National Socialist Party (UK)
Encyclopedia
The National Socialist Party was a small political party in the United Kingdom
, founded in 1916. It originated as a minority group within the British Socialist Party
who supported British participation in World War I
; while historically linked with the Marxist left, the party grew more moderate. It affiliated to the Labour Party
and was eventually absorbed by it.
n militarism
". Although maintaining that they were a Marxist party, after affiliation to the Labour Party in 1918, they renounced vanguardism
and saw in the Russian Revolution
only the danger that it might weaken the United Kingdom's war effort. The party was grouped around the newspaper Justice
.
; Dan Irving
and Will Thorne
were elected for the Labour Party, and Jack Jones under the National Socialist Party name.
In 1919, the group changed its name to the Social Democratic Federation, reverting to the name that the British Socialist Party had previously used. At one point there were eleven MPs, but after the death of Hyndman in 1921, the group gradually dissolved into the Labour Party. It finally disbanded in 1941.
Other notable members included H. W. Lee, Hunter Watts
, John Stokes
and Joseph Burgess
.
(in fact, the NSP was dissolved by the time German Nazism began to emerge).
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, founded in 1916. It originated as a minority group within the British Socialist Party
British Socialist Party
The British Socialist Party was a Marxist political organisation established in Great Britain in 1911. Following a protracted period of factional struggle, in 1916 the party's anti-war forces gained decisive control of the party and saw the defection of its pro-war Right Wing...
who supported British participation in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
; while historically linked with the Marxist left, the party grew more moderate. It affiliated to 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...
and was eventually absorbed by it.
Origins
The National Socialist Party was founded by Henry M. Hyndman and his followers after his defeat in the leadership elections of the British Socialist Party. They believed that it was desirable to support the United Kingdom in World War I against "PrussiaPrussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
n militarism
Militarism
Militarism is defined as: the belief or desire of a government or people that a country should maintain a strong military capability and be prepared to use it aggressively to defend or promote national interests....
". Although maintaining that they were a Marxist party, after affiliation to the Labour Party in 1918, they renounced vanguardism
Vanguard party
A vanguard party is a political party at the forefront of a mass action, movement, or revolution. The idea of a vanguard party has its origins in the Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels...
and saw in the Russian Revolution
Russian Revolution of 1917
The Russian Revolution is the collective term for a series of revolutions in Russia in 1917, which destroyed the Tsarist autocracy and led to the creation of the Soviet Union. The Tsar was deposed and replaced by a provisional government in the first revolution of February 1917...
only the danger that it might weaken the United Kingdom's war effort. The party was grouped around the newspaper Justice
Justice (newspaper)
Justice was the weekly newspaper of the Social Democratic Federation in the United Kingdom.The SDF had been known until January 1884 as the Democratic Federation. With the change of name, the organisation launched the paper. Many issues appeared with the by-line "Organ of the Social...
.
1918 election
Three members of the party were elected to Parliament in the 1918 electionUnited Kingdom general election, 1918
The United Kingdom general election of 1918 was the first to be held after the Representation of the People Act 1918, which meant it was the first United Kingdom general election in which nearly all adult men and some women could vote. Polling was held on 14 December 1918, although the count did...
; Dan Irving
Dan Irving
David Daniel Irving, known as Dan Irving was a British socialist activist and Labour Party Member of Parliament....
and Will Thorne
Will Thorne
William James Thorne CBE , known as Will Thorne, was a British trade unionist, activist and one of the first Labour Members of Parliament .-Early years:...
were elected for the Labour Party, and Jack Jones under the National Socialist Party name.
In 1919, the group changed its name to the Social Democratic Federation, reverting to the name that the British Socialist Party had previously used. At one point there were eleven MPs, but after the death of Hyndman in 1921, the group gradually dissolved into the Labour Party. It finally disbanded in 1941.
Other notable members included H. W. Lee, Hunter Watts
Hunter Watts
John Hunter Watts , known as Hunter Watts, was a British socialist activist.Based in Manchester, Watts was an active secularist before joining the Social Democratic Federation . While he was friendly with William Morris, he remained with the SDF when Morris left to found the Socialist League in 1885...
, John Stokes
John Stokes
John Stokes may refer to:*John William Stokes , Australian administrator*John Stokes , Principal of Queen's College, Hong Kong, buried in Wolvercote Cemetery*John Heydon Stokes , British Conservative MP 1970–1992...
and Joseph Burgess
Joseph Burgess
Joseph Burgess was a British journalist and Labour politician.He was born on 3 July 1853 in Failsworth, Lancashire, the third of six children of handloom weavers, and educated at a print works school in Failsworth. He started work in a card-cutting room at the age of six and worked as a cotton...
.
'National Socialism'
It should not be confused with the German NSDAP, which was created three years after the British NSP. At the time when the NSP was established, the term "national socialism" carried none of its present-day right-wing connotations. The British NSP was firmly on the left-wing of politics and was in no way associated with the doctrine of NazismNazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
(in fact, the NSP was dissolved by the time German Nazism began to emerge).