The 1988 schism that split British communism into two distinct paths

Countries & Cities · Published 12 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In 1988, a bitter internal struggle over trade unions and socialist theory fractured the Communist Party of Great Britain. This wasn't just a minor disagreement; it led to a formal split, creating the Communist Party of Britain. Today, it remains a Marxist-Leninist force defined by its specific ideological lineage.

The roots of the split lie in the 1960s, when pro-Soviet opposition groups criticized the Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB) leadership. These critics argued the party was focusing too heavily on trade unions and wasting resources on elections, which damaged its relationship with the Labour left. By the early 1980s, these tensions peaked over the influence of 'Eurocommunists'—who favored a move away from class-based politics—versus those who wanted to maintain a traditional Marxist-Leninist focus.

A pivotal moment occurred in 1982 involving the journal Marxism Today. A feature article critical of the labor movement sparked a public outcry in the Morning Star newspaper. The CPGB executive committee backed the Eurocommunist editors, leading to a series of disciplinary actions. By 1985, the CPGB leadership had expelled 18 members and dissolved several branches. Dissident members formed the Communist Campaign Group (CCG), which eventually announced the formation of the Communist Party of Britain (CPB) in April 1988.

The CPB distinguishes itself by claiming to be the 'refounded' CPGB, asserting continuity through its control of the Morning Star and its adherence to the 'British Road to Socialism.' While the original CPGB dissolved in 1991 to become the Democratic Left, the CPB maintained its Marxist-Leninist identity. In recent years, the party has shifted from supporting Jeremy Corbyn's Labour leadership in 2017 and 2019 to fielding 14 parliamentary candidates in the 2024 general election, achieving its best-ever result of 2,622 votes.

The party remains firmly anti-imperialist and anti-capitalist, attributing issues like climate change and war to the failings of capitalism. The organisation keeps fraternal ties with the governing bodies of Vietnam, Laos, China, and Cuba, while staying part of the International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties.

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