Independent Labour Publications
Encyclopedia
Independent Labour Publications is a left-wing pressure group inside the British Labour Party
. It is the successor to the Independent Labour Party
and is mostly known simply as "The ILP" in order to maintain that link with its predecessor organisation.
Harry Barnes was a member of the ILP. As an MP, he was obliged to resign and he joined a supporters group entitled 'Friends of the ILP'.
It has been involved with opposition to various workfare
schemes imposed by the British Conservative
government of the 1980s, for arguing for open democratic structures within the Labour Party, and for an emphasis on co-operative systems of organising economic activity.
In common with much contemporary left-wing thinking, the ILP's approach rejects both contemporary capitalism
and the command economy. But unlike much of the left, it accepts the idea of a market economy
as part of democratic socialist thinking. The ILP has been out of line with (or arguably ahead of) many traditional leftist positions, for instance in its rejection of a simple "troops out" approach to the conflict in Northern Ireland
, and was critical of what it saw as knee-jerk anti-Americanism on the left following the USA's reaction to the September 11, 2001 attacks
.
With a headquarters based in Leeds
, the ILP meets in Scarborough annually to discuss political issues, and its internal administration is overseen by a National Administrative Council (NAC).
(published 1975-1986) and the ILP Magazine: for socialist renewal (published 1987-1992) were successors to the Independent Labour Party's New Leader (1922–1946) and Socialist leader (1946–1975). A newsletter called Democratic Socialist was the belated successor to the ILP Magazine.
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...
. It is the successor to the Independent Labour Party
Independent Labour Party
The Independent Labour Party was a socialist political party in Britain established in 1893. The ILP was affiliated to the Labour Party from 1906 to 1932, when it voted to leave...
and is mostly known simply as "The ILP" in order to maintain that link with its predecessor organisation.
Brief history
Since its re-establishment in 1975, it has been a campaigning organisation rather than an electoral group (its constitution prevents full members from standing for elective office). Before entering parliament, former Labour member of ParliamentMember of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
Harry Barnes was a member of the ILP. As an MP, he was obliged to resign and he joined a supporters group entitled 'Friends of the ILP'.
It has been involved with opposition to various workfare
Workfare
Workfare is an alternative model to conventional social welfare systems. The term was first introduced by civil rights leader James Charles Evers in 1968; however, it was popularized by Richard Nixon in a televised speech August 1969...
schemes imposed by the British Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
government of the 1980s, for arguing for open democratic structures within the Labour Party, and for an emphasis on co-operative systems of organising economic activity.
In common with much contemporary left-wing thinking, the ILP's approach rejects both contemporary capitalism
Capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system that became dominant in the Western world following the demise of feudalism. There is no consensus on the precise definition nor on how the term should be used as a historical category...
and the command economy. But unlike much of the left, it accepts the idea of a market economy
Market economy
A market economy is an economy in which the prices of goods and services are determined in a free price system. This is often contrasted with a state-directed or planned economy. Market economies can range from hypothetically pure laissez-faire variants to an assortment of real-world mixed...
as part of democratic socialist thinking. The ILP has been out of line with (or arguably ahead of) many traditional leftist positions, for instance in its rejection of a simple "troops out" approach to the conflict in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, and was critical of what it saw as knee-jerk anti-Americanism on the left following the USA's reaction to the September 11, 2001 attacks
September 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
.
With a headquarters based in Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, the ILP meets in Scarborough annually to discuss political issues, and its internal administration is overseen by a National Administrative Council (NAC).
Publications
The organisation publishes occasional pamphlets on contemporary issues. The paper Labour LeaderLabour Leader
The Labour Leader was a British socialist newspaper published for almost one hundred years. It was later re-named New Leader and Socialist Leader, before finally taking the name Labour Leader again....
(published 1975-1986) and the ILP Magazine: for socialist renewal (published 1987-1992) were successors to the Independent Labour Party's New Leader (1922–1946) and Socialist leader (1946–1975). A newsletter called Democratic Socialist was the belated successor to the ILP Magazine.