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Draft:London School of Economics Labour Society

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London School of Economics Labour Society
Foundedc. 1940
Preceded byUniversity Labour Federation (LSE branch) Free Students' Association (LSE branch)
HeadquartersHoughton Street, London
NewspaperLSE Labour News (formerly) Student Observer (formerly)
IdeologyCentre - Centre Left - Left
National affiliationLabour Party (UK)
ColorsRed
Politics of the United Kingdom • Labour Party (UK) • London School of Economics and Political Science

The London School of Economics Labour Society (LSE Labour), formerly the London School of Economics Labour Club, is a student political society founded as a platform for left-wing activism, discourse, and research. LSE Labour is the largest Labour society in London, and the largest political society at the London School of Economics. It is officially affiliated with the LSE Students' Union (LSESU),[1] and with the British Labour Party.[2]

History

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Founding of the LSE, 1895-1936

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The LSE was founded in 1895 by Fabian Society members Sidney Webb, Beatrice Webb, Graham Wallas, and George Bernard Shaw with the aim of 'advancing [the Fabian Society's] objects' and 'for the betterment of society'.[3] In 1900, Fabian Society members contributed to the creation of the Labour Representation Committee, a predecessor to the Labour Party, whilst Sidney Webb co-wrote its constitution.[3][4] As a result, the LSE became associated with the Labour Party, Fabianism, the Suffragette movement, and leftism more generally.[5]

Founding of the LSE Labour Club, 1921 - 1945

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The overrepresentation of left-leaning academics and students at the School[6] made a distinct, independent Labour Society redundant. Instead, the University Labour Federation (ULF) established in 1921 operated at LSE.[7] The creation of LSE Marxist Society in April 1933 caused the creation of a national Federation of Student Societies (FSS), and the LSE branch of FSS secured the election of a socialist as president of LSESU in 1936.[7] The merger of ULF and FSS in 1936 incentivized LSE Labour to become an independent society in c. 1940.[8] Two student-run publications affiliated with LSE Labour were subsequently established in the 1940s: Student Observer and LSE Labour News.[9][10]

During LSE's evacuation to Cambridge between 1939-1945 LSE undergraduate Judith Hart, later Minister of Overseas Development in the Wilson and Callaghan Governments, became Secretary of the Cambridge University Labour Club.[11]

The LSE Troubles, 1965 - 1969

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The London School of Economics experienced severe student protests between 1966-9, and was the only UK university to actively participate in the Protests of 1968.[12]

LSE Labour was particularly influential in student activism during this time. In 1965 a section of LSE Labour seceded to found the LSE Socialist Society, an LSE branch of the Socialist Workers' Student Society.[13] The LSE Socialist Society took a leading role in organising protests at the LSE between 1966-9. [12] The appointment of Walter Addams, a former principal of the University College of Rhodesia, as Director in 1966 caused student protests led by LSESU, LSE Labour, and LSE Socialist Society. Membership of LSE Labour increased exponentially due to its involvement in the protests:[14] in 1967 52% of the student body 'supported the Labour Club', and another 9% 'other left-wing groups'.[5]

The 1968 LSESU election was subsequently contested between the chairmen of LSE Labour and LSE Socialist Society; LSE Labour's Christopher Pryce won the contest by 675 votes to 527.[15]

 
LSE Labour takes part in protest against Government policy on overseas student fees, 1979

London School of Economics Labour Society, c. 1969 -

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According to Bernard Crick, LSE Labour was perceived as "a kingdom to itself" by other London Labour Clubs, insular but securing distinctively influential speakers.[16] In the 1980s, LSE Labour was increasingly accused of careerism. [17]

In 2016 a member of LSE Labour was reported to the party's anti-semitism inquiry for claiming that "leading Zionists" wanted to take over LSESU. He subsequently apologised for the comment, and for "unwittingly appearing to endorse... anti-semitism"[18] In 2007, LSE Labour published leaflets summarising arguments for and against characterising LSE Palestine Society invitee Tony Greenstein as antisemitic. As a result, the Union of Jewish Students and the LSE Jewish Society subsequently accused LSE Labour of antisemitism.[19] In 2018 LSE Labour boycotted Westminster CLP over the decision to invite Chris Williamson, the Shadow Fire Minister accused of anti-semitism, to speak at its annual All-Members' Meeting.[20]

LSE Labour disaffiliated from Labour Students in 2019 as a result of claimed irregularities in that year's Labour Students elections.[21] It has continued to cooperate with Labour Students and engage with its events,[2] despite not officially rejoining. LSE Labour endorsed Rebecca Long-Bailey for leader and Dawn Butler for Deputy Leader at the 2020 Labour Party leadership election.[22][23] It has also advocated against the use of the term "Black and Minority Ethnic"[24], and the appointment of Angelina Jolie an LSE Visiting Professor.[25]

Several members of LSE Labour spoke at the 2024 Labour Party Conference, including LSESU General Secretary Tito Molokwu.[26]

Guest speakers hosted by LSE Labour since 2022 have included Emily Thornberry, Dawn Butler, and Chris Bryant.

Alumni

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Ed Miliband, Leader of the Labour Party, MSc Economics
 
Rachel Reeves, Chancellor of the Exchequer, MSc Economics

Notable LSE alumni affiliated to various degrees with LSE Labour include Ed Miliband, Yvette Cooper, Rachel Reeves, Margaret Hodge, Karen Buck, Stella Creasy, Spencer Livermore, Dave Prentis, Mary Creagh, Anneliese Dodds, William Beveridge, and Jo Cox.

Peers, MPs, MEPs:

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Current and former Members of UK Parliament:

Current and former MEPs

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Other affiliates:

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Academics and Activists

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Notable former chairs:

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Non-Alumni affiliates

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Clement Attlee and Ramsay MacDonald lectured at the LSE. In 1965 Bertrand Russel, at the time a lecturer at the LSE, delivered a lecture on pacifism and disarmament to LSE Labour. [30]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Labour and Co-operative". www.lsesu.com. Retrieved 2024-10-12.
  2. ^ a b "Find Your Local Club". Labour Students. Retrieved 2024-10-12.
  3. ^ a b Cole, Margaret; Caine, Sydney (1963). "The History of the Foundation of the London School of Economics and Political Science". The Economic Journal. 73 (292): 762. doi:10.2307/2228207. ISSN 0013-0133. JSTOR 2228207.
  4. ^ Donnelly, Sue. "Hammering out a new world – the Fabian Window at LSE" London School of Economics & Political Science Blogs. September 13th, 2017
  5. ^ a b Dahrendorf, Ralf (1995-05-18), "The School in Full Swing", LSE, Oxford University Press, pp. 398–485, doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198202400.003.0007, ISBN 978-0-19-820240-0, retrieved 2024-10-12
  6. ^ Cox, Michael (2019). "Red flag over Houghton Street? The radical tradition at LSE – myth, reality, fact".
  7. ^ a b Marwick, Arthur (1970). "Youth in Britain, 1920-1960: Detachment and Commitment". Journal of Contemporary History. 5 (1): 37–51. doi:10.1177/002200947000500103. ISSN 0022-0094. JSTOR 259979.
  8. ^ LSE Library (1947). "Minutes and executive committee minutes: LSE Labour, 1947-1952".
  9. ^ Labour Society, LSE (1950). LSE Labour News. LSE Library.
  10. ^ Labour Society, LSE (1947). Student Observer. LSE Library.
  11. ^ Ingham, Barbara; Mosley, Paul (2013-06-01). ""Marvellous Intellectual Feasts": Arthur Lewis at the London School of Economics, 1933–48". History of Political Economy. 45 (2): 187–221. doi:10.1215/00182702-2082685. ISSN 0018-2702.
  12. ^ a b Kidd, Harry (1969). The Trouble at the LSE 1966-7. London School of Economics and Political Science.
  13. ^ Shaw, Martin (2013). "A very British Marxist - and his son".
  14. ^ Ellis, Sylvia (1998), DeGroot, Gerard (ed.), "A Demonstration of British Good Sense? British Students during the Vietnam War", Student Protest, London: Longman, retrieved 2024-10-12
  15. ^ "Further agitation at the London School of Economics". Minerva. 7 (4): 812–822. 1969. doi:10.1007/bf01099552. ISSN 0026-4695.
  16. ^ Crick, Bernard (1989). Essays on Politics and Literature. Edinburgh University Press. ISBN 978-0-7486-0105-9. JSTOR 10.3366/j.ctvxcrft7.
  17. ^ a b Halsey, A. H. (1996), "Provincials and Professionals: The British Post-War Sociologists", No Discouragement, London: Palgrave Macmillan UK, pp. 43–58, doi:10.1007/978-1-349-25137-7_4, ISBN 978-0-333-67710-0, retrieved 2024-10-12
  18. ^ "Labour Party 'to extend scope of anti-Semitism inquiry'". BBC News. 2016-03-13. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
  19. ^ Greenstein, Tony (2007-05-31). "Vetting in practice". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-10-12.
  20. ^ "The Beaver". 2018-11-28. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
  21. ^ "Labour Students is Unfit for Purpose". tribunemag.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
  22. ^ "The Beaver". 2020-02-15. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
  23. ^ Rodgers, Sienna (2020-01-12). "Hundreds of Labour members urge MPs to put Dawn Butler on the ballot paper". LabourList. Retrieved 2024-10-12.
  24. ^ "The Beaver". 2018-02-07. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
  25. ^ Hurst, Greg (2016-05-27). "LSE criticised over Jolie 'gimmick'". www.thetimes.com. Retrieved 2024-10-12.
  26. ^ Penna, Dominic (2024-05-16). "Student who addressed Labour pledge-card launch went to fee-paying school". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2024-10-12.
  27. ^ "Harry Henry: director of the Thomson Organisation". www.thetimes.com. 2008-12-10. Retrieved 2024-10-12.
  28. ^ M. Stenton, S. Lees (1981). Who's Who of British MPs Vol. IV. Harvester Press.
  29. ^ Obituaries, Telegraph (2024-03-01). "Jeffrey Rose, RAC chief who modernised both the Pall Mall club and the breakdown service – obituary". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2024-10-12.
  30. ^ Grattan-Guinness, I. (2010). RUSSELL'S SPEECH AT THE LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS IN 1965: A NOTE ON A PARTIAL FILM RECORD. the Journal of Bertrand Russell Studies.
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