Fife Socialist League
Encyclopedia
The Fife Socialist League was a left-wing political party
founded in Fife
, Scotland
in 1953. Led by the miners' activist Lawrence Daly
, they contested the West Fife constituency in the 1959 general election
, polling 4,886 votes, more than the total received by the candidate of the Communist Party of Great Britain
(until 1950 the seat was held by the Communist MP William Gallacher).
The Fife Socialist League was a collection of left-wing activists who were attempting to challenge the Labour Party
from the left. Unlike Labour they were stridently opposed to nuclear weapons.
The Fife Socialist League's activities dwindled by the early 1960s, and in 1964 it dissolved itself into the Labour Party
.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
founded in Fife
Fife
Fife is a council area and former county of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
in 1953. Led by the miners' activist Lawrence Daly
Lawrence Daly
Lawrence Daly was a coal miner, trade unionist and political activist.Born in Fife, Daly's father was a miner and a founder member of the Communist Party of Great Britain . At 15, Lawrence began work as a miner at Glencraig Colliery.Daly was soon active in the Scottish Mineworkers' Union...
, they contested the West Fife constituency in the 1959 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1959
This United Kingdom general election was held on 8 October 1959. It marked a third successive victory for the ruling Conservative Party, led by Harold Macmillan...
, polling 4,886 votes, more than the total received by the candidate of the Communist Party of Great Britain
Communist Party of Great Britain
The Communist Party of Great Britain was the largest communist party in Great Britain, although it never became a mass party like those in France and Italy. It existed from 1920 to 1991.-Formation:...
(until 1950 the seat was held by the Communist MP William Gallacher).
The Fife Socialist League was a collection of left-wing activists who were attempting to challenge the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
from the left. Unlike Labour they were stridently opposed to nuclear weapons.
The Fife Socialist League's activities dwindled by the early 1960s, and in 1964 it dissolved itself into the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
.