The Socialist Alliance was a far left electoral alliance in England in existence between 1992 and 2005.

Origins

The alliance grew out of local Socialist Alliances, many of which ran in elections as the United Socialists. These were formed by the Socialist Party of England and Wales, Alliance for Workers' Liberty, Independent Labour Network and independent socialists, from 1992 onwards. The Welsh Socialist Alliance was closely allied to the SA but had separate origins.

The Socialist Alliance was expanded in 1999, when other Trotskyist groups including the Socialist Workers Party and Workers Power joined. In the 2002 local elections , the alliance gained one councillor in Preston. The Socialist Alliance had fraternal relations with the Scottish Socialist Party.

Contraction and dissolution

The Socialist Alliance was been riven by feuds, mostly concerning the behaviour of the Socialist Workers Party, which was by far the largest group participating in the Alliance, and which many felt dominated it. The Socialist Party of England and Wales left the Alliance in 2001, while Workers Power left in 2003.

In 2003 the SWP, supported by the ISG, led the SA into an alliance with George Galloway and other figures involved in the Stop the War Coalition to form the RESPECT Unity Coalition. A sizeable minority of the SA objected to the way this decision was carried out and argued that the SWP were using their block vote to push their line. Many of these dissidented object to RESPECT on principle, and all objected to the way the decision to join it was carried out, many forming the Socialist Alliance Democracy Platform .

In late 2004, some SA member organizations, which remained outside RESPECT, joined with the Socialist Party and the Alliance for Green Socialism to establish the Socialist Green Unity Coalition.

The SA was wound up in February 2005, having been moribund for about a year.

List of organisations that supported the Socialist Alliance

• Alliance for Workers' Liberty
• Communist Party of Great Britain (PCC)
• Democratic Labour Party
• International Socialist Group
• International Socialist League
• Lewisham Independent Socialists
• Red Action (left 2001)
• Revolutionary Democratic Group
• Socialist Party of England and Wales (left 2001)
• Socialist Perspectives
• Socialist Solidarity Network
• Socialist Workers Party
• Workers International
• Workers Power (left 2003)

External Links

• Socialist Alliance Democracy Platform
• People Before Profit SA 2001 Election Platform 1.6Mb PDF
• 2001 Official UK Electoral Commission Report on the 2001 General Election
• Socialist Unity Network