British Socialist Party

And the October Revolution aroused in Britain not only a deep enthusiasm among the mass of workers, reflected later in a widespread and effective fight against British intervention in Russia, and we'll talk about that, but it led the more advanced socialist workers, especially in the BSP, SLP, and in the Workers' Socialist Federation, about which we'll talk again, in the Socialist Society in Wales, in the Shop Stewards movement, and in the left wing of the ILP.

It led all of these comrades to pose the key question: What is it that with all the long British traditions of working class organization, the long experience of struggle, with all the British Marxist groups and societies, what is it that they in Russia had that we didn't? And to reflect on the need in Britain for a new type of political Marxist revolutionary party capable of leading the working class to win political power.

That was the key question now as it was then.

The war ended, of course.

The struggle around the Jolly George, a ship which was being used to ship arms to the interventionist imperialist forces operating in the north of the Soviet Republic.

That was a successful campaign, and it helped galvanize a united opposition and a united sense that we can move forward in defense of the Soviet Union, in defense of our own class interest, and that a new party is indeed necessary.

It became-- it began to be clear then that the old Marxist groups, through their role...

Oh, sorry, though their role had been very courageous, true enough, very honorable, and at times highly important, were no longer sufficient.

Um, the Communist Party of Great Britain was founded in 1920, but in 1921 really sort of marks that moment, the sort of critical moment where it became a political force.

Um, and it's, um, the, the Communist Party of Great Britain sort of brought together a lot of groups that were already in existence, um, so a lot of socialist and Marxist societies, um, including elements from the British Socialist Party and Communist Party, um, sort of brings those all together.

Yeah.

Here's a little fun fact, Beth.