14.12.1995

Communist Unity Committee

From 'The Communist', paper of the Communist Party of Great Britain, December 16 1920

COMRADES: We address this statement and appeal to you in the hope of clearing away for all time those differences of opinion which have served to keep us apart in the past, thereby preventing the consolidation of the revolutionary forces in this country.

It is not our purpose either to explain or justify those differences, but simply to record the fact that our task has been much simplified by the recent Congress of the Third International. Those decisions prescribe for the world movement the basis upon which such efforts as ours should be founded, and constitute a clear and definite demand that a united Communist Party shall be established in Britain.

To this end the following organisations have assented to the proposals for the formation of a united Party and have elected representatives on the above committee: the Communist Party of Great Britain, the Communist Labour Party, the Communist Party (BSTI), the National Shop Stewards’ and Workers’ Committee (in a consultative capacity), and the Leftwing Group of the Independent Labour Party (in an informative capacity).

This committee has set about its task and has held its preliminary conference. We appreciate that the heartiest cooperation is essential if the united Party is to contain all the features which mark a real, live, revolutionary organisation. To this end we seek such assistance, and urge that all groups and bodies not yet in touch with the proceedings should communicate at once with the secretary, when the fullest information will be supplied. In the meantime we would counsel the closest observance of what is being done, thus ensuring that when the National Convention is called about the end of January the results will more than justify the hopes we place in that Convention.