Launching a new left party: The Independent Labour Party 1893 began with a split
Questions for parties of the left: federation or national centre. The Independent Labour Party 14th January 1893
With the current issues around launching a new political formation of the left some familiar issues are open to discussion. For example whether there should be a loose federation of the many existing independent left campaigns, groups etc, or an attempt to have one national structure. Perhaps these issues will at least be discussed at the forthcoming Your Party Conference
The issues are not new, and neither are disagreements. Sometimes this is a result of small group sectarianism but looking on from 1893 to the formation of the Communist Party in 1920 it can be seen that there were genuine differences of approach.
What kind of organisation was needed was discussed at the founding conference of the Independent Labour Party in January 1893. It’s worth noting that until the Webbs 1918 Labour Party Constitution it was not possible to be a member of the Labour Party. Rather membership or support lay with local and regional structures of various kinds.
It will be noted that the result was a split with both the Fabians and the SDF who had been involved in earlier discussions deciding not to participate. They did of course when it came to the Labour Representation Committee in 1900, which looked at rather different political questions but even then the SDF departed again, while the Fabians in the shape of the Webbs got to write the 1918 Labour Party Constitution.
All of the organisations mentioned above went on to have a significant influence on how socialist and working class politics developed in Britain in the twentieth century. Whether that influence could have been more effective and had a bigger impact, the historical jury is still out on that.
Report Glasgow Herald
Mr W.H. DREW, of Bradford, moved, “That this conference of delegates of numerous local organisations all over the United Kingdom pledges itself to the principle of independent labour representation on all legislative, governing, and administrative bodies; hereby agrees to federate for the speedier accomplishment of their one common object: and declares that the style and title of the new federation shall be the Independent Labour party of Great Britain and Ireland.”
Mr SHAW MAXWELL seconded the resolution.
Mr A. FIELD moved as an amendment the omission of the word “federate,” and the substitution of the words “to amalgamate their organisation into one national Independent Labour party.” The difference between federation and amalgamation was discussed at great length, and eventually the resolution was passed in its original form without opposition; but after announcements from the representatives of the London Fabian Society and the Social Democratic Federation that their associations had no intention of affiliating with the Independent Labour party, though they were glad to give it every possible assistance.
Understanding our history is important. It provides a perspective on the present but not of course any more that
For me The Greens have my support. Labour has sold us out too many times. If Your Party achieves mass membership I’ll be interested but the Greens have mass membership now.