What is the Socialist Party?
Q: What is the Socialist Party?
A: The Socialist Party is a Trotskyist political party active in England and Wales and part of the Committee for a Workers' International. They publish a weekly newspaper entitled The Socialist and a monthly Socialism Today.
Q: How did the Socialist Party evolve?
A: The Socialist Party evolved from the Militant Tendency, who in the early 1980s started to be expelled from the Labour Party, for organising a mass campaign against the Poll Tax. There was a debate with the Militant Tendency whether or not to cease working within the Labour Party and the majority of the group decided to do so, although a minority around Ted Grant broke away to form Socialist Appeal. This debate ran alongside a parallel debate on the future of Scottish politics. The result was that an "open party" was first undertaken in Scotland under the name of Scottish Militant Labour. This initiative would eventually lead to the foundation of the Scottish Socialist Alliance.
Q: What is their current name?
A: The majority of Scottish members, after forming the Scottish Socialist Party, left CWI in early 2001 as they moved away from traditional Trotskyist politics. For a while, they were known as Militant Labour but then changed their name to 'The Socialist Party', though this has been contested by an older organisation called 'The Socialist Party of Great Britain'. As such, they are frequently referred to as 'The Socialist Party of England and Wales'. In elections they have had to use 'Socialist Alternative' as their name instead.
Q: Who founded local socialist alliance groups?
A: The Socialist Party were one of founders of local socialist alliance groups but left in 2001 following their tenure there. Since then they have run candidates in elections under 'Socialist Alternative'.
Q: How many councillors does it have?
A: Following UK local elections in 2006, it has three councillors in Coventry, one in Stoke-on-Trent two in Lewisham South London and one Huddersfield councilor respectively.
Q: What is SGUC?
A: In February 2005, The Socialists announced plans to contest 2005 parliamentary elections as part SGUC (Socialist Green Unity Coalition). Several former components of socialist alliance which didn't join Respect also joined SGUC at this time too .
Q: What is its influence on trade unions? A: Under leadership Peter Taaffe ,their policies remain close traditional Trotskyism .They have 23 members elected national executive committees various trade unions .In November 2005 ,they launched ‘Campaign New Workers’Party’ aim persuading individuals ,campaigners & trade unions help set up back broad left alternative New Labour fight working class people .
