Socialist societies
Encyclopedia
A socialist society is a membership organisation that is affiliated with the Labour Party
in the UK
.
The best-known socialist society is the Fabian Society
, founded in 1884, some years before the creation of the Labour Party itself (in which the Society participated). The Society's membership is relatively small (around 7000), but in Labour circles, it exerts much influence. The Co-operative Party
is not strictly a "socialist society" in the context of the Labour Party. It is in fact a separate political party with an electoral agreement with the Labour Party. It acts as a socialist society for the most part although it has certain additional rights.
Affiliation means that the socialist societies - like a number of British trade unions - pay an affiliation fee to the Labour Party, and the affiliates' members become affiliated members of the Labour Party (a different status from full member), unless they specifically choose otherwise. In return the societies receive a formal role in Labour decision-making, and the affiliated members can take part in all-member ballots in certain circumstances. For example, they can participate in the election of Labour Party leaders and deputy leaders, have delegates and votes at Annual Conference.
Socialist societies also elect a delegate (currently Conor McGinn from the Labour Party Irish Society) to the Labour National Executive Committee
and can affiliate at a local level to Constituency Labour Parties. A second seat was alloted to the BAME Labour in early 2007, when its membership rose above 2,500. The Socialist Societies also elect three representatives to the National Policy Forum, currently Emma Burnell (Labour Housing Group), Martin Rathfelder (Socialist Health Association) and Helen Gibson (Labour Students). Since the 2011 refounding Labour process seats on the NPF have also been allocated to LGBT Labour and the Labour disabled Members' Group.
The socialist societies are also involved in the Labour Party's policy reviews and the 2011 Refounding Labour process.
There are other organisations, such as Arts for Labour, Centre Left Grassroot Alliance
, the Labour Animal Welfare Society, Muslims for Labour, Labour Against the Euro, Labour Finance and Industry Group, and Labour Friends of India, which are not formally affiliated but act in a similar fashion and may aim for affiliation in time.
The Co-operative Party
is not a socialist society but rather a full political party with an electoral agreement with the Labour Party. It affiliates at a local level.
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...
in the UK
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...
.
The best-known socialist society is the Fabian Society
Fabian Society
The Fabian Society is a British socialist movement, whose purpose is to advance the principles of democratic socialism via gradualist and reformist, rather than revolutionary, means. It is best known for its initial ground-breaking work beginning late in the 19th century and continuing up to World...
, founded in 1884, some years before the creation of the Labour Party itself (in which the Society participated). The Society's membership is relatively small (around 7000), but in Labour circles, it exerts much influence. The Co-operative Party
Co-operative Party
The Co-operative Party is a centre-left political party in the United Kingdom committed to supporting and representing co-operative principles. The party does not put up separate candidates for any UK election itself. Instead, Co-operative candidates stand jointly with the Labour Party as "Labour...
is not strictly a "socialist society" in the context of the Labour Party. It is in fact a separate political party with an electoral agreement with the Labour Party. It acts as a socialist society for the most part although it has certain additional rights.
Affiliation means that the socialist societies - like a number of British trade unions - pay an affiliation fee to the Labour Party, and the affiliates' members become affiliated members of the Labour Party (a different status from full member), unless they specifically choose otherwise. In return the societies receive a formal role in Labour decision-making, and the affiliated members can take part in all-member ballots in certain circumstances. For example, they can participate in the election of Labour Party leaders and deputy leaders, have delegates and votes at Annual Conference.
Socialist societies also elect a delegate (currently Conor McGinn from the Labour Party Irish Society) to the Labour National Executive Committee
National Executive Committee
The National Executive Committee or NEC is the chief administrative body of the UK Labour Party. Its composition has changed over the years, and includes representatives of affiliated trade unions, the Parliamentary Labour Party and European Parliamentary Labour Party, Constituency Labour Parties,...
and can affiliate at a local level to Constituency Labour Parties. A second seat was alloted to the BAME Labour in early 2007, when its membership rose above 2,500. The Socialist Societies also elect three representatives to the National Policy Forum, currently Emma Burnell (Labour Housing Group), Martin Rathfelder (Socialist Health Association) and Helen Gibson (Labour Students). Since the 2011 refounding Labour process seats on the NPF have also been allocated to LGBT Labour and the Labour disabled Members' Group.
The socialist societies are also involved in the Labour Party's policy reviews and the 2011 Refounding Labour process.
Current socialist societies
Affiliated socialist societies include:- BAME Labour
- Chinese for Labour
- Christian Socialist MovementChristian Socialist MovementThe Christian Socialist Movement, or CSM, is a socialist society affiliated to the British Labour Party.The CSM was an amalgamation of the Society of Socialist Clergy and Ministers and the Socialist Christian League. R. H. Tawney made one of his last public appearances at the Movement's inaugural...
- Fabian SocietyFabian SocietyThe Fabian Society is a British socialist movement, whose purpose is to advance the principles of democratic socialism via gradualist and reformist, rather than revolutionary, means. It is best known for its initial ground-breaking work beginning late in the 19th century and continuing up to World...
- Jewish Labour MovementJewish Labour MovementThe Jewish Labour Movement , founded in 2004, is the successor organisation to Poale Zion. It is affiliated with the Labour Party in the UK as a Socialist society....
, formerly Poale ZionPoale ZionPoale Zion was a Movement of Marxist Zionist Jewish workers circles founded in various cities of the Russian Empire about the turn of the century after the Bund rejected Zionism in 1901.-Formation and early years:Poale Zion parties and organisations were started across the Jewish diaspora in the... - Labour Campaign for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights (LGBT Labour)
- Labour Disabled Members' Group
- Labour Housing Group
- Labour Party Irish SocietyLabour Party Irish SocietyThe Labour Party Irish Society is an affiliate organisation of the UK Labour Party. It is a collective body of Labour Party members of Irish birth or descent, and those interested in Ireland and Irish affairs...
- Labour StudentsLabour StudentsLabour Students is a student organisation affiliated to the British Labour Party.Membership comprises affiliated college and university clubs . Membership of Labour Students is through membership of a university or college Labour Club. Affiliation is open to any Labour Club generally supportive of...
- National Union of Labour and Socialist ClubsNational Union of Labour and Socialist ClubsThe National Union of Labour and Socialist Clubs is the federation representing Labour Social Clubs in Great Britain, and is a socialist society affiliated to the UK Labour Party. At present a relatively small number of these clubs actually affiliate to the NULSC. This is because many were...
- Scientists for Labour
- Socialist Education AssociationSocialist Education AssociationThe Socialist Educational Association is an independent socialist educational organisation based in the United Kingdom. It is affiliated to the Labour Party as a socialist society, acting as the party's think tank on educational matters for 75 years...
- Socialist Environment and Resources Association (SERA)Socialist Environment and Resources AssociationThe Socialist Environment and Resources Association , founded in 1973, is an independent environmental association affiliated to the UK Labour Party as a socialist society. More recently it has used the name 'SERA - the Labour Environment Campaign', rather than its full name.SERA campaigns to...
- Socialist Health AssociationSocialist Health AssociationThe Socialist Medical Association was founded in 1930, in order to campaign for a National Health Service in the United Kingdom. It took in many of those who had been active in the State Medical Service Association...
- Society of Labour Lawyers
- Tamils for Labour
- Young LabourYoung LabourYoung Labour can refer to three youth organizations of Labour Parties.*Young Labour , youth wing of the Labour Party*Young Labour , youth wing of the New Zealand Labour Party...
There are other organisations, such as Arts for Labour, Centre Left Grassroot Alliance
Grassroots Alliance
The centre-left Grassroots Alliance is a group of elected members on the British Labour Party National Executive Committee, founded in 1998. They represent members from a broad spectrum of the Labour membership, ranging from centrists to left wingers...
, the Labour Animal Welfare Society, Muslims for Labour, Labour Against the Euro, Labour Finance and Industry Group, and Labour Friends of India, which are not formally affiliated but act in a similar fashion and may aim for affiliation in time.
The Co-operative Party
Co-operative Party
The Co-operative Party is a centre-left political party in the United Kingdom committed to supporting and representing co-operative principles. The party does not put up separate candidates for any UK election itself. Instead, Co-operative candidates stand jointly with the Labour Party as "Labour...
is not a socialist society but rather a full political party with an electoral agreement with the Labour Party. It affiliates at a local level.