Reference number
  • SCU
Date
  • 1950-1960
Level
  • Collection
Description
  • This collection contains: minutes, circulars, etc, 1950-1959; records concerning publications, 1950s; records concerning schools and conferences, 1955-1958; records concerning SU's finances, 1953-1958; records concerning membership, 1950s.
Extent
  • 6 boxes
Admin history
  • Socialist Union was formed in 1951 as the successor to the Socialist Vanguard Group, which had originated as the British section of the Militant Socialist International. It was intended to be a more orthodox and broadly-based 'ginger group' within the Labour Party. It acquired an influential position among 'revisionist' circles in the party and was wound up in June 1959, when its chairman, Allan Flanders, believed that its aims had been achieved.

    Reference: R M Douglas, 'No Friend of Democracy: The Socialist Vanguard Group, 1941–50', Contemporary British History, 16: 4, 51 — 86 (2002).
Arrangement
  • The reference codes of these records have been determined by their physical order rather than their catalogue order.
Access status
  • Open
Related Material
  • The Modern Records Centre also holds records of: the Socialist Vanguard Group (SVG); 'Socialist Vanguard/Socialist Commentary', the official organ of the SVG until October 1947; the Society for the Furtherance of Critical Philosophy; Walter Fliess, member of the ISK and the Socialist Union.