Communist Party of Great Britain

The group consists of Communist Party of Great Britain papers relating to Congress, 1961-1991, executive and subject committees, 1949-1990, and accumulated publications, 1921-1998, with material relating to the British Road to Socialism Commission, 1958-1989, the People's Press Printing Society, 1978-1984, and the Marxism Today editorial board, 1978-1990.

The Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB) was founded in 1920 when various socialist and Marxist groups united. The British Road to Socialism was their programme which was adopted in 1951 and later revised. The Daily Worker, the party's official mouthpiece, was first published in 1930, and was distributed by volunteers daily. It was renamed the Morning Star in 1966.
Membership of the Communist Party fluctuated greatly, being at its high point during the General Strike, 1926 and also during the Second World War. The party weakened following the Soviet invasion of Hungary in 1956 and following the collapse of the Communist government in the Soviet Union. Communist candidates stood in local elections and also in general elections with limited success - between 1922 and 1951 the Communist Party had at most two MPs.
Following a Special Congress in 1991, the Communist Party Great Britain formally ceased to exist and was transformed into the Democratic Left. The Communist Party Britain (CPB), which also grew out of the CPGB, was formed c. 1988.

Arranged into three groups: Congress papers, committee minutes and publications.

The Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB) was founded in 1920 when various socialist and Marxist groups united. The British Road to Socialism was their programme which was adopted in 1951 and later revised. The Daily Worker, the party's official mouthpiece, was first published in 1930, and was distributed by volunteers daily. It was renamed the Morning Star in 1966.
Membership of the Communist Party fluctuated greatly, being at its high point during the General Strike, 1926 and also during the Second World War. The party weakened following the Soviet invasion of Hungary in 1956 and following the collapse of the Communist government in the Soviet Union. Communist candidates stood in local elections and also in general elections with limited success - between 1922 and 1951 the Communist Party had at most two MPs.
Following a Special Congress in 1991, the Communist Party Great Britain formally ceased to exist and was transformed into the Democratic Left. The Communist Party Britain (CPB), which also grew out of the CPGB, was formed c. 1988.

Preferred citation: G

Published