Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist–Leninist)

The party's origins were in the Association of Communist Workers (ACW), formed by Indian communist writer and politician Harpal Brar in 1969 as a Maoist breakaway from the Revolutionary Marxist–Leninist League, itself a Maoist split from the Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB) in 1965. The ACW joined the Socialist Labour Party (SLP), led by former miners' leader Arthur Scargill,{{cite web | last=McSmith | first=Andy | title=Stalin apologists drink to the memory of Uncle Joe | website=The Independent | date=2013-11-28 | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/stalin-apologists-drink-to-the-memory-of-uncle-joe-120991.html | access-date=2021-07-21}} but split from it because of Scargill's refusal to accept support for North Korea and other states.{{cite web|title=I Went to a Stalinist Free-Speech Protest to Defend Russia Today from Natwest|url=https://www.vice.com/en_uk/article/mvnk4v/cpgbml-versus-natwest-russia-today|author=Gavin Haynes|date=19 October 2016|work=Vice|access-date=14 February 2017}} As a result, Scargill chose to expel a number of members of the party's central committee and its entire Yorkshire region. Those expelled, along with others who resigned, founded the CPGB-ML in 2004 in Southall, London.{{cite magazine|url=http://archive.cpgb-ml.org/index.php?secName=proletarian&subName=display&art=10|title=Formation of the CPGB-ML|magazine=Proletarian|issue=1|date=August 2004}}{{cite news | title=Uncle Joe's hero status survives 'demonising disinformation' | newspaper=The Irish Times | date=2010-10-28 | url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/uncle-joe-s-hero-status-survives-demonising-disinformation-1.669204 | access-date=2021-07-21}}

The CPGB-ML adheres to Marxism–Leninism, the political theory adopted by the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU). The CPGB-ML praises communist leaders such as Vladimir Lenin, Joseph Stalin,{{Cite news|url=https://www.cpgb-ml.org/2018/11/07/news/october-revolution-101-the-future-belongs-to-communism/|title=October Revolution 101: the future belongs to communism|work=CPGB-ML|access-date=11 November 2018|language=en}} Mao Zedong,{{Citation|last=Proletarian TV|title=Mao to Mandela - History for Sale|date=22 December 2013|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVBhfZ7odms|access-date=11 November 2018}} Kim Il Sung,{{Cite web|url=http://thecommunists.org/2019/07/08/news/twenty-fifth-anniversary-kim-il-sung-death-north-korea-dprk/|title=Twenty-fifth anniversary of Comrade Kim Il Sung's death|date=8 July 2019|website=The Communists}} Enver Hoxha{{Cite magazine|url=https://archive.cpgb-ml.org/index.php?secName=proletarian&subName=display&art=465|title=Celebrating the 100th birthday of Enver Hoxha|magazine=Proletarian|issue=27|date=December 2008}} and Fidel Castro.{{Cite web|url=http://thecommunists.org/2018/11/15/news/workers-must-continue-to-stand-in-solidarity-with-revolutionary-cuba/|title=Workers must continue to stand in solidarity with revolutionary Cuba|date=15 November 2018|website=The Communists}} The party opposes Trotskyism, social democracy, democratic socialism and what they term revisionist (including Khruschevite) parties. In 1995 former CPGB-ML chairman Harpal Brar published a book titled Social Democracy: The Enemy Within.{{cite journal|journal=Compass|publisher=The Communist League (Britain)|date=May 1996|issue=124|title=Book Review: 'Social Democracy, The Enemy Within'|url=http://www.oneparty.co.uk/compass/compass/com12401.html}}

{{Further|Scottish independence}}

The party accepted a position at its 2012 congress that there are no separate English and Scottish nations, but rather, when those nations were at the point of developing as modern capitalist economies, their ruling classes joined to form a British nation.[http://archive.cpgb-ml.org/index.php?secName=proletarian&subName=display&art=887 "Scotland: a part of the British nation"] Proletarian issue 51 (December 2012) Though the CPGB-ML believes in local/workers democracy, it sees the Scottish independence movement as diversionary from building a working-class movement across the historic nation of Great Britain and therefore opposes it. It claims that proposals set forward for Scottish independence will not break the Union, the British state, or the British army in any significant manner.{{cite web|url=http://www.lalkar.org/article/624/the-nationalquestion-in-scotland |title=The National Question in Scotland: Contributed by the Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist-Leninist) as a discussion article|publisher=Lalkar|date=September 2012 |access-date=13 October 2012}} In its opposition to Scottish independence, it stands at odds with the Scottish Socialist Party,{{cite web|url=https://scottishsocialistparty.org/tag/scottish-independence/|title=Scottish Independence|access-date=12 October 2021|website=Scottish Socialist Party|archive-date=5 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505192303/https://scottishsocialistparty.org/tag/scottish-independence/|url-status=dead}} the Socialist Workers Party{{cite web|title=Down with the union - support Scottish independence|url=https://socialistworker.co.uk/art/34415/Down+with+the+union+++support+Scottish+independence|website=Socialist Worker|date=17 Sep 2013}} and the Socialist Party (England and Wales).{{citation needed|date=January 2018}}

On Northern Ireland, the CPGB-ML has called for the withdrawal of British troops from Ireland and for a unified 32-county state to be formed. It supports Sinn Féin's leadership of the Good Friday Agreement, which it believes falls within this framework.{{cite web|title=End the British occupation of Ireland!|url=http://www.cpgbml.org/download/leaflets/ireland_20100215.pdf|date=15 February 2010|publisher=CPGB-ML|access-date=5 November 2019|archive-date=19 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160519134354/http://cpgbml.org/download/leaflets/ireland_20100215.pdf|url-status=dead}}

The CPGB‑ML supported a pro‑Leave (“Lexit”) position in the 2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum, arguing that withdrawal from the EU would curb the influence of British, European and US imperialism.{{cite web |author=Proletarian writers |date=1 April 2016 |title=Why British workers need a Brexit |url=https://red.thecommunists.org/2016/04/01/news/theory/why-british-workers-need-brexit/ |website=The Communists |publisher=Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist–Leninist) |access-date=17 April 2025}}

After Article 50 was invoked in March 2017 the party welcomed the step, describing it as a setback for Britain’s finance‑capitalist elite.{{cite web |author=Ella Rule |date=1 April 2017 |title=Editorial: Brexit moves ahead |url=https://red.thecommunists.org/2017/04/01/news/editorial-brexit-moves-ahead/ |website=The Communists |publisher=Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist–Leninist) |access-date=17 April 2025}}

During the 2018 discussion over a possible second referendum, CPGB‑ML publications characterised the proposed “people’s vote” as an attempt by finance capital to reverse the Leave result.{{cite web |author=Proletarian writers |date=22 October 2018 |title=The ‘people’s vote’ is Britain’s Euromaidan |url=https://thecommunists.org/2018/10/22/news/the-peoples-vote-is-britains-euromaidan-eu-brexit/ |website=The Communists |publisher=Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist–Leninist) |access-date=17 April 2025}}

For the 2019 European Parliament election the party advised supporters to cast a tactical vote for the Brexit Party in order to intensify internal divisions within Britain’s ruling class.{{cite web |author=Proletarian writers |date=7 May 2019 |title=Galloway, Farage and the Brexit party |url=https://thecommunists.org/2019/05/07/news/galloway-farage-brexit-party-eu-election/ |website=The Communists |publisher=Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist–Leninist) |access-date=17 April 2025}}{{cite web |author=Proletarian writers |date=17 May 2019 |title=Vote Brexit on 23 May! |url=https://thecommunists.org/2019/05/17/news/vote-brexit-23-may-eu-election/ |website=The Communists |publisher=Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist–Leninist) |access-date=17 April 2025}}

Following the December 2019 United Kingdom general election, the CPGB‑ML argued that the working‑class gave a renewed mandate to complete Brexit and described itself as “a motive force in launching the Workers Party of Britain”, noting that party vice‑chair Joti Brar was elected WPB deputy leader at its founding congress.{{cite web |author=Lalkar writers |date=29 December 2019 |title=The Brexit election and the birth of the Workers party |url=https://thecommunists.org/2019/12/29/news/brexit-election-and-birth-of-the-workers-party-wpb-galloway/ |website=The Communists |publisher=Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist–Leninist) |access-date=17 April 2025}}

The CPGB‑ML was a driving force behind the creation of the Workers Party of Britain (WPB) in January 2020, forming what it described as an “alliance” with former Respect MP George Galloway. At the founding congress, CPGB‑ML vice‑chair Joti Brar was elected WPB deputy leader.{{cite web |author=Lalkar writers |date=29 December 2019 |title=The Brexit election and the birth of the Workers Party |url=https://thecommunists.org/2019/12/29/news/brexit-election-and-birth-of-the-workers-party-wpb-galloway/ |website=The Communists |publisher=Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist–Leninist) |access-date=17 April 2025}}

Initially the party encouraged members to build WPB branches, presenting the new organisation as a vehicle for breaking working‑class allegiance to Labour. A statement issued in February 2022 argued, however, that “developments since that time have led the party to withdraw our members’ efforts from the Workers Party project”, describing the WPB as “a left‑social‑democratic vehicle for bourgeois parliamentarism and anticommunism”.{{cite web |author=Proletarian writers |date=22 February 2022 |title=Learn the lessons of the Corbyn project: break the link with Labour! |url=https://thecommunists.org/2022/02/22/news/lessons-corbyn-project-break-labour-link-wpb/ |website=The Communists |publisher=Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist–Leninist) |access-date=17 April 2025}}

The CPGB-ML supports governments around the world which it considers to be socialist or anti-imperialist, such as those of China,{{Cite news|url=https://www.cpgb-ml.org/2018/10/19/news/china-celebrates-marxs-200th-birthday/|title=China celebrates Marx's 200th birthday|work=CPGB-ML|access-date=11 November 2018|language=en}} Venezuela,{{Cite news|url=https://www.cpgb-ml.org/2018/08/15/news/our-partys-internationalist-tasks-support-for-revolutionary-venezuela/|title=Our party's internationalist tasks: support for revolutionary Venezuela|work=CPGB-ML|access-date=11 November 2018|language=en}} Russia,{{Cite news|url=https://www.cpgb-ml.org/2018/04/11/news/hands-off-russia/|title=The Skripal case is blatant war propaganda. Hands off Russia!|work=CPGB-ML|access-date=11 November 2018|language=en}} Cuba,{{Cite web|url=http://archive.cpgb-ml.org/index.php?secName=proletarian&subName=display&art=1243|title=Farewell Comrade Fidel Castro. Eternal glory to you!|website=archive.cpgb-ml.org|access-date=11 November 2018}} Zimbabwe,{{Cite news|url=https://www.cpgb-ml.org/2017/12/01/news/world/tribute-to-comrade-robert-mugabe/|title=Tribute to Comrade Robert Mugabe|work=CPGB-ML|access-date=11 November 2018|language=en}} and Iran.{{Cite news|url=https://www.cpgb-ml.org/2018/06/20/tv/iranian-foreign-minister-explains-why-iran-is-developing-ballistic-missiles-mohammed-javad-zarif/|title=Iranian foreign minister explains why Iran is developing ballistic missiles|work=CPGB-ML|access-date=11 November 2018|language=en}} Delegations from the Chinese,{{cite magazine|title= Spirited rally launches Hands off China campaign|url=http://archive.cpgb-ml.org/?art=419&secName=proletarian&subName=display|magazine=Proletarian|issue=25|date=August 2008}} Cuban,{{Cite news|url=https://www.cpgb-ml.org/2018/10/05/tv/cuba-and-the-october-revolution/|title=Cuba and the October Revolution|work=CPGB-ML|access-date=11 November 2018|language=en}} Venezuelan,{{Citation|last=Proletarian TV|title=Venezuela - The Struggle continues!|date=14 December 2016|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIkBMFIJ_ww|access-date=11 November 2018}} North Korean,{{Cite news|url=https://www.cpgb-ml.org/2018/08/27/tv/october-100-dpr-korea-pays-tribute/|title=October 100: DPR Korea pays tribute|work=CPGB-ML|access-date=11 November 2018|language=en}} and Laotian{{Cite news|url=https://www.cpgb-ml.org/2018/10/05/tv/laos-independence-and-the-october-revolution/|title=Laos independence and the October Revolution|work=CPGB-ML|access-date=11 November 2018|language=en}} embassies have attended meetings of the CPGB-ML.

The party opposes Zionism and has called for the dissolution of the State of Israel, which it labels as an apartheid state.{{Cite web|url=http://thecommunists.org/2018/11/24/news/zionism-racist-antisemitic-tool-of-imperialist-policy-in-the-middle-east-palestine-israel/|title=Zionism is a racist and antisemitic tool of imperialist policy in the middle east|date=24 November 2018|website=The Communists}}[http://archive.cpgb-ml.org/index.php?secName=proletarian&subName=display&art=646 "Congress motions 2: our international solidarity tasks] The motions below were passed at the CPGB-ML’s congress on 5 June 2010" Proletarian issue 37 (August 2010) It called for a defeat of British troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and a movement of direct action and non-cooperation among British working people in order to exert political influence.{{Cite news|url=https://www.cpgb-ml.org/2018/11/06/news/anti-war-work-in-britain/|title=Anti-war work in Britain|work=CPGB-ML|access-date=2018-11-11|language=en}} It was one of many anti-war parties which opposed NATO actions in Libya and Syria and supported the governments of Muammar Gaddafi and Bashar al-Assad.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}

In 2011, the CPGB-ML party chairman Harpal Brar visited Libya during the war to express solidarity with the Libyan people in their fight against NATO.{{Citation|last=Proletarian TV|title=Libya Report USA|date=17 July 2011|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23fvw6xyQzw|access-date=11 November 2018}} The CPGB-ML had joined the Stop the War Coalition shortly after the party's formation in 2004, but was ultimately expelled from the coalition. The CPGB-ML said that this was due to its attacks on the STWC leadership's positions on Libya and Syria, which it characterised as "pro-imperialist".{{cite news|title=Stopping the war machine: anti-war work in Britain|url=http://www.lalkar.org/article/598/stopping-the-war-machine-anti-war-work-in-britain|newspaper=Lalkar|issue=July/August 2012}}

The CPGB-ML's foreign policy stance includes the defence of the legacy of the late ousted President of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe.{{Cite web|url=http://thecommunists.org/2017/12/01/news/tribute-to-comrade-robert-mugabe/|title=Tribute to Comrade Robert Mugabe|date=1 December 2017|website=The Communists}}

The CPGB-ML also supports the government of North Korea and what it called its anti-imperialist stance in April 2013, as well as its opposition to Western efforts to discourage the state from acquiring nuclear weapons.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-22162818|title=Obama to meet South Korea's Park Geun-hye in May|date=16 April 2013|access-date=27 July 2013|work=BBC News}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/apr/15/north-korea-ambassador-rare-speech|title=North Korea's UK ambassador defends Pyongyang's stance in rare speech|date=15 April 2013|access-date=27 July 2013|location=London|work=The Guardian|first=Tania|last=Branigan}}

The CPGB-ML has shown support for the yellow vests movement, which it perceives as a grass-roots working-class movement opposed to capitalism and the European Union.{{Cite web|url=http://thecommunists.org/2019/11/19/news/one-year-on-yellow-vests-class-struggle-france-gilets-jaunes/|title=One year on: the yellow vests and the class struggle in France|date=19 November 2019|website=The Communists}} In a similar vein, the party supported the Canada convoy protest in late 2021.{{Cite web |title=Solidarity with the Freedom Convoy of Canada |url=http://thecommunists.org/2022/02/23/news/solidarity-freedom-convoy-canada-truckers/ |access-date=2022-02-28 |website=The Communists |language=en}}

The CPGB-ML regards the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine as a defensive war against "state-sanctioned neo-Nazis"{{cite web |title=Jacob Dreizen: The fall of the Azov |url=https://thecommunists.org/2022/06/07/tv/jacob-dreizen-fall-of-azov-batallion-ukraine-fascism/ |publisher=Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist–Leninist) |access-date=2 July 2022 |language=en}} and the "spread of Western hegemony".{{cite web |title=USA's proxy war in Ukraine cementing the world anti-imperialist alliance |url=https://thecommunists.org/2022/06/23/news/usa-proxy-war-ukraine-cementing-world-anti-imperialist-alliance-russia-china-india-iran/ |publisher=Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist–Leninist) |access-date=2 July 2022 |language=en}}

The CPGB-ML did not condemn the 2011 England riots, but instead characterised them as a rudimentary form of anti-capitalist resistance that lacked adequate leadership and direction.{{cite magazine|url=http://archive.cpgb-ml.org/?secName=proletarian&subName=display&art=957|title=Austerity, capitalism and the racist police state|magazine=Proletarian|issue=55|date=August 2013}} The CPGB-ML is opposed to immigration controls, which it holds are measures to misdirect workers and blame each other for the crisis rather than the bourgeoisie.{{cite news|title=CPGB-ML congress calls for an end to immigration control|url=http://archive.cpgb-ml.org/index.php?secName=proletarian&subName=display&art=418|access-date=3 November 2015|work=Proletarian|issue=25|publisher=Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist–Leninist)|date=August 2008}}

At its 8th congress in September 2018, the party adopted a motion opposing "discrimination on grounds of race, sex or sexual proclivity" but condemning "identity politics, including LGBT ideology" as "reactionary and anti-working class", and declaring members promoting identity politics liable to expulsion.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cpgb-ml.org/2018/12/07/news/identity-politics-are-anti-marxian-and-a-harmful-diversion-from-the-class-struggle/|title=Identity politics are anti-Marxian and a harmful diversion from the class struggle|date=7 December 2018|website=www.cpgb-ml.org|access-date=11 December 2018}} The CPGB-ML have described identity politics as a "reactionary nightmare" imposed by the bourgeoisie.{{Cite web|url=http://thecommunists.org/2019/03/23/news/the-reactionary-nightmare-of-gender-fluidity/|title=The reactionary nightmare of 'gender fluidity'|date=23 March 2019|website=The Communists}} This had led to allegations of transphobia by other organisations belonging to the British left.{{cite web |last1=Hodder |first1=Lewis |title=Inside the last days of the CPGB-ML |url=https://www.ebb-magazine.com/essays/inside-the-last-days-of-the-cpgb-ml |website=Ebb Magazine |access-date=17 September 2020}} "While being totally opposed to discrimination on grounds of race, sex or sexual proclivity, this congress declares that obsession with identity politics, including sexual politics, is anti-Marxian.

Congress therefore resolves that the propagation of identity politics, including LGBT ideology, being reactionary and anti-working class and a harmful distraction and diversion from the class struggle of the proletariat for its social emancipation, is incompatible with membership of the party, rendering those involved in its promotion liable to expulsion."

The CPGB-ML is involved in a number of British political movements such as Palestinian solidarity,[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwzfMj-VBlI "GAZA 2014: Zionist - Imperialist 'Axis of Oppression' "] Proletarian TV, 27 July 2014 anti-austerity,[https://www.flickr.com/photos/25164331@N03/sets/72157648353946237 "Birmingham TUC Hard up festival"] Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist-Leninist), flickr, 28 September 2014 anti-war,[http://archive.cpgb-ml.org/index.php?secName=statements&subName=display&statementId=53 "Defeat the murderous imperialist predatory war against the Syrian people!"] statement by the CPGB-ML, 29 August 2013 anti-Maidan,{{cite web |url=http://blog.cpgb-ml.org/%E2%80%98lest-we-forget%E2%80%99-%E2%80%93-the-70th-anniversary-of-the-victory-over-hitlerite-fascism/ |title=CPGB-ML » 'Lest we forget' – the 70th anniversary of the victory over Hitlerite fascism |publisher=Blog.cpgb-ml.org |access-date=8 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150703140541/http://blog.cpgb-ml.org/%E2%80%98lest-we-forget%E2%80%99-%E2%80%93-the-70th-anniversary-of-the-victory-over-hitlerite-fascism/ |archive-date=3 July 2015 |url-status=dead }} and opposed to the use of drone strikes by the US and NATO against civilians.

The CPGB-ML holds three annual events:

• Participation in the London May Day Organising Committee’s May Day march to Trafalgar Square every year on 1 May.{{Citation|last=RT UK|title=May Day marked in capitals around the world|date=1 May 2018|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leuqhE7FbKw|access-date=11 November 2018}}{{better source needed|deprecated source (RT) via YouTube|date=October 2021}}
• An international barbecue which invites members from friendly parties, unionists, and representatives from countries the party supports, particularly North Korea and Cuba, as the barbecue is held near the anniversary of the Korean War and the storming of the Moncada Barracks.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}
• An October Revolution celebration of the first successful Marxist–Leninist revolution and the creation of the Soviet Union.{{Cite news|url=https://www.cpgb-ml.org/2017/10/01/news/history/october-1917-defining-event-of-our-epoch/|title=October 1917: the defining event of our epoch|work=CPGB-ML|access-date=11 November 2018|language=en}}

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The party was known for being the only party to carry a banner of Joseph Stalin, including a quote from Stalin, every year, until 2019, on 1 May International Workers' Day march in London.{{cite magazine|url=http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/coffeehouse/2014/05/ive-just-seen-nazi-banners-in-trafalgar-square-well-almost/|title=I've just seen Nazi banners in Trafalgar Square. Well, almost|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525202526/http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/coffeehouse/2014/05/ive-just-seen-nazi-banners-in-trafalgar-square-well-almost/ |archive-date=25 May 2015|magazine=The Spectator (blog)|first=James|last=Bloodworth|date=2 May 2014}} The quote is from Foundations of Leninism, a book written by Stalin, saying: "Either place yourself at the mercy of capital, eke out a wretched existence as of old and sink lower and lower, or adopt a new weapon – this is the alternative imperialism puts before the vast masses of the proletariat. Imperialism brings the working class to revolution."{{cite book|last1=Stalin|first1=Joseph|author-link=Joseph Stalin|title=Foundations of Leninism|year=1953|publisher=Foreign Languages Publishing House|location=Moscow, USSR |page=1|chapter-url=https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/stalin/works/1924/foundations-leninism/ch01.htm|access-date=3 November 2015|chapter=1}}

The first election fought by party members was the 2018 Birmingham city council election. Three member-candidates stood under the registered label/sub-party "Birmingham Worker". Their best result was in the Balsall Heath West ward with 6.1% of the vote and third place, ahead of local Greens and the Conservatives. In the Brandwood & King's Heath and Stirchley wards the others gained 0.89% and 1.62%, beating the local TUSC candidate in the former.{{Cite news|url=https://birminghamworker.org/2018/05/04/birmingham-worker-candidates-thank-local-voters/|title=Birmingham Worker candidates thank local voters|date=4 May 2018|work=Birmingham Worker|access-date=4 May 2018|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/info/20097/elections_and_voting/1685/local_government_election_results_may_2018/6|title=Local government election results May 2018|last=Shergill|first=Becky|website=www.birmingham.gov.uk|language=en|access-date=4 May 2018}}

The CPGB-ML welcomed the founding of the Workers Party of Britain (WPB) by former Labour and Respect party MP George Galloway.{{Cite web|url=http://thecommunists.org/2019/12/29/news/brexit-election-and-birth-of-the-workers-party-wpb-galloway/|title=The Brexit election and the birth of the Workers party|website=The Communists|language=en|access-date=14 April 2020}} Many CPGB-ML members were active in the WPB. The vice-chair of the CPGB-ML Joti Brar, was also the deputy leader of the WPB.{{Cite web|url=https://workerspartybritain.org/about/|title=Introducing the Workers Party|date=12 December 2019|website=Workers Party of Britain|language=en-GB|access-date=14 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191214213955/https://workerspartybritain.org/about/|archive-date=14 December 2019}}

The CPGB-ML has a few members from the early days of the British communist movement and the original CPGB.{{cite magazine|url=http://archive.cpgb-ml.org/index.php?secName=proletarian&subName=display&art=485|title=Remembering departed comrades|publisher=Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist-Leninist)|magazine=Proletarian|issue=28|date=February 2009|access-date=11 November 2018}}{{cite magazine|url=http://archive.cpgb-ml.org/index.php?secName=proletarian&subName=display&art=598|title=Jack Shapiro lives forever in our hearts!|publisher=Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist-Leninist)|magazine=Proletarian|issue=34|date=February 2010|access-date=11 November 2018}} Isabel Crook, wife of David Crook, served as Honorary President before she died in 2023 aged 107. Both were communists who were in Spain during the Spanish Civil War and later went to work for Mao Zedong and the Chinese communists.[http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/cpc2011/2011-06/22/content_12754831.htm "Western witness stays true to the Party line"] article by Tan Zongyang in China Daily 22 June 2011{{cite interview |last=Crook |first=Isabel |interviewer=Tan Zongyang |title=My memories of 1949 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ixb1SBYIxiQ |publisher=China Daily |date=21 June 2011 |access-date=12 September 2017|via=YouTube}} Veteran British communist Jack Shapiro, a veteran of the anti-revisionist movement and lifelong communist, was a member of the CPGB-ML until his death.[http://www.grahamstevenson.me.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1030:shapiro-jack-a-marie-&catid=19:s&Itemid=120 Biography of Jack & Marie Shapiro] on grahamstevenson.me.uk website of Graham Stevenson, accessed 17 April 2013

For fourteen years, from the party's founding in 2004 until 2018, the party chairman was the retired university law lecturer, writer and businessman Harpal Brar. The party's vice-chairman and international secretary was Ella Rule, while the party's general secretary was Zane Carpenter.{{cite magazine|title=October Revolution: beacon lighting the way forward for all humanity|url=http://archive.cpgb-ml.org/?secName=proletarian&subName=display&art=571|magazine=Proletarian|issue=33|date=December 2009}} At the 8th party congress in Birmingham in 2018 Harpal Brar stepped down as party chair and was replaced by Ella Rule. Zane Carpenter and Joti Brar became the party's vice chairs.{{cite web |title=Comrade Harpal Brar steps down as party chairman after 14 years |url=https://www.cpgb-ml.org/2018/10/24/news/comrade-harpal-brar-steps-down-as-party-chairman-after-14-years/ |access-date=5 December 2018 |website=CPGB-ML |date=24 October 2018}}

Russian National Bolshevik, Beness Aijo, was a member during his time living in London.{{cite news |last=Collier |first=Mike |url=https://eng.lsm.lv/article/features/features/an-unlikely-revolutionary-beness-aijo.a93076/ |title=An Unlikely Revolutionary: Beness Aijo |quote=I am a member of the Marxist Leninist Communist party of Great Britain and our aim is socialism in Britain and elsewhere. We stand for public ownership of the means of production, so this is MI6 [British secret service] starting a campaign against me as part of a wider campaign against the communist movement.|date=31 July 2014 |accessdate=21 January 2022}}

Despite not being a member, the socialist politician, writer and broadcaster George Galloway has delivered multiple speeches to CPGB-ML events and conferences.{{Cite web|url=http://thecommunists.org/2019/09/08/tv/george-galloway-celebrates-achievements-chinese-revolution/|title=George Galloway celebrates the achievements of the Chinese revolution|date=8 September 2019|website=The Communists}}

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