Campaign for Socialism | |
|---|---|
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| Abbreviation | CfS |
| Secretary | Stuart Honeyman |
| Co-Chair |
|
| Treasurer | Frieda Park |
| Founded | 1994; 31 years ago (1994) |
| Headquarters | Glasgow |
| Newspaper | The Citizen |
| Ideology | |
| Political position | Left-wing |
| National affiliation | Scottish Labour |
| UK affiliate | Momentum |
| Endorsed MSPs | 4 / 22 |
| Endorsed MPs | 1 / 37 |
| Website | |
| http://www.campaignforsocialism.org.uk/ | |
Campaign for Socialism (CfS) is an autonomouspolitical organisation ofScottish Labour Party members and supporters who campaign for left-wing policies and candidates within the party.[1] In 2016, CfS agreed to a joint membership scheme withMomentum, a UK-widegrassroots movement supportive ofJeremy Corbyn and his leadership of the Labour Party.[2][3]
CfS was originally established in 1994 to campaign against the removal ofClause IV from the Labour Party's constitution.[4] By 2012, it was one of the only remaining ideological-based groupings in the party — butGerry 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".[5]
CfS played a key role in organisingNeil Findlay andKaty Clark's leadership bid in the2014 Scottish Labour 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".[6]
In 2016, Scottish Labour Young Socialists — founded in 2015[7] — became CfS's official youth wing.[8]
In 2017, five CfS members won seats on the Scottish Labour Party's national executive.[9] They called for the then Scottish Labour leader,Kezia Dugdale, to pursue a socialist agenda and work more closely with Jeremy Corbyn's team.[10]
CfS endorsed[11]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.[12]
In the2021 Scottish Labour leadership election the CfS endorsedMonica Lennon to be the next leader of Scottish Labour following Richard Leonard's resignation in January 2021.[13] She lost the election toAnas Sarwar, gaining 42.4% of the vote to his 57.6%.[14]
Notable members of CfS include: former ConvenorsElaine Smith MSP andNeil Findlay MSP, former MPsDanielle Rowley andHugh Gaffney (2017–2019), and BaronessPauline Bryan.