Uncompromising Socialism

Here’s an account of an uncompromising socialism, that of the Socialist Labour Party.

George Barnsby notes, on page 368 of Birmingham Working People, that

“It wanted unity – but only Socialist unity. It was at once the conscience of all Socialists, but opposed to the compromises which all Socialists were forced to face in widening support for the achievement of a Labour government and socialism. Thus the SLP were the most vehement in criticising the ‘opportunist’ and Liberal elements within the Socialist Centre, Labour Church and all the other political parties, but they were also the most vocal in denouncing the welfare measures such as old age pensions and labour exchanges as plots to strengthen capitalist control and the attachment of the working class to the Liberal party.“

The Socialist Labour Party was formed by, mostly Scottish, dissidents within the Social Democratic Federation. Their monthly paper, The Socialist, first appeared in August 1902, a full year before the formation of the party.

The dispute with the leadership of the SDF started with the Paris Congress of the Second International in 1900. The SDF sided with those who favoured entry into capitalist governments, the Possibilists, against those who opposed participation, the Impossibilists. Those who formed the SLP sided with the Impossibilists. The general SLP opinion was that the bureaucracies of the ILP and LRC were anti-Marxists opposed to class struggle and revolutionary mass action.

According to George Barnsby, on page 368 of Birmingham Working People,

“it was the most uncompromising body in the search for Socialism. It wanted unity – but only Socialist unity. It was at once the conscience of all Socialists, but opposed to the compromises which all Socialists were forced to face in widening support for the achievement of a Labour government and socialism. Thus the SLP were the most vehement in criticising the ‘opportunist’ and Liberal elements within the Socialist Centre, Labour Church and all the other political parties, but they were also the most vocal in denouncing the welfare measures such as old age pensions and labour exchanges as plots to strengthen capitalist control and the attachment of the working class to the Liberal party.“

The Birmingham branch was founded in December 1903.

Barnsby, on page 370 of Birmingham Working People, notes that the

“October issue of The Socialist …printed the results of the efforts of a reporter of the Evening Despatch to track down ‘this new Socialist organisation in Birmingham.’ After failing at the Trades Hall, he eventually went to the Bull Ring and asked about the Birmingham Socialist Centre. Whereupon the following dialogue occurred:

There is no Socialist centre.

But I thought it was in Livery Street.

No, the people who go there are not Socialists but Opportunists.

The SDF is a Socialist body isn’t it?

No, the SDFers are Opportunists.

The ILP then?

They are weak Opportunists.

Then who are the Socialists?

The new Socialist Labour Party.

Dear me, I never heard of them.

It is a new organisation and comprises the forward elements of the SDP and the ILP."

I just love that Dear me.