Abertillery talked politics” and in this cal unit and was one of the first four campaigning and fundraising for Spain international delegates every year cauldron it is little surprise she fol- nurses assigned to aid the republic. was “almost a full-time job of the party who come to honour their relatives, lowed her father, who was not only Once in Spain, her skills as theatre and the YCL.” friends and admired comrades in the active in the South Wales Miners nurse were so highly regarded she was Volunteers came from every walk to fight against fascism. Federation but a founding member “elected” matron at Granen hospi- life, hearing about the war at meetings “We are united in this important of the Abertillery Communist Party, in tal, initially caring for many anti fascist and rallies, and reading the Daily Worker. recognition of the struggle for social joining the Young Communist League German soldiers in the Thaelmann If the party branch deemed them justice that the International Brigades at at 16. Centuria. eligible, they went to the CPGB office embodied. People come from all sorts She left for England after her moth- She returned from Spain in Sep- in Covent Garden, where they were of political, social, ethnic and religious er’s death, inititally working as a nanny tember 1937 and became involved usually interviewed by RW Robson. backgrounds — just as the volunteers for Reading’s newly elected Labour as a subeditor at Nursing Illustrated, Memoirs and archive accounts show did in 1936.” MP Somerville Hastings. leading to her establishing the new he never sugar-coated the risks. The Communist Party played a huge Thora then followed her sister National Nurses Association in oppo- RED LIVES The clandestine journey to Spain and vital role in this “unrecognised” Olive into nursing in Oxford, secur- sition to the reactionary (Royal) Col- was risky in itself, with government and inconvenient war. For all those ing the nickname “Red Silverthorne” lege of Nursing. It would later merge Thora goons looking out for those defy- who fight fascism, wherever we find at the John Radcliffe Infirmary. with Nupe, now part of Unison. ing the non-intervention laws. Some it, the phrase heard to this day, on the While nursing in Oxford, Thora MICHAEL WALKER Silverthorne recruits crossed the Pyrenees, heading battlefields of Spain, will ring loud and for the training base at Albacete. true: “They thought they buried bodies The biographies in this centenary edition of Unity! are shortened excerpts from new book The stories of brigaders’ experi- here. We know they buried seeds.” ences are preserved for us, in mem- Additional research by Stuart Walsh, Red Lives – Communists and the Struggle for Socialism, an inspiring account of more than 100 oirs, in the wonderful archives at the Working Class Movement Library vol- rank-and-file communists and their part in the workers’ fight out now from Manifesto Press Marx Memorial Library, and in audio unteer. People’s Press Printing Society

The editor and staff Congratulations to the send solidarity Communist Party on greetings to the 100 years of struggle. Communist Party Thank you for having the during its centenary foresight to produce the celebrations. Daily Worker 90 years 100 years of struggle ago and for handing it over to the PPPS for peace and co-operative in 1945. socialism – 90 of them side by side! You can own the Morning Star for just £1 a share - email [email protected]

The three German Thälmann organisations send you militant greetings on the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of Britain

Kuratorium Gedenkstätte Ernst Thälmann e.V. Board of trustees Memorial Ernst Thälmann Hamburg www.thaelmann-gedenkstaette.de

Freundeskreis Ernst Thälmann e.V., Ziegenhals – Berlin Circle of Friends Ernst Thälmann Ziegenhals & Berlin www.etg-ziegenhals.de

Revolutionäre Freundschaftsbund e.V. (RFB) Revolutionary Friendship League (RFB) www.rfb-online.org

Faithful and firm, strong in character and victory conscious in action, so and only that way will we master our destiny and fulfil our revolutionary duties for the great historical mission that is imposed on us and help real socialism to victory. Ernst Thälmann www.communistparty.org.uk @CPBritain Anti-fascism 11

UNITY: Cable Street mural unveiled in 4.10.1936: Shadwellin 1982 and painted by Paul Butler, Dave When east Binnington, Ray Walker and Desmond Rochfort London routed the Blackshirts

OSTENSIBLY, the Battle of Cable Street was a clash between the Metropolitan Police, protecting the British Union of Fascists, and anti-fascists. Many of the anti-fas- cists came from outside the area, but without local support the BUF would not have been stopped. It was estimated at the time that around 200,000 people joined the anti-fascists — communists, social- ists, anarchists, Jews, Irish dockers and the Independent Labour Party — against some 3,000 fascists and 6,000 police. Before the march, around 100,000 residents petitioned the home secretary to have it banned, fearing the likely violence of fas- cists going through predominantly Jewish neighbourhoods. Communists argued that a broad anti-fascist people's front had to be built. But Communists also recognised that Mosley had built A century battling up support among workers, the unemployed and small traders. There needed to be a strategy to win these away from fascism. To do this required basic solid work. In the run up to October, using future Communist MP Phil Piratin's house as the centre of operations, anti-Jewish racism anti-fascists got organising, call- ing union meetings, holding street ASCISM in Britain in the by Kenny Coyle the anti-nazi war and the post-war of Fascists in Greater Manchester. meetings in areas where the fascists 1930s is often presented mobilisations against the Mosleyite While work in certain industries were strong, emboldening local as a freak and fringe move- Union Movement, Jewish communists with a substantial Jewish workforce residents to speak out. The work ment. Yet the British Union was not lost on British communists. could count on party support. was an obvious area of activity for in organising among tenants and the of Fascists and its leader Sir The party’s tactics were two-fold, Yet Communists of Jewish origin Jewish communists, tailoring and unemployed bore fruit as many saw Oswald Mosley had power- to deny the fascists the opportunities played key roles across all areas of garment workers being a particular the fascists for what they were. fulF and influential friends. for mass rallies and demonstrations party activity, which defy such pigeon- centre, Jewish communists also played On the day itself each London Pro-fascist sympthathies had been wherever possible and, as Phil Piratin holing. critical roles in the wider Communist Party branch had expressed by some Conservatives. details in Our Flag Stays Red, to deny Foundation member labour movement. been told where to assemble. The Winston Churchill spoke approvingly the fascists working class support Andrew Rothstein’s Abe Lazarus organ- National Unemployed Workers of Mussolini in 1927: “If I had been an by taking up in practice the issues of father Theodore came ised Firestone workers Movement branch was well rep- Italian, I am sure I should have been unemployment, evictions and slum to Britain to escape the in Brentford and then resented and had been knocking whole-heartedly with you from the landlords. repressive anti-semitism spearheaded the unioni- on doors since early that morning. start to finish in your triumphant Anti-fascist counter demonstra- of the tsarist regime as sation of Oxford’s emerg- Piratin's quote of the day is struggle against the bestial appetites tors disrupted BUF rallies at London’s did the parents of Rose ing industrial sectors. East worth reproducing: “I myself saw and passions of Leninism.” Olympia, and suffered significant physi- Kerrigan, a teenage Ender Julie Jacobs led the the way in which they were stack- There were nazi sympathisers among cal violence from fascist stewards. Socialist Sunday School London Trades Councils ing up the barricades with mat- the aristocracy and even the short- At Manchester’s Belle Vue in activist on Red Clyde- in the post-war period tresses and the way in which these reigning Edward VIII, later the Duke September 1934 a Mosley rally was side. and one of the legend- dockers and labourers were work- of Windsor, was beguiled by Hitler. stopped by a mass anti-fascist protest There were Party ary figures of communist ing alongside Jews. The important In the mid-’30s, Daily Worker including a contingent from Cheetham intellectuals such as the work in the labour move- point to me was that Mosley was reporter Claude Cockburn coined “comprised in the of main young work- cultural academic Mar- ment in the heyday of the trying to divide the nation and this the term Cliveden Set to describe a ing class Jewish activists from the Chal- got Heinemann, Marx- 1970s was the legendary counteraction helped in uniting the group of Establishment figures includ- lenge Club, the Youth Front Against ism Today editor James Bert Ramelson. very people he was trying to split.” ing Nancy Astor, Lord Halifax, Times War & Fascism and the Young Com- Klugmann, world-renowned historian In the fields of art, drama and cul- It is vital when considering the editor Geoffrey Dawson and others. munist League.” Eric Hobsbawm, economist Sam Aar- ture we find a crop of Unity Theatre events before and after Cable The only MP to be interned during The single most important confron- onvitch, translator Jack Cohen, and actors such as Alfie Bass and Harry Street the absolute necessity WW2 was Captain Archibald Ram- tation of course was in London’s East many others helped the CPGB’s work Landis all associated with Jewish East of building that broad-based say, a lifelong anti-semite and Tory MP. End at Cable Street in 1936. among intellectuals. End working class backgrounds but approach with workers at its core. Ramsay had established the Right Club A number of academic studies of The trespass of Kinder Scout in also names such as Ivor Montagu, a This as shown requires an organ- and had declared: “The real power the role of Jewish communists have 1932 was organised by Benny Roth- talented writer and cinematographer ised approach – uniting unions with behind the Third International is a portrayed their commitment as being man a YCL activist and member of from a very different class background. communities. group of revolutionary Jews.” Among connected primarily or mainly to the the British Workers Sports Organisa- At a time when the relationship A lesson for all of us in this time the right Club’s early supporters was “Cable Street moment,” when the tion. Rothman helped build Cheetham between British Jews and the left of coronavirus and the govern- the 5th Duke of Wellington. CPGB could claim to be the primary YCL into one of the largest branches have become strained, reviewing the ment’s anti-worker, anti-migrant The close connection between anti-fascist force. It has a certain truth in the country and, as we have seen, a historical record in all its complexity programmes. anti-semitism and the British elite and through the International Brigades, thorn in the side of the British Union is more important than ever. TONY CONWAY 12 Fighting for equality

ON THE STREETS: Anti-racists in 1974 and (below) a Morning Star RED LIVES poster taking on the National Front Len Johnson

LEN JOHNSON was an important new Empire champion — British black communist and top professional authorities overturned that when boxer who was denied his chance of he returned home. fighting for a middleweight champi- In 1928 he beat the European middle­ onship because of the colour bar in weight champion, but was again denied British boxing. the title and by 1933 he retired to con- He was born in Manchester, where centrate on training young boxers. he spent much of his life, on 22 Octo- His encounters with racism and his ber 1902. When he left school, he observation of the poverty of most found work at Crossley Motors, but people of his class in Britain, led him was later offered a spot in one of the to radical politics. He was also aware many boxing booths touring Britain that the Daily Worker had waged a in the inter-war years. ground-breaking campaign against the With his father, a former boxer, colour bar in boxing. as manager, Len fought across the During the war he worked in a civil country and even travelled to Den- heavy rescue squad and then as a phys- mark and Belgium to compete in the ical training instructor. By war’s end early 1920s. he had joined the Communist Party. In 1925, his biggest opportunity He wrote a boxing column for the came in a match with the reigning Brit- Daily Worker and became a popular ish champion in Manchester. After a speaker in his native city, working as 20-round fight, he beat his opponent a bus driver. and repeated the feat later that year. He was a CP representative to the Len should have now been given important Pan African Congress in the chance to fight for the Brit- 1945 in Manchester and would help ish championship but was denied found the New International Society because of his skin colour. Despite later in the decade. Anti-racist to challenges by Len and his father, who Len contested six elections for the had fought in the trenches in the first Party between 1947 and 1962 but world war, the racists who ran the was unsuccessful. As the years passed sport would not be moved. in his retirement, he was rediscovered So, in 1926, he left for a tour of by the boxing world, being asked to Australia where he defeated the write articles on his career for the incumbent middleweight British boxing press. the very core Empire champion he was hailed the DAVID HORSLEY

INCE 1920, the Communist by David Horsley the Communist Party six times in his Party, as part of the world native city. communist movement, was Liverpool-born Dorothy Kuya internationalist, anti-racist the Scottsboro boys, young African become a pioneer in anti-racist educa- and anti-colonialist. Americans falsely accused of rape and tion. The party’s anti-imperialist work During the 1920s, the sentenced to death. continued with an important confer- RED LIVES mostS high-profile communist was Throughout the 1930s, other ence of Communist and Workers the Indian Shapurji Saklatvala, MP for black communists came to the fore. Parties from the British empire held Charlie Battersea. Oxfordshire-born Charlie Hutchison in London in 1947. The father of lifelong Party mem- became the only black British volun- Jamaican Billy Strachan, an RAF Hutchison bers Clemens and Rajani Palme Dutt teer in Spain. officer during the war, joined the Com- was a Bengali surgeon. Rajani was the North-west England would provide munist Party in 1947, helped form the leading theoretician of the Party for two outstanding black communists. London branch of Caribbean Labour decades. Manchester’s Len Johnson could Congress and served as a mentor to CHARLIE HUTCHISON was born 1936, the 18-year-old Charlie was The involvement of black work- have been a champion boxer but was many from the Windrush generation. in Oxfordshire on 10 May 1918, his among the early British volunteers ers was unique in British politics. denied the chance to fight at the top Perhaps the most gifted Caribbean father was from the Gold Coast, to go to Spain to help defend the During the late 1920s, the Commu- level by the colour bar. Johnson and Communist was Trinidad-born Clau- now Ghana, and his mother a local Spanish Republic from Franco’s fas- nist Party campaigned alongside black the Daily Worker campaigned against dia Jones, the driving force behind the woman. The couple had five children cists, who were supported with huge and Asian people in London, Cardiff, the ban. Johnson had retired by the Notting Hill Carnival. and Charlie’s father often traveled military aid from Hitler and Mussolini. Liverpool and north-east England. time the bar was lifted but stood for The Indian subcontinent also pro- back to Africa and eventually did not He explained his decision to go: “I Through the League Against Impe- vide a number of important Commu- return, leaving his wife in financial am half black, I grew up in the national rialism a worldwide organisation of nists in Britain, particularly though the hardship as well as mental anguish. children’s home and orphanage. Fas- communists, socialists and national Indian Workers Association, which Concerned for her children, she cism meant hunger and war.” liberation fighters, British Communists worked closely with the Party. asked for Charlie and one of his sis- He has the distinction of being the fought against imperialism in the Brit- Another outstanding Communist ters to be taken temporarily into only Black British volunteer in the ish empire. was Vishnu Sharma a leading activ- care. They spent several years there International Brigades in that momen- An outstanding example of anti- ist and author of the important anti until being allowed to leave and rejoin tous struggle for freedom and against racism by the Communist Party took racist, anti fascist pamphlet No Rac- their mother, now in Fulham. the twin evils of fascism and racism. place when Shaukhat Usmani, one ist Immigration Laws, which is being By 1935, working as a lorry driver He served for two years until the of those accused in the Meerut con- reproduced as part of the Party’s and aware of his race and class, he end of the war, being reassigned as an spiracy trial in India, was selected as centenary celebrations. joined the local Young Communist ambulance driver after getting injured. candidate for Parliament in the 1929 This brief outline, pays tribute in League and was quickly elected chair During the second world war he and 1931 general elections, despite particular to some of the outstand- of the branch. was one of those rescued at Dunkirk being imprisoned in his homeland. ing black Communists in Britain since He went to Cable Street when and then served in north Africa, Italy, The Negro Welfare Association was 1920. Mosley’s fascists attempted their France and into Germany. He was one formed by Communists in Liverpool Our stand against all forms of provocative march through the pre- of the British troops that liberated in 1930 and Barbadian Party mem- oppression, particularly against rac- dominantly Jewish East End of Lon- Bergen Belsen concentration camp ber Arnold Ward became its leading ism, fascism and colonialism is one of don and played his part in forcing — the ultimate in the fascist ideology member throughout the 1930s. It the elements which attracted these them to turn away in defeat. he had spent the last decade fighting. played a leading role in the successful exceptional women and men to join Two months later, in December DAVID HORSLEY international campaign in defence of the Party. www.communistparty.org.uk @CPBritain Fighting for equality 13 The rising of the women means the rising of us all

UR PARTY celebrates by Carol Stavris and honours women ON THE MARCH: comrades involved Manchester communists prominently in the up Nottinghamshire Women Against demonstrate in the early ’20s struggle for a better Pit Closures for striking miners when world from the time the National Union of Mineworkers Othe Party was founded. called their members out in 1984. She The women’s suffrage movement of travelled throughout the country rais- the early 20th Century drew women ing funds and support. from all backgrounds into action. Communist women have never Many recognised the class nature of been afraid to show commitment the demand that women should have to internationalism. Joining the fight the vote. against General Franco’s fascist forces, Helen Crawfurd and Dora Monte- Thora Silverthorne went to nurse in fiore linked their experience of work- Spain at the outbreak of the Spanish ing with people living in abject poverty Civil War as part of the International and deprivation to the struggle for a Brigades defending Republican Spain. socialist society characterised by equal- Claudia Jones was deported to ity and production for people’s needs. Britain from the US in 1955 for her They realised the necessity of having work for peace and civil rights. She is a political organisation based on the remembered and honoured for her Marxist understanding of the contra- work with the African-Caribbean com- dictions in society to be able to take munity in London and her role in the socialist demands, including women’s celebration of black culture and the rights, forward in a structured way. beginnings of the Notting Hill Carnival. Helping to found the Communist Women comrades have always been Party, they worked tirelessly for to the fore in denouncing and cam- improvements to the economic and paigning against racism. Dorothy Kuya, political position of women within educator and civil rights activist, was society, for peace and in defence of influential in establishing Liverpool’s the Soviet people. International Anti-slavery Museum As women joined the workforce, which opened in 2007. taking leading positions as shop stew- This year saw the 50th Anniver- ards, their political understanding grew. sary of the first Women’s Liberation In the 1930s, Jessie Eden organised Conference in Oxford, beginning the her women workmates into union mem- Women’s Liberation Movement. bership and led them in militant action Communist women remain in against the factory owners’ attempts to the forefront of the struggle for the lower the cost of their labour. Jessie was demands made then, but still relevant a community campaigner too, leading today: equal pay, equal educational and rent strikes opposing unfair rent rises job opportunities, free 24-hour nurs- in her neighbourhood. eries and defence of abortion rights. Communist women have always been Women play leading roles in our in the fore in the battle for equal pay, Party through their Women’s Com- particularly as more women entered tra- missions which inform and guide Party ditionally male workplaces during the policy and take forward issues that second world war. In 1941, Tamara Rust face working-class women through helped organise the Women’s Parliament education and action. to promote women’s rights. A woman’s place is in her union — Ida Hackett helped miners’ wives set and in the Communist Party!

DOROTHY KUYA was one of the of Liverpool 8 were a close-knit com- She moved to London, joined her with Tottenham MP Bernie Grant. Communist Party’s most important munity with social clubs that reflected local party and began teaching in a As the divisions in the Communist black members from the 1940s to the culture and nationalities in the area. north London school. She and Bridget Party increased in that decade, she the 1980s. Young Dorothy Kuya was aware of Harris, another Communist teacher, drifted away from the Party and She was born in Liverpool in April the class divide and poverty in the city, set up the pioneering Teachers Against devoted her time to working with the 1932, her mother a Liverpudlian and as well as the racism and discrimina- Racism that was particularly active in black community and fighting racism. her father from Sierra Leone. He tion so as a teenager she joined the the 1970s. She returned to Liverpool where disappeared and when her mother Young Communist League. Dorothy was a member of the she had bought a house in Liverpool 8. married a Nigerian, young Dorothy One of her proudest moments National Assembly of Women and She worked tirelessly opposing racism took his surname and regarded him was when she met the great African- ensured anti racism was on the fore- and urged the setting up of a slavery as her father. American Paul Robeson and presented front for the members and she eventu- museum in the city, as much of Liv- She and her family lived in Liverpool him with a bouquet of flowers during ally became general secretary of the erpool’s wealth had been as a result 8, which was virtually a ghetto, with his tour of Britain in 1949. organisation. of the slave trade. She was overjoyed mainly black and mixed-race families Despite the onset of the cold war Her contribution to a 1981 Com- when the Slavery Museum opened. RED LIVES living in one of the oldest black com- she continued to be an active Com- munist conference on racism and the Dorothy died on 23 December munities in Britain. munist. On a personal level she trained police was central to a Party pamphlet 2013. Her whole life was devoted to In an interview she remembered: first to be a nurse and then a teacher. later that year titled Black and Blue: people’s struggles in the fight against Dorothy “You’d be hard pressed to find a black In the latter role, she excelled showing Racism and the Police. By now she racism and discrimination, she was Kuya face in Liverpool city centre only 20 her talents as a gifted communicator had become head of race equality for always a leader. minutes away by foot.” But the people with the sharpest of minds. Haringey Council and worked closely DAVID HORSLEY 14 Second world war Bright sparks’ revolution – science serves the left

NUMBER of outstand- and campaigning against the militarisa- ing scientists have tion of science and weapons of mass swelled the ranks of destruction. the Communist Party, Much of that was expressed through including crystallogra- the left-led Association of Scientific pher John Desmond Workers (AScW). ABernal, geneticist JBS Haldane, the Bernal was AScW president in 1947, physicist Eric Burhop and Nobel and one of the first vice-presidents prize-winners Maurice Wilkins of the World Federation of Scientific (molecular biology 1962) and Dick Workers (WFSW), which the AScW Synge (chemistry 1952). helped establish. Burhop was WFSW In the 1930s, under Bernal’s leader- president from 1969 to 1979. ship, and spurred by the Spanish Civil When the British Society for Social War, the Cambridge Scientists Anti- Responsibility in Science (BSSRS) was War Group (CSAWG) undertook established in 1969, many senior Party experiments that directly examined scientists joined and took an active the likely consequences of aerial part. Maurice Wilkins became the first attacks on the public. president. In 1939 Bernal published his seminal Now subsumed into Scientists for work, The Social Function of Science. Global Responsibility, one of BSSRS’s During World War II he became great achievements was, with trade a government “boffin,” employing his union support, the Hazards Cam- expertise in the design of the D-Day SOCIALIST SCIENCE: (left to right) Eric Burhop, Dick Synge and Maruice Wilkins paign and health and safety at work Mulberry harbours, as well as test- legislation. ing the suitability of the Normandy by Martin Levy physiological investigations for the nuclear weapons, becoming members Over the years, the party’s science beaches for the landings. Admiralty. of the Pugwash movement. Synge was committee produced bulletins and He became vice-president of the Haldane joined the Party in 1942 involved in the Society for Cultural reports on important issues such as World Peace Council on its foundation then threw himself into the Aid Spain but left around 1951 after the Lysenko Relations with the USSR and Scientists the pharmaceutical industry, food and in 1949, and its president from 1958. movement in Britain. genetics affair in the Soviet Union. Against Nuclear Arms. agriculture, and energy policy. Papers relating to his peace activities He became science correspondent Wilkins and Synge were also Throughout the postwar period to At that time the Party was ahead are held by the Marx Memorial Library, for the Daily Worker, for which he involved with the CSAWG. Wilkins the 1980s, the Party maintained an of much of the left on environmental whose president he was from 1950 wrote more than 300 articles, and may have left the Party around 1939 active science committee. issues, although it did not abandon to 1971. whose editorial board he chaired from but he remained close. Initially, work centred on promoting support for peaceful uses of nuclear Haldane was drawn sharply to the 1940 to 1951. During the war both he and Burhop science for material progress, encour- power until the 1980s. left by the fight for democracy in Spain. He was an ardent champion of air worked on the Manhattan Project in aging the labour movement to develop In 2003 the CP’s new science, tech- He advised the Republican government raid protection. During the second the US, helping design the atomic bomb. technical understanding, winning sci- nology and environment advisory pub- on precautions against gas attacks, and world war he undertook dangerous Afterwards they campaigned against entists to the side of the working class lished the pamphlet A World to Save. Under occupation HE ANSWER to the by Phil Katz war and prevented some Jews from question “How would being deported to their death. communists react if an For nearly five years communists invasion came,” was voted to dissolve, it is recorded that earned the gratitude of many islanders, clearly spelt out by the only a single vote, of communist Cliff as they led an active resistance, when party in the Channel Tucker, wanted to keep going. Later even defacing a poster could carry a TIslands. Despite some scholars’ con- in 1941, a resistance began to emerge death penalty. Some of those jailed tinued assertion that communists were on the main Islands including the Jersey and detained for acts of protest, were defeatist, they became the main resist- Democratic Party and the Jersey Pro- later deported to Germany, and some ance on the islands. gressive People's Party, sometimes led did not return. By the end of the war, The nazis occupied the islands in by the Communist Party and always the party was producing a monthly July 1940, with the British government with Communist involvement. newspaper, the Jersey Democrat. advising citizens to stay calm and stay By 1942, the party had brought both The Resistance was implicated in put — and advising government offic- together to form the Jersey Demo- some sabotage. It made inroads into ers to remain in post. cratic Movement. The leading figure the German garrison, establishing con- This controversial instruction cov- was the heroic Norman Le Broq, tact as high as the garrison commander, ered those who tried in every way stonemason and CP activist. through a group of German communists to alleviate the suffering of citizens, The party took the decision to and anti-fascists led by Paul Huelbach. but it also covered those who enacted relaunch the TGWU, and managed Evidence exists that these soldiers and the nazi anti-semitic laws and offered to lay hands on printing machines, the resistance were planning a mutiny rewards for the discovery of other citi- paper and ink stocks, some of it stolen among troops when liberation inter- zens engaged in anti-German activity. from German supplies, to distribute vened. As soon as the occupiers were Trade unions were dissolved, then propaganda. defeated, the communists called the big- banned. But a number, including the The resistance was, by and large, gest political meeting ever seen in Jersey. printers and teachers, continued a protected by the local population. It The only newspaper, the Evening basic network. carried out reconnaissance of military Post, refused to even accept an advert OCCUPIERS: Nazis in Jersey When the Jersey TGWU branch installations, hid Soviet prisoners of for the event. www.communistparty.org.uk @CPBritain Second world war 15

SECOND FRONT NOW! A rally to call for the unbanning of the Daily Worker (main), (right) leaflets for rallies, a local second front newsheet and a copy of the Daily Worker from during the ban and (below) a CP second front poster

RED LIVES Sam Watts “THEY DON’T realise that strength they’ve got, do they? They don’t real- ise that power they’ve got — the working class can change the whole history, as quick as that, they just don’t realise, they haven’t grasped it.” So said Sam Watts, a formida- ble and lifelong Communist Party member in his native Merseyside, in a stand out contribution to Ken Loach’s 2013 film The Spirit of ’45. Born in February 1925 in Liver- pool’s Great Homer Street area, he lived through the direst poverty as a child. His mother’s task was not eased in 1933 when her husband, a timber yard worker, was removed to what was then called the lunatic asylum at Rainhill. He suffered from post-trau- matic stress brought on by experi- ences in the first world war trenches that were further aggravated by his brother William’s execution for sup- posed cowardice. Sam’s father remained in Rainhill without speaking until he died in 1943. In reality, William was suffer- ing from shell-shock and exposure to gas, as were many of the 306 British soldiers shot by firing squad in that conflict. Sam campaigned for years for these men to be pardoned and was delighted in 2006 when this was belatedly agreed. Waging a people’s He had proudly but provocatively waited in line on Armistice Day to incur the wrath of the British Legion by laying a wreath of white poppies at the war memorial in memory of the uncle he had never known. Sam joined the Royal Navy in 1943, but, after being demobbed, war on the nazis he returned to the same slum condi- ROM JUNE 1941 the push for by Phil Katz cal displays. Some appeared on the tions before going to London then a second front to catch the plinth below Nelson’s column Liverpool for work. nazis in a pincer movement Shortly after, the Soviets performed Returning to Liverpool, he sur- and relieve the pressure on dissident members calling to support. their stunning counter offensive at vived on dead-end jobs and then the Soviets became central to With parliament slow to respond, Stalingrad. It was a turning point in benefited from the post-war eco- Communist strategy. Govern- the Communist Party marshalled the war. nomic upturn to find work as a rig- mentF ministers did not agree. its forces to hit the streets. On 26 Soon after, a very large meeting ger on Liverpool docks and become Party leaders were on first name July 60,000 met in Trafalgar Square of the Women’s Parliament met at a shop steward. Leading shop stew- terms with many of the European to demand a new front in Europe be the Bedford Music Hall. It discussed ard Alec “Bunny” McKechnie invited communists now facing death. It was opened without delay. On 29 July, training and part-time workers rights, him to a Communist Party rally at not a question of what tempo would 1,500 delegates rammed home the the provision of nurseries and works St Georges Hall. be required to direct the war effort call for unbanning the Daily Worker. Labour also rejected Communist canteens in factories but it also found “It was addressed by general sec- — it was of principle. It organised delegations to parlia- overtures for joint action in favour of time to make clear, its support, for a retary Harry Pollitt and I joined the In 1942, the navy and air force were ment to push the demand and organ- the second front. second front. party at that meeting. I became a fighting to full capacity, but most Brit- ised hundreds of meetings. On August But the CP packed Trafalgar Square When D-Day did arrive it had more regular reader and seller of the Daily ish troops were stationed in Britain. 22, there were 22 demonstrations in on October 25, with Aneurin Bevan than a military impact. It united the Worker from then onwards.” Churchill wanted to delay the opening towns and villages across south Wales. and the editor of the Daily Express working class and it began to divide From that day until his death at of a new front to allow the principle On August 30, 80 meetings were on the platform. the country further along class lines. the end of 2014, Sam spent over 60 adversaries, Germany and the USSR to held in London — the Hammersmith CP leader Harry Pollitt was particu- The question being asked was, years as a Communist Party activist. exhaust each other. But for the com- meeting, with 2,500 tickets sold, unani- larly scathing of TUC general secretary how could the interests of one class His activities included being lifted, munists and millions of workers, this mously declared for a second front. who sought to line the unions up with who supported private ownership literally, by police when he protested would never do. Arguably the party Still Churchill dragged his feet, even the “not now” group opposing a sec- and anarchy in production remain against Margaret Thatcher’s visit to has never been so at one with the though he had been in Moscow to ond front. Also attending the Trafalgar allied during peacetime, to that class the Eldonian housing estate in Liv- general outlook of organised work- meet Stalin in August and agreed a Square rallies were soldiers in uniform, whose interest was in socialism and erpool’s Docklands in 1989. ers. And it struggled alone as Labour “common aim of complete victory who had ducked the conditions of their the planning of production for the KEVAN NELSON toed the government line, with only its over fascism.” leave of absence to take part in politi- common good?

18 Battle of ideas Different fronts in

RED LIVES the ideological war ritish communists have worker and Marx Library stalwart. Ivy always insisted that only Doyle arrived with his US-born wife Woods a politically conscious Mikki, who went on to be a legendary majority of the working women’s editor at the Morning Star. IVY OLIVER was born in Holborn, class and its allies can Another CPUSA arrival was Car- London, in 1914, living above the defeat the ruling class. The ibbean-born Claudia Jones, stalwart shop where her father was a grocer. BritishB Establishment has been suc- anti-racist and creator of the Notting In the mid 1920s, after stopping a cessful in securing and maintaining its Hill Carnival. bailiff removing Freemason regalia dominance primarily through consent However, the chilling effects of the from a tenant’s flat, he lost his trade rather than brute force, thought that is Cold War fell on British communists from all the surrounding hotels. rarely used and never ruled out. working in the Civil Service, education They moved to Bristol in 1926, This illustrates Marx’s famous insight and the media. where she lived for the rest of her life. that in every period the ruling ideas The Attlee government’s devotion She worked in the Bristol Central are those of the ruling class. to bolstering imperialism in Greece Library, where she met her future Throughout its history the Com- and Malaya especially, were also husband, Stephen Woods, already munist Party has played its part in marked by shifts in Britain. London’s a Communist Party member. They developing and promoting a social- May Day marches organised by the married in August 1939 and had ist political consciousness. This is a communist-led London Trades Council three children. major difference between the com- faced bans in the late 1940s. She joined the party in 1940 at a munist perspective and the dominant Communist “infiltration” of the BBC time when members were encour- outlook of the reformist wing of the was one of many pretexts to eradicate aged to spend at least half their labour movement in Britain, which has left-wing producers, researchers and time on work outside the party, she generally derided theory of any kind. presenters throughout the 1940s and joined the Sea Mills Co-op Guild, Former Labour leader Harold Wil- 1950s. Aided in large part by witch- and soon became secretary. son, an Oxford don in economic his- hunters such as George Orwell, Jack Webb, the Communist pres- tory, famously said he had given up whose notorious blacklist of names ident of the Bristol Co-operative reading Marx’s Capital because the for what was to become the Infor- Society, got Ivy involved in the footnotes were too long. mation Research Department (IRD) co-op. By 1946 she was attending Communists built on a quite differ- reeks every it as much of homophobia, society meetings. She was elected to ent tradition within the British working racism and anti-semitism as it does the Society Party political commit- class, that of collective education, which anti-communism. tee in 1947 and immediately faced from the time of the Chartists had REGULAR The IRD was not wound up until hostility as a member of the CP. emphasised that “knowledge is power.” PITCH: 1977. That same year, newsreader This was a time of bans and It was also built around the funda- Communists Anna Ford was investigated for BBC proscriptions. She was defeated in mental concept that socialist ideas had used every security clearance by MI5, simply on 1951 but would be on the political to be developed in a scientific way and opportunity to the grounds that she was living with committee for a total of eight years, would not emerge fully formed from get their point a former communist journalist. The standing 24 times. She was elected spontaneous working-class actions. across, as here political snooping was exposed again to the management committee in Over the years, the CPGB estab- in the early ’60s in 1985 where it was revealed that 1964 at the 14th attempt. lished many specialist magazines to Room 105 in Broadcasting House was Ivy did not slacken that year, as discuss theoretical issues, the most by Kenny Coyle of a left government. The first of many home to the head of the Beeb’s staff she took on adult literacy work. important being Communist Review (a such “red scares” perpetrated by that surveillance unit. It was the time of “On the Move” name used in several different periods), paper and other media right through the Fuller details about the close links and she got huge satisfaction helping Modern Quarterly, Marxist Quarterly be recognised in the wider academic Corbyn era to the present day. between the state intelligence ser- Caribbean women to learn to read. and Marxism Today, all published either world, no matter how reluctantly. Anti-communist bans and pro- vices and the mainstream media were She went on a CP women’s by the party directly or through its pub- However, specialists in all areas were scriptions even filtered into the exposed in Britain's Secret Propaganda delegation to the Soviet Union in lishing arm Lawrence and Wishart. expected to use their expertise for the labour movement, especially after War: 1948-1977 by investigative jour- 1963, visiting Siberia and Leningrad L&W also published and printed the benefit of working people, all too often the defeat of the General Strike and nalists Paul Lashmar and James Oliver. and returned early to Moscow to main works of Marx, Engels and Lenin, denied the fullest educational oppor- the TUC’s 1934 Black Circular pro- It exposed British Cold War propa- meet Valentina Tereshkova, who had as it still does to this day, and distrib- tunities. Outstanding scientists such as scribing communist-influenced unions ganda to trace IRD involvement in just returned from space, along with uted works from the Soviet Union’s JD Bernal and JBS Haldane published and trades councils. Anti-communist Korea, Malaya, Indonesia Suez, North- Yuri Gagarin and Valery Bykovsky. foreign languages publishing houses. widely in CP publications. Haldane’s bans remained well into the 1980s in ern Ireland, and the campaign for Brit- When she returned Ivy gave at The party’s obsession with promoting regular science columns for the Daily a number of unions such as EETPU ish entry to the EEC in the 1970s. least 50 report back meetings — political reading and publishing is a story Worker in the 1930s, covered every- and APEX. By the ’70s, the Party was faced many of them to Co-op Guilds. in itself. When non-communist Victor thing from the chicken-and-egg conun- The Daily Worker’s exposés of war with an internal battle of ideas, with Ivy was also very active in the Gollancz established the Left Book Club drum to the military dangers of poison crimes in Korea and Malaya came at the founding principles of the CP being peace movement, and a lot of her in the 1930s, its huge success owed gas, still shine more than 80 years later. a price. Alan Winnington, one of the challenged by revisionists. talks were on peace: the immorality much to the communist contribution However, the CP was up against paper’s greatest correspondents, was Party education schools, where of war, the vested interests of the to its administration and distribution. powerful entrenched ideological oppo- threatened with treason charges for industrial militants rubbed shoulders arms industry, against the H-bomb Internally, the party’s education nents. Ideas never float free but are covering the Korean war and he lived on equal terms with Oxbridge dons, tests in 1957, unilateral disarmament department developed schools, lec- always tied to the material possibil- most of his life in exile. were taking second place to a focus and Aldermaston marches. ture programmes, reading lists and ity of spreading them – the means McCarthyism in the United State on theory drawn from the seminar In 1968 she spoke to a rally in tutor-training aids to be used at every of production are also the means of had some odd cultural repercussions. rooms of the “red brick revolution,” Bristol against the war in Vietnam. level of party organisation from the producing and sustaining ideas. With Left-wing Hollywood screen writers where post-structuralists were more “A real love of peace is something national centre out to the furthest- the forces of state broadcasters, the and directors moved to Britain and important than postal workers. active. It is not passive. flung branch. corporate media and often the church other parts of Europe. In recent years, the CPB has initiated “It is good, but of little practi- The party created specialist groups ranged directly against the party, this Charlie Chaplin left the US for Swit- a number of educational programmes cal value at this time, just to want of academics in both the social and was always an uphill battle. zerland. Even the CPGB itself “benefit- and events, the quarterly Communist peace, if you are not prepared to natural sciences. Advisories, papers The publication in 1924 by the Daily ted” from this diaspora. Review carries all manner of theoreti- do something about it. and conferences multiplied. The con- Mail of the so-called “Zinoviev Letter” John Williamson and Charlie Doyle cal and discussion articles and once “We women want peace and we tribution of the Historians Group has a faked document purporting to tie the were two British-born members of again there are modest publishing pro- women mean to have it.” always stood out, the power of Marx- Communist International to the Labour the CPUSA who were deported. jects promoting Marxist theory. The ELEANOR LEWINGTON ist insights into history could not but Party, was designed to derail the election Williamson became a full-time party battle of ideas has no truce. www.communistparty.org.uk @CPBritain Battle of ideas 19

LOUD AND CLEAR: Communists campaign calling for homes in 1949

On the socialist road NE UNIQUE feature by Kenny Coyle between a workers’ revolution led by a section on “social- ship in the mid-1980s, they of the Communist the CPGB and based on as-yet-non- ist democracy,” which soon abandoned the BRS. Party in Britain over existent workers councils on the one more explicitly than The re-established the past century has tury that seem likely to be subjects hand, or fascism on the other. before outlined the Communist Party of Brit- been the attention of heated discussion for some time FSB was in any case soon redundant. necessity of extending ain, by contrast, took over it paid to developing to come. The 7th world congress of the Com- democratic rights and the BRS in 1988, redraft- Oa long-term programme for socialist These issues centre around the munist International decisively broke freedoms as an essential ing it in 1989. While this revolution. nature of the Labour Party and the with left-sectarian perspectives, and part of building social- offered a greatly strength- Rather than simply producing short- potential of combining parliamentary the British party was urged by the ism. ened overview of the term election manifestoes or abstract majorities with powerful extra-parlia- Comintern to renew demands on a A decade later, the situation in Britain, the propaganda denouncing the evils of mentary mass movements to assist the future Labour government to defend 1968 BRS deepened international section was capitalism, communist programmes advance toward socialism. working class interests. the party’s political and dramatically overtaken by have attempted to apply the general These debates strongly marked the A draft programme was due to be economic analysis of events. principles of Marxism-Leninism to the first dozen years of the Communist debated at the party’s 1939 congress what was termed “state EVOLVING: The 2020 The party’s hopes for concrete conditions of contemporary Party. On the eve of the party’s forma- postponed due to the outbreak of war. monopoly capitalism” edition of the BRS the successful renovation British society. tion, Lenin’s ‘Left-Wing’ Communism In the post-war period, the defeat and the need to create of socialism in the Soviet The party has generally revised its an Infantile Disorder (1920) devoted an of nazism, the creation of new social- a working-class led anti-monopoly Union and other European countries programme every nine or 10 years entire chapter to the situation in Britain, ist states, mass communist parties in alliance. had to be abandoned as powerful pro- to take into account new features in decisive in defeating sectarian positions major capitalist countries and vibrant However, the discussions around the capitalist forces gained control. Britain’s economic, social and political in the formative years of the Commu- national liberation movements in Asia 1977 BRS draft showed the extent of The party’s response was to draft life or the international situation. nist Party of Great Britain (CPGB). suggested that multiple new paths to divisions within the CPGB. new documents assessing the collapse of The main themes have all outlined However, by the late 1920s this socialism were possible. A revisionist current, associated the Soviet Union and to redraft the BRS the basic economic features, class united front perspective was lost. The first edition of the British with Eurocommunism, began an taking into account the new unfavour- structure and nature of state power After the defeat of the 1926 General Road to Socialism, published in 1951, attempt to dilute the party’s traditional able balance of forces internationally. pertaining in Britain at the time. Strike and the anti-left witch-hunt reflected both wider discussions in focus on the working class in favour By the early 21st century, Britain’s As they developed, more detailed that followed, the party’s manifesto- the world communist movement — of “new social movements.” These Road to Socialism, as it was now analyses were elaborated, such as the cum-programme Class Against Class party leader Harry Pollitt spent time debates did at least allow the BRS to known, was monitoring new factors different phases of capitalist develop- denounced the Labour Party as “social in Moscow discussing the draft with acknowledge the key importance of such as the crisis of the European ment, the international position of British fascist” and made an entirely rhetorical Soviet theoreticians and even Stalin the women’s movement and the expe- Union and the rise of China on the imperialism, evaluation of the socialist call for the creation of a CPGB-led himself — as well as the three decades rience of struggles of Britain’s Black world stage. It advanced thinking in and ex-socialist countries, the national revolutionary workers’ government. of accumulated national experience by and Asian communities against racism. terms of the financialisation of capital- questions within Britain, the interlink- By 1933, following the disastrous the CPGB. As a result of the differences, the ism globally and increasingly recognised ing of racial and sexual oppression with defeat of the divided German working The 1958 version of the BRS was final programme published in 1978, the central threat to the planet posed class exploitation and the government class movement, the CPGB began a heavily influenced by crises of 1956, suffered from vague formulations on by environmental destruction. and state apparatus. The shifting cultural turn back to the united front. namely the armed revolt in Hungary class and state power that allowed The next 100 years will undoubtedly and ideological currents of British society But the turn was neither immediate and the attack on Stalin’s “cult of per- conflicting interpretations of the text throw up new challenges and phenom- also received more attention. nor straightforward as the party’s 1935 sonality” in the Soviet Union. by different wings of the party. ena and it will be up to future genera- However, there are two recurring programme For Soviet Britain (FSB) References to “people’s democracy” When the Eurocommunists eventu- tions of communists to keep their pro- questions throughout the past cen- showed. FSB suggested the choice was in the 1951 edition were replaced by ally gained control of the CPGB leader- gramme relevant to the struggles ahead. 20 Industrial struggles

VICTORY: Pentonville dockers, and communists, Vic Turner and Bernie Steer dockers are chaired out of Shining a light on the prison after being cleared Murdoch conspiracy OLLING BACK the frontiers of social- ism’ was prime minister Thatch- er’s own slogan for the conspiracy of‘ employers,R the government, the law and the press to shed jobs and eradicate militant trade unionism from the world of work. The Morning Star was along among national newspapers in sup- porting workers’ prolonged struggles against job losses, derecognition and the full force of the state. The main target of this Ridley con- spiracy, or “plan,” was the miners, but the Morning Star revealed the back- ground to another plot: to smash the Fleet Street print unions. Throughout 1985, a small hand- picked management team carried out a plan to destroy the unionised work- force. It was led by Rupert Murdoch, a man who used deception and lies to N MIDDLE ENGLISH, a steward justify the most outrageous industrial was the word used to describe action of his time. an overseer of workmen answer- Rumours, stories and hard evidence able to the master, nowadays emerged gradually, although the full the steward is elected by and extent of the Wapping conspiracy accountable to their workmates. came to light only after the strike IWhen properly harnessed, the rela- began in January 1986. tionship can forge great strength in Murdoch’s pretence that the com- numbers. pany wanted to launch a new news- by Ann Field about this some months ago, and it staff, all four national newspapers were Shop stewards first appeared in the paper to justify new conditions at the may be desirable to talk about it again immediately transferred to Wapping engineering industry among skilled new Wapping site in east London, was in the New Year.” overnight to be produced by a new male workers in shipbuilding and engi- a complete sham. The planned London timing it to maximum effect, suggesting The final, chilling point stated: “The company. neering at the very end of the 19th Post never materialised. that the “cheapest way to dispense of idea is to catch as many employees in Electricians union EETPU supplied century —there were very few female Ten days after the strike began and the present workforce” would be “to the net as possible, and it seems to me the workforce for these shadow com- shop stewards until the first world war. 5,500 workers had been instantly dis- dismiss employees while participating likely that that will be done best if the panies. A substitute transport agree- Initially, the steward’s function was missed, a letter from royal solicitors in a strike or other industrial action.” dismissals take place at the weekend ment with TNT bypassed British Rail to collect dues and check that mem- Farrer’s to their client, Murdoch-owned It said: “All those who are on strike, rather than near the beginning of a distribution of newspapers to depots bers were paid up. But as they began News International, was leaked. etc must be dismissed, and not re- week.” nationwide. And all this was carried to take up the concerns of fellow No other newspaper would print it, engaged.” Documents subsequently disclosed out with legal impunity. workers they became increasingly rec- but the Morning Star did, in support of The letter went on: “There may be by News International during court Murdoch plotted with union-bust- ognised as workplace representatives. the workers and their unions. merit in having piles of dismissal let- hearings revealed the six shadow com- ers and the right-wing leadership of It was during the first world war It advised Murdoch how to get rid of ters at exit doors, even if that involves panies set up during 1985. When the the EETPU who had supplied the that stewards came to the fore. The the workforce by provoking a strike and an element of duplication. We talked strike prompted dismissal of existing pirate workforce. Labour Party and TUC had abandoned their anti-war positions in the run up to the conflict and declared an “indus- trial truce” in August 1914, pledging THE EARLY ’80s were a turbulent During the strike and afterwards under Thatcher’s reign, no coincidence there would be no strikes to help the time in Britain. The CPGB and YCL Mark was frequently exasperated that destroying the print unions was war effort. were active in organising large events by identity politics. Mark was clear a political priority given their ability Ignoring the legitimate interests of and Mark was always there, leafletting, about the importance of equal rights, to stop the presses in support of the their members in this way forged a selling papers or carrying the banner. fighting discrimination and prejudice working class, something they did in deep gulf between militant rank-and- It was for his work during the because they were tools used by the support of the nurses and the miners. file members and union leaders. miners’ strike that he is best known. ruling class to divide us, rather than Mark was present at most of the But it did not deter workplace reps When Thatcher provoked the strike supplanting class struggle with “new Saturday night demonstrations and — a 1915 strike in Clyde munitions he swung into action, setting up Les- social forces.” quite a few of the mid-week ones too. factories saw around 10,000 engineers bians & Gays Support the Miners with By making the links in this way he He was at Wapping on the night of in over 25 factories came out. Mike Jackson — a story partly told in was able to counter the prejudices the police riot on the anniversary of Without official union support the hugely successful film Pride. that existed against the LGBT com- the strike, 25 January 1987. I remem- the strikers had to find new ways to Of course that film glossed over munity within the trade union move- ber it was freezing and admonished co-ordinate their activity and so set Mark’s politics and said nothing about ment, and vice versa — culminating him for only wearing his customary up the Central Labour Witholding the fact he subsequently became gen- in the NUM helping carry a resolu- double denim and T-shirt. He grinned Committee. This was later replaced eral secretary of the YCL. Mark was tion supporting LGBT rights at the and said he was fine. A few days later by a permanent committee, the Clyde tireless in his support — out “on the TUC. Communist miner’s leader Mick he was admitted to hospital with Workers Committee, under chair Wil- bucket” around the London lesbian McGahey was pivotal in winning the pneumonia and soon died. lie Gallacher, a founder member of the RED LIVES and gay clubs virtually every night of TUC to this progressive policy posi- I only knew Mark for about four Communist Party in 1920. the strike. It was during the strike that tion. years. He made a lasting impression Like Gallacher, many of the socialist Mark Mark was diagnosed HIV+, in those Little has been written about on me as a friend and an outstanding trade union stewards, including Tom days a death sentence. He was fright- Mark’s involvement in the Wapping comrade, and I think of him daily with Mann and Wal Hannington, turned to Ashton ened but refused to let it interfere dispute of 1986/7. This was the sec- love and Pride. the CP after its foundation. with his campaigning. ond great defeat for the working class LORRAINE DOUGLAS Shop stewards and workers’ com- www.communistparty.org.uk @CPBritain Industrial struggles 21 Always with the miners URING THE 1926 Gen- by Brian Topping eral Strike and miners’ lock-out, the new but small Communist mingham marched to Saltley with one Party stood full-square demand: “Close the gates.” The police behind the miners. were forced to accede. DIn 1972 and 1974 the Party and the That victory at the Battle of Saltley Young Communist League (YCL) were Gates was made possible by the style well placed in the working class and of Party work in Birmingham: building labour movement to mobilise sup- factory organisation, providing political port and leadership during the his- education, and winning key positions toric struggles of the National Union in the official leadership of the trade of Mineworkers (NUM). union movement. The Party had traditionally been In the ’70s it was relatively easy strong in the Scottish, south Wales for the NUM to mobilise workers in and Kent coalfields. And, by the early industry despite, or perhaps rather 1970s, as the result of years of patient because, the original vision offered Party work, the right-wing grip on by nationalisation in 1947, had almost Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire was evaporated and the real value of min- being loosened. ers’ wages had been severely eroded. In the 1971 NUM presidential elec- By the ’80s the situation was very tion, despite a virulent anti-commu- different: the coal industry had been nist campaign, Mick McGahey polled ruthlessly exploited by private interests, 92,883 votes against right-winger Joe especially on the machinery and supply Rank and file Gormley’s 117,663. Mick was elected side, while the Conservative govern- NUM vice-president the following ment elected in 1979, still smarting from year, and the left, with deep grassroots defeat at Saltley Gates, made no secret support, had gained positions on the of its hostility to the NUM. national executive. Part of this effort to undermine the Through a well-organised indus- NUM meant repositioning the whole trial department, the Party and YCL economy away from British coal, both takes on the branches, based close to or in mining through imports from abroad, mainly communities, made it a priority to apartheid South Africa, and securing build solidarity with the NUM in 1972 cheap oil from the Middle East. and 1974, including support for pickets At the start of the strike in March and a YCL campaign to supply candles 1984, the role of Communists and and torches to working class homes allies in the NUM throughout the hit by cuts to the electricity supply. 1970s and early ’80s, had helped government In 1972 widespread rail solidarity lay the basis for a strong broad left action stopped fuel getting to power national leadership in the union, by Anita Halpin and stewards were active in war-time of the LCDTU slogan, the rights and stations and the decisive point of solidar- around Arther Scargill. joint production committees and their freedoms of organised labour. ity occurred at the Saltley Coke Depot in Paradoxically, at the same time a power grew successfully in the post- The LCDTU fuelled a national move- Birmingham on Friday 10 February, with majority in the CP leadership had mittees were formed throughout the war years with near full employment ment that was able to call unofficial the Party playing an outstanding role. essentially abandoned commitment to country in factories involved in war- in the ’50s and ’60s. strikes that saw off Labour’s In Place of There was a mountain of over class struggle, turning to “new social time production and were seen by the In 1966 Labour introduced a statu- Strife in 1969 and had killed the Tories’ 100,000 tonnes of coal being shifted forces” as the route of left advance. workers as the union leadership. tory incomes policy which was a clear Industrial Relations Bill by 1972. by road out of Saltley. The Party was in danger of being iso- Founder member and CPGB gen- attack on trade union rights and free- Having a large network of militants By Monday 6 February, the Midlands lated from key areas of the struggle. eral secretary (1929-1939 and 1941- doms. from different industries and unions NUM had secured the support of hun- But revolutionaries in the Party, 1956), Harry Pollitt explained why in Springing into action, the CP’s indus- was crucial from protesting against dreds of flying pickets from Yorkshire, including many working in the Morning autobiography Serving My Time: “The trial department consulted activists in the jailing of the Pentonville dockers led by Arthur Scargill, to stop coal leav- Star and others active in their com- militants never let an occasion pass, key industries and leading trades union in 1972 to building support for and ing the depot and the Transport and munities and nationally, committed where attempts were made to worsen councils. solidarity with striking miners and oth- General Workers Union instructed themselves to the miners’ cause. conditions, without making a fight, and It decided to set up a national ers in struggle. drivers not to cross the picket lines. Crucial in the battle against mass it was this that gave the shop stew- campaigning body to co-ordinate the The shop stewards of today owe But by the next day scab lorry driv- pit closures was activity to build min- ards their influence and power, and led counter attack, led by rank-and-file much to those rank-and-file workers ers had been recruited, backed up by ers support groups, miners’ wives’ to the growth of the National Shop stewards but realising getting “official” who kept effective trade unionism alive more than 1,000 police to keep the organisations and solidarity from local Stewards Movement.” leaderships on side would be impor- during two world wars in the face of pickets at a distance. authorities in strengthening solidarity By the end of 1920 the post-war tant to success. their leaders’ preoccupation with the Local engineering shop stewards and alleviating suffering in mining com- boom in British industry was at an end This was the birth of the Liaison war effort. were brought to Saltley to see the munities. In traditional mining areas and unemployment reached 700,000, Committee for the Defence of Trades And now the shop stewards move- battle for themselves. They reported and large conurbations support groups rocketing to two million by June 1921. Unions which was pledged to “organise ment is back in the arena, with organ- back to the factories. Scargill won sup- flourished. Militants soon found themselves on unity in action and assist in mobilising ised workers in Royal Mail, hospitals port from the district committees of This creative approach to grassroots the dole and many, like Hannington, solidarity throughout the movement.” and schools defending their members the engineering and vehicle builders’ working class politics, including inter- became involved in the National Over the next three decades the against pro-employer Covid instructions unions, and on the Wednesday, a national solidarity helped sustain the Unemployed Workers Movement committee was very effective in build- and will be vital as lock-down eases and meeting of nearly 400 shop stewards struggle and resistance for a full year which was active until 1936. ing unity of purpose among shop the “masters” seek to impose cuts and endorsed that support. in the face of unprecedented state Shop stewards organisation was stewards and works committees to worsening conditions they feel necessary On Friday morning, tens of thou- violence and propaganda against the revived during the re-armament years “defend and advance,” in the words to economic revival after coronavirus. sands of workers from all over Bir- NUM and its supporters. CP Newcastle and Greater London East CPB Gateshead branch Communist Party Derby branch Pays tribute to all the comrades Proud to mark the centenary who campaigned, struggled and of the Communist Party in Celebrating 100 years of the Party laboured before us. Britain. in the struggle of our working class. We vow to build Onward to the Uniting the people against the Socialism in our time! next 100 years! monopolies and their government.

CPB Northern district Edinburgh Branch salutes Salutes the dedication of the many CPB Leicester the centenary of the comrades who Communist Party. H built the Party and the labour With Marxist praxis Forward march comrades to movement the defeat of the capitalists, H fought fascism we defeat racist the dictatorship of the H and campaigned for peace and socialism oppression! proletariat and socialism. We carry on the fight!

Coventry, Warwickshire Communist Party & Northamptonshire Govan branch Communist Party branch STANDING ON THE SHOLDERS OF GIANTS We salute those that have been before us by carrying on their struggles, campaigns, words and deeds. Celebrating 100 years of We remember those who fought against Fascism in Spain and Apartheid in South Africa. class struggle on the road We remember those who camped at Greenham Common. We remember those who escaped from Chile. to socialism. We remember those who helped form our Trade Unions both Industrial and Rural. We commit ourselves to continuing their fight for International Solidarity, Peace and Socialism.

Communist Party Communist Party South Yorkshire Scottish Committee Celebrates the lives, sacrifices, work & vision of our comrades over the last 100 One Hundred Years of Analysis, years, from George Fletcher, local baker, a Strategy and Struggle. founder member of the Party in 1920 & the Sheffield Unemployed Workers Movement, to the present. Always putting our class’s And looks forward to the next 100 years: interest first. to socialism, to communism. Eastern rising! Remember Hiroshima We salute those who For a world of peace started us out on the path and socialism to socialism in the East of England. Newport & Gwent Forward for the rural and Valleys Branch CP urban working class. [email protected] • 01633431228 Eastern District Communist Party

Bedfordshire communists Northwest District CPB Dumfries want you! Committee CPB Get active in the community Erich “Vatti” Hoffmann, and workplaces with our new Here’s to the next 100 13/2/1906-4/2/1959 Party branch. years of solidarity – German Communist, Brigadista, Contact us at there is a world to win. prisoner at Auschwitz and [email protected] Buchenwald. Saved the lives of 158 Jewish children. The Defeat of Gilgamesh by Greta Sykes In this epic, feminist narrative about the hero Gilgamesh, the focus is on two adventurous young women searching for the Holy Grail of female rights. They encounter wild animals, Gilgamesh and Goddesses. Fighting for rural workers’ rights, services and the environment since 1935. The book can be bought from any Read the next edition good bookseller, the publisher, In the footsteps of giants of the past: Wilf Page, of Country Standard in Amazon and www.gretasykes.com Joan Maynard, Jack Boddy, Bob Wynn, Jack September, packed Dunman, Wilfred Willett, Arthur Jordan and the with your favourite www.austinmacauley.com/book/defeat-gilgamesh recently dearly departed Mike Pentelow. news and features.

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07973 278 956 [email protected] www.platformfilms.co.uk www.cinemaaction.co.uk www.communistparty.org.uk @CPBritain Anti-imperialism 25 Blocking Britain’s bases PPOSITION TO by Liz Payne Fusion Centre at Molesworth, Allied would continue until the summer of nity the peoples of the Indian sub- British imperialism’s Maritime Command at Northwood 2000. Communist women and our continent and eastern Africa. network of military and Allied Rapid Reaction Corps HQ at Party supported the peace camp and In Cyprus, the Akrotiri and Dhekelia bases at home and of mass anti-nuclear demonstrations Tewkesbury, together with strategically all it stood for throughout its existence. bases underpin imperialism’s strangle- abroad and the every Easter from 1958, in which the critical listening stations like Menwith Closure of British overseas bases, hold of the eastern Mediterranean nefarious purposes Communist Party participated . Wood near Harrogate. those very dangerous so-called out- and Middle East, turning Cyprus into forO which they have been utilised in Other bases housed US troops, war The best known base protest was posts of empire, which are not “out- a potential theatre of war, and pre- facilitating US, British and Nato plans planes and other military hardware, that at Greenham Common near posts” but integral to imperialism’s venting the creation of an independent has been a consistent and key focus of together with stockpiles of lethal Newbury. Instead of marching away hegemonistic designs, has also long progressive federal state. The Party our Party’s campaigning for decades. weaponry — once primed for use to war, women from all over Britain been one of our key demands. joins with the Progressive Party of the This aspect of our work is particu- against the USSR and other socialist left their homes and families for the Two examples demonstrate the Working People of Cyprus (Akel) and larly important at present, given the countries, now for pursuit of other international cause of peace. contemporary urgency of this. In 1965, the Cyprus Peace Council in demand- prominence being accorded to Britain’s cold and hot war goals. They camped for short or long Britain unlawfully detached the stra- ing their immediate shut-down. ‘special relationship’ with the US and Today, our Party continues to expose periods to demand the removal of tegic Chagos archipelago in the Indian Moving into our next century for the grave dangers this poses. them as a very real and present danger, US cruise missiles from the site and Ocean from Mauritius, expelling the socialism, Communists say the fight Post second world war, certain designated, as some are, for US Visiting an end to the threat of nuclear war. population and setting up the notori- against British imperialism and milita- military facilities on British soil were Forces (USVF), while others host key Little would the first 36 marchers ous Diego Garcia military base. rism is crucial to the international strug- given over to the design and manu- Nato command and intelligence centres, from Wales, one of them a commu- Britain permits its US ally to occupy gle for a just and peaceful future. It is facture of atomic weapons — such as including its Joint Electronic Warfare nist, have thought, when they arrived in the island and from it to bomb the a task for which the working class of Aldermaston, which became the focus Core Staff at Yeovilton, Intelligence September 1981, that the peace camp Middle East and threaten with impu- this country bear special responsibility.

Turning the tide against more and more war THE STOP THE WAR COALITION fused the best elements of Britain’s labour and peace movements, gath- ered every left-wing and progressive tendency prepared to embrace the self-discipline of coalition politics and reached important Muslim communi- ties and millions of young people. From its very inception Communists were deeply involved. An unceasing rain of criticism descended on it from the beginning. but Stop the War’s case against the Iraq war is now widely accepted. When Tory premier David Cam- eron wanted to involve Britain in a bombing campaign for regime change in Syria he had an interventionist alli- ance made up of elements of the so- called liberal left — including Labour MPs – alongside jihadi insurgents. The Stop the War Coalition held to its principled position and Labour leader Ed Miliband found, for the first time in constitutional history, sufficient support (on both sides of the Atlantic) to compel a parliamentary block on war. The political establishment in Britain — which until Jeremy Corbyn’s election included the leadership of the Labour Party — is now obliged to take into account of a new political geometry. Stop the War subverted the unspoken rule that questions of war and peace Sweat and blood for the people of Vietnam were royal prerogatives — and solely the business of the political class — today WHILE MANY know about the huge making a final decision (theirs or mine?). urgent calls for donations of blood to know that it was the GDR’s airline these questions are mass issues. demonstrations against the Vietnam I was only 21 so they wanted me help the Vietnamese, and in Hamp- that was flying it to North Vietnam. It is precisely the failure of a great war, not so many know about the work to join the YCL first, which rather stead these took place at Swiss Cot- It was no big deal to drive a van to mass of opinion to divert the elite from of Medical Aid for Vietnam (MAV). deflated me. I had wanted to join a rev- tage Library on Saturday afternoons. Crawley and back, and I knew it was its symbiotic incorporation in an impe- I joined the Communist Party in olutionary party, not a kid’s club! Still, After giving blood I must have fool- an essential job. I did this several times rialism led by the US that has led to 1967 in West Hampstead, the year of before I knew it I was a fully fledged ishly offered to help because soon during the first half of 1968, but mov- the emergence in Britain of a distinctly the 50th anniversary of the Russian Party member, attending branch meet- after I was meeting the Cartwrights ing to a flat above the Party’s district anti-imperialist current of opinion that Revolution. The branch secretary was ings, selling the Star, giving out leaflets in South Hampstead. They ran a van offices in South Essex effectively ended is increasingly conscious of the roots of Ron Champion and he and his wife and helping at jumble sales. hire company and needed someone this work for MAV in London. A small war in capitalist exploitation. Barbara gave me some pamphlets by Local Party members were very to collect the blood and take it to the part, but not forgotten! NICK WRIGHT Marx, Engels and Lenin to read before active in MAV, which was making airport for onward shipment. I now PETER SINCLAIR 26 Internationalism | Culture Internationalism at its best VER THE past cen- by Nisar Ahmed embraced Marxism and on their unite the overwhelmingly colonial were not simply at the macro level tury there has been return to India plunged into communist nation in a progressive direction. of strategy formulation or ideas gen- a very close rela- activities. Perhaps the most celebrated It was not only in the political arena eration. What sometimes remains tionship between Britain to promote anti-colonial activi- among them was Jyoti Basu who that CPGB had close links with Indian unnoticed are the myriad connections, the Communist ties related to class struggles. He served became one of the first Communist comrades. There was a parallel stream relationships, and assistance given at Party of Great Brit- as secretary of the League Against MPs in 1946 and was later the chief in the field of culture that created a a micro level. ainO (CPGB) and the Communist Party Imperialism and was later part of the minister of West Bengal for 23 years. massive progressive movement in India Michael Carritt, a member of the of India (CPI). CPGB’s Colonial Information Bureau. Leading CPGB theoretician Rajani which was critical in bringing the com- Indian Civil Service, serving in colonial This was initiated in the 1920s and Along with 27 Indian comrades Palme Dutt was an influential figure in munists to the national stage. India as a judge is one such example continued right until the 1940s and Bradley, HL Hutchinson and P Sprat tackling the question of strategy and tac- A number of writers led by Sajjad of this. He happened to be a member the independence of India from British formed the British contingent of this tics of the Indian communist movement. Zaheer (later to be the first general of the CPGB and one of his brothers colonial rule in 1947. movement and were sentenced along- He wrote a number of articles on secretary of the Communist Party of had died in battle in Spain. A key moment in the evolution side their CPI counterparts. India, Gandhi, the British empire, and Pakistan) and Mulk Raj Anand met in Jogen Babu, a lawyer appearing on and formation of the Indian Commu- This was a direct response to the fear, Indian politics, culminating with the 1934 to form the Indian Progressive behalf of progressive political work- nist Party is signified by the so-called stirred up by the British government, ground-breaking book India Today Writers Association (IPWA) in London. ers was mystified when the magistrate Meerut Conspiracy Case of 1928-33. that left leaders — Muzaffar Ahmed, (1940), the iconic work providing “con- They came in contact with Ralph let the accused go free. Carritt’s only This was an attempt by the colonial PC Joshi, G Adhikari, Gopal Basak, A crete analysis of concrete conditions” Fox who was on the editorial board of acknowledgement of this was a “half- authorities to attack and destroy the Dange and others — were coming of age in a colonial setting. It also had a great Left Review and inculcated a broader wink of a drooping eyelid.” burgeoning trade union movement, ini- and the solidarity cemented by British impact on the progressive milieu as the view of progressive culture as being More significantly, when the CPI tiated by communists, which erupted comrades. It was a key turning point in people of India struggled to combine appropriate for India’s conditions. was banned, general secretary PC across the principal cities of India. making the CPI a mass party. anti-imperialist and anti-colonial causes The draft manifesto of IPWA was Joshi spent his underground days in The depression of the 1930s had In the 1930s it was not only in India into a single movement. published in Left Review. The rest is his- Judge Carritt’s Kolkata flat. opened up a space for the communists that the seeds of future revolutionary Equally influential was the joint tory. For nearly two decades IPWA and The internationalism that marks the to organise workers in industries and struggles were being planted — Indian article he wrote with Bradley, Anti- the Indian People’s Theatre Association relationship between the CPGB and the railways. students arriving in Britain were influ- Imperialist People’s Front in India were the fulcrum of left cultural activi- CPI through the difficult colonial era Significant assistance and guidance enced by the CPGB and its steadfast (1936), which came to be dubbed the ties that drew together a wide spate is a tribute to the two parties, their in this endeavour was provided by BF opposition to colonialism and fascism. Bradley-Dutt Thesis. It argued for a of personalities and organisers in India. countless members and workers, and Bradley, who was sent to India from Scores of such young people broad-based popular front that could The links between CPGB and CPI remains a constant inspiration.

RED LIVES in the arts Writing in the service

SYLVIA TOWNSEND-WARNER poems were set to music by Benjamin (1893-1978) was a novelist and poet Britten, Vaughan Williams, Elizabeth who regularly published many short- Lutyens, Alan Bush, Bernard Stevens of the working class stories in The New Yorker. Her nov- and Alan Rawsthorne. During the els included Lolly Willows and Sum- Spanish Civil War he published Writ- mer Will Show. ers take Sides, in which almost all the T IS OFTEN said that no Brit- Our Time (1941-1949). Able to attract Arguably the most important Scot- most famous writers of the day declared ish political party ever attracted BARD OF THE contributions from writers as varied tish poet of the twentieth-century, their support with the Spanish Republic. or inspired so many writers as PEOPLE: Hugh as JB Priestley, Eric Hobsbawm and Hugh MacDiarmid (1892-1978) was In 1939, he packed the Albert Hall with the Communist Party. Less well- MacDiarmid Penelope Mortimer, Our Time was expelled by the Communist Party for a pageant starring Paul Robeson. known is the fact that it published soon selling 18,000 copies a month. being a Scottish nationalist and expelled Did you know? Doris Lessing (The so many literary magazines. Meanwhile, its sister publication by the SNP for being a communist. Golden Notebook), Graham Greene ISome were highly professional oper- Seven (1941-7), devoted to documen- Lewis Jones (1897-1939) was a (The Third Man), Kingsley Amis (Lucky ations: wartime magazine Our Time tary writing about working-class life, miner, unemployed leader and Com- Jim), Jessica Mitford (Hons and Rebels), was launched with an advertising cam- was selling 60,000 copies a quarter. munist county councillor. He wrote Robert Bolt (A Man for All Seasons) paign on the London Underground. Sid Chaplin and Ray Waterman were two novels about work and politics in and Julia Darling (Crocodile Soup) Some were put together on a shoe- among the young working-class writers south Wales, Cwmardy and We Live. were members of the Communist string: when the poet Cecil Day Lewis first published in Seven. Daily Worker film criticHonor Party when they were younger. offered to help produce an issue of During the Cold War, Jack Lindsay Arundel (1919-73) wrote several best- Ralph Bates (1899-2000) was a Poetry and the People, he succeeded and Randall Swingler launched the selling children’s books including Emma Swindon railway worker who served in stapling the covers upside down. magazine Arena (1949-51), publish- in Love and The High House. as a political commissar with the Not all these magazines were ing new work by Boris Pasternak, One of the Party’s most public lit- International Brigades. He wrote a directly owned or funded by the Party. Albert Camus, Paul Eluard, Tristan erary figures in the 1930s,Cecil Day biography of Schubert and several But each was designed by its editors Tzara, Edith Sitwell, Hugh MacDiar- Lewis (1904-1972) was appointed novels, including two set in Spain. to provide a meeting place for radical mid, Pablo Neruda, Louis Aragon and poet laureate in 1968. Australian-born Jack Lindsay and working-class writers, published Nancy Cunard. Did you know? Scotland’s cur- (1909-1990) published over 200 books and unpublished, and all encouraged When Arena ceased publishing, rent Makar (national poet) Jackie of poetry, fiction, science, translation, their readers to put their experiences by Andy Croft the Party launched Daylight (1952-4) Kay was in the YCL as a teenager. So history, archaeology and art-criticism. into words and their ideas into print, edited by Margot Heinemann, and pub- was Hilary Mantel the award-winning In 1937 he filled Trafalgar Square with in an attempt to challenge and expand lishing young writers like EP Thompson author of Wolf Hall. a performance of his mass-declama- the narrow world of contemporary well as some of the first translations and Doris Lessing. Montagu Slater (1902-1956) devised tion On Guard for Spain. publishing. of Bertolt Brecht, Jean-Paul Sartre and In the 1970s, there was Artery and scripted Britten’s Young Person’s Poet and folk-song collector Ham- One of the most successful was Left Federico Lorca. In 1940 Allen Lane took (1971-84), Red Letters (1976-91) Guide to the Orchestra and wrote the ish Henderson (1919-2002) won the Review (1934-8). It quickly became one over the magazine and re-launched it and Fireweed (1975-78). Elsewhere, libretto for Britten’s opera Peter Grimes. Somerset Maugham Prize for Elegies of the best-selling cultural magazines of as Penguin New Writing. communists were involved in estab- Barbados-born poet Peter Black- for the Dead in Cyrenaica. Together the decade, publishing young working By the end of the decade, the maga- lishing and maintaining the Federation man (1909-1993) was chair of the with other writers on the Scottish class writers like Simon Blumenfeld and zine Poetry and the People (1938-41) of Worker Writers and Community Negro Welfare Association and editor Communist Party district cultural Jack Hilton alongside well-known writ- had successfully established a network Publishers, which for many years pub- of the League of Coloured Peoples’ jour- committee, he organised the first ers like Rex Warner, Edward Upward of working-class and amateur poetry lished the magazine Voices (1980-4). nal. After the war he worked as a railway Edinburgh Fringe. and Sylvia Townsend Warner. groups all over Britain, publishing young Long before the Guardian began engine fitter in London, where – thanks Did you know? Some of the big- At the same time the Party’s publish- working class poets like Fred Ball, Idris publishing a weekly poem, John Rety’s to his religious training as a young man gest hits of British TV drama in the ers Lawrence and Wishart began put- Davies and Julius Lipton. George Ber- Well Versed column was a regular fea- – he was the only member of his NUR 1960s were written by ex-Unity Thea- ting out Ralph Fox and John Lehmann’s nard Shaw liked the magazine so much ture in the Star. Today, Culture Mat- branch who could read Greek and Latin. tre writers Ted Willis (Dixon of Dock ground-breaking journal New Writing he took out a subscription for 11 years. ters runs the annual Bread and Roses Randall Swingler (1909-1967) was Green), Eric Paice (The Avengers) and (1937-39), publishing writers like Chris- In 1941, Poetry and the People was Award (sponsored by Unite) for radical an editor, poet and playwright. His Malcolm Hulke (Doctor Who). topher Isherwood and WH Auden as absorbed into the hugely influential and working-class writers. www.communistparty.org.uk @CPBritain Internationalism 27

CLEAR LINE: A 1973 Communist poster against the European Economic London Community helps end apartheid N 1964, after Nelson Mandela by Ken Keable and other leaders of the African National Congress were jailed for life, almost all ANC members who from 1986 onwards (as told in the film were not in prison had to go into Secret Safari). exile to avoid arrest and torture. Some posted thousands of smuggled IThey then had a problem: how could letters and packages or carried mes- they continue their struggle when they sages to individuals. Some did recon- couldn’t enter the country? How could naissance or gathered information. they show the people that the ANC Some kept safe houses in Botswana, was not defeated? close to the South African border, Their solution was to recruit young, helping fighters from MK, the SACP white, non-South Africans, unknown and ANC armed wing, cross over. to the regime, who could enter the Some were Liverpool seamen who country without arousing suspicion. made a failed attempt to land MK fight- Much later, they became known as the ers on the South African coast. London Recruits. Some received training in the Soviet A meeting was held between Joe Union or Cuba. Slovo and Ronnie Kasrils of the South Three of the Recruits (all communists) African Communist Party and John were arrested, tortured and jailed. Gollan and Jack Woddis (International The London Recruits did some kind Secretary) of the British party (CPGB), of agitational work inside South Africa at which a plan was agreed: the London at least once a year every year from district secretary of the Young Com- 1967 to 1973, hitting the headlines, munist League would select suitable proving that the ANC was alive and members for sending into South Africa. rallying support to MK. None of those who were asked A few of the London Recruits were refused. Most of the London Recruits mentioned in Armed and Danger- were recruited by this method. Most ous: My Undercover Struggle against were young workers. Two-thirds of the Apartheid by Ronnie Kasrils, published recruits were members of the Young 1993. Much more was told in Lon- Communist League, CPGB or both. don Recruits: The Secret War against Some of the Recruits planted leaflet Apartheid by Ken Keable, Merlin Press bombs — non-lethal devices, invented 2012. More Recruits became known in Britain and tested in Bristol, the after this book was published and most Sommerset countryside, Hampstead of their stories appear on www.lon- Heath and Richmond Park, that dis- donrecruits.org.uk. tributed hundreds of leaflets high into In 2017, the South African Communist the air — and street broadcasts using Party, at its national congress, honoured amplified cassette players often hitting the London Recruits with its Special Rec- five cities simultaneously. No-one was ognition Award. Their contribution is injured by these devices. also acknowledged by a special section Other Recruits smuggled huge in the Museum of the Armed Struggle No capitalist Europe amounts of weapons into South Africa at Liliesleaf Farm, Rivonia. OMMUNISTS in Brit- by Robert Wilkinson jointly suppressing socialism in Europe, Bucket-type leaflet bomb ain have been the only of jointly protecting colonial booty.” Carrier bag consistent opposition Ted Ainley’s 1962 pamphlet Say NO to the European Union port that outweighed the Conserva- to the Common Market set out the Toy spider and its predecessors tive rebel MPs who voted against. arguments that were reiterated in later (or snake) to going back to 1950. Nevertheless most trade unions and publications: lowering of wages and deter inquisi- CRight from the beginning, the Com- left-wing Labour MPs stood alongside living standards; loss of independence; tive people munist Party exposed the fact that the the Communist Party in campaigning loss of traditional markets; threat to Warning economic integration of the Schuman to leave in the 1975 referendum. agricultural production; end to full notice Plan linked to military co-ordination Despite the defeat, communists employment commitment; worsening in the Pleven Plan for a European continued to publish a steady stream of balance of payments; and reduction Time switch Defence Community and the revival of pamphlets exposing the reality of in standards of social services. Leaflets of German industrial might. aggressive state monopoly finance Although some Party members Communist opposition to Britain’s capitalism behind the appearances of were blinded by Eurocommunism and Pair of wires membership was consistent whether peace and harmony of a “United States the seduction of the trade unions by it was the application by the Conserva- of Europe.” Jacques Delors in the 1980s, the CPB Wooden tive government of 1961 or the Wilson Communists were well aware of returned to the offensive in a series of platform Labour government of 1967. how Lenin had denounced such a slo- pamphlets by John Foster and Robert Small explo- When it came to Heath’s Conserva- gan in 1915 as “impossible or reaction- Griffiths that argued for an analysis sive charge tive government joining the EEC in ary.” Lenin acknowledged that “tem- of EU membership that exposed the 1973 it was a consequence of enough porary agreements are possible … but essence of its reality behind the ideal- right-wing Labour MPs voting in sup- to what end? Only for the purpose of ism of its supporters. Sketch by Ken Keable 28 Federal Britain Answering the national question with socialism

HE PRESENT and future the national question seriously enabled relationship between Plaid Cymru and the SNP to make England, Scotland and their big breakthrough from 1966. Wales is one of the Even so, Communists such as Mick burning issues of British McGahey and Jimmy Milne won back politics. the Scottish TUC for legislative devo- TIn four of eight Scottish opinion lution, while Dai Francis and D Ivor polls since the December 2019 general Davies played leading parts in the election, more Scots have expressed struggle to establish the Welsh TUC support for their country’s independ- with a similar policy. ence than opposition. In two others, But continuing and widespread views have been evenly divided. Labour hostility eventually provoked This is the most sustained pro-inde- the SNP to join the Tories in bring- pendence mood since a four-month ing down the Labour government period shortly after the Scottish inde- and installing Margaret Thatcher in pendence referendum delivered a 55 10 Downing Street in 1979. per cent No vote in September 2014. Eighteen years of right-wing rule Brexit, the election of Boris John- from London laid the basis for vic- son’s government and the different tory for Labour’s proposed Scottish responses in Edinburgh and London Parliament and Welsh Assembly in the to the Covid-19 crisis are doing nothing 1997 referendums. Since these were to swing the pendulum back towards established, their lack of economic the union of Great Britain. powers and financial resources have Yet the labour movement cannot been exposed in the face of neoliberal- say it was not warned that the national ism, austerity and privatisation. question might one day explode in its by Rob Griffiths ism had been treated with contempt. their “people’s histories” of England: Nor has the question of national face. From the mid-1930s, however, the history from below. self-determination and devolution for When the Labour Party and the Communist International urged affiliated The likes of George Thomson, TE England been seriously addressed, least trade unions abandoned “home rule both reformist and revolutionary roads parties to seize the banner of patriotism Nicholas and the iconoclastic Hugh of all by the labour movement. all round” for Scotland, Wales and to socialism. Any political expression and national self-determination from the MacDiarmid promoted the Celtic Today, once again, it is the Commu- England (and Ireland previously) in the of patriotic sentiment in Scotland or conservatives and fascists. Working-class languages and cultures, expressing nist Party and its closest allies on the late 1920s, it was in the belief that Wales was seen as intrinsically reac- internationalism should be combined democratic and socialist ideas and left who lead the discussion, propos- social progress, even socialism, would tionary, allowing the nationalist par- with a celebration of the progressive and aspirations through them. ing progressive federalism: an equal be won by electing a Labour govern- ties more space to promote ideologies revolutionary struggles and traditions of Politically, and almost alone on the partnership of the Scottish, English and ment with a majority of MPs in the which rejected working-class politics each nation’s own history and culture. left in 1938, the Communist Party Welsh peoples, based on labour move- Westminster parliament. (albeit with little immediate success). This was the spirit which inspired began to advocate self-government for ment unity, a redistribution of wealth For much of the left — including the In R Palme Dutt's view, the ruling class the ground-breaking work of Com- Wales and Scotland as instruments to from the capitalist class to the working Communist Party, the ILP and Labour had crushed English patriotism in order munist Party historians such as AL serve the interests their peoples and class, extensive powers of intervention Party socialists and social-democrats to fill the vacuum with jingoism, racism Morton, Christopher Hill, Dona of the working class generally. in the capitalist market and the devolu- — the policy of parliaments for Wales and an imperialist British nationalism. Torr, Margot Heinemann, Dorothy The refusal of the Labour Party, tion of powers repatriated from the and Scotland was a diversion from Politically, Scottish and Welsh patriot- Thompson and Rodney Hilton with with honourable exceptions, to take EU as a result of Brexit. Reds on green benches EEKING communist repre- by Mike Squires They had all been at the centre of sentation in parliament was many struggles. Against fascism, for a hotly contested issue at Indian Independence, strikes on the the first Unity Conference seat two years later. This time standing Clyde, action against racketeering in 1920, with those who as a Communist but supported by the landlords. wanted to engage in the local Labour Party and trades council. In line with communist strategy, Sparliamentary struggle winning the day, He remained the MP until 1929. election to parliament was not the The party had a couple of early suc- Newbold left the Communist Party end, but only the beginning. They cesses, winning two seats in the first in 1924, rejoining Labour and going on used it to popularise working-class general election it contested in 1922. to support Ramsay McDonald in the demands. Keeping their constituents J Walton Newbold was elected 1931 split. informed, and publishing their actions as a Communist in Motherwell with Communists would re-enter parlia- in Parliament with leaflets, pamphlets widespread local labour movement ment in 1935 when Willie Gallacher and other publicity for distribution to support. was elected to West Fife. Phil Piratin the wider public. Shapurji Saklatvala was elected for won Stepney, east London, to join him They showed that the goals of win- Battersea North on a Labour ticket. in 1945 but both were defeated in 1950. ning a socialist majority in parliament Although Labour had rejected the Com- What did these Communist MPs is only part of the equation. Progress munist Party’s bid to affiliate, individual have in common? needs struggles in all spheres of activ- communists were still allowed to be All but one remained loyal party ity, the class struggle being central. Labour members until 1925 so Saklat- members, even after losing their seats. Parliament and extra-parliamentary vala was endorsed as Labour candidate. There were a diverse group. One struggle are two sides of the same They both lost their seats at the Indian, one Jewish and two Scottish, coin. One reinforces the other. second 1922 general election. what united them was their popular- Previous Communist MPs are a shin- COMRADES: MPs Phil Piratin (Stepney) and Willie Gallacher (West Fife) Saklatvala regained the Battersea ity with their local labour movement. ing example of how this can be done. www.communistparty.org.uk @CPBritain Rural workers 29

REVOLT OF THE FIELD: Communists Active reps at Tolpuddle in 2015 and (below) distributing the must have re-established Country Standard a real class grounding

TRADE UNION activists — reps, shop stewards, and others active in the union democratic struc- tures — are the unsung heroes of our workplaces. They take their trade union duties very seriously and most continue to help their fellow workers on collective and individual issues well into their own time. The activist’s journey probably begins with seeing that others need help at work and volunteering or being pushed into the role. The unfairness in most work situations is obvious and some reps may see trying to better balance this as the limit of their involve- ment. Others may want to challenge things at a higher level and work within their union structures to take on their company or other employer, recognising that the policies of the workplace are set at that level. The union may or may not encourage local reps to push for such wider actions and support beyond the workplace. Trade union training may take reps to a level of political aware- Sharpen the sickle ness where they do not accept that their relationship with manage- NOTABLE casualty by Chris Kaufman publication championing land nation- thousands of workers, for example, ment, and challenges to it, depend of the Black Death in alisation called Planning or Privilege. in the meat industry. purely on the workplace. 1348 was feudalism. Norfolk activist Dougie Oswick told The highly effective shop stewards They understand that neces- The pandemic return- National Union of Agricultural and the union conference: “God made the combine has been able to bring pow- sary improvements can’t be made ing in 1361 and 1369 Allied Workers in 1968. land for the people. He never said erful supermarkets to the bargaining without changes in the law and the cut a huge hole in the The NUAAW newspaper, which I anything about those lords and ladies table to win better conditions, espe- balance of power between the Aagricultural workforce. went on to edit, told readers: “The owning it.” Ironically, it won support cially for migrant agency workers at bosses and the workers. Without The resultant labour shortage led new name will be welcomed by our from CP member Lord Milford, for- the meat processing plants. this level of consciousness the rep the feudal lords to tie down their serfs forestry, land drainage, roadmen and merly Wogan Phillips! Successful long battles to set up the will be less likely to win the best ever-tighter, refusing them the right to British Sugar members, besides the Often the issues first raised by the Gangmasters Licensing Authority (and for the workers in their workplace. buy their freedom. growing membership in industries like union had wider relevance for workers its successor body); the establishment of However, knowing that laws Together with the imposition of the poultry processing and packing.” and the community. The campaign for a the Ethical Trading Initiative for interna- need to be changed and the bal- hated poll tax and the rise of mer- Until the late 1970s a right-wing ban on the use of the weedkiller 245T tional labour standards and legal systems ance of power altered is not chants requiring paid labour, their union leadership had kept Communist led to the involvement of all unions and for controlling the use of agrochemicals enough. To understand the struc- rebellious mood culminated in the Party members at arms length. But the public in imposing a people’s ban show that it is not simply the five million tural contradictions built into capi- Peasants Revolt of 1381, a precursor this did not stop inspiring work from (shops stopped selling it to gardeners) workers in our coun- talist economies, that companies to the end of serfdom. a number of CP members including despite the familiar story of the govern- tryside, but workers tend towards maximising profits Sometimes characterised as defer- Arthur Jordan in Dorset, Jack Dunman ment hiding behind the “independent across industries, to meet shareholder demands and ential, farmworkers, on the contrary, in Oxford and the towering figure of scientists.” It was the first TUC-wide continents and this is usually in direct conflict with have a long and honourable history Wilf Page in Norfolk. environmental campaign the community maintaining pay and conditions for of standing up to the landed gentry, It was Wilf who wrote the Party The CP’s Country Standard, with its at large who workers, is essential knowledge for the squirearchy, the church, judiciary pamphlet Farming to Feed Britain on banner “For peace and socialism in the benefit from the trade unions, their staff and rep- and employers who could kick you out behalf of the CP Agricultural Advisory countryside” was established in 1935 solidarity they resentatives. of the tied cottage which often went Committee in 1976. It propounded under a succession of editors from have shown Even that level of understand- with your job. policies for farmers, farmworkers and Dunman, Wynn and Page to sev- for their ing will hold us back if we don’t Witness the six men of Dorset, consumers which have mostly stood eral comrades who have revived country get the international workings of the Tolpuddle Martyrs transported the test of time. and invigorated it, not least the cousins. transnational corporations and the to Australia in 1834 for the crime of Indeed, the updated edition of Brit- late lamented Mike Pentelow, history and motivation of impe- forming a union branch to fight cuts ain’s Road to Socialism draws on that has continued in sup- rialism. They determine govern- in their miserable pay. An action that work, calling for “sustainable agriculture port of progressive ment policies and actions and so brought such huge demonstrations and fisheries” to replace “de­gradation causes in the last the environment that employers from a nascent labour movement that and depletion, with support for ecologi- decade. operate within, which at some they had to be brought back home. cally efficient producers and maximum Now a sec- point will inevitably conflict with Think too of Joseph Arch leading the possible re-use, recycling and safe dis- tion in the T&G the interests of workers. National Agricultural Labourers Union posal of all forms of waste.” successor union It is this class consciousness and from his Warwickshire base later in The formidable Jack Boddy’s acces- Unite, the rural an understanding of Marxism that the 19th century, to be followed in sion to NUAAW general secretary and crucial allied the Communist Party can provide 1906 by the formation in Norfolk of then reflected a leftward move in the industry workers you with. The class struggle will the NUAW under George Edwards. union and much of the Farming to Feed are able to use the continue and for us to eventually By the time I came to work at its Britain agenda chimed with the union’s clout of a larger become the class that governs we Headland House HQ in 1974, they enhanced campaigning agenda. union to recruit need class conscious trade unionists. had added an extra ‘A’ to the title of That included the production of a and organise many ANDY BAIN With a combined YCL/Party membership of 116 years, JIMMY PRENDERGAST MARGARET and In memory of Roy Green (1918-2000) Irish Worker’s Group (CPI), MARTIN LEVY Lenin International School, send greetings to all comrades on a pioneer of the Moscow, XV International Brigade this centenary, while remembering Cornwall Branch wounded at Jarama, National all the women and men of the Union of Railwaymen (Marylebone Communist Party who led, of the CPB encouraged and inspired us. branch secretary) 1959-2000 The past we inherit, Smashed the colour bar the future we build! on British Rail!

Ted Hollamby CENTENARY GREETINGS National (1921-1999) TO COMRADES OF THE Assembly David Gregory Jones BRITISH PARTY FOR THE of Women (1925-1994) SOCIALIST REVOLUTION Pays tribute to the Communists and Young Turks (CPB) AND THE GROWING of the LCC architects housing contribution made by communist department with a common goal YOUNG COMMUNIST women in the formation of our of social progress and a view LEAGUE organisation in 1952 and the of architecture that was “anti- continued support of our sisters monumental, anti-stylistic, and fit Mick Costello, for ordinary people.” in the fight for peace, equality Maidstone, Kent and socialism. www.communistparty.org.uk @CPBritain Join the Party 31 My road to socialism… Communist Party membership has been booming in our centenary year. Some of our newest members explain why they dedicated themselves to the finest cause in the world

tampon tax being debated in parlia- being against war and poverty and all strikes, even though most of us don’t ZOE ment. The wider discourse around this the other things which had defined my remember a time when they happened PHIL made me realise how women, under childhood under Blair and then later freely and frequently. I FIRST GOT into politics when I was capitalism, will always come second to Cameron and Clegg. My road to socialism and class poli- MY ROAD TO socialism started when around 14 or 15. My initial politics men, and this is even more pertinent My road to socialism wasn’t started tics has not been a particularly fast one I joined the military at 16 straight weren’t shaped by Marxist or feminist when economics are brought into play. by Jeremy Corbyn alone, but he was and I feel honoured every day to have from school. After a couple of years theory, but just my own lived experi- Around the time of the above being the only politician to give me the hope my roles within the party, as well as I started to become disillusioned with ences of being a young woman in a debated, I was also starting to take that a better world was possible, one having brilliant comrades. it and questioned what I was actually patriarchal, capitalist society. notice of what Jeremy Corbyn was built on compassion and solidarity, not As Angela Davis said: “Yes, I am a a part of. I came to the opinion that I I had always enjoyed politics at school, saying in the chamber and in his bid wars, private property and greed. communist, and I consider it one of was just a part of the US war machine. especially debates and discussions involv- for Labour leadership. His successes were huge: he politi- the highest honours, because we are We carried out exercise after exer- ing class, feminism, or human rights. I remember seeing a clip of Cor- cised an entire generation into actively struggling for the total liberation of cise with Nato allies on the doorstep I have quite a vivid memory of the byn throughout the years, consistently working towards public ownership and the human race.” of countries the US deemed hostile. I thought we wouldn’t like this on our own doorstep. The final straw for me was when a ORGINALS: Delegates to the Unity Congress in 1920 cocky US Navy officer came onboard to thank us all for doing our job prop- erly. It just put it into perspective for me that I’d spent months on end in the Middle East following US orders. I left the military and soon realised why so many veterans suffer when they leave. I can see why so many end up homeless, turn to drink and drugs or even take their own lives. I got myself back to sea again as a merchant seafarer as it was all I knew. I soon joined my union. My ship- mates pushed this on me straight away and clued me up with the Visit situation seafarers were going our website through. I thought I’d made the communistparty.org.uk wrong choice going back to sea. The industry itself isn’t in for more personal decline, it’s just British seafar- roads to ers that are on the decline. socialism I don’t resent international seafarers. I resent the shipping com- tory and seeing that communist move- have been a part of the for- panies which pay less to foreign labour DAISY SCOTT ments all over the world have always led mation of a new YCL branch for the who won’t stand up to them as most the charge for social change. This led me East of England and have been elected don’t have unions representing them. I JOINED THE Communist Party after I AM A trade union rep for the RMT to start reading Marx and Lenin. chair. I think it goes without saying that The shipping companies are based one of my friends Michael introduced and standing up for workers’ rights and After a giant Tory majority and a one of our aims is to grow the branch in tax havens and fly under a flag of me to it. He was able to explain to me the working class has always been a pandemic where workers are being sac- as much as we can, but we also want to convenience paying that country a pit- and my boyfriend about it in depth passion of mine. rificed for the status quo, I knew there establish an identity for ourselves that tance to what it would here. and what it means to be a commu- For years I had seen the flaws in was no better time to get organised. is unique to our area, through looking The workers pay British taxes but nist and I realised that it’s what I’ve the system, living through the global I will admit at first I was a little hesitant back at our local history to engaging with the billionaires avoid them. always believed in I just never joined crash and seeing my family struggle about joining, I don’t know whether that the community and understanding the After a while my new career started a party for it. for work, leaving school and looking was due to me being relatively new to future it wants to achieve. to disgust me as much as the navy. I met Party members and they were for a job and later seeing communities Marxism, but I now know I had nothing The Party is full of people from all It was capitalism having a negative lovely people who educated me more brutalised through years of austerity. to worry about and that joining was the walks of life committed to learning, com- affect on workers’ rights and having hence I chose to join. However even having the experi- best decision I could have made. mitted to teaching and committed to a total disregard for us ­­­­— as long as Also, as someone from a socialist ences of the negatives, I never knew There is always someone on hand changing things for the better, so I urge the money keeps rolling in. country, if I was to pick a party where how to overcome them. I knew a radi- willing to help or discuss things with you. you to get organised and join — and During the coronavirus, one profes- I’m at, I’d have to go with the Com- cal alternative of how society should This enabled me to become involved those who have recently joined I implore sion seems to have been forgotten once munist Party it’s close to what we be ordered was needed. straight away, along with being asked to you to hold nothing back in our fight to again by the government and public. believe in Tanzania. I started looking into working class his- speak at a recent Red Wedge event, I realise Britain’s Road to Socialism. Shipping brings in 90 per cent of goods I joined the Communist Party to this country. Our supermarkets would because I believe in stateless and be empty and people would be without classless society, a central planned medication if it weren’t for shipping. economy, and common ownership for munist texts (the Manifesto, Capital, then-simplistic conception of Marxism. I saw it as a natural decision to join the means of production you know LAURA etc) in order to inform my social and Radical social media soundbites and the Communist Party as I could iden- just everyone and everything should historical analysis of literary fiction. edgy memes are lost on the general tify with its beliefs and most of all I be beneficial and equal in all aspects I LARGELY CREDIT the autobiogra- At this point, my views were informed working class, for whom revolution- share its morals wanting to destroy and I think that’s what the party is phies of Muhammad Ali and Malcolm by Marxism, but still marred by the hyp- ary politics seems a childish daydream. the class divide that plagues all work- trying to achieve. X with shifting my vague high school ocritical idealism common to campus In reality, the only way communists ers and the downtrodden. I joined the Communist Party perception of politics to a more devel- politics — “radical,” but still wishing to can appeal to the broad working class The party is growing by the day and because in this whole world the only oped, radical approach. succeed within the capitalist system. is if our narrative is informed by rel- people are realising how unfairly the party that is truly fighting for the lib- Further reading on race, empire and It is only my experience of the evant theory. Sound ideas — devel- system is we live under even more so eration of every human being is this colonialism cemented the link between working world post-university which oped through the application of Marx’s now with the coronavirus showing the one. For example in the YCL they social inequality and economic oppres- fixed my student political analysis in method to the specific circumstances of blatant gaps in our society. have done a lot for the community sion, which formed the foundation of a real social context. Living and work- the 21st century — delivered by those I’d recommend anybody joining the and are still doing their best to help my later appreciation of Marxist theory. ing in a post-industrial Lancashire who can relate to the working class on Party who has passion and wants a those in need. While at university, I read core com- town uncovered contradictions in my both an economic and cultural level. better society for us all. 32 Take the Road to Socialism 10 GOOD REASONS to join the A Party organising Communists 1 Communists unite: in our Party we are a force for collective action across the workers’ for Britain’s future movement HE COMMUNIST PARTY in book format, written by Professor school for young organisers, in the New branches Communists are has big plans for the Mary Davis is available from our online north of England. Across England, Scotland and Wales, 2 internationalists: we future. We are focused store (shop.communistparty.org.uk). Following on from the successful the Party has been growing, in some support the workers of on fighting the battle of The book, which has sold out time Kevin Halpin School, named after a areas rapidly and in places we have ideas, tackling the imme- and again, traces the roots of women’s past CP industrial organiser, those wanted to establish local campaigning the world, by relentlessly diate effects of capitalism exploitation and oppression, taking in attending will be able to use the capacity for a long time. New branches fighting British imperialism Tespecially unemployment, inequality contemporary debates and a call to full range of learning techniques to are springing up to take the message and austerity, organising workers to action, in The Women’s Charter. develop the politics and organising of Britain’s Road to Socialism to every 3 Communists stand for uproot the power of the monopolies skills needed for class struggle. Some locality. If you want to join, go to our equality: we strive and opening up the road to socialism. Travelling exhibition places on the course are open to joining page (www.communistparty. to remove all forms We have major events planned as A travelling exhibition is ready to those who are considering joining. org.uk/join) and you will be contacted soon as it’s safe to get together again. hit the road as soon as the situation by a local Party representative. If you of exploitation and We want you to get involved! allows, and there are already bookings Digital steps want to start a new branch with work- oppression the length and breadth of Britain — As the pandemic hit, the CP built a new mates or other activists, get in touch. Salute the Brigaders so many we’ve had have three sets website packed with information and 4 Communists are In co-operation with the International made up to cover everywhere. It’s resources, using the latest technologies. YCL centenary revolutionaries: we Brigades Memorial Trust, we’re organ- got enough information to keep the This allowed us to conduct meetings, April 2021 starts the centenary of the apply the theories of ising a weekend of solidarity to mark attention of newcomers and seasoned education and campaigning online. It’s Young Communist League, which will Marxism to the class the contribution of the Volunteers Communists alike. linked to a database project which will celebrate its birthday in style and with for Liberty regardless of party affili- open up a whole new layer of campaign- a year of full-on campaigning. The YCL struggle and show that ation, if any. We plan to hold wreath Remember Cable Street ing potential for local branches. In addi- has been busy opening new branches workers can win ceremonies and public gatherings at In October, the Communist Party will tion, we have established an all-Britain and conducting political education for the many statues and commemora- host an anti-racist and anti-fascist event YouTube channel, which will carry films its many new recruits. The best way 5 Communists challenge tive spaces dedicated to the Brigaders. to mark the anniversary of the Battle of of meetings and events. to celebrate the centenary is to join the ideology of Cable Street. It will not only discuss the Britain’s fast-growing revolutionary capitalism: we educate Red Lives historical role of the Party youth movement. Publishing on 1 August 2020 and in the anti-racist and anti- LIZ PAYNE & PHIL KATZ and organise workers available from our online store (shop. fascist struggle but also to raise political communistparty.org.uk), the new book contemporary racism and consciousness of the tells the individual stories of over 100 fascism, demonstrating need for socialism communists and their struggle for our continuing focus on socialism. the unity of working class 6 Communists have a The editors wrote an open call for communities. proud history: we biographies of “ordinary and rank-and- file activists of the CP and YCL” in Future of work respect and learn from September 2019 and were so over- The Party is planning our history but don’t get whelmed there’ll have to be a second to organise a Future of lost in it volume. This first, priced £9.99, paints Work conference, bring- the picture of the remarkable men and ing together trade union- 7 Communists have a women who gave their all for a bet- ists and researchers, plan- programme: Britain’s ter world and did much to shape the ners and campaigners to society we live in. discuss Marxism and Road to Socialism technology, including AI challenges every aspect The Reds and how to fight for jobs. of the capitalist system Centenary film The Reds brings together previously unseen footage of the strug- Political 8 Communists fight for gle of the Communist Party and wider education popular sovereignty: organised working class since the 1920s. New courses of political as democrats, we oppose Expect rare interviews with legendary education are being devel- figures and a thematic account of a 100- oped and made available membership of Nato and year struggle for socialism. The film will on the CP website (www. the EU bosses’ club be available as a free download at the communistparty.org.uk/ CP YouTube channel (www.youtube. education) where they 9 Communists fight com/CommunistParty) and is a great follow a popular format, for progressive introduction to meetings. designed to encourage col- federalism: we are for lective study and discussion. CP history New courses in the pipeline the unity of the working For the first time ever, the Communist include Women and Class; peoples of England, Party is publishing a book spanning its Establishing Class Organi- Scotland and Wales in a whole history so far. Other volumes sation in Workplaces; and federated Britain have covered specific periods but this Anti-racism and Anti-fas- edition, the product of 15 writers and cism. 10 Communists fight for the editor Professor Mary Davis, views a workers’ paper: we 100-year arc of political development, Residential school achievement and set-back, closely mir- The CP is bringing together are proud of the Morning roring the development of the workers’ the next generation of union Star and its 90 years of movement. It is a must-read and will and party organisers to achievement be sold at a very reasonable price to acquire the skills of building make it available to all. the labour movement anew, at a residential weekend Why not join us? Women and Class A new edition of the Communist www.communistparty.org.uk/join/ LIVING HISTORY: Part of Party publication Women and Class the centenary exhibition