Campaign for Socialism
 | |
| Abbreviation | CfS |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1994 |
| Headquarters | Glasgow |
| Membership | 1,418 [1] |
Chair | Katrina Faccenda[2][3] |
Secretary | Carol Mochan |
Vice-Chair | Cara Hilton |
| Website | Official website |
Campaign for Socialism (CfS) is an autonomous pressure group of Scottish Labour Party members and supporters who campaign for left-wing policies and candidates within the party.[4] 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.[5][6]
History
CfS was originally established in 1994 to campaign against the removal of Clause IV from the Labour Party's constitution.[7] 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".[8]
CfS played a key role in organising Neil Findlay and Katy Clark's leadership bid in the 2014 Scottish Labour Party 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".[9]
In 2016, Scottish Labour Young Socialists — founded in 2015[10] — became CfS's official youth wing.[11]
In 2017, five CfS members won seats on the Scottish Labour Party's national executive.[2] They called for the then Scottish Labour leader, Kezia Dugdale, to pursue a socialist agenda and work more closely with Jeremy Corbyn's team.[12]
CfS endorsed[13] 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.[14]
Notable members of CfS include: former Convenor Elaine Smith MSP, current Convenor Neil Findlay MSP, Hugh Gaffney MP, and Pauline Bryan.
References
- ^ Momentum Needs to Reflect the Different Regions - Meet the Scottish Corbynites, retrieved 17 July 2019
- ^ a b Executive Committee, retrieved 3 September 2020
- ^ "Campaign for socialism unveils new top team". Morning Star. 1 September 2020. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
- ^ "News from the Scottish Labour Campaign for Socialism (CfS)". 7 February 2014. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
- ^ Norman Smith (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". 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.
- ^ "How the contest was won". Scottish Left Review. November 2015. Archived from the original on 6 March 2017. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
- ^ ""Something Different, Something Subversive"". 13 August 2015. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
- ^ "Campaign for Socialism AGM discusses way forward". Workers' Liberty. 18 February 2016. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
- ^ 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.