Campaign for Socialism (CfS) is an autonomous political organisation of Scottish Labour Party members and supporters who campaign for left-wing policies and candidates within the party.[1] In 2016, CfS agreed to a joint membership scheme with Momentum, a UK-wide grassroots movement supportive of Jeremy Corbyn and his leadership of the Labour Party.[2][3]
Campaign for Socialism | |
|---|---|
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| Abbreviation | CfS |
| Secretary | Peter Duffy |
| Co-Chair |
|
| Treasurer | Frieda Park |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Headquarters | Glasgow |
| Newspaper | The Citizen |
| Membership (2024) | 600 |
| Ideology | |
| Political position | Left-wing |
| National affiliation | Scottish Labour |
| UK affiliate | Momentum |
| Endorsed MSPs | 7 / 22 |
| Endorsed MPs | 1 / 37 |
| Website | |
| [{http://www.campaignforsocialism.org.uk/}] | |
History
editCfS was originally established in 1994 to campaign against the removal of Clause IV from the Labour Party's constitution.[4] By 2012, it was one of the only remaining ideological-based groupings in the party — but Gerry Hassan and Eric Shaw, writing that year, claimed that CfS "has few members, little organisational presence and has had a negligible influence on the direction of the party".[5]
CfS played a key role in organising Neil Findlay and Katy Clark's leadership bid in the 2014 Scottish Labour leadership election. Though unsuccessful, CfS claims the campaign "built the foundations for Jeremy [Corbyn]'s campaign just a few months later" by "giving many new, young volunteers experience and a network of contacts across the country that would help quickly mobilise an effective campaign".[6]
In 2016, Scottish Labour Young Socialists — founded in 2015[7] — became CfS's official youth wing.[8]
In 2017, five CfS members won seats on the Scottish Labour Party's national executive.[9] They called for the then Scottish Labour leader, Kezia Dugdale, to pursue a socialist agenda and work more closely with Jeremy Corbyn's team.[10]
CfS endorsed[11] Richard Leonard to be the next leader of Scottish Labour following the resignation of Kezia Dugdale in August 2017. Leonard went on to win the leadership with 56.7% of the vote.[12]
In the 2021 Scottish Labour leadership election the CfS endorsed Monica Lennon to be the next leader of Scottish Labour following Richard Leonard's resignation in January 2021.[13] She lost the election to Anas Sarwar, gaining 42.4% of the vote to his 57.6%.[14]
Notable members of CfS include: former Convenors Elaine Smith MSP and Neil Findlay MSP, former MPs Danielle Rowley and Hugh Gaffney (2017–2019), and Baroness Pauline Bryan.
Endorsed politicians
editMembers of the Scottish Parliament
edit- Richard Leonard MSP
- Katy Clark MSP
- Alex Rowley MSP
- Carol Mochan MSP
- Monica Lennon MSP
- Paul Sweeney MSP
- Mercedes Villalba MSP
Members of the United Kingdom Parliament
editFormer
edit- Neil Findlay MSP
- Elaine Smith MSP
- Hugh Gaffney MP
- Danielle Rowley MP
References
edit- ^ "News from the Scottish Labour Campaign for Socialism (CfS)". 7 February 2014. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
- ^ Smith, Norman (24 October 2015). "What is Momentum, and why is it worrying Labour MPs?". BBC News.
- ^ Stone, Jon (8 October 2015). "Jeremy Corbyn's leadership campaign sets up new local activist network called 'Momentum'". The Independent. Archived from the original on 11 October 2015. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
- ^ "Scottish Labour Left attacks London interference in Falkirk Selection Process". The Jimmy Reid Foundation. 4 July 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
- ^ Hassan, Gerry; Shaw, Eric (2012). The Strange Death of Labour Scotland. Edinburgh University Press. p. 259. ISBN 9780748655571.
- ^ Cook, Martyn; Kane, Tommy (November 2015). "How the contest was won". Scottish Left Review. Archived from the original on 6 March 2017. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
- ^ ""Something Different, Something Subversive"". Young Socialists. 13 August 2015. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
- ^ "Campaign for Socialism AGM discusses way forward". Workers' Liberty. 18 February 2016. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
- ^ Executive Committee, retrieved 3 September 2020
- ^ Hutcheon, Paul (5 March 2017). "Dugdale loyalists lost out in Labour internal elections over bungled campaign approach". Sunday Herald. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
- ^ "CfS Supports Richard Leonard for Scottish Labour Leader". Campaign for Socialism. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
- ^ Carrell, Severin (18 November 2017). "Richard Leonard wins Scottish Labour leadership in decisive victory". the Guardian. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
- ^ Campaign for Socialism [@LabourCfS] (9 February 2021). "Ballot emails arrive today. They will be sent from 'Scottish Labour Party' (labourelections@civica.co.uk) and the subject will be Scottish Labour Party – Scottish Labour Leadership. #Monica4Leader" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Anas Sarwar wins Scottish Labour leadership race". BBC News. 27 February 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2021.