belboid
Exasperated, not angry.
all true bar the emboldened bit. Never stood, may even have quarter-arsedly supported him.
Galloway's Workers' Party of Britain
- Thread starter chilango
- Start date
ska invita
back on the other side
im vaguely aware of this book and related lectures by author but its specifically about middle class recruits of the 1930s to the CPGB
Radiant Illusion? Middle-class recruits to Communism in…
Studies of why middle-class youth joined the UK communi…
Middle Class Recruits to Communism in the 1930s
Why did some idealistic young people join the Communist Party of Great Britain in the 1930s? What was the attraction of Communism and which beliefs, events or material circumstances prompted them to join? How did the Party respond to this predominantly university-educated group of recruits...
www.gresham.ac.uk
PTK
Paul Kegan
I look at my thin unmuscled arms and think "well, I have always been weedy, so this is nothing new."
hitmouse
entreprenulsoip critical thinking
What's Newcastle under, is it under Lyne or Lyme? And is Ashton anything to do with when you get bitten by ticks?
Just looked it up, looks like apparently you're both slightly out, in 2008 the Galloway/Respect Renewal wing didn't stand in the Mayoral election but the Left List side of Respect ran German against Livingstone.
comrade spurski
Well-Known Member
Lindsey German stood against him iirc.
She turned up outside my workplace cos I had a good reputation there. Used to collect hundreds for various campaigns (strikes, anti war, anti racist campaigns, anti deportation campaigns etc.) both inside work and outside at lunchtimes. And used to sell 20-25 copies of Socialist Worker a week.
For years I was accused of being a syndicalist cos I didn't do paper sales or go to meetings or pay much in subs...I had a part time job and two young daughter's... but they told (and mean told) me that I had to be there to leaflet for her campaign with my workmates and were outraged when I said I wasn't fucking my reputation up with that bollocks. They were beyond angry when I didn't turn up
She stood for left list in 2008...I am absolutely certain of it
Serge Forward
Just enjoyin' my coffee.
Definitely under Lyme. I lived there for several years in the early 80s when i was working in the potteries.
danny la rouge
I have a cheese grater in the dishwasher.
Mrs LR is from the vicinity. Which is why I was happy to believe Lyme.
The39thStep
Urban critical thinker
I’ll have to have a search around . There was a short period when the SWP wrote quite a few articles about campaigns that the early CPGB had initiated or been involved in . These were mainly on Socialist Review , the monthly journal. The Right to Work marches were inspired by Hanningtons Unemployed Workers Union , the physical confrontation of fascists from the CPs pre war and immediate post war activity for example . Even the turn away from squadism posed Piratin’s Our Flag Stays Red as the basis for out flanking the fash in community based work , the rank and file stuff often alluded to CP led activity then contrasted it with the CP just trying to capture union positions . There was the period with Rank and File Movement competing with the Liason for the Defence of Trade unions . The IS/ SWP also championed a number of ex CP historians , EP Thompson etc and journalist writers like Peter Fryer . One of the problems with the CPGB for me was that despite its innovation, self activity and its roots within sections of the working class is that it was tied to and compromised by pre war and early post war by having to follow ( although their were tensions ) the Soviet Union line . Come the late 70s and into the 80s they were wrecked by the horrendous Euro Coms ( who Hobsbawn was unfortunately supportive of )
hitmouse
entreprenulsoip critical thinking
If you're looking for 50s stuff, I no longer have my copy of Widgery's book on the left in Britain from 56-68, but that might touch on it? Just checked the more recent Evan Smith book on the left from 56 onward and that looks like it has two chapters on the 60s-70s CPGB but not sure if those are what you're looking for.
And here's an interview with Ken Weller: Looking back at 1956 from 30 years after - Ken Weller
And here's an interview with Ken Weller: Looking back at 1956 from 30 years after - Ken Weller
hitmouse
entreprenulsoip critical thinking
Oh, and here's a PDF of a book by Laurence Parker claiming to cover 1945-1991, dunno if that's any good either though.
Puddy_Tat
happy mew year
probably stating the obvious, but 'Our Flag Stays Red', by Phil Piratin, is worth a read - he was a Communist Stepney Borough councillor in the 30s (involved in rent strikes, Cable Street, getting better air raid shelters) then MP for Mile End 1945-50. There is a 1980 reprint that's less expensive than the 1948 edition.
Smokeandsteam
Working Class First
Thanks Steps, Hitmouse and Puddy Tat.
I’ve read Parker, Hannington’s seminal book and Piratin (also excellent). Some promising other stuff to read here though especially Widgery and Evan Smith and I’ll read the Weller interview on the bus tomorrow
I’ve read Parker, Hannington’s seminal book and Piratin (also excellent). Some promising other stuff to read here though especially Widgery and Evan Smith and I’ll read the Weller interview on the bus tomorrow
Smokeandsteam
Working Class First
Yes. I was looking at that earlier. Along with Samuel’s book: The Lost World of British Communism
Smokeandsteam
Working Class First
Same.
The39thStep
Urban critical thinker
Parker's stuff is normally ery informative on the CPGB
Tyne.
DaveCinzano
WATCH OUT, GEORGE, HE'S GOT A SCREWDRIVER!
I guess there was a Methodism to his madchesterness
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That's not what I said tho. I said that the old working class had gone.
As has the old ruling class. What’s your point, caller?
Yeah it is. Thats my point.
danny la rouge
I have a cheese grater in the dishwasher.
So, you were being ironic?
I was referring to the fact that some lefties (and left 'anarchists') have a false/outdated view of the working class.
Louis MacNeice
Autumn Journalist
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