The Socialist Party of Great Britain
In 1905, other extreme Socialists broke away from the Social Democratic Federation and formed the Socialist Party of Great Britain. Its declared object is to wage war against all other political parties, either “Labour or Capital.” It advocates the institution of the most extreme Marxian regime, by means of such revolutionary political action as will secure the “capture” of all the machinery of government whether national or local. It publishes monthly the Socialist Standard and is not affiliated to the Labour Party, though it comprises many Trade Unionists.
The National Guilds League
In 1915, the National Guilds League was founded to advocate the cause of Guild Socialism, which has been already described. There are two schools of thought, one which hopes to secure National Guildism by evolving industrial Unionism out of craft Unionism coupled with the Unions securing an ever-increasing control over industry; the other by militant or revolutionary tactics. The National Guilds League has a number of branches throughout the country.
CHAPTER V
THE LABOUR PARTY’S ADOPTION OF SOCIALISM
3. THE HOME SOCIALISTIC PROGRAMME
Nationalization of the Means of Production, Distribution and Exchange—The Labour Addendum to the Whitley Report, 1918—The Industrial Programme of 1918—Land Nationalization—The Control of Industry—Labour’s Report to the Industrial Conference, 1919—Nationalization of the Coal Industry.
It will be sufficient to review the Labour Party’s official socialistic policy in regard to home affairs starting from 1918. Previously to that date, a number of resolutions had from year to year been passed, formally as hardy annuals, at the Trades Union Congresses and the Labour Party’s Conferences advocating nationalization of land, railways, mines and the municipalization of a number of services of public utility. But from and after 1918 the matter assumes a different complexion.
Nationalization of the Means of Production, Distribution and Exchange
In 1918, at the Nottingham Labour Party Conference a stock resolution was passed in these terms: