Socialist Society (Labour Party)

Socialist Society (Labour Party)

A socialist society is a membership organisation 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 and deputy leaders, have delegates and votes at Annual Conference.

Socialist societies also elect a delegate (currently Conor McGinn from the Labour Party Irish Society) to the Labour National Executive Committee and can affiliate at a local level to Constituency Labour Parties. A second seat was alloted to the BAME Labour in early 2007, when its membership rose above 2,500. The Socialist Societies also elect three representatives to the National Policy Forum, currently Emma Burnell (Labour Housing Group), Martin Rathfelder (Socialist Health Association) and Helen Gibson (Labour Students). Since the 2011 refounding Labour process seats on the NPF have also been allocated to LGBT Labour and the Labour disabled Members' Group.

The socialist societies are also involved in the Labour Party's policy reviews.

The work of the Socialist Societies is co-ordinated by the Socialist Societies Executive. This is a regular meeting of the chairs and key officers of all the societies to share ideas and co-ordinate work. These meetings also co-ordinate regular meetings with senior Labour Party officials and MPs.

As a collective the societies try and co-ordinate campaigning work and hold a joint event at Labour Party conference.

A small groups of officers are elected to co-ordinate this work. For 2012-13 these are:

• Chair - Neil Nerva (Jewish Labour Movement)
• Vice-chair (Development) - James Asser (LGBT Labour)
• Vice-chair (Policy) - Ash McGregor (Chinese for Labour)
• Secretary - Emma Burnell (Labour Housing Group)
• Treasurer - Martin Dore (Socialist Educational Association)