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British left

{{Short description|Political parties and movements in the United Kingdom}}

{{Political POV|date=January 2021}}

{{use British English|date=June 2013}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2024}}

{{Socialism in the UK}}

The British left, or the Left in Britain, can refer to multiple concepts. It is sometimes used as shorthand for groups aligned with the Labour Party. It can also refer to other individuals, groups and political parties that have sought egalitarian changes in the economic, political, and cultural institutions of the United Kingdom. There are various sub-groups, split between reformist and revolutionary viewpoints. Progressives and social democrats believe that equality can be accommodated into existing capitalist structures, but they differ in their criticism of capitalism and on the extent of reform and the welfare state. Anarchists, communists, and socialists, among others on the far left, on the other hand argue for abolition of the capitalist system.{{Cite journal |last=Williams |first=Raymond |date=April 1965 |title=The British Left |url=https://newleftreview.org/issues/i30/articles/raymond-williams-the-british-left |journal=The New Left Review|issue=I/30 |pages=18–26}}{{Cite web |title=The Left in Britain {{!}} CRL |url=https://www.crl.edu/left-britain |access-date=2023-04-02 |website=crl.edu}}{{Cite book |last=Murray |first=Andrew |url=https://www.versobooks.com/books/3084-the-fall-and-rise-of-the-british-left |title=The Fall and Rise of the British Left |date=October 2019 |publisher=Verso Books |isbn=978-1-78873-513-1}}

History

{{main|History of the socialist movement in the United Kingdom}}

Leftism in the United Kingdom is thought to stretch back to the aftermath of the English Civil War in the 17th century, represented by groups such as the 'True Levellers' or Diggers. Chartism was one of the first post-civil war left-wing movements. Notions of socialism in Britain have taken many different forms from the utopian socialism and philanthropism of Robert Owen through to the reformist electoral project enshrined in the birth of the Labour Party. The Great Unrest of the pre-World War I years and the strikes of 1919{{Cite web |title=Unrest in Britain in 1919 {{!}} libcom.org |url=https://libcom.org/article/unrest-britain-1919 |access-date=2024-05-14 |website=libcom.org}} represented surges in left-wing activity. The Attlee ministry's establishment of the welfare-state is often considered a victory for the left. The New Left of 1968 represented another wave of activity. The miners' strike of 1984–85 saw the most recent large-scale working class movement; the anti-Poll Tax campaign of the late 1980s/early 1990s was also a significant left-wing social movement. The alter-globalisation and Occupy movements had a presence in Britain in the early-late 2000s, anti-austerity campaigns made up the bulk of the left's activity in the 2010s, and Black Lives Matter, pro-Palestine movements remain the largest movements of the 2020s.

=== Historical ===

Contemporary

  • Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament{{Cite web |title=The History of CND |url=https://cnduk.org/who/the-history-of-cnd/ |access-date=2024-04-07 |website=CND UK}}
  • Enough is Enough{{Cite news |last=Booth |first=Robert |date=2022-08-24 |title=Enough is Enough movement gathers pace with Andy Burnham latest backer|work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/aug/24/enough-is-enough-movement-gathers-pace-with-andy-burnham-latest-backer |access-date=2023-05-18 |issn=0261-3077}}
  • Extinction Rebellion{{Cite web |title=Is Extinction Rebellion Still 'Beyond Politics'? |url=https://novaramedia.com/2023/04/18/is-extinction-rebellion-still-beyond-politics/ |access-date=2023-05-18 |website=Novara Media}}
  • People's Assembly Against Austerity
  • Squatting
  • Stop the War Coalition{{Cite web |last=McSmith |first=Andy |date=2015-12-02 |title=Stop the War Coalition: This group of left-wing enemies has survived many rifts |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/stop-the-war-coalition-this-group-of-leftwing-enemies-has-survived-many-rifts-a6758061.html |access-date=2024-04-10 |website=The Independent}}
  • Trade unionism{{Cite news |last=Partington |first=Richard |date=2023-02-14 |title=Number of days lost to strikes is highest since the Thatcher era |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/feb/14/nearly-million-days-lost-strikes-december-uk-pay-growth |access-date=2023-05-18 |issn=0261-3077}}

Key figures

The following is a list of figures significant for the British Left.

= Activists =

  • Mark Ashton{{Cite web |date=2023-02-17 |title=The remarkable story of Mark Ashton, the campaigner who brought communities together |url=https://metro.co.uk/2023/02/17/mark-ashton-the-lgbt-campaigner-who-brought-communities-together-18237815/ |website=Metro}}
  • Bob Crow{{Cite web |date=2014-03-11 |title=Bob Crow obituary: A working class hero who never shirked from industrial action |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/bob-crow-obituary-a-working-class-hero-who-never-shirked-from-industrial-action-9183811.html |website=The Independent}}
  • Jennie Formby{{Cite web |date=2024-06-17 |title=Former senior Labour figure abandons party amid Starmer concerns |url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/24392693.jenny-formby-says-voting-greens-general-election/ |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=The National |language=en}}
  • Betty Heathfield{{Cite news |last=Goodman |first=Geoffrey |date=2006-02-22 |title=Betty Heathfield |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2006/feb/22/guardianobituaries.politics |access-date=2025-04-23 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}
  • Claudia Jones{{Cite web |title=JONES, CLAUDIA (1915–1964)

|url=https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/blue-plaques/claudia-jones/ |access-date=2024-04-08 |website=English Heritage}}

  • Jon Lansman{{Cite web |last=Eaton |first=George |date=2018-01-15 |title=Jon Lansman's long march to Labour's top table |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-politics/2018/01/jon-lansman-s-long-march-labour-s-top-table |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=New Statesman |language=en-US}}
  • Mikaela Loach{{Cite web |last=Chan |first=Emily |date=2021-11-04 |title="The Only People Who Can Save Us Are Ourselves": Climate Activist Mikaela Loach on Why She's Taking the UK Government to Court |url=https://www.vogue.com/article/climate-activist-mikaela-loach-cop26-taking-the-uk-government-to-court |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Vogue |language=en-US}}
  • Mick Lynch{{Cite news |last=Gilbert |first=Jeremy |date=2022-06-23 |title=Union boss Mick Lynch is a media star – and Labour has much to learn about why|work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jun/23/mick-lynch-media-star-labour-rmt-leader-union-boss |access-date=2023-04-02 |issn=0261-3077}}
  • Len McCluskey{{Cite web |title=Never Walk Alone

|url=https://highprofiles.info/interview/len-mccluskey/ |access-date=2024-04-08 |website=High Profiles}}

  • Albert Meltzer{{Cite web |last=SubZorro |date=2021-05-07 |title=Remembering Albert Meltzer 25 years on |url=https://freedomnews.org.uk/2021/05/07/remembering-albert-meltzer-25-years-on/ |access-date=2023-05-18 |website=Freedom News}}
  • Sylvia Pankhurst
  • Betty Papworth{{Cite news |last=Carrier |first=Dan |date=2008-08-14 |title=Betty Papworth |url=https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2008/aug/15/1 |access-date=2025-04-23 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}
  • Arthur Scargill{{Cite news |last=Harris |first=John |date=2014-02-28 |title=In search of Arthur Scargill: 30 years after the miners' strike|work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/feb/28/in-search-of-arthur-scargill-miners-strike |access-date=2023-05-18 |issn=0261-3077}}
  • Jessie Stephen{{Cite web |last=Canning |first=Audrey |title=Stephen, Jessie (1893–1979), suffragette and labour activist |url=https://www.oxforddnb.com/display/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-54411 |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Oxford Dictionary of National Biography |language=en |doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-54411?rskey=rqumed&result=1|doi-broken-date=27 May 2025 }}

= Journalists =

  • Catherine Isabella Barmby{{Cite ODNB |title=Barmby [née Watkins], Catherine Isabella [pseud. Kate] (1816/17–1853), utopian socialist and writer on women's emancipation |url=https://www.oxforddnb.com/display/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-41339 |access-date=2025-04-23 |date=2004 |doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/41339 |language=en}}
  • Aaron Bastani{{Cite news |last=Bastani |first=Aaron |date=2018-05-04 |title=Karl Marx at 200: Aaron Bastani picks five books to understand Marxism|work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/may/04/aaron-bastani-five-books-to-understand-marx |access-date=2023-05-19 |issn=0261-3077}}
  • Paul Foot{{Cite web |last=Sawer |first=Patrick |date=2012-04-13 |title=Paul Foot dies at 66 |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/hp/front/paul-foot-dies-at-66-6960575.html |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=Evening Standard|location=London}}
  • Owen Hatherley
  • Mabel Hope{{Cite book |last=Ferretti |first=Federico |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uwtpDwAAQBAJ&dq=Mabel+Besant+Hope&pg=PT92 |title=Anarchy and Geography: Reclus and Kropotkin in the UK |date=2018-08-15 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-351-04172-0 |language=en}}
  • Owen Jones{{Cite news |last=O'Hagan |first=Sean |date=2020-09-19 |title=Owen Jones: 'A lot of people in the parliamentary Labour party are horrible'|work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/sep/19/owen-jones-a-lot-of-people-in-the-parliamentary-labour-party-are-horrible |access-date=2023-04-02 |issn=0261-3077}}
  • George Monbiot
  • Laurie Penny{{Cite web |date=2014-07-12 |title=Laurie Penny on the politics of the personal |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/life_style/arts_ents/13169534.laurie-penny-politics-personal/ |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=The Herald |language=en}}
  • Ash Sarkar
  • Mary Stanley Low{{Cite news |title=Mary Low |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/mary-low-434250.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250114150254/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/mary-low-434250.html |archive-date=2025-01-14 |access-date=2025-04-23 |work=The Independent |language=en-GB}}
  • Polly Toynbee{{Cite web |title=Polly Toynbee: An Uneasy Inheritance |url=https://www.events.unsw.edu.au/article/polly-toynbee-uneasy-inheritance |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250318100234/https://events.unsw.edu.au/article/polly-toynbee-uneasy-inheritance |archive-date=2025-03-18 |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=UNSW Sydney |language=en}}

= Politicians =

  • Diane Abbott
  • Tony Banks, Baron Stratford{{Cite web |date=2006-01-09 |title=Tony Banks, minister and maverick, dies aged 62 after massive stroke |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/tony-banks-minister-and-maverick-dies-aged-62-after-massive-stroke-6112334.html|access-date=2024-04-08 |website=The Independent}}
  • Tony Benn{{Cite web |title=Tony Benn's Lessons for the Left |url=https://tribunemag.co.uk/2022/03/tony-benn-labour-party-history |access-date=2023-04-02 |website=tribunemag.co.uk}}{{Cite web |title=Tony Benn |url=https://www.penguin.co.uk/authors/163681/tony-benn |access-date=2023-04-02 |website=penguin.co.uk}}
  • Aneurin Bevan
  • Harpal Brar{{Cite web |title=Comrade Harpal Brar steps down as party chairman after 14 years |url=https://thecommunists.org/2018/10/24/news/comrade-harpal-brar-steps-down-as-party-chairman-after-14-years/ |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=The Communists |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Harpal Brar Fattanwala, communist leader and writer, passes away at 85 |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/harpal-brar-fattanwala-communist-leader-and-writer-passes-away-at-85/ |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=The Tribune |language=en}}
  • Richard Burgon
  • Andy Burnham{{Cite web |last=Maguire |first=Kevin |date=2022-11-30 |title=Andy Burnham burnishes his brand on Labour's left |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/commons-confidential/2022/11/andy-burnham-burnishes-labour-left-commons-confidential |website=The New Statesman}}
  • Barbara Castle{{Cite web |date=2021-06-10 |title=The Resilient Radicalism of Barbara Castle |url=https://tribunemag.co.uk/2021/10/the-resilient-radicalism-of-barbara-castle|access-date=2024-04-03 |website=Tribune}}
  • Jeremy Corbyn{{Cite web |date=2023-05-17 |title=The New Statesman's left power list |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-politics/2023/05/the-new-statesmans-left-power-list |access-date=2023-05-17 |website=New Statesman}}
  • Michael Foot
  • George Galloway
  • Keir Hardie
  • Eric Heffer{{Cite web |date=2017-01-27 |title=Never a Yes Man

|url=https://www.tribunemag.co.uk/2019/01/never-a-yes-man |website=Tribune}}

  • Neil Kinnock
  • Ian Lavery
  • Clive Lewis
  • Ken Livingstone{{Cite web |date=2023-09-20 |title='Red' Ken Livingstone has been a divisive figure during his 40-year career |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/ken-livingstone-new-labour-greater-london-blair-red-b2414679.html |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=The Independent}}
  • Caroline Lucas{{Cite web |date=2023-11-14 |title=Brighton's Caroline Lucas ranked UK's most left-wing MP

|url=https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/23919587.brightons-caroline-lucas-ranked-uks-left-wing-mp/ |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=The Argus}}

|url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/politics-interview/2023/04/john-mcdonnells-last-stand-2 |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=The New Statesman}}

  • Dave Nellist{{Cite news |date=2013-07-13 |title=Dave Nellist: The Coventry MP who gave away half his pay |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-23289962 |access-date=2025-04-23 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}
  • Hannah Sell{{Cite news |last=Sell |first=Hannah |date=2010-03-18 |title=Police or provocateurs? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2010/mar/18/undercover-police-infiltration-yre |access-date=2025-04-30 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}
  • Dennis Skinner{{Cite web |date=2001-03-20 |title=Profile: Dennis Skinner

|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2001/mar/20/profiles.parliament9 |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=The Guardian}}

  • Zarah Sultana{{Cite web |last=Statesman |first=New |date=2023-05-17 |title=The New Statesman's left power list |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-politics/2023/05/the-new-statesmans-left-power-list |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=New Statesman |language=en-US}}
  • Peter Taaffe{{Cite news |last1=Stewart |first1=Heather |last2=Elgot |first2=Jessica |date=2016-08-10 |title=Leader of expelled leftwing group Militant expects readmission to Labour |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/aug/10/leader-expelled-leftwing-group-militant-peter-taaffe-readmission-labour-corbyn |access-date=2025-04-30 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}
  • Emily Thornberry{{Cite news |last=Johnston |first=Chris |date=2014-11-21 |title=Emily Thornberry: Guildford girl who went on to become a devoted MP |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/nov/21/emily-thornberry-profile-labour-mp-islington |access-date=2025-04-30 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}
  • Ellen Wilkinson{{Cite web |title=ELLEN WILKINSON

|url=https://www.timeandtidemagazine.org/key-individuals/ellen-wilkinson |website=Time and Tide}}

= Thinkers =

  • Tariq Ali
  • Perry Anderson
  • John Goodwyn Barmby{{Cite ODNB |title=Barmby, (John) Goodwyn (1820–1881), Chartist and socialist |url=https://www.oxforddnb.com/display/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-1445 |access-date=2025-04-23 |date=2004 |language=en |doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/1445}}
  • Gurminder K. Bhambra
  • Ian Birchall{{Cite news |last=Bennetts |first=Russell |date=2015-08-28 |title=Yes we scan: Poets line up for Jeremy Corbyn |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2015/aug/28/poets-for-jeremy-corbyn |access-date=2025-04-30 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}
  • Enid Charles{{Cite journal |last=Wargon |first=Sylvia |date=2005-12-31 |title=Legacy of Enid Charles, 1894-1972 |url=https://journals.library.ualberta.ca/csp/index.php/csp/article/view/15945 |journal=Canadian Studies in Population |volume=32 |issue=2 |language=en |pages=137–153 |doi=10.25336/P62K5C |issn=1927-629X}}
  • Terry Eagleton
  • Mark Fisher{{Cite web |title=Is This the Most Important Book So Far This Century? |url=https://novaramedia.com/2023/01/13/is-this-the-most-important-book-so-far-this-century/ |access-date=2023-04-02 |website=Novara Media}}
  • Paul Gilroy
  • Stuart Hall{{Cite magazine |last=Loudis |first=Jessica |date=2017-09-27 |title=Why We Need Stuart Hall's Imaginative Left |magazine=The New Republic |url=https://newrepublic.com/article/145042/need-stuart-halls-imaginative-left |access-date=2023-04-02 |issn=0028-6583}}
  • David Harvey
  • Christopher Hill{{Cite news |last=Kettle |first=Martin |date=2003-02-26 |title=Christopher Hill |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2003/feb/26/guardianobituaries.obituaries |access-date=2024-05-10 |work=The Guardian|issn=0261-3077}}
  • Eric Hobsbawm
  • John Holloway
  • Ruth Kinna{{Cite web |title=Professor Ruth Kinna |url=https://www.lboro.ac.uk/subjects/politics-international-studies/staff/ruth-kinna/ |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Loughborough University |language=en}}
  • Ralph Miliband
  • William Morris{{Cite news |last=Jones |first=Jonathan |date=2016-03-24 |title=William Morris: a Victorian socialist dreaming of a life in symmetry|work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/jonathanjonesblog/2016/mar/24/william-morris-google-doodle-socialist |access-date=2023-05-18 |issn=0261-3077}}
  • Rajani Palme Dutt
  • Sheila Rowbotham{{Cite book |last=Rowbotham |first=Sheila |author-link=Sheila Rowbotham |url=https://archive.org/details/womenresistancer00rowbrich/mode/2up |title=Women, resistance, and revolution; a history of women and revolution in the modern world |date=1972 |publisher=New York, Pantheon Books |isbn=978-0-394-47545-5}}
  • James Schneider
  • Ambalavaner Sivanandan
  • E. P. Thompson
  • Raymond Williams{{Cite news |title=A Century of Raymond Williams |url=https://tribunemag.co.uk/2021/08/a-century-of-raymond-williams |access-date=2023-05-18 |website=tribunemag.co.uk}}

Left-wing electoral organisations active in Britain

File:BritishLeft.png

The largest political party associated with the British left is the centre-left Labour Party, which is also the biggest political party in the UK by membership levels, with 415,000 members as of July 2022.{{cite tweet|number=1550137089689370624|user=FisherAndrew79|title=It was reported to the Labour NEC on Tuesday that membership had fallen to 415,000, including 33,000 members in arrears (e.g. ineligible to vote but may renew), so 382k paid-up members
Membership was reported to be 570,000 in July 2020. That's a huge loss of members and revenue|first=Andrew|last=Fisher|access-date=10 August 2022}} Labour has 412 seats in the House of Commons.{{cite web | url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-interactive/2024/jul/04/uk-general-election-results-2024-live-in-full | title=UK general election results in full: Labour wins in landslide | website=TheGuardian.com | date=26 July 2024}} The current Leader of the Labour Party is Keir Starmer, who was elected as the party's leader on 4 April 2020.

The second largest party on the British left, by membership, is the centre-left Scottish National Party (SNP), which had 72,186 members as of March 2023, despite only being active in Scotland;{{Cite news |date=16 March 2023 |title=SNP says its membership has fallen to 72,000 |publisher=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-64976104 |access-date=16 March 2023}} the SNP have 9 MPs.

The third largest party on the British left is the Green Party of England and Wales, whose membership reached over 54,000 in 2021;{{Cite journal |date=31 December 2021 |title=Reports and Financial Statements Year ended |journal=The Green Party (England and Wales) Documents}} following the most recent general election the Greens have 4 MPs.{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/jul/05/green-party-co-leader-carla-denyer-unseats-labour-in-bristol-central | title=Green party quadruples its number of Commons seats to four | newspaper=The Guardian | date=5 July 2024 | last1=Grierson | first1=Jamie | last2=Walker | first2=Peter}}

The other three political parties on the left and with representation in parliament are the centre-left Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) of Northern Ireland; the centre-left Plaid Cymru (who are only active in Wales) and Sinn Féin, also from Northern Ireland. Plaid has 4 MPs,{{cite web |date=5 July 2024 |title=Wales' 13 new MPS after General Election 2024 |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/wales-new-mps-election-29452990 |website=Wales Online}} the SDLP have 2 MPs, and Sinn Féin has 7 MPs,{{cite web |date=4 July 2024 |title=Sinn Féin becomes NI's largest Westminster party |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8978z7z8w4o |website=BBC News}} but the latter party does not sit in Westminster as it refuses to take the parliamentary Oath of Allegiance.

=Labour Party=

{{main|Labour Party (UK)}}

File:Labour Party membership graph.svg

The biggest party on the political left in the United Kingdom in terms of members and representation is the Labour Party, which was founded as the Labour Representation Committee (LRC) in 1900. With the party's rebranding as New Labour in the 1990s under the leadership of Tony Blair, the party accepted a number of economic policies associated with the Right, causing it to be identified as centrist (Blair himself stated that his ministry would have governed from the political centre) rather than socialist, despite adding democratic socialism to the party's constitution, and was considered by fewer critics as being a party of the left; Blair described New Labour's ideology as Third Way, like Bill Clinton's Democratic Party in the United States. The Labour Party under Blair's leadership accepted many of the neoliberal economic policies enforced by the previous Conservative Party governments in the 1980s and 1990s, and continued in successive Conservative governments in the 2010s.{{cite news|last=Shafi|first=Jonathan|url=http://internationalsocialist.org.uk/index.php/2013/07/labour-neoliberalism-and-the-future/|title=Labour, Neoliberalism and the Future|newspaper=International Socialist Group|date=6 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211017190846/https://www.internationalsocialist.org.uk/index.php/2013/07/labour-neoliberalism-and-the-future/|archive-date=17 October 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jan/05/smaller-state-trouble-deficit-labour-spending|title=A smaller state? It's what got us into trouble to begin with|last=Hain|first=Peter|date=5 January 2015|work=The Guardian|access-date=24 March 2016}}

When Ed Miliband was elected as Leader of the Labour Party in 2010, he announced the abandonment of the New Labour agenda, and promised to return to socialism,[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/labour/10325076/Ed-Miliband-Im-bringing-socialism-back-to-Britain.html "Ed Miliband: I'm bringing socialism back to Britain"], The Daily Telegraph, September 2013. clamp down on tax avoidance, introduce a wealth tax in the form of a mansion tax, raise income tax for high earners, and break up the banks.[https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/jan/25/labour-50p-top-rate-income-tax-ed-balls "Labour will restore 50p top rate of income tax, says Ed Balls"], The Guardian, January 2014 The party was subsequently criticised by some, including Blair himself, as straying leftwards from the centre ground of British politics,{{cite news|title=Tony Blair says Labour 'left-wing' warning 'misinterpreted'|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-30640264|access-date=25 May 2015|publisher=BBC News|date=31 December 2014}} and that Miliband was a more traditional left-wing politician.{{cite news|title=Blair claims 'left-wing' comments about Miliband were 'misinterpreted'|url=http://www.itv.com/news/story/2014-12-31/blair-claims-left-wing-comments-about-miliband-were-misinterpreted/|access-date=25 May 2015|work=ITV News|date=31 December 2014}} Others disputed this view, and put Labour's loss at the 2015 United Kingdom general election down to the party being too right-wing.{{cite news|last1=Stanley|first1=Tim|title=Labour didn't lose because it was too Left-wing. But it will lose again if it becomes too Right-wing|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/general-election-2015/politics-blog/11607970/Labour-didnt-lose-because-it-was-too-Left-wing.-But-it-will-lose-again-if-it-becomes-too-Right-wing.html| access-date=25 May 2015|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=15 May 2015|location=London}}{{cite news|last1=Wintour|first1=Patrick|title=Labour did not lose election because it was too leftwing, says Unite chief|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/may/13/labour-did-not-lose-election-because-it-was-too-left-wing-says-unite-chief| access-date=25 May 2015|newspaper=The Guardian|date=13 May 2015|location=London}}

Labour's status as a socialist party has been disputed by those who do not see the party as being part of the left,{{cite news| url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/the-most-embarrassing-part-of-the-election-seeing-people-mistake-labour-for-a-leftwing-party-10237192.html | location=London | work=The Independent | first=Amit | last=Singh | title=The most embarrassing part of the election? Seeing people mistake Labour for a left-wing party | date=8 May 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/17474|title=Socialist Party :: Labour conference – no socialist policies|work=socialistparty.org.uk|date=25 September 2013 |access-date=24 March 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://socialistworker.co.uk/art/40376/The+Labour+Party+and+socialism|title=The Labour Party and socialism|work=Socialist Worker (Britain)|date=21 April 2015 |access-date=24 March 2016}} although the general consensus under Jeremy Corbyn was that Labour was closer to the Left on the left–right political spectrum.{{Cite web|url=https://www.opinium.co.uk/the-uphill-battle-for-left-wing-labour/|title=The uphill battle for left wing Labour|date=15 September 2015|website=Opinium}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news-14-5/the-jeremy-corbyn-policies-that-most-people-actually-agree-with-10407148.html|title=9 charts that show the 'left-wing' policies of Jeremy Corbyn the public actually agrees with|date=23 July 2015|website=The Independent}} As a result of this, there has always been tension between the Left and the Labour Party.{{Cite web |title=Jeremy Corbyn: 'We Didn't Go Far Enough' |url=https://tribunemag.co.uk/2020/10/jeremy-corbyn-we-didnt-go-far-enough |access-date=2023-04-02 |website=tribunemag.co.uk}}{{Cite web |title=Left-wing pressure groups in the Labour Party |url=https://spartacus-educational.com/spartacus-blogURL85.htm |access-date=2023-04-02 |website=Spartacus Educational}}{{Cite web |title=A Party with Socialists in It |url=https://www.plutobooks.com/9780745345598/a-party-with-socialists-in-it |access-date=2023-04-02 |website=Pluto Press}} The Corbyn Labour Party leadership campaign, which led to a landslide victory at the 2015 Labour Party leadership election held in the month of September,{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/sep/12/jeremy-corbyn-labour-leader-mandate-agenda|title=Corbyn hails huge mandate as he sets out leftwing agenda|author=ToHelm|work=The Guardian|date=13 September 2015|access-date=24 March 2016}} represented a revival of the Labour left and led to a significant increase in membership;{{cite web|url=http://www.channel4.com/news/labour-claim-membership-surge-after-corbyn-election|title=Labour claim membership surge after Corbyn election|work=Channel 4 News|date=13 September 2015|access-date=24 March 2016}} in the shadow cabinet reshuffle that followed, John McDonnell (chairman of the Labour Representation Committee) and Diane Abbott (member of the Socialist Campaign Group) were both appointed to Corbyn's shadow cabinet.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34240869|title=Jeremy Corbyn unveils 'unifying' shadow cabinet team|publisher=BBC News|date=14 September 2015|access-date=24 March 2016}} While not winning, Labour made significant gains in terms of vote share and modest improvements in terms of seats, enough to deny a Conservative majority and led to a hung parliament, at the 2017 United Kingdom general election,{{Cite web|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/jeremy-corbyn-election-result-vote-share-increased-1945-clement-attlee-a7781706.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170609201444/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/jeremy-corbyn-election-result-vote-share-increased-1945-clement-attlee-a7781706.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 June 2017|title=Jeremy Corbyn increased Labour's vote share more than any leader since 1945|last1=Agerholm|first1=Harriet|last2=Dore|first2=Louis|date=9 June 2017|website=The Independent}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ft.com/content/907f0208-4c92-11e7-919a-1e14ce4af89b|title=Jeremy Corbyn confounds critics with 'gobsmacking' gain|first=Jim|last=Pickard|date=8 June 2017|website=Financial Times|location=London}} which was taken as a vindication by some of the left turn.{{cite web |last=Younge |first=Gary |date=10 June 2017 |title=Despite all the smears and distortions, this was a victory for hope |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/jun/10/victory-hope-youth-turnout-election-politics |website=The Guardian}}{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2017/06/09/american-left-sees-hope-in-u-k-s-socialist-surge/|title=American left sees hope in Britain's socialist surge|last=Weigel|first=David|date=9 June 2017|newspaper=The Washington Post}} The party fell in the 2019 United Kingdom general election to its lowest share of seats since 1935, although it was not the party's worst election in terms of vote share (it did better than in 1931, 1983, 1987, 2010 and 2015); many believe this was due to a complicated Labour Party manifesto and Brexit policy, a poor approach to campaigning, and the unpopularity of Corbyn's leadership.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/dec/14/corbyn-takes-share-responsibility-defeat|title=I take my share of responsibility for this defeat, says Jeremy Corbyn|first=Toby|last=Helm|newspaper=The Observer |date=14 December 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/dec/13/five-reasons-why-labour-lost-the-election|title=Five reasons why Labour lost the election|first=Kate|last=Proctor|date=13 December 2019|work=The Guardian}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/jan/27/labour-defeat-due-to-gimmicks-and-division-say-members|title=Labour defeat due to gimmicks and division, say members|first1=Kate|last1=Proctor|first2=Jessica|last2=Murray|date=27 January 2020|work=The Guardian}}

==Internal groups==

== Magazine support ==

=Green Party of England and Wales=

{{Main|Green Party of England and Wales}}

In 2015, the membership of the Green Party of England and Wales quadrupled, and its support in national opinion polls sextupled.{{cite magazine|last1=Ramsay|first1=Adam|title=Today, Natalie Bennett must deliver the speech of her life|url=http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2015/03/today-natalie-bennett-must-deliver-speech-her-life|access-date=8 April 2015|magazine=New Statesman|date=6 March 2015}} Several factors contributed, including the collapse of the Lib Dem vote, the influence of social media and greater awareness among younger people about the rise of other left-wing parties in Europe such as: Podemos in Spain and Syriza in Greece, as well as a rise in anti-austerity movements across the UK and Europe.See: list of political parties in the United Kingdom opposed to austerity. Other factors included the Scottish independence referendum, which proved to be an inspiration for a new kind of politics. Other key factors had been the contrast in conferences of the Green Party and Labour in September 2014, and the media exclusion of the Greens during and following their successes at the European elections; a petition against the media blackout of the Green Party reached 260,000 signatures.{{cite web|title="Invite the Greens" petition handed in to the BBC|url=https://www.greenparty.org.uk/news/2014/11/13/invite-the-greens-petition-handed-in-to-bbc/|publisher=Green Party of England and Wales|access-date=8 April 2015|date=13 November 2014}}

The party also received a significant spike in membership during January 2015 following David Cameron's demand that the Greens be included in the leaders' debates for the 2015 general election. The Green Party has been included in a seven-way television debate.{{cite news|title=Election 2015: Seven-party TV debate plan announced|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-30955379|access-date=8 April 2015|publisher=BBC News|date=23 January 2015}} The Greens' 2015 spring conference had a record 1,300 members attend; the party became the second-largest of the European Greens in this period, as well as increasing significantly in national polls from an average 1% to 7%. It beat the Liberal Democrats to fourth place at the 2014 European Elections with 8%, under a proportional voting system, having a third MEP elected. However the Greens achieved only a 1.6% vote share at the 2017 general election,{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/election/2017/results|title=Results of the 2017 General Election|date=9 June 2017|publisher=BBC News}} following a rejection by Labour of an election pact{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/apr/19/greens-urge-labour-and-lib-dems-to-form-electoral-pact-to-defeat-tories|title=Labour and Lib Dems reject Greens' call for electoral pact against Tories|first1=Peter|last1=Walker|first2=Jessica|last2=Elgot|date=19 April 2017|work=The Guardian}} and an increase in vote share by the two major parties.

In the 2019 general election, the Green Party increased their vote share by 65% to 2.7%.{{Cite web|url=https://greenworld.org.uk/article/2019-general-election-greens-increase-vote-share-60-cent|title=2019 general election: Greens increase vote share by 60 per cent|last=Benson|first=Imogen|date=13 December 2019|publisher=Green World}} In the 2021 United Kingdom local elections, the party made a net gain of 91 council seats, taking its national total to a record 444.{{cite news |last=Harvey |first=Fiona |author-link=Fiona Harvey |date=16 May 2021 |title=Green party co-leader tells Keir Starmer: My door is open for talks |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/may/16/green-party-jonathan-bartley-keir-starmer-door-is-open-for-talks |work=The Guardian}} As with Labour, the status of the Greens as a party of the political left has been disputed.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jan/28/forget-greens-grow-your-own-leftwing-party-election|title=Forget the Greens – if the UK wants a truly leftwing party, it might have to grow its own|first=Suzanne|last=Moore|work=The Guardian|date=28 January 2015|access-date=24 March 2016}}

==Internal groups==

=Other organisations=

The Workers Party of Britain was formed in December 2019.{{cite web |last=Norfolk |first=Andrew |date=22 June 2021 |title=George Galloway is pulling no punches in Batley & Spen |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/george-galloway-is-pulling-no-punches-in-batley-amp-spen-cgr2cldk7 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210622234514/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/george-galloway-is-pulling-no-punches-in-batley-amp-spen-cgr2cldk7 |archive-date=22 June 2021 |access-date=21 July 2021 |website=The Times}} It is a socialist and socially conservative party.{{Cite web |title= Rochdale by-election 2024: Who are the Workers' Party of Britain? |url= https://www.mancunianmatters.co.uk/news/01032024-who-are-the-workers-party-of-britain/ |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=Mancunian Matters|date= March 2024 }} Its leader George Galloway briefly became the Member of Parliament for Rochdale in 2024, following a by-election.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-68443430 |title=Rochdale by-election: Landslide win for George Galloway |last=McKiernan |first=Jennifer |publisher=BBC News |date=1 March 2024 |access-date=10 March 2024}}

The now defunct Respect Party (formed in 2004), which at one point had the support of other left groups (such as the Socialist Workers Party and Socialist Resistance) and some electoral success, lost its last local councillors in 2014{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/the-northerner/2014/may/23/labour-gains-control-of-bradford-george-galloway-respect-fails|title=Labour gains control of Bradford as Respect fail|last=Pidd|first=Helen|date=23 May 2014|work=The Guardian}} and its sole MP George Galloway – who was also the party leader. Respect disbanded after twelve years, on 18 August 2016.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/global/the-northerner/2013/oct/28/georgegalloway-respect-party|title=Who is the leader of the Respect party these days?|last=Pidd|first=Helen|date=28 October 2013|work=The Guardian}}

The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC), founded in 2010, comprises the Socialist Party, Socialist Workers Party and RMT trade union. As of 2016, TUSC had a small number of affiliated local councillors. Following the 2015 election of Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader, TUSC floated plans for a future electoral pact with any Labour councillors standing on an anti-austerity platform;{{cite web|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/far-left-tusc-seeks-anti-austerity-electoral-pact-jeremy-corbyns-labour-1519615|title=Far-left TUSC seeks anti-austerity electoral pact with Jeremy Corbyn's Labour|author=Ian Silvera|work=International Business Times UK|date=14 September 2015|access-date=24 March 2016}} subsequently TUSC stood fewer candidates in the 2016 and 2017 local elections, based on a case by case reckoning of the political stance of local Labour candidates.{{cite web|url=https://www.tusc.org.uk/txt/400.pdf|title=Local elections 2017: The TUSC results|date=7 May 2017|website=tusc.org.uk}} In May 2017, TUSC confirmed that it would stand no candidates at the forthcoming general election, and give full support to Labour.{{cite web|url=http://www.tusc.org.uk/17366/11-05-2017/tusc-confirms-no-candidates-in-june-and-full-support-for-a-corbyn-led-government-with-socialist-policies|title=TUSC CONFIRMS NO CANDIDATES IN JUNE AND FULL SUPPORT FOR A CORBYN LED GOVERNMENT WITH SOCIALIST POLICIES|website=tusc.org.uk|date=11 May 2017 }} In 2018, TUSC suspended electoral activity until further notice.{{Cite web|url=http://www.tusc.org.uk/17408/08-11-2018/tusc-suspends-electoral-activity-national-steering-committee-statement|title=TUSC SUSPENDS ELECTORAL ACTIVITY NATIONAL STEERING COMMITTEE STATEMENT|website=tusc.org.uk|date=8 November 2018 }} In September 2020, TUSC became active once again as its steering committee agreed it would stand candidates in the 2021 local elections.{{Cite web|url=http://www.tusc.org.uk/17410/04-09-2020/back-at-work-tusc-to-stand-in-elections-again-against-pro-austerity-politicians|title=Back at work! TUSC to stand in elections again against pro-austerity politicians|website=tusc.org.uk|date=4 September 2020 |access-date=2020-09-04}} In 2024, TUSC stood 40 candidates in the general election.{{cite web | url=https://www.tusc.org.uk/20827/07-06-2024/the-tusc-candidates-on-july-4th/ | title=The TUSC candidates on July 4th | date=7 June 2024 }}

Left Unity was formed in November 2013 and backed by a number of existing left-wing parties. Left Unity had an electoral pact with TUSC for the 2015 elections{{cite web|last1=Hill|first1=Dave|title=On relations between Left Unity and TUSC|url=http://leftunity.org/on-relations-between-left-unity-and-tusc/|publisher=Left Unity|access-date=25 May 2015}} but renounced independent electoral activity, in favour of Labour, under the Corbyn leadership.{{cite web |title=General election: Left Unity calls for a Labour victory |url=http://leftunity.org/general-election-left-unity-calls-for-a-labour-victory/ |website=Left Unity}}

The Communist Party of Britain (CPB), is a split from (and effectively the political successor to) the historical Communist Party of Great Britain, once the largest British far-left organisation.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-18351323|title=What happened to the Communist Party of Great Britain's millions?|first=Brian|last=Wheeler|date=13 June 2012|publisher=BBC News}} In 2017, the CPB announced that it would field no candidates at that year's general election, and give support to Labour instead.{{cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/communist-party-backs-jeremy-corbyn-10287188|title=Communist Party backs Corbyn and won't stand any candidates in the election|first=Mikey|last=Smith|website=Daily Mirror|date=24 April 2017}} In 2024, the party fielded 14 candidates in the general election.{{cite web | url=https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/communist-candidate-accuses-bbc-bias-against-left-party-concludes-its-2024-election | title=Communist candidate accuses BBC of bias against left as party concludes its 2024 election campaign | work=Morning Star | date=3 July 2024 }}

Some small left and far-left parties continue to contest elections independently, such as the Socialist Party of Great Britain (the oldest extant left-wing political party, having formed in 1904). Other parties and groups are electorally inactive, renounce participation in elections,{{cite news|url=http://www.revolutionarycommunist.org/britain/labourtrade-unions/4784-general-election-2017|title=General election: Don't vote – fight for socialism!|last=FRFI|newspaper=RCG }}{{cite web|url=http://www.leftcom.org/en/articles/2017-05-13/the-general-election-%E2%80%93-more-ruling-class-mystification |title=The General Election – More Ruling Class Mystification |publisher=Leftcom |date=2017-05-13 |access-date=2018-07-22}}{{cite web|url=http://www.union-communiste.org/sites/default/files/reviews/wf-083-may_2017.pdf |title=The ballot box won't give us a voice, collective action will! |date=2017 |website=union-communiste.org}} or work unofficially in support of, or advocate a vote for, the Labour Party.

==Electorally active parties==

  • Alliance for Green Socialism{{Cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/general-election-2019-london-candidates-labour-tory-lib-dems-brexit-constituencies-a4296471.html|title=Every candidate standing in London constituencies this election|last=Somerville|first=Ewan|date=28 November 2019|website=Evening Standard|location=London}}
  • Communist League
  • National Health Action Party{{cite news |last= Wagner |first= Veronika |date= 20 November 2019 |title= US health corporations are already embedded in the NHS. The question is how to get them out. |url= https://bright-green.org/2019/11/20/us-health-corporations-are-already-embedded-in-the-nhs-the-question-is-how-to-get-them-out/ |work= Bright Green |access-date= 31 August 2022}}
  • Socialist Equality Party
  • Socialist Labour Party{{Cite web|url=https://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/politics/former-hartlepool-councillor-kevin-cranney-announces-he-standing-general-election-be-town-mp-995648|title='I'll be a voice for change': The former Hartlepool councillor now standing to be the town's MP|last=Payne|first=Mark|date=12 November 2019|work=Hartlepool Mail}}
  • Socialist Party of Great Britain{{Cite web|url=https://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/socialist-standard/2010s/2019/no-1383-november-2019/editorial-towards-a-general-election/|title=Editorial: Towards a general election|date=November 2019|publisher=Socialist Party of Great Britain}}
  • Social Justice Party
  • Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC)
  • Transform
  • Workers Party of Britain
  • Workers' Revolutionary Party{{Cite web|url=https://wrp.org.uk/features/vote-wrp-on-december-12-break-with-the-eu-forward-to-a-workers-government-and-socialism-wrp-2019-election-manifesto/|title=VOTE WRP ON DECEMBER 12! BREAK WITH THE EU! FORWARD TO A WORKERS GOVERNMENT AND SOCIALISM! WRP 2019 Election Manifesto|date=5 November 2019}}

=== Entryist groups within Labour Party ===

{{Further|Entryism}}

  • Socialist ActionBarberis, P. et al. Encyclopedia of British and Irish Political Organizations: Parties, Groups and Movements of the 20th Century. A&C Black, 2000, p161

===Parties working within Transform===

{{Further|Transform (political party)}}

===Parties working within TUSC===

{{Further|Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition}}

===Others===

= Active only in Scotland =

== Active only in Wales ==

= Local parties =

Media and culture

{{main|List of left-wing publications in the United Kingdom}}The following is a list of media organisations and other progressive British cultural outputs explicitly associated with the Left.{{Cite journal |last=Dean |first=Jonathan |title=Left politics and popular culture in Britain: From left-wing populism to 'popular leftism' |url=https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0263395720960661 |journal=Politics |date=2023 |volume=43 |issue=1 |pages=3–17 |doi=10.1177/0263395720960661 |via=SAGE|doi-access=free }}

= Comics =

  • Bill Bailey{{Cite news |last=Jeffries |first=Stuart |date=2010-12-18 |title=Bill Bailey: 'It's genius, evil genius' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2010/dec/18/bill-bailey-stuart-jeffries-saturday-interview |access-date=2024-12-13 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}
  • Frankie Boyle{{Cite web |last=Burrows |first=Marc |date=2023-03-30 |title=Frankie Boyle's "shock" comedy was vile – no wonder he's given himself a makeover |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/tv/2023/03/frankie-boyle-shock-comedy-vile-given-makeover |access-date=2023-04-02 |website=New Statesman}}
  • Jo Brand{{Cite journal |last=Schaffer |first=Gavin |date=2016 |title=Fighting Thatcher with Comedy: What to Do When There Is No Alternative |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-british-studies/article/fighting-thatcher-with-comedy-what-to-do-when-there-is-no-alternative/20DD28BCAE6F65542F6DA81E61A29EEA |journal=Journal of British Studies |language=en |volume=55 |issue=2 |pages=374–397 |doi=10.1017/jbr.2015.229 |issn=0021-9371}}
  • Steve Coogan{{Cite web |last=Gammie |first=Joe |date=2019-12-08 |title=Comedian Steve Coogan calls on people to vote tactically to boot out the Tories |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/comedian-steve-coogan-calls-people-21052099 |access-date=2023-04-02 |website=mirror}}
  • Shappi Khorsandi{{Cite news |last=Khorsandi |first=Shappi |title='As a proud champagne socialist, I know that having money doesn't have to stop you believing in equality' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/socialism-equality-money-poor-working-class-welfare-politics-economy-a8614226.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241226085233/https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/socialism-equality-money-poor-working-class-welfare-politics-economy-a8614226.html |archive-date=2024-12-26 |access-date=2025-04-30 |work=The Independent |language=en-GB}}
  • Nish Kumar{{Cite web |last=Ibekwe |first=Desiree |date=2021-04-01 |title=His BBC Comedy Show Is Canceled. His Political Fight Continues.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/01/arts/bbc-nish-kumar.html |access-date=2023-04-09 |website=The New York Times}}
  • Stewart Lee{{Cite news |last=Lee |first=Stewart |date=2020-09-06 |title=The divided land of 'woke' and Tory|work=The Observer |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/sep/06/the-divided-land-of-woke-and-tory |access-date=2023-04-02 |issn=0029-7712}}
  • Josie Long{{Cite web |last=Banerjee |first=Rohan |date=2017-10-17 |title="I have nothing against privileged people": Josie Long on class, Brexit and Jeremy Corbyn |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-politics/2017/10/i-have-nothing-against-privileged-people-josie-long-class-brexit-and-jeremy |access-date=2023-04-09 |website=The New Statesman}}
  • Alexei Sayle{{Cite web |title=Alexei Sayle: Stand-up Communist – 3:AM Magazine |url=https://www.3ammagazine.com/3am/alexei-sayle-stand-up-communist/ |access-date=2023-04-02}}
  • Linda Smith{{Cite web |last=Stack |first=Pat |date=2006-04-11 |title=Linda Smith 1957–2006

|url=https://socialistworker.co.uk/obituaries/linda-smith-1957-2006/ |access-date=2023-04-09 |website=Socialist Worker}}

  • Kate Smurthwaite{{Cite web |title=Kate Smurthwaite: The Wrong Sort of Feminist |url=https://www.chortle.co.uk/shows/edinburgh_fringe_2015/k/24028/kate_smurthwaite:_the_wrong_sort_of_feminist |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Chortle: The UK Comedy Guide |language=en}}
  • Mark Steel{{Cite web |date=2018-06-10 |title=Comedian Mark Steel on politics and personal relationships |url=https://www.theargus.co.uk/leisure/showbiz/16279544.comedian-mark-steel-politics-personal-relationships/ |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=The Argus}}

= Events =

  • Durham Miners' Gala{{Cite web |title=The Defiance of Durham |url=http://newsocialist.org.uk/defiance-durham-miners-gala/ |access-date=2023-04-02 |website=New Socialist}}
  • Glastonbury Festival{{Cite web |last=Digital |first=Pretty Good |title=Glastonbury Festival – Left Field |url=https://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/areas/left-field/ |access-date=2023-04-02 |website=Glastonbury Festival – 22–26 June 2022}}
  • Tolpuddle Martyrs' Festival
  • The World Transformed{{Cite web |title=The World Transformed |url=https://progressive.international/members/db36354b-3c70-447a-948d-2a5e2b1f94b9-the-world-transformed/en |access-date=2023-04-02 |website=Progressive International}}

= Film =

  • I, Daniel Blake
  • Pride (film){{Cite news |last=Kellaway |first=Kate |date=2014-08-31 |title=When miners and gay activists united: the real story of the film Pride|work=The Observer |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/aug/31/pride-film-gay-activists-miners-strike-interview |access-date=2023-04-02 |issn=0029-7712}}
  • Danny Boyle{{Cite web |last=Reynolds |first=Mark |date=2018-08-24 |title=Boyle 'too Left-wing' for Bond movie |url=https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/1008225/Danny-Boyle-too-Left-wing-James-Bond-movie-Jonathan-Pryce |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=Express.co.uk |language=en}}
  • Adam Curtis{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Hannah |date=2021-08-11 |title=Why Millennial Leftists Have Made a BBC Filmmaker a Cult Hero |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2021/08/adam-curtis-millennial-leftist-progressive-fans/619479/ |access-date=2023-04-02 |website=The Atlantic}}
  • Ken Loach{{Cite web |date=2023-02-09 |title=Ken Loach: "I don't agree you need a political cause to make a movie." |url=https://www.a-rabbitsfoot.com/editorial/confessions/a-rabbits-foot-ken-loach-interview/ |access-date=2023-04-02 |website=A Rabbit's Foot}}
  • Mike Leigh{{Cite web |last=Parry |first=William |date=2019-03-27 |title=Always political: director Mike Leigh weighs in on Peterloo, Palestine and beyond |url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/film/always-political-director-mike-leigh-weighs-in-on-peterloo-palestine-and-beyond-1.841639 |access-date=2024-03-31 |website=The National News}}

= Television =

= Theatre =

  • Jim Allen
  • Edward Bond
  • Howard Brenton
  • Caryl Churchill{{Cite web |title=Caryl Churchill {{!}} Biography, Plays, Awards, & Facts {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Caryl-Churchill |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}{{Cite journal |last=Ülker |first=Berna |date=2019-12-25 |title=A Socialist Feminist Reading of Thatcherite Women in British Feminist Plays |url=https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/sefad/issue/51872/674996 |journal=Selçuk Üniversitesi Edebiyat Fakültesi Dergisi |language=en |issue=42 |pages=21–34 |doi=10.21497/sefad.674996 |issn=2458-908X|doi-access=free }}
  • Shelagh Delaney{{Citation |last=Leach |first=Robert |title=Progressive Theatre After 1945 |date=2023 |work=British Socialist and Workers Theatre: Red Stages |pages=157–170 |editor-last=Leach |editor-first=Robert |url=https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-25682-0_12 |access-date=2025-04-30 |place=Cham |publisher=Springer International Publishing |language=en |doi=10.1007/978-3-031-25682-0_12 |isbn=978-3-031-25682-0|url-access=subscription }}{{Cite news |last=Billington |first=Michael |date=2011-11-21 |title=Shelagh Delaney gave working-class women a taste of what was possible |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2011/nov/21/shelagh-delaney-working-class-women |access-date=2025-04-30 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}
  • Trevor Griffiths{{Cite news |last=Wolf |first=Matt |date=2024-04-09 |title=Trevor Griffiths, Marxist Writer for Stage and Screen, Dies at 88 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/09/theater/trevor-griffiths-dead.html |access-date=2025-04-30 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}
  • John McGrath{{Cite news |last=Logan |first=Brian |date=2002-05-15 |title=What did you do in the class war, Daddy? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2002/may/15/artsfeatures |access-date=2025-04-30 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}
  • Harold Pinter
  • George Bernard Shaw

=Independent news sources=

  • Byline Times (founded 2014)
  • Evolve Politics (founded 2015)
  • Left Foot Forward (founded 2010)
  • Morning Star (Independent since 1945 but Britain's Road to Socialism, the programme of the CPB, underlies the paper's editorial stance)
  • New Statesman (founded 1913){{Cite web |title=About the New Statesman |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/about-us-newstatesman |access-date=2023-04-02 |website=New Statesman}}
  • Novara Media (founded 2011){{Cite web |last=Chakelian |first=Anoosh |date=2017-09-25 |title="Luxury communism now!" The rise of the pro-Corbyn media |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/media/2017/09/luxury-communism-now-rise-pro-corbyn-media |access-date=2023-04-02 |website=New Statesman}}
  • Red Pepper (founded 1995)
  • The Canary (founded 2015)
  • The Guardian{{Cite web |title=How left or right-wing are the UK's newspapers? {{!}} YouGov |url=https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/articles-reports/2017/03/07/how-left-or-right-wing-are-uks-newspapers |access-date=2023-04-02 |website=yougov.co.uk}}
  • Tribune{{Cite news |last1=Waterson |first1=Jim |date=2018-09-27 |title=New owners of Tribune shrug off criticism from former staffers |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/sep/27/new-owners-of-tribune-shrug-off-criticism-of-former-staffers |access-date=2023-04-02 |work=The Guardian|issn=0261-3077}}

= Journals =

  • Historical Materialism{{Cite web |title=Historical Materialism |url=https://brill.com/view/journals/hima/hima-overview.xml |access-date=2023-04-02 |website=Brill}}
  • New Left Review{{Cite web |title=A Brief History of the New Left Review |url=https://newleftreview.org/pages/history |website=The New Left Review}}
  • Race & Class{{Cite web |title=Race & Class |url=https://irr.org.uk/about/raceandclass/ |access-date=2023-04-02 |website=Institute of Race Relations}}
  • Socialist Register{{Cite web |title=About the Journal |url=https://socialistregister.com/index.php/srv/about |access-date=2023-04-02 |website=Socialist Register}}

= Online content creators =

  • Hbomberguy{{Cite web |last=Burman |first=Nicholas |title=Is There a Future for Left-Wing YouTube?

|url=https://tribunemag.co.uk/2021/11/the-art-of-left-wing-youtube |access-date=2024-04-09 |website=Tribune}}

= Music =

  • Attila the Stockbroker{{cite web|url=https://repeatfanzine.wordpress.com/2017/02/23/attila-the-stockbroker-35-years-a-punk-poet-documentary-and-tour/|title=Attila The Stockbroker – 35 years a punk poet – documentary and tour|date=23 February 2017|website=Repeatfanzine.wordpress.com}}
  • Roy Bailey{{Cite news |date=23 November 2018 |title=Roy Bailey, folk singer who toured with Tony Benn – obituary |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2018/11/23/roy-bailey-folk-singer-toured-tony-benn-obituary/ |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=The Telegraph}}
  • Billy Bragg{{Cite web |date=2021-12-03 |title=The political importance of Billy Bragg |url=https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/the-political-importance-of-billy-bragg/ |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=Far Out Magazine}}
  • Chumbawamba{{Cite web |last=Lake Smith |first=Aaron |title=Chumbawamba's Long Voyage

|url=https://jacobin.com/2012/07/chumbawambas-long-voyage/ |access-date=2024-03-31 |website=Jacobin}}

  • The Clash{{Cite magazine |last=Gilmore |first=Mike |title=The Clash: Anger on the Left

|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/the-clash-anger-on-the-left-250578/ |access-date=2024-04-01 |magazine=Rolling Stone}}

  • Crass{{cite book |last1=Berger |first1=George |title=The Story of Crass |publisher=Omnibus Press |year=2006 |isbn=978-0-85712-012-0}}
  • Crass Records
  • Easterhouse{{Cite web |date=1986-12-07 |title=EASTERHOUSE: PASSIONATELY POLITICAL |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-12-07-ca-1024-story.html |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=Los Angeles Times}}
  • Brian Eno{{Cite news |last=Hattenstone |first=Simon |date=2017-01-23 |title=Brian Eno: 'We've been in decline for 40 years – Trump is a chance to rethink'|work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/jan/23/brian-eno-not-interested-in-talking-about-me-reflection |access-date=2023-04-05 |issn=0261-3077}}
  • Thee Faction{{Cite web |date=2013-07-13 |title=Album review: Thee Faction, Good Politics (Soviet Beret) |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-review-thee-faction-good-politics-soviet-beret-8707567.html |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=The Independent}}
  • Sam Fender{{Cite news |last1=Beaumont-Thomas |first1=Ben |date=2021-08-25 |title=Sam Fender: 'Leftie is now a slur in working-class towns' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/aug/25/sam-fender-interview-leftie-slur-working-class-towns |access-date=2023-04-05 |work=The Guardian |issn=0261-3077}}
  • Gang of Four{{cite web | url=https://www.altpress.com/gang-of-four-interview-box-set-77-81/ | title=Gang of Four on their political roots, new box set "'77–'81" and more | website=Alternative Press }}
  • The Housemartins{{Citation |title=London 0 Hull 4 – The Housemartins {{!}} Album |work=AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/london-o-hull-4-mw0000190355 |access-date=2024-05-10}}
  • Linton Kwesi Johnson{{Cite web |last=Austin |first=David |title=The Radical Politics and Poetics of Linton Kwesi Johnson

|url=https://www.plutobooks.com/blog/linton-kwesi-johnson-politics-poetry/ |access-date=2024-04-08 |website=Pluto Press|date=14 November 2018 }}

  • Robb Johnson{{Cite news |last=Denselow |first=Robin |date=2011-07-21 |title=Robb Johnson: Some Recent Protest Songs – review |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/jul/21/robb-johnson-some-recent-review |access-date=2024-05-10 |work=The Guardian|issn=0261-3077}}
  • The Left Field
  • John Lennon{{Cite web |title=John Lennon and the Politics of the New Left |url=https://jacobin.com/2020/12/john-lennon-beatles-revolution-peace |access-date=2023-04-02 |website=jacobin.com}}
  • Ewan MacColl{{Cite news |last=Spencer |first=Neil |title=Ewan MacColl: the godfather of folk who was adored – and feared

|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/jan/25/ewan-maccoll-godfather-folk-adored-and-feared |access-date=2024-04-01 |newspaper=The Observer|date=25 January 2015 }}

  • Paul McCartney{{Cite news |last=Michaels |first=Sean |date=2008-12-15 |title=Sir Paul McCartney: I politicised the Beatles |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/dec/15/paulmccartney-thebeatles |access-date=2024-12-13 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}
  • Massive Attack{{Cite web |date=2020-08-26 |title=Massive Attack's 'Eutopia' Isn't Subtle With Its Politics, and That's the Point |url=https://studybreaks.com/culture/sounds/eutopia/ |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=Study Breaks}}
  • McCarthy{{Cite web |title=McCarthy Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More {{!}} ... |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mccarthy-mn0000338651 |access-date=2024-05-10 |publisher=AllMusic}}
  • Radiohead{{cite web | url=https://pitchfork.com/thepitch/1134-how-radiohead-became-for-a-time-the-worlds-biggest-political-band/ | title=How Radiohead Became, for a Time, the World's Biggest Political Band | website=Pitchfork | date=11 May 2016 }}
  • The Redskins{{Cite web |title=Like The Fall meets The Four Tops

|url=http://theredskins.co.uk/ |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=The Redskins}}

  • Red Wedge{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/apr/22/red-wedge-bringing-labour-party-politics-to-young-music-fans|title=Red Wedge: bringing Labour party politics to young music fans|first=Johnny|last=Black|work=Q|date=March 1996|via=The Guardian, 22 April 2015|accessdate=4 September 2017}} A Red Wedge retrospective.
  • Rock Against Racism{{Cite news |last=Jonze |first=Tim |date=2022-08-23 |title='If there are death threats, don't tell me' – how Rock Against Racism fought fascism |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/aug/23/death-threats-rock-against-racism-fascism-national-front-clash-rar |access-date=2024-05-10 |work=The Guardian|issn=0261-3077}}
  • The Style Council{{Cite web |date=2016-03-02 |title=Classic Album Revisited: THE STYLE COUNCIL – Our Favourite Shop |url=https://www.xsnoize.com/the-style-council-our-favourite-shop/ |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=xsnoize.com}}

= Literature =

  • W. H. Auden{{Cite book |last=Lucas |first=John |title=The Cambridge Companion to W.H. Auden |chapter=Auden's politics: Power, authority and the individual |chapter-url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/abs/cambridge-companion-to-w-h-auden/audens-politics/42CA1E2FC445364F3D9F4E864071A9BA |series=Cambridge Companions to Literature |date=2005 |pages=152–164|doi=10.1017/CCOL0521829623.012 |isbn=978-0-521-82962-5 }}
  • Edward Carpenter{{Cite web |title=Edward Carpenter |url=https://www5.open.ac.uk/research-projects/making-britain/content/edward-carpenter |access-date=2024-06-03 |website=The Open University}}
  • Edith Nesbit{{Cite web |last=Winter |first=Jessica |title=The British Socialist Who Rewrote the World for Children |url=https://www.newyorker.com/books/under-review/the-british-socialist-who-rewrote-the-world-for-children |access-date=2024-04-08 |website=The New Statesman |date=28 September 2022}}
  • George Orwell{{Cite web |last=Schacht |first=Benjamin |title=Keeping George Orwell on the Left |url=https://jacobin.com/2021/02/george-orwell-1984-censorship-socialism |access-date=2024-03-31 |website=Jacobin}}
  • Michael Rosen{{Cite web |last=Rosen |first=Michael |title=Michael Rosen: Confessions of an accidental communist |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/long-reads/2012/05/michael-rosen-confessions-accidental-communist |access-date=2024-03-31 |website=The New Statesman |date=23 May 2012}}
  • Will Self{{Cite news |last=Self |first=Will |date=2015-05-01 |title=Will Self: Oscar Wilde, champagne socialism and why I'm voting Labour |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2015/may/01/will-self-oscar-wilde-champagne-socialist-voting-labour |access-date=2024-12-13 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}
  • H. G. Wells{{Cite web |last=Rosen |first=Michael |title=The Scientific Socialism of H. G. Wells |url=https://jacobin.com/2023/07/h-g-wells-socialism-progress-science-fiction |access-date=2024-04-02 |website=Jacobin}}
  • Oscar Wilde{{cite web |url=https://tribunemag.co.uk/2021/02/the-radical-politics-of-oscar-wilde |title=The Radical Politics of Oscar Wilde |last=Fallon |first=Donal |date=18 February 2021 |website=Tribune |access-date=2024-03-31}}
  • Chavs: The Demonization of the Working Class
  • The Making of the English Working Class
  • The Ragged-Trousered Philanthropists

=== Publishing Houses ===

=== Publications affiliated to political organisations ===

  • Emancipation and Liberation (Republican Communist Network)
  • News Line{{cite web |title=Workers Revolutionary Party |url=http://www.wrp.org.uk/ |access-date=24 March 2016 |work=wrp.org.uk}} (WRP)
  • Scottish Socialist Voicescottishsocialistvoice.wordpress.com (SSP)
  • Socialist Resistance{{cite web |title=Socialist Resistance |url=http://socialistresistance.org/ |access-date=24 March 2016 |archive-date=1 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130501062212/http://socialistresistance.org/ |url-status=dead }} periodical by a group of the same name
  • Socialist Standard{{cite web |title=Socialist Standard |url=https://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/socialist-standard |access-date=24 March 2016 |work=worldsocialism.org}} (SPGB)
  • Socialist Studies{{cite web |title=Socialist Studies |url=http://www.socialiststudies.org.uk/socstudyindex.shtml |website=socialiststudies.org.uk}} quarterly journal by a group of the same name
  • Socialist Worker/Socialist Review{{cite web |title=Socialist Worker (Britain) |url=http://socialistworker.co.uk/ |access-date=24 March 2016}} (SWP)
  • Solidarity{{cite web |title=Workers' Liberty |url=http://www.workersliberty.org/story/2010/11/10/solidarity |access-date=24 March 2016}} (AWL)
  • The New Worker{{cite web |title=Sanctions will not solve conflict in Ukraine |url=http://www.newworker.org/nwp1.pdf |website=newworker.org}} (NCP)
  • The Socialist{{cite web |title=Tories split – strike now! – The Socialist 23 March 2016 |url=http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/main/The_Socialist |access-date=24 March 2016 |work=socialistparty.org.uk}} (SP)
  • Weekly Worker{{cite web |title=Archived copy |url=http://www.cpgb.org.uk/home/weekly-worker |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130720094419/http://cpgb.org.uk/home/weekly-worker/ |archive-date=20 July 2013 |access-date=2013-06-05}} (CPGB-PCC)
  • World Socialist Web Site{{cite web |title=World Socialist Web Site |url=http://wsws.org |access-date=24 March 2016 |work=wsws.org}} (SEP)

= Think tanks =

  • Compass ThinkTank{{Cite web |title=Values |url=https://www.compassonline.org.uk/about/values/ |access-date=2023-04-02 |website=Compass}}
  • Centre for Labour and Social Studies: CLASS
  • Institute for Public Policy Research{{Cite web |last=Emily.Redding |title=IPPR |url=https://smartthinking.org.uk/think_tank/ippr/ |access-date=2023-04-02 |website=Smart Thinking}}

See also

{{div col|colwidth=25em}}

{{div col end}}

References

{{reflist}}

Further reading

  • {{Cite book |last=Murray |first=Andrew |url=https://www.versobooks.com/books/3084-the-fall-and-rise-of-the-british-left |title=The Fall and Rise of the British Left |date=October 2019 |publisher=Verso Books |isbn=978-1-78873-513-1}}
  • {{Cite book |last=Schneider |first=James |url=https://www.versobooks.com/books/4055-our-bloc |title=Our Bloc: How We Win |date=September 2022 |publisher=Verso Books |isbn=978-1-83976-850-7}}
  • {{Cite book |last1=Leys |first1=Colin |url=https://www.versobooks.com/books/3161-searching-for-socialism |title=Searching for Socialism: The Project of the Labour New Left from Benn to Corbyn |last2=Panitch |first2=Leo |date=May 2020 |publisher=Verso Books |isbn=978-1-78873-834-7}}

{{UK Labour Party}}

{{GPEW}}

{{UK far left}}

Category:Politics of the United Kingdom

Category:Communism in the United Kingdom

Category:Socialism in the United Kingdom

Category:Left-wing politics in the United Kingdom