MIA: History: ETOL: Document: British Trotskyism: Socialist Organiser, GB 1978-1995
Encyclopaedia of Trotskyism On-Line
Socialist Organiser
1978-1995
Socialist Organiser was a socialist newspaper circulated in the Labour Party and more widely, first monthly and then weekly. The paper was originally the publication of the Socialist Campaign for Labour Victory, set up in 1978.
The main motor forces in the SCLV (later renamed Socialist Organiser Alliance) were Workers' Action (associated with the International-Communist League, I-CL), the Chartist group (which would later divide between Labour Briefing and the Chartist magazine), and other contributors included Ken Livingstone and Jeremy Corbyn. The Chartist group (both wings) and some others split in 1980 because they supported raising rates (local property taxes, paid by tenants) to offset cuts to local government services, rather than quickly going for confrontation over those cuts with central government..
In 1981 individuals associated with the paper were sued by Vanessa Redgrave on behalf of the WRP over claims that the WRP operated like a religious cult. Redgrave abandoned the action in 1985.
After the I-CL merged with the 'old' Workers' Socialist League (WSL) in 1981 to form the 'new' WSL, people from the 'old' WSL came in on Socialist Organiser, and the newspaper gradually became more narrowly identified with the new WSL. It was still a paper with broad debates and a fairly wide range of contributors, but heavily weighted with the debates inside the 'new' WSL. Partly as a result, and partly because of the dwindling of the Labour left, Socialist Organiser lost ground as a broad vehicle of left unity in the Labour Party.
After the fusion between the I-CL and the 'old' WSL broke down in 1984, and as the Labour left dwindled, the post-1984 WSL (the core of it mostly ex-I-CL) began to work entirely through the Socialist Organiser Alliance, and a 'convergence' of the WSL into the SOA was carried through in 1984-5.
Socialist Organiser was officially banned by the Labour Party in 1990. That had limited practical effect. It continued to be published until the mid-1990s, when the Alliance for Workers’ Liberty (AWL, set up by Socialist Organiser supporters in 1992) and International Socialist Group supported the launch of a new broad newspaper under the auspices of the Welfare State Network, Action for Solidarity, and AWL started to publish Workers' Liberty more regularly as a monthly magazine.
1978
1979
No. 2, January, 1979
No. 3, April, 1979
No. 4, March, 1979
No. 5, April, 1979
No. 6, May, No. 1 Election Special 1979
No. 7, May, No. 2 Election Special 1979
No. 8, Ma,y 1979
No. 9, June, 1979
No. 11, September, 1979
No. 12, October, 1979
No. 13, November 1979
No. 14, December, 19791980
No. 15, January, 1980
No. 16, February, 1980
No. 17, March, 1980
No. 18, April, 1980
No. 19, May, 1980
No. 20, June, 1980
No. 21, July, 1980
No. 23, August, 1980
No. 24, August 30, 1980
No. 25, September 13, 1980
No. 26, September 27, 1980
No. 27, October 11, 1980
No. 28, October 25, 1980
No. 29, November 8, 1980
No. 30, November 22, 1980
No. 31, December 6, 19801981
No. 32, January 10, 1981
No. 33, January 24, 1981
No. 34, February 7, 1981
No. 35, February 21, 1981
No. 36, March 27, 1981
No. 37, March 31, 1981
No. 38, April 4, 1981
No. 39, April, 1981
No. 40, May 2, 1981
No. 41, May 16, 1981
No. 42, May 20, 1981
No. 43, June 13, 1981
No. 44, June 27, 1981
No. 45, July , 111981
No. 46, July 30, 1981
No. 47, August 6, 1981
No. 48, August 13, 1981
No. 49, August 20, 1981
No. 50, August 27, 1981
No. 51, September 3, 1981
No. 52, September 10, 1981
No. 53, September 17, 1981
No. 54, September 24, 1981
No. 55, October 1, 1981
No. 56, October 8, 1981
No. 57, October 15, 1981
No. 58, October 22, 1981
No. 59, October , 1981
No. 60, November 5, 1981
No. 61, November 12, 1981
No. 62, November 19, 1981
No. 63, November 26, 1981
No. 64, December 2, 1981
No. 65, December 9, 1981
No. 66, December 16, 1981
1982
No. 67, January 7, 1982
No. 68, January 14, 1982
No. 69, January 21, 1982
No. 70, January 28, 1982
No. 71, February 4, 1982
No. 72, February 11, 1982
No. 73, February 18, 1982
No. 74, February 25, 1982
No. 75, March 4, 1982
No. 76, March 11, 1982
No. 77, March 18, 1982
No. 78, March 25, 1982
No. 79, April 1, 1982
No. 80, April 15, 1982
No. 81, April 22, 1982
No. 82, April 29, 1982
No. 83, May 6, 1982
No. 84, May 13, 1982
No. 85, May 20, 1982
No. 86, May 27, 1982
No. 87, June 3, 1982
No. 88, June 10, 1982
No. 89, June 17, 1982
No. 90, June 24, 1982
No. 91, July 1, 1982
No. 92, July 8, 1982
No. 93, July 15, 1982
No. 94, July 24, 1982
No. 95, August 12, 1982
No. 96, August 19, 1982
No. 97, August 26, 1982
No. 98, September 2, 1982
No. 99, September 9, 1982
No. 100, September 16, 1982
No. 101, September 23, 1982
No. 102, September 30, 1982
No. 103, October 7, 1982
No. 104, October 14, 1982
No. 105, October 21, 1982
No. 106, October 28, 1982
No. 107, November 4, 1982
No. 108, November 11, 1982
No. 109, November 18, 1982
No. 110, November 25, 1982
No. 111, December 2, 19821983
No. 112, December 8, 1983
No. 113, December 16, 1983
No. 114, January 6, 1983
No. 115, January 13, 1983
No. 116, January 20, 1983
No. 117, January 27, 1983
No. 118, February 3, 1983
No. 119, February 10, 1983
No. 120, February 17, 1983
No. 121, February 24, 1983
No. 122, March 3, 1983
No. 123, March 10, 1983
No. 124, March 17, 1983
No. 125, March 24, 1983
No. 126, April 7, 1983
No. 127, April 14, 1983
No. 128, April 22, 1983
No. 129, April 28, 1983
No. 130, May 5, 1983
No. 131, May 12, 1983
No. 132, May 19, 1983
No. 133, May 26, 1983
No. 134, June 2, 1983
No. 135, June 6, 1983
No. 136, June 16, 1983
No. 137, June 23, 1983
No. 138, June 30, 1983
No. 139, July 2, 1983
No. 140, July 14, 1983
No. 141, July 21, 1983
No. 142, August 4, 1983
No. 142, August 18, 1983
No. 143, September 1, 1983
No. 144, September 8, 1983
No. 145, September 15, 1983
No. 145 (supplement), September 15, 1983
No. 147, September 22, 1983
No. 148, September 29, 1983
No. 149, October 6, 1983
No. 150, October 12, 1983
No. 151, October 20, 1983
No. 152, October 27, 1983
No. 153, November 3, 1983
No. 154, November 10, 1983
No. 155, November 17, 1983
No. 156, November 24, 1983
No. 157, December 1, 1983
No. 158, December 8, 1983
No. 159, December 12, 19831984
No. 160, January 5, 1984
No. 161, January 12, 1984
No. 162, January 19, 1984
No. 163, January 26, 1984
No. 164, February 2, 1984
No. 165, February 9, 1984
No. 166, February 16, 1984
No. 167, February 23, 1984
No. 168, March 1, 1984
No. 169, March 8, 1984
No. 170, March 15, 1984
No. 171, March 22, 1984
No. 172, March 28, 1984
No. 173, April 4, 1984
No. 174, April 12, 1984
No. 175, April 19, 1984
No. 176, April 26, 1984
No. 177, May 3, 1984
No. 178, May 10, 1984
No. 179, May 17, 1984
No. 180, May 24, 1984
No. 181, May 31, 1984
No. 182, June 7, 1984
No. 183, June 14, 1984
No. 184, June 21, 1984
No. 185, June 28, 1984
No. 186, July 5, 1984
No. 187, July 12, 1984
No. 188, July 19, 1984
No. 189, July 26, 1984
No. 190, August 2, 1984
No. 193, August 23, 1984
No. 194, August 30, 1984
No. 195, September 6, 1984
No. 196, September 13, 1984
No. 197, September 20, 1984
No. 198, September 27, 1984
No. 199, October 3, 1984
No. 200, October 11, 1984
No. 201, October 18, 1984
No. 202, October 25, 1984
No. 203, October 1, 1984
No. 204, November 8, 1984
No. 206, November 21, 1984
No. 207, November 28, 1984
No. 208, December 5, 1984
1985
No. 210, January 5, 1985
No. 211, January 9, 1985
No. 212, January 16, 1985
No. 213, January 23, 1985
No. 214, January 30, 1985
No. 215, February 6, 1985
No. 216, February 13, 1985
No. 217, February 20, 1985
No. 218, February 27, 1985
No. 221, March 28, 1985
No. 223, April 10, 1985
No. 224, April 17, 1985
No. 225, April 24, 1985
No. 226, May 1, 1985
No. 228, May 15, 1985
No. 229, May 22, 1985
No. 231, June 5, 1985
No. 232, June 12, 1985
No. 233, June 19, 1985
No. 234, July 3, 1985
No. 235, July 10, 1985
No. 238, July 24, 1985
No. 239, August 7, 1985
No. 240, August 14, 1985
No. 241, August 21, 1985
No. 243, September 12, 1985
No. 244, September 19, 1985
No. 245, September 26, 1985
No. 246, October 3, 1985
No. 247, October 10, 1985
No. 248, October 17, 1985
No. 249, October 24, 1985
No. 250, October 31, 1985
No. 251, November 7, 1985
No. 252, November 14, 1985
No. 253, November 21, 1985
No. 254-5, December 5, 1985
1986
No. 254-9, January, 1985
No. 256, January 16, 1986
No. 257, January 23, 1986
No. 258, January 30, 1986
No. 259, February 6, 1986
No. 260, February 13, 1986
No. 261, February 20, 1986
No. 263, March 20, 1986
No. 264, March 27, 1986
No. 265, April 3, 1986
No. 266, April 10, 1986
No. 267, April 17, 1986
No. 268, April 24, 1986
No. 270, May 15, 1986
No. 271, May 29, 1986
No. 272, June 12, 1986
No. 273, June 19, 1986
No. 274, June 26, 1986
No. 275, July 3, 1986
No. 276, July 17, 1986
No. 277, July 24, 1986
No. 278, August 7, 1986
No. 279, August 14, 1986
No. 280, August 21, 1986
No. 281, August 29, 1986
No. 282, September 4, 1986
No. 283, September 11, 1986
No. 284, September 18, 1986
No. 285, September 25, 1986
No. 286, October 2, 1986
No. 287, October 9, 1986
No. 288, October 16, 1986
No. 289, October 23, 1986
No. 290, October 23, 1986
No. 291, November 6, 1986
No. 292, November 16, 1986
No. 293, November 20, 1986
No. 294, November 27, 1986
No. 295, December 4, 1986
No. 296, December 11, 19861987
No. 297, January 8, 1987
No. 298, January 15, 1987
No. 299, January 22, 1987
No. 300, January 29, 1987
No. 301, February 5, 1987
No. 302, February 12, 1987
No. 303, February 19, 1987
No. 304, February 26, 1987
No. 305, March 5, 1987
No. 306, March 12, 1987
No. 307, March 19, 1987
No. 308, April 2, 1987
No. 309, April 9, 1987
No. 310, 23, 1987
No. 311, April 30, 1987
No. 312, May 7, 1987
No. 313, , 1987
No. 314, May 21, 1987
No. 315, May 28, 1987
No. 316, June 4, 1987
No. 317, June 13, 1987
No. 319, July 2, 1987
No. 319, July 9, 1987
No. 320, July 16, 1987
No. 321, July 23, 1987
No. 322, August 6, 1987
No. 323, August 13, 1987
No. 324, August 20, 1987
No. 325, August 27, 1987
No. 326, September 3, 1987
No. 327, September 10, 1987
No. 328, September 24, 1987
No. 329, October 1, 1987
No. 330, October 15, 1987
No. 331, October 22, 1987
No. 332, October 29, 1987
No. 333, November 5, 1987
No. 334, November 12, 1987
No. 335-6, Pamphlet, 1987
No. 337, November 26, 1987
No. 338, December 3, 1987
No. 339, December 10, 1987
1988
No. 340, January 14, 1988
No. 341, January, 1988
No. 342, January 28, 1988
No. 344, February 4, 1988
No. 345, February 11, 1988
No. 346, February 18, 1988
No. 347, February 25, 1988
No. 348, March 3, 1988
No. 349, March 10, 1988
No. 350, March 24, 1988
No. 351, March 21, 1988
No. 352-3, Pamphlet, 1988
No. 354, May 5, 1988
No. 355, May 12, 1988
No. 356, May 19, 1988
No. 357, May 26, 1988
No. 358, June 2, 1988
No. 359, June 9, 1988
No. 360, June 16, 1988
No. 361, June 23, 1988
No. 362-3, Pamphlet, 1988
No. 364, July 21, 1988
No. 365, July 28, 1988
No. 366, August 11, 1988
No. 367, August 18, 1988
No. 368, August 25, 1988
No. 369-70, Pamphlet, 1988
No. 371, September 15, 1988
No. 372, September 22, 1988
No. 373, September 27, 1988
No. 374, October 5, 1988
No. 375, October 13, 1988
No. 376, October 20, 1988
No. 377, October 27, 1988
No. 378, November 3, 1988
No. 379, November 10, 1988
No. 380, November 17, 1988
No. 381, November 30, 1988
No. 382, , 1988
1989
No. 383, January 5, 1989
No. 384, January 12, 1989
No. 385, January 19, 1989
No. 386, January 25, 1989
No. 387, February 2, 1989
No. 388, February 9, 1989
No. 389, February 16, 1989
No. 390, February 22, 1989
No. 391, March 1, 1989
No. 392, March 8, 1989
No. 393, March 15, 1989
No. 394-5, March, 1989
No. 396, April 6, 1989
No. 397, April 13 , 1989
No. 398, April 20, 1989
No. 399, April 27, 1989
No. 400, May 4, 1989
No. 401, May 11, 1989
No. 402, May 17, 1989
No. 403, May 24, 1989
No. 404, June 8, 1989
No. 405-6, June Pamphlet on Ireland, 1989
No. 407, June 33, 1989
No. 408, June 29, 1989
No. 409, July 13, 1989
No. 410, July 20, 1989
No. 411, August 10, 1989
No. 412, August 17, 1989
No. 413, August 31, 1989
No. 414, September 7, 1989
No. 415, September 14, 1989
No. 416, September 21, 1989
No. 417, September 28, 1989
No. 418, October 12, 1989
No. 419, October 19, 1989
No. 420, October 26, 1989
No. 421-3, November, 1989
No. 424, November 16, 1989
No. 425, November 23, 1989
No. 426, November 30, 19891990
No. 429, January 4, 1990
No. 430, January 16, 1990
No. 431, January 25, 1990
No. 432,February 1 , 1990
No. 433, February 8, 1990
No. 434, February 15, 1990
No. 435, February 22, 1990
No. 436, March 1, 1990
No. 437, March 8, 1990
No. 438, March 15, 1990
No. 439, March 22, 1990 (Vote Left Unity poster)
No. 440-1, Poll ax Pamphlet , 1990
“Teachers Special” April, 1990
No. 442, April 5, 1990
No. 443, April 12, 1990
No. 444, April 19, 1990
No. 445, April 26, 1990
No. 446, May 3, 1990
No. 447,May 10 , 1990
No. 448, May 17, 1990
No. 449, May 24, 1990
No. 450, May 31, 1990
No. 451, June 7, 1990
No. 452, June 21, 1990
No. 453, July 12, 1990
No. 454, July 19, 1990
No. 455, July 26, 1990
No. 456, August 2, 1990
No. 457, August 16, 1990
No. 458, August 23, 1990
No. 459,September 7 , 1990
No. 460, September 13, 1990
September 14, Campaign Against War in the Gulf poster, 1990
No. 461, October 1, 1990
No. 462, October 12, 1990
No. 463, October 23, 1990
No. 464, November 2, 1990
No. 465, November 9, 1990
No. 466, November 16, 1990
No. 467, November 23, 1990
No. 468, November 30, 1990
No. 469, December 8, 1990
1991
No. 470, January 11, 1991
No. 471, January 18, 1991
No. 4, January 23, 1991
No. 4, January 30, 1991
No. 4, February 6, 1991
No. 4, February 14, 1991
No. 4, February 21, 1991
No. 4, February 28, 1991
No. 4, March 7, 1991
No. 4, March 14, 1991
No. 4, March 28, 1991
No. 4, April 3, 1991
No. 4, April 11, 1991
No. 4, April 18, 1991
No. 4, April 25, 1991
No. 4, May 10, 1991
No. 4, May 17, 1991
No. 4, May 23, 1991
No. 4, June 6, 1991
No. 4, June 13, 1991
No. 4, June 20, 1991
No. 4, July 10, 1991
No. 4, July 18, 1991
No. 4, August 1, 1991
No. 4, August 8, 1991
No. 4, August 15, 1991
No. 4, August 20, 1991
No. 4, August 29, 1991
No. 4, September 5, 1991
No. 4, September 19, 1991
No. 5, September 26, 1991
No. 5, October 3, 1991
No. 5, October 10, 1991
No. 5, October 18, 1991
No. 5, October 24, 1991
No. 5, November 1, 1991
No. 5, November 8, 1991
No. 5, November 14, 1991
No. 5, November 21, 1991
No. 5, November 29, 1991
No. 5, December 5, 1991
1992
No. 511, 9th January, 1992
No. 512, 16th January, 1992
No. 513, 23rd January, 1992
No. 514, 30th January, 1992
No. 515, 6th February, 1992
No. 516, 13th February, 1992
No. 517, 19th March, 1992
No. 518, 26th March, 1992
No. 519, 2nd April, 1992
No. 520, 14th April, 1992
No. 521, 23rd April, 1992
No. 522, 7th May, 1992
No. 523, 14th May, 1992
No. 524, 28th May, 1992
No. 525, 4th June, 1992
No. 526, 11th June, 1992
No. 527, 18th June, 1992
No. 528, 25th June, 1992
No. 529, 16th July, 1992
No. 530, July 31, 1992
No. 531, 13th August, 1992
No. 532, 3rd September, 1992
No. 533, 10th September, 1992 plus Youth Fightback issue 1
No. 534, 17th September, 1992
No. 535, 23rd September, 1992
No. 536, 1st October, 1992
No. 537, 8th October, 1992
No. 538, October 16th, 1992 Pit Crisis Special
No. 539, 21st October, 1992 plus Miners Jobs pullout
No. 540, 29th October, 1992
No. 541, 5th November, 1992
No. 542, 12th November, 1992
No. 543, 19th November, 1992
No. 544, 2nd December, 1992
No. 545, 10th December, 19921993
No. 546, 14th January, 1993
No. 547, 21st January, 1993
No. 548, 28th January, 1993
No. 549, 4th February, 1993
No. 550, 11th February, 1993
No. 551, 18th February, 1993
No. 552, February 1993,
No. 553, 4th March, 1993
No. 554, 11th March, 1993
No. 555, 18th March, 1993
No. 556, 25th March, 1993
No. 557, 1st April, 1993
No. 558, 8th April, 1993
No. 559, 15th April, 1993 plus Youth Fightback no3
No. 560, 22nd April, 1993
No. 561, 29th April, 1993
No. 562, 6th May, 1993 plus CPSA conference special
No. 563, 13th May, 1993
No. 564, 20th May, 1993
No. 565, 3rd June, 1993 with Youth Fightback no4
No. 566, 10th June, 1993
No. 567, 24th June, 1993
No. 568, 8th July, 1993
No. 569, 22nd July, 1993
No. 570, 5th August, 1993
No. 571, 2nd September, 1993
No. 572, 9th September, 1993
No. 573, 16th September, 1993
No. 574, 23rd September, 1993
No. 575-6, October 1993, How to Beat the Racists
No. 577, 21st October, 1993
No. 578, 28th October, 1993
No. 579, 4th November, 1993
No. 580, 11th November, 1993
No. 581, 18th November, 1993
No. 582, 25th November, 1993
No. 583, 2nd December, 1993
No. 584, 16th December, 19931994
No. 585, 20th January, 1994
No. 586, 27th January, 1994
No. 587, 3rd February, 1994
No. 588, 10th February, 1994
No. 589, 17th February, 1994
No. 590, 25th February, 1994
No. 591, 3rd March, 1994
No. 592, 10th March, 1994
No. 593, 17th March, 1994
No. 594, 31st March, 1994
No. 595, 14th April, 1994
No. 596, 21st April, 1994
No. 597, 28th April, 1994
No. 598, 5th May, 1994
No. 599, 12th May, 1994
No. 600, 19th May, 1994
No. 601, 26th May, 1994
No. 602, 2nd June, 1994
No. 603, 9th June, 1994
No. 604, 16th June, 1994
No. 605, 24th June, 1994
No. 606-8, July 1994, How To Save the Welfare State
No. 609, July 1994, special
No. 610, 28th July, 1994
No. 611, 11th August, 1994
No. 612, 8th September, 1994
No. 613, 15th September, 1994
No. 614, 22nd September, 1994
No. 615, 6th October, 1994
No. 616, 13th October, 1994
No. 617, 3rd November, 1994
No. 618, 10th November, 1994
No. 619, 17th November, 1994
No. 620, 2nd December, 19941995
No. 621, 12th January, 1995
No. 622, 2nd February, 1995
No. 623, 16th February, 1995
No. 624, 3rd March, 1995
Last updated on: 6 January 2020