Ginger group

A ginger group is a formal or informal group within, for example, a political party seeking to inspire the rest with its own enthusiasm and activity.

A ginger group actively works for more radical change to the policies, practices or office-holders of the organisation, while still supporting the general goals of the organisation.

Like "to ginger up," the term comes from the use of ginger root to make a horse seem more lively, or to add flavour or spice to food and beverages.

Ginger groups sometimes form within the political parties of Commonwealth countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, and Pakistan.

A high profile Ginger Group Our Forests, was established in 2011 by a group of environmentalists, including Jonathon Porritt, to challenge UK Government decisions relating to public forests.

In Ireland, a group of three or more red haired people is commonly referred to as "a murmuring of gingers". This is used in a similar sense to "a murder of crows" or "a gaggle of geese". This is especially common in the province of Leinster, in particular certain areas of Co. Kildare and Co. Westmeath, localised around the Mullingar-Athlone metropolitan axis.

See also

• Entryism, a more militant tactic
• Ginger Group (Canada), a radical group of left-wing Canadian MPs in the 1920s and early 1930s.
• Ginger Group (Queensland)
• League of Empire Loyalists, a 1950's UK Ginger Group.