Socialist Campaign Group facts for kids

The Socialist Campaign Group is a group of politicians from the Labour Party in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom. These politicians are left-wing and believe in democratic socialist ideas. This means they support ideas like making society fairer, helping people through public services, and reducing big differences between rich and poor, but they want to achieve these changes through democratic elections and laws. The group was started in December 1982. It was formed by some Labour Members of Parliament (MPs) who wanted to create a different voice for left-wing ideas in Parliament, separate from another group called the Tribune Group. The Socialist Campaign Group is often just called the Campaign Group. They are known for having very strong left-wing views within the Labour Party and have often disagreed with the policies of "New Labour," which was a period when the Labour Party moved more towards the center of politics.

What is the Socialist Campaign Group?

The Socialist Campaign Group is made up of MPs who belong to the Labour Party. These MPs work together in the House of Commons, which is where laws are made in the UK. The group acts like a team within the Labour Party, focusing on specific political ideas.

How the Group Started

The Campaign Group was created in December 1982. At that time, some Labour MPs felt there was a need for a new group to represent strong left-wing views in Parliament. They wanted to offer an alternative to other groups that already existed. Their goal was to make sure that socialist ideas were strongly heard and supported within the Labour Party and in the government.

What the Group Believes In

The Campaign Group believes in democratic socialist principles. This means they want to see a society where everyone has a fair chance and where important services like healthcare and education are available to all. They often push for policies that help working people, protect the environment, and promote peace. They have been known to be very critical of "New Labour" policies, which were introduced by leaders like Tony Blair. "New Labour" aimed to make the party more appealing to a wider range of voters, but the Campaign Group felt some of these changes moved the party too far from its traditional socialist roots.

Important Members and Leaders

Over the years, many well-known Labour MPs have been part of the Socialist Campaign Group. These include figures like Tony Benn, who was one of the founding members. More recently, Jeremy Corbyn was a long-time member of the group before he became the leader of the Labour Party. Other notable members have included John McDonnell and Diane Abbott. These members often speak out on issues they care about, like workers' rights, public ownership, and opposing wars.

Standing Up for Their Ideas

Members of the Socialist Campaign Group are known for being very vocal about their beliefs. They often lead campaigns and protests on issues they feel strongly about. For example, they have been involved in movements against the poll tax in the 1990s and against the Iraq War in the 2000s. They use their positions as MPs to challenge government policies and to promote their vision for a fairer society. They also hold meetings and rallies to discuss their ideas and gather support.

Images for kids

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  Tony Benn, one of the founding members of the Socialist Campaign Group

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  Protestors at the anti-poll tax march in 1990

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  The Anti Iraq War march organised by the Stop The War Coalition in 2003

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  John McDonnell, who fell short of the nominations required to challenge for the Labour Party leadership in 2007.

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  Diane Abbott, who became the first black woman to ever contest the Labour Party leadership in 2010.

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  Jeremy Corbyn, the only member of the Socialist Campaign Group to become leader of the Labour Party

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  Long-Bailey during a leadership election hustings in Bristol

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  Socialist Campaign Group News front page March 1990

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  Flyer for the Socialist Campaign Group of Labour MPs rally at The World Transformed/Labour Conference 2018