View source for Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist-Leninist)

{{Distinguish|Communist Party of Great Britain|Communist Party of Britain (Marxist–Leninist)|Revolutionary Communist Party of Britain (Marxist–Leninist)}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2013}}
{{Primary sources|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox political party
| country          = the United Kingdom
| name             = Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist–Leninist)
| logo             = Emblem of the Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist–Leninist).svg
| colorcode        = {{party color|Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist-Leninist)}}
| abbreviation     = CPGB-ML
| founder          = [[Harpal Brar]]
| leader1_title    = Chairperson
| leader1_name     = Ella Rule
| leader2_title    = Vice Chairpersons
| leader2_name     = {{plainlist|
* Joti Brar
* Zane Carpenter
}}
| foundation       = {{start date and age|df=yes|2004|07|03}}<br />[[Southall]], [[London]], England
| split            = [[Socialist Labour Party (UK)|Socialist Labour Party]]
| predecessor      = {{hlist|[[Revolutionary Communist League of Britain|RCLB]]|[[Revolutionary Marxist–Leninist League|RMLL]]|[[Committee to Defeat Revisionism, for Communist Unity|CDRCU]]|[[Association of Communist Workers|ACW]]}}
| ideology         = {{plainlist|
* [[Communism]]
* [[Marxism–Leninism]]
* [[Anti-revisionism]]
* [[Hard Euroscepticism]]
}}
| position         = [[Far-left politics|Far-left]]
| international    = World Anti-Imperialist Platform<ref>[https://wap21.org/?p=566 "Paris Declaration: The rising tide of global war and the tasks of anti-imperialists"]. ''World Anti-Imperialist Platform''. 14 October 2022.</ref>
| colours          = {{plainlist|
* {{color box|{{party color|Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist–Leninist)}}|border=silver}} Red
* {{color box|#FFFF00|border=silver}} Yellow
* {{color box|{{party color|#FFFFFF}}|border=silver}} White (customary)
}}
| headquarters = London (currently); before the [[Communist_Party_of_Great_Britain_(Marxist–Leninist)#Workers_Party_of_Britain_(2019_–_2022)|CPGBML–WPB split]] in November 2022 it was in [[Birmingham]], [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands]], England

| newspaper        = ''Proletarian''
| website          = {{URL|thecommunists.org}}
| flag             = Flag of the Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist–Leninist).svg{{!}}200px
}}
{{Communist Parties}}
{{Stalinism sidebar}}
The '''Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist–Leninist)''', abbreviated '''CPGB-ML''', is an [[anti-revisionist]] [[Marxist–Leninist]] [[communist party]] in the [[United Kingdom]], active in [[England]], [[Scotland]], and [[Wales]]. The CPGB-ML was founded by [[Harpal Brar]] after a split from the [[Socialist Labour Party (UK)|Socialist Labour Party]] (SLP) on 3 July 2004. The CPGB-ML publishes the bimonthly newspaper ''Proletarian'', and the Marxist–Leninist journal ''[[Lalkar (magazine)|Lalkar]]'' (originally associated with the [[Indian Workers' Association]]) is also closely allied with the party. The party chair is Ella Rule.

==History==
The party's origins were in the [[Association of Communist Workers]] (ACW), formed by Indian communist writer and politician [[Harpal Brar]] in 1969 as a [[Maoism|Maoist]] breakaway from the [[Revolutionary Marxist–Leninist League]], itself a Maoist split from the [[Communist Party of Great Britain]] (CPGB) in 1965. The ACW joined the [[Socialist Labour Party (UK)|Socialist Labour Party]] (SLP), led by former miners' leader [[Arthur Scargill]],<ref name="McSmith 2013">Citation needed.</ref> but split from it because of Scargill's refusal to accept support for [[North Korea]] and other states.<ref>[https://www.vice.com/en/article/cpgbml-versus-natwest-russia-today/ "I Went to a Stalinist Free-Speech Protest to Defend Russia Today from Natwest"]. ''Vice''. 19 October 2016.</ref> As a result, Scargill chose to expel a number of members of the party's central committee and its entire Yorkshire region.<ref name="P1"/> Those expelled, along with others who resigned, founded the CPGB-ML in 2004 in [[Southall]], London.<ref name="P1">[http://archive.cpgb-ml.org/index.php?secName=proletarian&subName=display&art=10 "Formation of the CPGB-ML"]. ''Proletarian''. August 2004.</ref><ref name="The Irish Times 2010">Citation needed.</ref>

==Policies and ideology==
The CPGB-ML adheres to [[Marxism–Leninism]], the political theory adopted by the [[Communist Party of the Soviet Union]] (CPSU). It has been described as "pro-[[Juche]]" and "arch-[[Stalinist]]", and its stances have been described as [[left-nationalist]], espousing "conservative (anti-‘woke’) social policies", and pro-[[Lexit]].<ref name="march">March, Luke. "The Palgrave Handbook of Left-Wing Extremism". Palgrave Macmillan.</ref> The CPGB-ML praises communist leaders such as [[Vladimir Lenin]], [[Karl Marx]], [[Joseph Stalin]],<ref>[https://www.cpgb-ml.org/2018/11/07/news/october-revolution-101-the-future-belongs-to-communism/ "October Revolution 101: the future belongs to communism"]. ''CPGB-ML''.</ref> [[Mao Zedong]],<ref>{{Citation|last=Proletarian TV|title=Mao to Mandela - History for Sale|date=22 December 2013|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVBhfZ7odms|access-date=11 November 2018}}</ref> [[Kim Il Sung]],<ref>[http://thecommunists.org/2019/07/08/news/twenty-fifth-anniversary-kim-il-sung-death-north-korea-dprk/ "Twenty-fifth anniversary of Comrade Kim Il Sung's death"]. ''The Communists''. 8 July 2019.</ref> [[Enver Hoxha]]<ref>[https://archive.cpgb-ml.org/index.php?secName=proletarian&subName=display&art=465 "Celebrating the 100th birthday of Enver Hoxha"]. ''Proletarian''. December 2008.</ref> and [[Fidel Castro]].<ref>[http://thecommunists.org/2018/11/15/news/workers-must-continue-to-stand-in-solidarity-with-revolutionary-cuba/ "Workers must continue to stand in solidarity with revolutionary Cuba"]. ''The Communists''. 15 November 2018.</ref> The party opposes [[Trotskyism]], [[social democracy]], [[democratic socialism]] and what they term [[Revisionism (Marxism)|revisionist]] (including [[Khrushchevism|Khruschevite]]) parties. In 1995 former CPGB-ML chairman [[Harpal Brar]] published a book titled ''Social Democracy: The Enemy Within''.<ref>[http://www.oneparty.co.uk/compass/compass/com12401.html "Book Review: 'Social Democracy, The Enemy Within'"]. ''Compass''. May 1996.</ref>

===Domestic policy===
====Scottish independence====
''Further information: [[Scottish independence]]''
The party accepted a position at its 2012 congress that there are no separate English and Scottish nations, but rather, when those nations were at the point of developing as modern capitalist economies, their ruling classes joined to form a British nation.<ref>[http://archive.cpgb-ml.org/index.php?secName=proletarian&subName=display&art=887 "Scotland: a part of the British nation"] ''Proletarian'' issue 51 (December 2012)</ref> Though the CPGB-ML believes in local/workers democracy, it sees the Scottish independence movement as diversionary from building a working-class movement across the historic nation of Great Britain and therefore opposes it. It claims that proposals set forward for Scottish independence will not break the Union, the British state, or the British army in any significant manner.<ref>[http://www.lalkar.org/article/624/the-nationalquestion-in-scotland "The National Question in Scotland: Contributed by the Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist-Leninist) as a discussion article"]. [[Lalkar]]. September 2012.</ref> In its opposition to Scottish independence, it stands at odds with the [[Scottish Socialist Party]],<ref>[https://scottishsocialistparty.org/tag/scottish-independence/ "Scottish Independence"]. ''Scottish Socialist Party''.</ref> the [[Socialist Workers Party (UK)|Socialist Workers Party]]<ref>[https://socialistworker.co.uk/art/34415/Down+with+the+union+++support+Scottish+independence "Down with the union - support Scottish independence"]. ''Socialist Worker''. 17 Sep 2013.</ref> and the [[Socialist Party (England and Wales)]].January 2018.

====Northern Ireland====
On [[Northern Ireland]], the CPGB-ML has called for the withdrawal of British troops from [[Ireland]] and for a [[United Ireland|unified 32-county state]] to be formed. It supports Sinn Féin's leadership of the [[Good Friday Agreement]], which it believes falls within this framework.<ref>[http://www.cpgbml.org/download/leaflets/ireland_20100215.pdf "End the British occupation of Ireland!"]. CPGB-ML. 15 February 2010.</ref>

====Brexit====
The CPGB‑ML supported a pro‑Leave ("[[Lexit]]") position in the 2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum, arguing that withdrawal from the EU would curb the influence of British, European and US imperialism.<ref>[https://red.thecommunists.org/2016/04/01/news/theory/why-british-workers-need-brexit/ "Why British workers need a Brexit"]. ''The Communists''. 1 April 2016.</ref>

After Article 50 was invoked in March 2017 the party welcomed the step, describing it as a setback for Britain’s finance‑capitalist elite.<ref>[https://red.thecommunists.org/2017/04/01/news/editorial-brexit-moves-ahead/ "Editorial: Brexit moves ahead"]. ''The Communists''. 1 April 2017.</ref>

During the 2018 discussion over a possible second referendum, CPGB‑ML publications characterised the proposed “people’s vote” as an attempt by finance capital to reverse the Leave result.<ref>[https://thecommunists.org/2018/10/22/news/the-peoples-vote-is-britains-euromaidan-eu-brexit/ "The 'people's vote' is Britain's Euromaidan"]. ''The Communists''. 22 October 2018.</ref>

For the 2019 European Parliament election the party advised supporters to cast a tactical vote for the Brexit Party in order to intensify internal divisions within Britain’s ruling class.<ref>[https://thecommunists.org/2019/05/07/news/galloway-farage-brexit-party-eu-election/ "Galloway, Farage and the Brexit party"]. ''The Communists''. 7 May 2019.</ref><ref>[https://thecommunists.org/2019/05/17/news/vote-brexit-23-may-eu-election/ "Vote Brexit on 23 May!"]. ''The Communists''. 17 May 2019.</ref>

Following the December 2019 United Kingdom general election, the CPGB‑ML argued that the working‑class gave a renewed mandate to complete Brexit and described itself as “a motive force in launching the Workers Party of Britain”, noting that party vice‑chair Joti Brar was elected WPB deputy leader at its founding congress.<ref>[https://thecommunists.org/2019/12/29/news/brexit-election-and-birth-of-the-workers-party-wpb-galloway/ "The Brexit election and the birth of the Workers party"]. ''The Communists''. 29 December 2019.</ref>

===Workers Party of Britain (2019 – 2022)===
The CPGB‑ML was a driving force behind the creation of the Workers Party of Britain (WPB) in January 2020, forming what it described as an “alliance” with former Respect MP George Galloway. At the founding congress, CPGB‑ML vice‑chair Joti Brar was elected WPB deputy leader.<ref name="WPBLaunch">[https://thecommunists.org/2019/12/29/news/brexit-election-and-birth-of-the-workers-party-wpb-galloway/ "The Brexit election and the birth of the Workers Party"]. ''The Communists''. 29 December 2019.</ref>

Initially the party encouraged members to build WPB branches, presenting the new organisation as a vehicle for breaking working‑class allegiance to Labour. A statement issued in February 2022 argued, however, that “developments since that time have led the party to withdraw our members’ efforts from the Workers Party project”, describing the WPB as “a left‑social‑democratic vehicle for bourgeois parliamentarism and anticommunism”.<ref>[https://thecommunists.org/2022/02/22/news/lessons-corbyn-project-break-labour-link-wpb/ "Learn the lessons of the Corbyn project: break the link with Labour!"]. ''The Communists''. 22 February 2022.</ref>

===Foreign policy===
The CPGB-ML supports a number of governments around the world, such as those of [[China]],<ref name=":0">[https://www.cpgb-ml.org/2018/10/19/news/china-celebrates-marxs-200th-birthday/ "China celebrates Marx's 200th birthday"]. ''CPGB-ML''.</ref> [[Venezuela]],<ref>[https://www.cpgb-ml.org/2018/08/15/news/our-partys-internationalist-tasks-support-for-revolutionary-venezuela/ "Our party's internationalist tasks: support for revolutionary Venezuela"]. ''CPGB-ML''.</ref> [[Russia]],<ref>[https://www.cpgb-ml.org/2018/04/11/news/hands-off-russia/ "The Skripal case is blatant war propaganda. Hands off Russia!"]. ''CPGB-ML''.</ref> [[Cuba]],<ref>[http://archive.cpgb-ml.org/index.php?secName=proletarian&subName=display&art=1243 "Farewell Comrade Fidel Castro. Eternal glory to you!"]. ''archive.cpgb-ml.org''.</ref> [[Zimbabwe]],<ref>[https://www.cpgb-ml.org/2017/12/01/news/world/tribute-to-comrade-robert-mugabe/ "Tribute to Comrade Robert Mugabe"]. ''CPGB-ML''.</ref> and [[Iran]].<ref>[https://www.cpgb-ml.org/2018/06/20/tv/iranian-foreign-minister-explains-why-iran-is-developing-ballistic-missiles-mohammed-javad-zarif/ "Iranian foreign minister explains why Iran is developing ballistic missiles"]. ''CPGB-ML''.</ref> Delegations from the Chinese,<ref>[http://archive.cpgb-ml.org/?art=419&secName=proletarian&subName=display "Spirited rally launches Hands off China campaign"]. ''Proletarian''. August 2008.</ref> Cuban,<ref>[https://www.cpgb-ml.org/2018/10/05/tv/cuba-and-the-october-revolution/ "Cuba and the October Revolution"]. ''CPGB-ML''.</ref> Venezuelan,<ref>{{Citation|last=Proletarian TV|title=Venezuela - The Struggle continues!|date=14 December 2016|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIkBMFIJ_ww|access-date=11 November 2018}}</ref> [[North Korea]]n,<ref>[https://www.cpgb-ml.org/2018/08/27/tv/october-100-dpr-korea-pays-tribute/ "October 100: DPR Korea pays tribute"]. ''CPGB-ML''.</ref> and [[Laos|Laotian]]<ref>[https://www.cpgb-ml.org/2018/10/05/tv/laos-independence-and-the-october-revolution/ "Laos independence and the October Revolution"]. ''CPGB-ML''.</ref> embassies have attended meetings of the CPGB-ML.

The party opposes [[Zionism]] and has called for the dissolution of the [[State of Israel]], which it labels as an [[apartheid]] state.<ref>[http://thecommunists.org/2018/11/24/news/zionism-racist-antisemitic-tool-of-imperialist-policy-in-the-middle-east-palestine-israel/ "Zionism is a racist and antisemitic tool of imperialist policy in the middle east"]. ''The Communists''. 24 November 2018.</ref><ref>[http://archive.cpgb-ml.org/index.php?secName=proletarian&subName=display&art=646 "Congress motions 2: our international solidarity tasks] The motions below were passed at the CPGB-ML’s congress on 5 June 2010" ''Proletarian'' issue 37 (August 2010)</ref> It called for a defeat of British troops in [[Iraq]] and [[Afghanistan]] and a movement of direct action and non-cooperation among British working people in order to exert political influence.<ref>[https://www.cpgb-ml.org/2018/11/06/news/anti-war-work-in-britain/ "Anti-war work in Britain"]. ''CPGB-ML''.</ref> It was one of many anti-war parties which opposed [[NATO]] actions in [[Libya]] and Syria and supported the governments of [[Muammar Gaddafi]] and [[Bashar al-Assad]].July 2022.

In 2011, the CPGB-ML party chairman Harpal Brar visited Libya during the war to express solidarity with the Libyan people in their fight against [[NATO]].<ref name=":1">{{Citation|last=Proletarian TV|title=Libya Report USA|date=17 July 2011|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23fvw6xyQzw|access-date=11 November 2018}}</ref> The CPGB-ML had joined the [[Stop the War Coalition]] shortly after the party's formation in 2004, but was ultimately expelled from the coalition. The CPGB-ML said that this was due to its attacks on the STWC leadership's positions on Libya and Syria, which it characterised as "pro-imperialist".<ref>[http://www.lalkar.org/article/598/stopping-the-war-machine-anti-war-work-in-britain "Stopping the war machine: anti-war work in Britain"]. ''Lalkar''.</ref>

The CPGB-ML's foreign policy stance includes the defence of the legacy of the late ousted President of Zimbabwe, [[Robert Mugabe]].<ref>[http://thecommunists.org/2017/12/01/news/tribute-to-comrade-robert-mugabe/ "Tribute to Comrade Robert Mugabe"]. ''The Communists''. 1 December 2017.</ref>

The CPGB-ML also supports the government of North Korea and what it called its anti-imperialist stance in April 2013, as well as its opposition to Western efforts to discourage the state from acquiring nuclear weapons.<ref name="BBC41613">[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-22162818 "Obama to meet South Korea's Park Geun-hye in May"]. ''BBC News''. 16 April 2013.</ref><ref name="Guardian41513">Branigan, Tania. [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/apr/15/north-korea-ambassador-rare-speech "North Korea's UK ambassador defends Pyongyang's stance in rare speech"]. ''The Guardian''. 15 April 2013.</ref>

The CPGB-ML has shown support for the [[yellow vests movement]], which it perceives as a grass-roots working-class movement opposed to capitalism and the [[European Union]].<ref>[http://thecommunists.org/2019/11/19/news/one-year-on-yellow-vests-class-struggle-france-gilets-jaunes/ "One year on: the yellow vests and the class struggle in France"]. ''The Communists''. 19 November 2019.</ref> In a similar vein, the party supported the [[Canada convoy protest]] in late 2021.<ref>[http://thecommunists.org/2022/02/23/news/solidarity-freedom-convoy-canada-truckers/ "Solidarity with the Freedom Convoy of Canada"]. ''The Communists''.</ref>

The CPGB-ML regards the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine]] as a [[defensive war]] against "state-sanctioned neo-Nazis"<ref>[https://thecommunists.org/2022/06/07/tv/jacob-dreizen-fall-of-azov-batallion-ukraine-fascism/ "Jacob Dreizen: The fall of the Azov"]. Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist–Leninist).</ref> and the "spread of Western hegemony".<ref>[https://thecommunists.org/2022/06/23/news/usa-proxy-war-ukraine-cementing-world-anti-imperialist-alliance-russia-china-india-iran/ "USA's proxy war in Ukraine cementing the world anti-imperialist alliance"]. Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist–Leninist).</ref>

===Other positions===
The CPGB-ML did not condemn the [[2011 England riots]], but instead characterised them as a rudimentary form of anti-capitalist resistance that lacked adequate leadership and direction.<ref>[http://archive.cpgb-ml.org/?secName=proletarian&subName=display&art=957 "Austerity, capitalism and the racist police state"]. ''Proletarian''. August 2013.</ref> The CPGB-ML is opposed to immigration controls, which it holds are measures to misdirect workers and blame each other for the crisis rather than the [[bourgeoisie]].<ref>[http://archive.cpgb-ml.org/index.php?secName=proletarian&subName=display&art=418 "CPGB-ML congress calls for an end to immigration control"]. ''Proletarian''. August 2008.</ref>

====LGBT+ and identity politics====
The party has been described as left-nationalist and socially conservative.<ref name="march"/> At its 8th congress in September 2018, the party adopted a motion opposing "discrimination on grounds of race, sex or [[sexual orientation|sexual proclivity]]" but condemning "[[identity politics]], including [[LGBT ideology]]" as "reactionary and anti-working class", and declaring members promoting what they define as identity politics liable to expulsion.<ref name="harm">[https://www.cpgb-ml.org/2018/12/07/news/identity-politics-are-anti-marxian-and-a-harmful-diversion-from-the-class-struggle/ "Identity politics are anti-Marxian and a harmful diversion from the class struggle"]. ''www.cpgb-ml.org''. 7 December 2018.</ref> The party's congress declared that "the propagation of identity politics, including LGBT ideology, being reactionary and anti-working class and a harmful distraction and diversion from the class struggle of the proletariat for its social emancipation, is incompatible with membership of the party, rendering those involved in its promotion liable to expulsion."<ref name="harm"/> The CPGB-ML have described identity politics as a "reactionary nightmare" imposed by the bourgeoisie.<ref>[http://thecommunists.org/2019/03/23/news/the-reactionary-nightmare-of-gender-fluidity/ "The reactionary nightmare of 'gender fluidity'"]. ''The Communists''. 23 March 2019.</ref> This had led to allegations of [[transphobia]] by other organisations belonging to the British left.<ref>Hodder, Lewis. [https://www.ebb-magazine.com/essays/inside-the-last-days-of-the-cpgb-ml "Inside the Last Days of the CPGB-ML"]. ''Ebb Magazine''. 4 April 2019.</ref> The party has also stated its opposition to [[feminism]] as a bourgeois movement.<ref>Rule, Ella. [https://thecommunists.org/2019/03/16/tv/womens-movement-in-britain/ "The women’s movement in Britain"]. ''The Communists''. 16 March 2019.</ref> It has argued that [[intersectionality]] undermines Marxism instead of complementing it.<ref>Waugh, Christopher. [https://e-space.mmu.ac.uk/633773/8/CW%20article%20PP2022.pdf "‘Over the portal of the new world, know thyself shall be written’ - Ideology, connectivity and authenticity of the self in radical left social movements"]. ''Political Perspectives''.</ref>

==Activities==
The CPGB-ML is involved in a number of British political movements such as Palestinian solidarity,<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwzfMj-VBlI "GAZA 2014: Zionist - Imperialist 'Axis of Oppression' "] Proletarian TV, 27 July 2014</ref> [[Anti-austerity movement in the United Kingdom|anti-austerity]],<ref>[https://www.flickr.com/photos/25164331@N03/sets/72157648353946237 "Birmingham TUC Hard up festival"] Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist-Leninist), flickr, 28 September 2014</ref> [[anti-war]],<ref>[http://archive.cpgb-ml.org/index.php?secName=statements&subName=display&statementId=53 "Defeat the murderous imperialist predatory war against the Syrian people!"] statement by the CPGB-ML, 29 August 2013</ref> [[anti-Maidan]],<ref>[http://blog.cpgb-ml.org/%E2%80%98lest-we-forget%E2%80%99-%E2%80%93-the-70th-anniversary-of-the-victory-over-hitlerite-fascism/ "CPGB-ML » 'Lest we forget' – the 70th anniversary of the victory over Hitlerite fascism"]. Blog.cpgb-ml.org.</ref> and opposed to the use of [[drone strikes]] by the US and NATO against civilians.

The CPGB-ML holds three annual events:
* Participation in the London May Day Organising Committee’s [[May Day]] march to [[Trafalgar Square]] every year on 1 May.<ref>{{Citation|last=RT UK|title=May Day marked in capitals around the world|date=1 May 2018|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leuqhE7FbKw|access-date=11 November 2018}}</ref>{{better source needed|deprecated source (RT) via YouTube|date=October 2021}}
* An international barbecue which invites members from friendly parties, unionists, and representatives from countries the party supports, particularly North Korea and Cuba, as the barbecue is held near the anniversary of the [[Korean War]] and the storming of the [[Moncada Barracks]].October 2021.
* An [[October Revolution]] celebration of the first successful Marxist–Leninist revolution and the creation of the [[Soviet Union]].<ref>[https://www.cpgb-ml.org/2017/10/01/news/history/october-1917-defining-event-of-our-epoch/ "October 1917: the defining event of our epoch"]. ''CPGB-ML''.</ref>

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The party was known for being the only party to carry a banner of Joseph Stalin, including a quote from Stalin, every year, until 2019, on 1 May [[International Workers' Day]] march in London.<ref name=Spectator>Bloodworth, James. [http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/coffeehouse/2014/05/ive-just-seen-nazi-banners-in-trafalgar-square-well-almost/ "I've just seen Nazi banners in Trafalgar Square. Well, almost"]. ''The Spectator (blog)''. 2 May 2014.</ref> The quote is from ''[[Foundations of Leninism]]'', a book written by Stalin, saying: "Either place yourself at the mercy of capital, eke out a wretched existence as of old and sink lower and lower, or adopt a new weapon – this is the alternative imperialism puts before the vast masses of the proletariat. Imperialism brings the working class to revolution."<ref name=Spectator/><ref>Stalin, Joseph. "Foundations of Leninism". [[Foreign Languages Publishing House (Soviet Union).</ref>

The first election fought by party members was the [[2018 Birmingham City Council election|2018 Birmingham city council election]]. Three member-candidates stood under the registered label/sub-party "Birmingham Worker".  Their best result was in the [[Balsall Heath|Balsall Heath West]] ward with 6.1% of the vote and third place, ahead of local [[Green Party of England and Wales|Green]]s and the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservatives]]. In the Brandwood & King's Heath and Stirchley wards the others gained 0.89% and 1.62%, beating the local [[TUSC]] candidate in the former.<ref>[https://birminghamworker.org/2018/05/04/birmingham-worker-candidates-thank-local-voters/ "Birmingham Worker candidates thank local voters"]. ''Birmingham Worker''. 4 May 2018.</ref><ref>Shergill, Becky. [https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/info/20097/elections_and_voting/1685/local_government_election_results_may_2018/6 "Local government election results May 2018"]. ''www.birmingham.gov.uk''.</ref>

The CPGB-ML welcomed the founding of the [[Workers Party of Britain]] (WPB) by former [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] and [[Respect Party|Respect]] party [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|MP]] [[George Galloway]].<ref>[http://thecommunists.org/2019/12/29/news/brexit-election-and-birth-of-the-workers-party-wpb-galloway/ "The Brexit election and the birth of the Workers party"]. ''The Communists''.</ref> Many CPGB-ML members were active in the WPB. The vice-chair of the CPGB-ML Joti Brar, was also the deputy leader of the WPB.<ref>[https://workerspartybritain.org/about/ "Introducing the Workers Party"]. ''Workers Party of Britain''. 12 December 2019.</ref>

==Prominent members==
The CPGB-ML has a few members from the early days of the British communist movement and the original CPGB.<ref>[http://archive.cpgb-ml.org/index.php?secName=proletarian&subName=display&art=485 "Remembering departed comrades"]. ''Proletarian''. February 2009.</ref><ref>[http://archive.cpgb-ml.org/index.php?secName=proletarian&subName=display&art=598 "Jack Shapiro lives forever in our hearts!"]. ''Proletarian''. February 2010.</ref> [[Isabel Crook]], wife of [[David Crook]], served as Honorary President before she died in 2023 aged 107. Both were communists who were in Spain during the [[Spanish Civil War]] and later went to work for [[Mao Zedong]] and the Chinese communists.<ref>[http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/cpc2011/2011-06/22/content_12754831.htm "Western witness stays true to the Party line"] article by Tan Zongyang in ''[[China Daily]]'' 22 June 2011</ref><ref>Crook, Isabel. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ixb1SBYIxiQ "My memories of 1949"]. China Daily. 21 June 2011.</ref> Veteran British communist [[Jack Shapiro (Communist)|Jack Shapiro]], a veteran of the anti-revisionist movement and lifelong communist, was a member of the CPGB-ML until his death.<ref>[http://www.grahamstevenson.me.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1030:shapiro-jack-a-marie-&catid=19:s&Itemid=120 Biography of Jack & Marie Shapiro] on grahamstevenson.me.uk website of Graham Stevenson, accessed 17 April 2013</ref>

For fourteen years, from the party's founding in 2004 until 2018, the party chairman was the retired university law lecturer, writer and businessman Harpal Brar. The party's vice-chairman and international secretary was [[Ella Rule]], while the party's general secretary was [[Zane Carpenter]].<ref>[http://archive.cpgb-ml.org/?secName=proletarian&subName=display&art=571 "October Revolution: beacon lighting the way forward for all humanity"]. ''Proletarian''. December 2009.</ref> At the 8th party congress in Birmingham in 2018 Harpal Brar stepped down as party chair and was replaced by Ella Rule. Zane Carpenter and [[Joti Brar]] became the party's vice chairs.<ref>[https://www.cpgb-ml.org/2018/10/24/news/comrade-harpal-brar-steps-down-as-party-chairman-after-14-years/ "Comrade Harpal Brar steps down as party chairman after 14 years"]. ''CPGB-ML''. 24 October 2018.</ref>

Russian [[National Bolshevik]], [[Beness Aijo]], was a member during his time living in London.<ref>Collier, Mike. [https://eng.lsm.lv/article/features/features/an-unlikely-revolutionary-beness-aijo.a93076/ "An Unlikely Revolutionary: Beness Aijo"]. 31 July 2014.</ref>

Despite not being a member, the politician, writer and broadcaster [[George Galloway]] has delivered multiple speeches to CPGB-ML events and conferences.<ref>[http://thecommunists.org/2019/09/08/tv/george-galloway-celebrates-achievements-chinese-revolution/ "George Galloway celebrates the achievements of the Chinese revolution"]. ''The Communists''. 8 September 2019.</ref>

==See also==
* [[Far-left politics in the United Kingdom]]
* [[Neo-Stalinism]]
* [[Stalin Society]]
* [[List of anti-revisionist groups]]

==References==
<references />

==External links==
* {{Official website}}

{{UK far left}}
{{European communist parties}}
{{Marxism–Leninism}}
{{Communism}}
{{Authority control}}

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