Marxist-Leninist Parties in the UK

[bailey_187]

I am trying to decide which party i should join

I am stuck between:

Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist-leninist)

New Communist party of Britian - these seem a bit inactive?

Revolutionary Communist Party of Britain (M-L)

Communist League of Britain

Communist Party of Britain - I know, revisionists, but they are the largest Communist party in Britain

Would any members of these parties be able to tell me more about the party or just anyone who knows anything about them that could help to choosing ?

[The Idler]

On what principles have you narrowed it down to those?

[*Viva La Revolucion*]

I thought the Communist Party of Great Britain was just the Communist Party of Britain?

Sorry I don't know enough about them to advise, but I'm thinking about joining the Young Communist League, which I think is Marxist-Leninist.

[Lolshevik]

The Communist Party of Britain and the Communist Party of Great Britain are different groups. The CPB I don't know too much about, but the CPGB (I believe) is an anti-Leninist grouping.

Anyway, I don't live in Britain, but if I did I would recommend the Socialist Party of England and Wales, or the International Socialists if you're located in Scotland.

[scarletghoul]

I thought the Communist Party of Great Britain was just the Communist Party of Britain?

Sorry I don't know enough about them to advise, but I'm thinking about joining the Young Communist League, which I think is Marxist-Leninist.
CPB is the main communist party here, CPGB is a small worthless sectarian party who I think are full of trots. And the Young Communist League is cool, they are part of the CPB

[Q]

The Communist Party of Britain and the Communist Party of Great Britain are different groups. The CPB I don't know too much about, but the CPGB (I believe) is an anti-Leninist grouping.

Anyway, I don't live in Britain, but if I did I would recommend the Socialist Party of England and Wales, or the International Socialists if you're located in Scotland.


CPB is the main communist party here, CPGB is a small worthless sectarian party who I think are full of trots. And the Young Communist League is cool, they are part of the CPB
Both of you are wrong incidentally. Although the CPGB (http://www.cpgb.org.uk/) is described (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communist_Party_of_Great_Britain_%28Provisional_Ce ntral_Committee%29) as a Leninist group, they are neither Stalinist nor Trotskyist but instead try to go back to the roots of the movement, using the method Lenin once used in the Iskra by providing an open and critical platform of debate. I find them to be very non-sectarian actually, although they are critical. these two aspects are often mixed up by many.

[bailey_187]

You guys are talking about the CPGB (PCC) which print the weekly worker - i dont want to join them

The CPGB(M-L) i listed was the Marxist-Leninist one that split from Scargills party in 03, is linked witht he stalin society etc


hmm, yeah, maybe i should join the YCL? Are there actual Marxist-Leninists amongst them?

[Q]

I had a look at the websites of the parties... err... sects you suggested. They surely compete for having the most ridiculous one :lol:

[Pogue]

The CPB are Eurocommunists, they don't believe in revolution so are not even Leninists.

All of these organisations are absolutely worthless in my eyes, they are going nowhere and have nothing to offer.

[thejambo1]

this thread is what is soooo wrong with the state of communist groups in the u.k. at the moment. its like the fucking life of brian!!! how many splits and sects are there!!

[bailey_187]

The CPB are Eurocommunists, they don't believe in revolution so are not even Leninists.

All of these organisations are absolutely worthless in my eyes, they are going nowhere and have nothing to offer.

yes, i have the choice of a (relatively) large reformist party or a tiny sect with (in my opinion) a good ideology.

This is the problem.

[bailey_187]

I had a look at the websites of the parties... err... sects you suggested. They surely compete for having the most ridiculous one :lol:

be gone trot

[robbo203]

I am trying to decide which party i should join

I am stuck between:

Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist-leninist)

New Communist party of Britian - these seem a bit inactive?

Revolutionary Communist Party of Britain (M-L)

Communist League of Britain

Communist Party of Britain - I know, revisionists, but they are the largest Communist party in Britain

Would any members of these parties be able to tell me more about the party or just anyone who knows anything about them that could help to choosing ?

Why bother with a marxist-leninist party (bit of a contradiction in terms that) anyway? Why not a go for a genuine marxist party that does not go about hoodwinking workers that state capitalism has something to do with socialism or communism

[bailey_187]

What does everyone think of the Communist Alliance?

"FOR ONE PARTY OF MARXIST-LENINISTS

The aim of Communist Party Alliance is to achieve working class political power. The working class in this country - in every country - needs to build its own, truly proletarian party if it is to fulfil its historic role as the gravedigger of capitalism. Such a party can be nothing other than the Leninist party of a new type, a true Communist Party in the tradition of Marx, Lenin and Stalin.

The strategy of Communist Party Alliance is to progress towards the unity of the advanced contingent, which eventually will form a single communist party - the future party of Marxist-Leninists.

A Marxist-Leninist is one who serves the cause of the working class by accepting certain cardinal political principles, the most important of which are:

Firstly, that the working class needs a socialist society, based on economic planning and on working class political power, that is, on the dictatorship of the proletariat;

Secondly, that this working class political power can be achieved, not through parliament, but through revolution (See source).

If you uphold the principle of the dictatorship of the proletariat;
If you uphold the principle of proletarian internationalism;
If you uphold the leading role of the communist vanguard in the transition to socialism;
If you agree with democratic centralism as the organising principle of the party;
If you uphold the Marxist-Leninist view that socialism in one or several countries is not opposed to, but is in fact an integral part of the world revolutionary process:

YOU SHOULD JOIN COMMUNIST PARTY ALLIANCE."

"CAMPAIGN FOR MARXIST-LENINIST UNITY

Because of the failure of Communists in Britain to achieve communist unity on the principled foundations of Marxism-Leninism and to mount an effective struggle against the forces of imperialism, reaction, revisionism and sectarianism, the time has now come to begin a new campaign to promote Communist unity and the construction of a single Marxist-Leninist Party, which will take effective, united action in the struggles against the imperialist bourgeoisie.

In 1998 we started a campaign that invited all Marxist-Leninists, Communists, to form a joint committee to overcome the petty-bourgeois, sectarian deviation that characterizes the Communist movement at the present time.

To this end, we put forward the slogan of the United Front of Communists, to allow Marxist-Leninists to work together in spite of the differences separating them.

JOIN THE CAMPAIGN!

We welcome into membership of the Campaign parties, organisations and individuals who regard themselves as Marxist-Leninist.

A Marxist-Leninist is one who serves the cause of the working class by accepting certain cardinal political principles, the most important of which are:

Firstly, that the working class needs a socialist society, based on economic planning and on working class political power, that is, on the dictatorship of the proletariat;

Secondly, that this working class political power can be achieved, not through parliament, but through revolution. (See source)

There are in Britain today a number of organisations, parties and individuals which claim adherence to the principles of Marxism-Leninism. But these people and parties do not work in unison to achieve the common cause. This division greatly weakens the Marxist-Leninist forces, on which any significant advance by the working class depends. It assists the enemies of the working class by holding back the creation of a single, mass Marxist-Leninist Party which can influence masses of working people.

The Campaign for Marxist-Leninist Unity serves to provide a vehicle for united action by parties, organisations and individuals while allowing them to retain their separate identities.

We accept that the Marxist-Leninist Party must operate on the principle of unity of action attained through democratic centralism, but for all that, the Campaign is not a party and does not operate on the principle of democratic centralism. In other words, parties, organisations or individuals that are members of the Campaign are free to determine their own political line and to publish their own journals, leaflets, etc.

The Campaign for Marxist-Leninist Unity also provides a forum for debate and the resolution of ideological differences. By working within the Campaign, members of different parties and organisations can learn to know and trust one another and can iron out political differences in frank, fraternal discussion.

It is sometimes said that the cause of the divisions among those who regard themselves as Marxist-Leninists is the existence of deep-seated ideological differences between them. This, however, has not been our experience.

Join the Campaign for Marxist-Leninist Unity and help create the foundations for the building of the single marxist-leninist party, essential for the socialist movement to advance."

http://www.oneparty.co.uk/

[bailey_187]

Why bother with a marxist-leninist party (bit of a contradiction in terms that) anyway? Why not a go for a genuine marxist party that does not go about hoodwinking workers that state capitalism has something to do with socialism or communism

fuck off.

[Q]

This thread clearly belongs in some stalinist group and not on the general forum. The OP made it abundantly clear he only wants garbage input.

[robbo203]

fuck off.


Yeah very intelligent. Very articulate. Got nothing better to say for yourself, eh? Perhaps, afterall, you should go ahead and join one or other of the organisations you listed and come back in years time and tell us it was all worth it:rolleyes:

[bailey_187]

This thread clearly belongs in some stalinist group and not on the general forum. The OP made it abundantly clear he only wants garbage input.

No, you started calling the groups ridiculous and told me to look on their sites (as if i wouldn't have already)

The ultra-leftist started trying to argue about the usual


the Anarchist, despite being completely opposed to marxism-leninism, replied properly, so i responded properly

[bailey_187]

Yeah very intelligent. Very articulate. Got nothing better to say for yourself, eh? Perhaps, afterall, you should go ahead and join one or other of the organisations you listed and come back in years time and tell us it was all worth it:rolleyes:

I wish to discuss which party to join, you try to turn the thread into something else.

[Pogue]

yes, i have the choice of a (relatively) large reformist party or a tiny sect with (in my opinion) a good ideology.

This is the problem.

I think you need to consider why these Marx Leninist parties are so small, and the only big 'Communist' Party is the one that broke with Marx-Leninism.

[robbo203]

I wish to discuss which party to join, you try to turn the thread into something else.

Yes but isnt there another option which is not to join such a party. Why do you close your mind to that possibility? What I am getting at and what Darreljohn mentioned earlier is why do you limit your choice to these parties.

[*Viva La Revolucion*]

Actually, if I were you'd I'd go for the largest party. The ideology doesn't seem to differ that much from the others. *waits for people to come and say that it does* And also, larger membership means more recognition for communism in general. If a group has a big enough following, the main political parties will have to start acknowledging it rather than being dismissive and saying 'it'll never happen'. Look at the BNP – they’re now going all out to present themselves as a respectable party and part of the reason why they’re succeeding (I use the term succeed very loosely here) is because they now have seats in parliament and a big enough following to make their views heard.

I can’t believe I’ve just used the BNP as an example of something that’s working. Shoot me now. :blink:

[bailey_187]

Yes but isnt there another option which is not to join such a party. Why do you close your mind to that possibility? What I am getting at and what Darreljohn mentioned earlier is why do you limit your choice to these parties.

Because i am a Marxist-Leninist.

[bailey_187]

Actually, if I were you'd I'd go for the largest party. The ideology doesn't seem to differ that much from the others. *waits for people to come and say that it does* And also, larger membership means more recognition for communism in general. If a group has a big enough following, the main political parties will have to start acknowledging it rather than being dismissive and saying 'it'll never happen'. Look at the BNP – they’re now going all out to present themselves as a respectable party and part of the reason why they’re succeeding (I use the term succeed very loosely here) is because they now have seats in parliament and a big enough following to make their views heard.

I can’t believe I’ve just used the BNP as an example of something that’s working. Shoot me now. :blink:

hmmm, good point.

Althought the 1000 members that the CPB has doesnt seem to make much different. I dont know how many members the CPGB-ML has but i see them more at demos (an no, its not because they were carrying large portraits of Stalin or anything)

[Pogue]

Because i am a Marxist-Leninist.

Maybe look into why the ideology seems to have such little credebility or popular appeal these days.

[The Idler]

What does everyone think of the Communist Alliance?...6 updates to their "what's new" page (http://www.oneparty.co.uk/html/whatsnew.html) in over a year, all of which are by Tony Clark (one-man band?) and 5 of which are letters to the CPGB (PCC) journal The Weekly Worker. You might as well subscribe to The Weekly Worker, at least you get a variety of writers.


Actually, if I were you'd I'd go for the largest party. The ideology doesn't seem to differ that much from the others. *waits for people to come and say that it does* And also, larger membership means more recognition for communism in general. If a group has a big enough following, the main political parties will have to start acknowledging it rather than being dismissive and saying 'it'll never happen'. Look at the BNP – they’re now going all out to present themselves as a respectable party and part of the reason why they’re succeeding (I use the term succeed very loosely here) is because they now have seats in parliament and a big enough following to make their views heard.

I can’t believe I’ve just used the BNP as an example of something that’s working. Shoot me now. :blink:
If you want the largest party, the SWP claim around 6000 members.

[Wanted Man]

Are any of them particularly active near you, or conducting the kind of activity that you're interested in and want to participate in? Or is there some other reason you want to get active? Anyway, don't just join something for the hell of it, but try contacting them, see if you can get some info, maybe work with whatever party for a bit, etc.

Without knowing the answers to these, I'd still recommend joining the CPB or its youth movement YCL, despite whatever flaws they may have (hard for me to judge).

Also check out:

Report on 50th CPB Congress (http://www.communist-party.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=9&Itemid=30)