Workers Party of Britain
The Workers Party of Britain (WPB), also called the Workers Party of Great Britain (WPGB) or Workers Party GB,[12][13][14] is a socialist and socially conservative political party in the United Kingdom, led by and identified with politician George Galloway. The party, founded in 2019, secured a parliamentary seat when Galloway won the February 2024 Rochdale by-election.
Not to be confused with Socialist Workers Party (UK).
Workers Party of Britain
Andy Hudd
Chris Williamson
Peter Ford
George Galloway
December 2019
91 Church Road
Birmingham
B13 9AE[1]
2,962[2]
History[edit]
Foundation and early activities[edit]
The Workers Party of Britain was founded in response to the Labour Party's landslide defeat at the 2019 United Kingdom general election and the resignation of Jeremy Corbyn as Leader of the Labour Party.[15] The founding of the Workers Party of Britain was welcomed by the Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist–Leninist) (CPGB-ML).[16][4] Joti Brar, a vice-chair of the CPGB-ML, was elected as the Workers Party of Britain's deputy leader at its founding congress.[16][4] In March 2021, the party stood its first candidate for elected office, Paul Burrows, in the by-election for Helensburgh and Lomond South ward on Argyll and Bute Council.[17] Burrows came last out of six, gaining 22 votes (0.9%).[18] In the 2021 United Kingdom local elections, the party stood more than 40 candidates for local elections in England.
Ideology and platform[edit]
The party identifies as a socialist, working class party, which aims for "a redistribution of wealth and power in favour of working people".[55] It describes itself as "economically radical" and "committed to class politics".[56][57] It has expressed support for a planned economy. The party's platform is outlined in its 10-point plan, in which it advocates "rebuilding British industry", universal "decent housing", "free or cheap" public transportation and an end to NHS waiting lists.[55] It advocates for referenda on net zero emissions policies and the future of the British monarchy. Its manifesto states: "The transition to a Green economy should be at a pace that matches the ability of our population to afford it. We will not be seduced by the more apocalyptic Green hysteria that floods our media but we will seek rational debate centred on democratically aligned outcomes beneficial to workers".[58]
The party has been defined as socially conservative, for example rejecting gender self-identification,[4] and party leader George Galloway describes himself as such.[59] Galloway said the party was "the working-class patriotic alternative to fake woke anti-British 'Labour'".[60] In May 2024, Galloway told Novara Media that same-sex relationships are not "normal", while Bolton WPB candidate, Sajid Pathan, refused to comment on this question.[61]
The party is opposed to NATO and European Union membership, with a policy of withdrawing Britain from NATO.[62][55] In a statement it said it "is unequivocal in its support for the Palestinian liberation struggle and opposition to Zionism as a violently racist ideology".[63][64] Its website states that the party will "withdraw all military support from war zones and work for a negotiated and peaceful settlement whenever and wherever war breaks out".[58] During the week of Galloway's by-election win, a Workers Party delegation was taking part in the World Festival of Youth in Russia.[65]
During the 2024 general election, the party launched its first election manifesto, with promises to improve "poverty pay" and provide more social housing.[66] It pledges the renationalisation of utility companies, free school meals for all children without means testing, free adult education, and to hold a referendum on the continued existence of the monarchy and proportional representation for elections.[67] The overhaul arts funding was also noted, to make space for working-class communities.[68]
The party has been referred to as "climate sceptical" and as "strongly downplaying the human impact of two hundred years of industrialisation and greenhouse gas emissions" in terms of its stance regarding how to respond to climate change.[69]