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'''Labour First''' is a British political organisation associated with the British [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]], founded in 1988. Born out of Labour's struggles with, and eventual expulsion of the [[Trotskyist]] [[entryist]] [[Militant (Trotskyist group)|Militant]] organisation, it sees itself as protecting the tradition of the "old Labour Right",<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.opendemocracy.net/uk/jeremy-gilbert/antisemitism-cosmopolitanism-and-politics-of-labour-s-old-and-new-right-wings |title=Antisemitism, Cosmopolitanism and the politics of Labour's 'old' and 'new' right wings|publisher=opendemocracy.net}}</ref> a historic alignment of anti-communist [[trade unions]] (e.g. the former [[Iron and Steel Trades Confederation|ISTC]], now [[Community (trade union)|Community]] and the former [[Electrical, Electronic, Telecommunications and Plumbing Union|EEPTU]], now a part of [[Unite the Union|Unite]]) with moderate [[social democrat]] and [[democratic socialist]] members and politicians.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.jacobinmag.com/2017/11/labour-party-jeremy-corbyn-blair-unions |title=Where next for the Labour Right|publisher=Jacobin magazine}}</ref> It aims to keep the Labour Party safe from the influence of the "organised [[Hard Left]]", ensuring that moderate voices are heard and thus ensuring that Labour remains as electable as possible in the [[Westminster]] parliamentary system through policies that make a difference for ordinary people.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/staggers/2015/10/labour-s-warring-factions-who-do-they-include-and-what-are-they-fighting|title=Labour's warring factions, who do they include and who are they fighting|publisher=New Statesman}}</ref> It calls these aims "Clause One Socialism", after Clause One of the Labour Party constitution, which sets the Labour Party's aims as maintaining a Labour Party in parliament.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.progressonline.org.uk/2016/09/22/clause-one-socialists-will-win-the-day/|title=Clause One Socialists will win the day|publisher=Progress}}</ref> It also represents the historic pro-[[NATO]], pro-[[United States]] and pro-[[Nuclear Weapons|nuclear deterrent]] tradition in the party, and is pro-[[European Union]].<ref name=lf>{{cite web |url=https://www.labourfirst.org/about|title=About Labour First|publisher=Labour First}}</ref> While its foundation is more recent, it traces its history back to the [[Gaitskellite]] faction of the 1950s, |
'''Labour First''' is a British political organisation associated with the British [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]], founded in 1988. Born out of Labour's struggles with, and eventual expulsion of the [[Trotskyist]] [[entryist]] [[Militant (Trotskyist group)|Militant]] organisation, it sees itself as protecting the tradition of the "old Labour Right",<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.opendemocracy.net/uk/jeremy-gilbert/antisemitism-cosmopolitanism-and-politics-of-labour-s-old-and-new-right-wings |title=Antisemitism, Cosmopolitanism and the politics of Labour's 'old' and 'new' right wings|publisher=opendemocracy.net}}</ref> a historic alignment of anti-communist [[trade unions]] (e.g. the former [[Iron and Steel Trades Confederation|ISTC]], now [[Community (trade union)|Community]] and the former [[Electrical, Electronic, Telecommunications and Plumbing Union|EEPTU]], now a part of [[Unite the Union|Unite]]) with moderate [[social democrat]] and [[democratic socialist]] members and politicians.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.jacobinmag.com/2017/11/labour-party-jeremy-corbyn-blair-unions |title=Where next for the Labour Right|publisher=Jacobin magazine}}</ref> It aims to keep the Labour Party safe from the influence of the "organised [[Hard Left]]", ensuring that moderate voices are heard and thus ensuring that Labour remains as electable as possible in the [[Westminster]] parliamentary system through policies that make a difference for ordinary people.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/staggers/2015/10/labour-s-warring-factions-who-do-they-include-and-what-are-they-fighting|title=Labour's warring factions, who do they include and who are they fighting|publisher=New Statesman}}</ref> It calls these aims "Clause One Socialism", after Clause One of the Labour Party constitution, which sets the Labour Party's aims as maintaining a Labour Party in parliament.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.progressonline.org.uk/2016/09/22/clause-one-socialists-will-win-the-day/|title=Clause One Socialists will win the day|publisher=Progress}}</ref> It also represents the historic pro-[[NATO]], pro-[[United States]] and pro-[[Nuclear Weapons|nuclear deterrent]] tradition in the party, and is pro-[[European Union]].<ref name=lf>{{cite web |url=https://www.labourfirst.org/about|title=About Labour First|publisher=Labour First}}</ref> While its foundation is more recent, it traces its history back to the [[Gaitskellite]] faction of the 1950s, however acknowledging that the unions are an integral part of the Labour Party. |
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==Organisation== |
==Organisation== |
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Revision as of 20:49, 14 December 2018
| Founder | John Spellar |
|---|---|
| Legal status | Limited Company |
| Purpose | Political |
| Headquarters | Oxford |
Secretary | Luke Akehurst |
| Website | Official website |
Labour First is a British political organisation associated with the British Labour Party, founded in 1988. Born out of Labour's struggles with, and eventual expulsion of the Trotskyist entryist Militant organisation, it sees itself as protecting the tradition of the "old Labour Right",[1] a historic alignment of anti-communist trade unions (e.g. the former ISTC, now Community and the former EEPTU, now a part of Unite) with moderate social democrat and democratic socialist members and politicians.[2] It aims to keep the Labour Party safe from the influence of the "organised Hard Left", ensuring that moderate voices are heard and thus ensuring that Labour remains as electable as possible in the Westminster parliamentary system through policies that make a difference for ordinary people.[3] It calls these aims "Clause One Socialism", after Clause One of the Labour Party constitution, which sets the Labour Party's aims as maintaining a Labour Party in parliament.[4] It also represents the historic pro-NATO, pro-United States and pro-nuclear deterrent tradition in the party, and is pro-European Union.[5] While its foundation is more recent, it traces its history back to the Gaitskellite faction of the 1950s, however acknowledging that the unions are an integral part of the Labour Party.
Organisation
Labour First is an organisation of freely associating Labour Party members who participate by sharing their personal contact details with the organisation. It organises petitions, endorses moderate candidates in Labour Party elections, and runs a series of meet-ups and events both at Labour Party conference and in the country at large. It is funded through individual donations from Labour Party members, with which it employs a national organiser, and maintains a network of volunteer local organisers.
Links with Progress
Historically, Labour First was a very distinctive organisation to Progress, a more recent Labour party factional organisation on the right of the Labour party, originally associated with New Labour.[6] The rise of Jeremy Corbyn and Momentum in the Labour Party have seen Progress and Labour First, while remaining distinct organisations with distinctive traditions, carry out more joint activities, including joint endorsement of moderate candidates in internal party elections.[7]
References
- ^ "Antisemitism, Cosmopolitanism and the politics of Labour's 'old' and 'new' right wings". opendemocracy.net.
- ^ "Where next for the Labour Right". Jacobin magazine.
- ^ "Labour's warring factions, who do they include and who are they fighting". New Statesman.
- ^ "Clause One Socialists will win the day". Progress.
- ^ "About Labour First". Labour First.
- ^ "The problem with the Labour Right". labouruncut.co.uk.
- ^ "Joint NEC slate with Labour First announced". Progress.