From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A socialist society is a membership organization that is affiliated with the Labour Party in the UK.

The best-known socialist society is the Fabian Society, founded in 1884, some years before the creation of the Labour Party itself (in which the Society participated). The Society's membership is relatively small (around 7000), but in Labour circles, it exerts much influence. The Co-operative Party is not strictly a "socialist society" in the context of the Labour Party. It is in fact a separate political party with an electoral agreement with the Labour Party. It acts as a socialist society for the most part although it has certain additional rights.

Affiliation means that the socialist societies - like a number of British trade unions - pay an affiliation fee to the Labour Party, and the affiliates' members become affiliated members of the Labour Party (a different status from full member), unless they specifically choose otherwise. In return the societies receive a formal role in Labour decision-making, and the affiliated members can take part in all-member ballots in certain circumstances. For example, they can participate in the election of Labour Party leaders.

Socialist societies also elect a delegate (currently Dianne Hayter) to the Labour National Executive Committee and can affiliate at a local level to Constituency Labour Parties. A second seat was alloted to the Black Socialist Society in early 2007, when its membership rose above 2,500.

Current socialist societies

Affiliated socialist societies include:

• Black Socialist Society
• Christian Socialist Movement
• Fabian Society
• Jewish Labour Movement, formerly Poale Zion
• Labour Campaign for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights (LGBT Labour)
• Labour Disabled Members' Group
• Labour Housing Group
• Labour Party Irish Society
• Labour Students
• National Union of Labour and Socialist Clubs
• Scientists for Labour
• Socialist Education Association
• Socialist Environment and Resources Association (SERA)
• Socialist Health Association
• Society of Labour Lawyers

There are other organisations, such as Arts for Labour, Centre Left Grassroot Alliance, the Labour Animal Welfare Society, Muslims for Labour, Labour Against the Euro, Labour Finance and Industry Group, the Labour Humanist Group and Labour Friends of India, which are not formally affiliated but act in a similar fashion and may aim for affiliation in time. The Co-operative Party is not a socialist society but rather a full political party with an electoral agreement with the Labour Party. It affiliates at a local level.

See also

• List of organisations associated with the British Labour Party