Socialist Unity (UK)
Encyclopedia
Socialist Unity was a small socialist electoral coalition in the United Kingdom
. It was formed by the International Marxist Group
as a response to the Socialist Workers Party
(SWP) standing candidates in elections.
Initially, in 1977, the IMG formed local groups, and then the national Socialist Unity grouping. They suggested an alliance with the SWP, which was rejected. The coalition attracted the support of the Workers League
, Big Flame
, the Marxist Worker
group, and some independent socialists. The Workers League, Marxist Worker and the remnants of the Libertarian Communist Group were absorbed by the IMG and Big Flame around this time.
The group stood six candidates in the 1979 UK general election
, including Tariq Ali
, but all polled very poorly. The coalition was dropped when the IMG decided to enter the Labour Party
.
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...
. It was formed by the International Marxist Group
International Marxist Group
The International Marxist Group was a Trotskyist group in Britain between 1968 and 1982. It was the British Section of the Fourth International. It and its youth organisation had had around 1,000 members and supporters in the late 1970s...
as a response to the Socialist Workers Party
Socialist Workers Party (Britain)
The Socialist Workers Party is a far left party in Britain founded by Tony Cliff. The SWP's student section has groups at a number of universities...
(SWP) standing candidates in elections.
Initially, in 1977, the IMG formed local groups, and then the national Socialist Unity grouping. They suggested an alliance with the SWP, which was rejected. The coalition attracted the support of the Workers League
Workers League (UK)
The Workers League was a small Trotskyist group in Britain.It began as the IS Opposition, formed in 1975 within the International Socialists , and containing many prominent IS members, including Roger Protz and Jim Higgins...
, Big Flame
Big Flame (political group)
Big Flame was "a revolutionary socialist feminist organisation with a working-class orientation" in the United Kingdom. Founded in Liverpool in 1970, the group initially grew rapidly, with branches appearing in some other cities. Its publications emphasised that "a revolutionary party is necessary...
, the Marxist Worker
Marxist Worker
Marxist Worker was a Trotskyist organisation in Britain, which produced a publication of the same name. It was formed by the Bolton branch of Workers' Fight, who opposed that organisation's merger with Workers' Power in 1976 and refused to enter the new organisation, the International-Communist...
group, and some independent socialists. The Workers League, Marxist Worker and the remnants of the Libertarian Communist Group were absorbed by the IMG and Big Flame around this time.
The group stood six candidates in the 1979 UK general election
United Kingdom general election, 1979
The United Kingdom general election of 1979 was held on 3 May 1979 to elect 635 members to the British House of Commons. The Conservative Party, led by Margaret Thatcher ousted the incumbent Labour government of James Callaghan with a parliamentary majority of 43 seats...
, including Tariq Ali
Tariq Ali
Tariq Ali , , is a British Pakistani military historian, novelist, journalist, filmmaker, public intellectual, political campaigner, activist, and commentator...
, but all polled very poorly. The coalition was dropped when the IMG decided to enter 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...
.