The Independent Labour Party (ILP) was founded at a conference held in Bradford in January 1893to promote a socialist commonwealth by collective ownership of the means of production, distributionand exchange. The ILP was involved in setting up the Labour Representation Committee in 1900 whichlater became the Labour Party. The ILP separated from the Labour Party in 1931 and today it existsas a publishing organisation under the title Independent Labour Publications.
The Nottingham Independent Labour Party was one of the first regional branches of the ILP to beset, only half a year after the first, in Bradford, in 1891. Three representatives of the NottinghamILP attended the 1893 Bradford conference and by July 1894, the branch was well established witharound 700 members. The Party attracted unionised industrial workers from a variety of Nottingham'sindustries but on the whole failed to attract Nottinghamshire miners. The branch was active as apolitical party, and in organising lecture programmes and social events. In 1929 for example, itestablished a Guild of Youth, arranged a regular panel of speakers for street corner meetings, andwon first prize for their dray depicting 'Family Allowances' in a May Day competition.
The date when the branch was wound up is not known. Its head office during the period covered bythe minute book in this collection was at Hardie House, Stanford Street.
