Lynn Walsh
Encyclopedia
Lynn Walsh is a leading figure of the Socialist Party of England and Wales, the English and Welsh part of the Committee for a Workers International, and editor of the Socialist Party's monthly magazine, Socialism Today.
(RSL) whilst a student at Sussex University when it established the Militant newspaper, in October 1964. Walsh soon became a contributor to the newspaper, his first article appearing in issue 9, September 1965. He became a significant figure in what became the Militant tendency
, a Trotskyist group within the Labour Party
. Labour Party conference in 1972 adopted a call for the nationalisation of the commending heights of the economy under workers' control and management moved by a Militant supporter from Brighton.
Walsh was expelled from the Labour Party in 1983 together with Peter Taaffe
, Ted Grant
, Clare Doyle and Keith Dickinson, as one of the members of what was presented to the Labour Party as the 'editorial board' of Militant
.
In the 1991 discussion on the "Open Turn
", Walsh played a role in the joint preparation of the documents of the Majority faction, in which it was argued that the Labour Party had lost its working class base, with the result that the Militant was isolated and without a basis of support against the pro-capitalist leadership. It was necessary, Walsh argued, at the 1991 Special Congress convened to discuss the issue, to take an "open turn", leave the Labour Party and start afresh "with an open banner". Of the original 'Militant editorial board', Peter Taaffe
Clare Doyle and Keith Dickinson supported this 'Open turn' whilst its historical leader, Ted Grant
, opposed. After a Congress adopted the leadership's proposals by a majority of 93%, Militant Labour was formed. This group soon after argued that the Labour Party had become so thoroughly a capitalist party that there was a need for the rehabilitation of the ideas of socialism, and changed its name to Socialist Party.
Walsh became editor of the Militant International Review (MIR) at the end of the 1980s and carried this role over as MIR became the monthly Socialism Today in 1995.
Biography
Walsh joined the Revolutionary Socialist LeagueRevolutionary Socialist League (UK, 1957)
The Revolutionary Socialist League was a Trotskyist group in Britain which existed from 1956 to 1964.-Formation:After the dissolution of the Revolutionary Communist Party, Ted Grant and his supporters were expelled from the RCP's successor The Club in 1950 and formed the International Socialist...
(RSL) whilst a student at Sussex University when it established the Militant newspaper, in October 1964. Walsh soon became a contributor to the newspaper, his first article appearing in issue 9, September 1965. He became a significant figure in what became the Militant tendency
Militant Tendency
The Militant tendency was an entrist group within the British Labour Party based around the Militant newspaper that was first published in 1964...
, a Trotskyist group within 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...
. Labour Party conference in 1972 adopted a call for the nationalisation of the commending heights of the economy under workers' control and management moved by a Militant supporter from Brighton.
Walsh was expelled from the Labour Party in 1983 together with Peter Taaffe
Peter Taaffe
Peter Taaffe is the general secretary of the Socialist Party of England and Wales SPEW and member of the International Executive Committee of the Committee for a Workers International , which claims sections in over 35 countries around the world.Taaffe was founding editor of the Marxist Militant...
, Ted Grant
Ted Grant
Edward "Ted" Grant , 9 July 1913 in Germiston, South Africa – 20 July 2006 in London) was a South African Trotskyist who spent most of his adult life in Britain...
, Clare Doyle and Keith Dickinson, as one of the members of what was presented to the Labour Party as the 'editorial board' of Militant
Militant Tendency
The Militant tendency was an entrist group within the British Labour Party based around the Militant newspaper that was first published in 1964...
.
In the 1991 discussion on the "Open Turn
Open Turn (politics)
The Open Turn debate took place in 1991, initially within the Militant Tendency. The essence of the debate was the ways of winning the support of Marxism within working masses in modern, changing, situation....
", Walsh played a role in the joint preparation of the documents of the Majority faction, in which it was argued that the Labour Party had lost its working class base, with the result that the Militant was isolated and without a basis of support against the pro-capitalist leadership. It was necessary, Walsh argued, at the 1991 Special Congress convened to discuss the issue, to take an "open turn", leave the Labour Party and start afresh "with an open banner". Of the original 'Militant editorial board', Peter Taaffe
Peter Taaffe
Peter Taaffe is the general secretary of the Socialist Party of England and Wales SPEW and member of the International Executive Committee of the Committee for a Workers International , which claims sections in over 35 countries around the world.Taaffe was founding editor of the Marxist Militant...
Clare Doyle and Keith Dickinson supported this 'Open turn' whilst its historical leader, Ted Grant
Ted Grant
Edward "Ted" Grant , 9 July 1913 in Germiston, South Africa – 20 July 2006 in London) was a South African Trotskyist who spent most of his adult life in Britain...
, opposed. After a Congress adopted the leadership's proposals by a majority of 93%, Militant Labour was formed. This group soon after argued that the Labour Party had become so thoroughly a capitalist party that there was a need for the rehabilitation of the ideas of socialism, and changed its name to Socialist Party.
Walsh became editor of the Militant International Review (MIR) at the end of the 1980s and carried this role over as MIR became the monthly Socialism Today in 1995.