MI5 and The Militant

The Miltant, or Militant Tendency or sometimes just The Tendency was formed in the UK by Ted Grant in 1964. However it remained a small sect until the rise of Thatcherism in the 1970s ushered in an era of rapid growth in which the membership grew to thousands. Mostly young people with revolutionary fervour looking to change the world. Called a cult by some, I was fifteen when I was earmarked to be recruited.

LPYS - Labour Party Young Socialist

Until the 1970s MI5 (Britain’s domestic secret police) were mainly concerned with the Communists and the IRA (Irish Republican Army). The Trotskyist movement, of which Militant was a member, were considered too small to be worried with. However, by 1984 MI5 had identified Militant as more of a threat to “democracy” than the Communists.

This threat was particularly heightened by the success that the organisation had in infiltrating the Labour Party. A 1976 MI5 report stated that Militant had influence in 90 Labour Party branches. At first, intelligence officers had difficulty getting information because Militant operated in a secretive fashion. At a Conference held in 1977 Tony Robinson, who was a Special Branch officer, hid in a cubby hole in order to spy on Militant.

MI5 HQ

By the late 1970s MI5, using a mix of eavesdropping, informants, telephone checks and agent penetration, had identified approximately 75% of it’s membership. Yet, even still MI5’s assessment was that due to its “clandestine” nature it was hard to get absolute knowledge.

Militant’s presence in the Labour Party allowed it to achieve several successes during the 1980s. It had significant influence on the Labour-led Liverpool City Council and the Council’s Deputy Leader, Derek Hatton, a Militant member, became a household name.

Derek Hatton

Three Militant members were also elected as Labour MPs – Dave Nellist and Terry Fields at the 1983 General Election, and Pat Wall in 1987. We don’t have any MI5 records showing the surveillance of Miltant MP’s, but we do have admittances by multiple parties that such records were kept.

Dave Nellist

To be part of this, something successful, felt good. I felt a pride perhaps akin to feelings of nationalism. I got to share a platform with MPs. It also felt at the time like we were just going from strength to strength. Having attended these meetings I can testify that revolution was promised us youngsters in five, ten, fifteen years time!

In the mid-1980s, the authorities also expressed concern about Militant activists’ influence in Civil Service unions. In 1985, the Cabinet Secretary, Sir Robert Armstrong, wrote that Militant’s activities represented a ‘new and disturbing form of subversion’; unlike Communists, Militant members did not threaten the security of secret information, but instead threatened to disrupt the effective operation of government.

A Whitehall investigation found that Militant members were “active and adept at exploiting real or imagined grievances amongst [Civil Service] staff.” They were considered a greater threat than other Trotskyists in the Civil Service due to their organisational capabilities and their stronghold in some Civil Service unions, particularly the CPSA.

Trotsky

All government departments were subsequently required to work with MI5 to produce an up-to-date list of subversives working within the Civil Service. Each department was advised to develop procedures to ensure;

subversives are not posted to work in Key Areas...[and] persistent troublemakers, whether members of subversive organisations or not, are identified and removed from work in Key Areas.

That Service management should “be very ready to sack subversive troublemakers if they showed any cause under the Civil Service rules” came straight from Margaret Thatcher herself.

Following this a media frenzy ensured as the Labour Party conducted witch hunts and expulsions of Militant members. It is hard to find it creditable that this was not on the instruction from MI5 advice. Records show they then reduced surveillance feeling the threat to now be "limited".

However, that wasn’t the end of Militant's story. We were now an army that was dedicated, disciplined and unified. At my young age I didn’t understand why working in the Labour Party was important or not. I enjoyed the education that was afforded. As well as the social life.

I also developed skills such as public speaking and writing and publishing material. I could also see potential when it arose. So when the Tory government introduced the Poll Tax I saw it as the opportunity for rebellion it became.

The Poll Tax was intended to replace a tax on the value of your home with an even more regressive tax – a tax on the number of occupants. Therefore a poor family having to share overcrowded accommodation would pay more than “a rich man in his castle”. The stark unfairness and inequality combined with a stark threat of great financial loss was enough to galvanise the workers into action. All that was needed was an organising body to help lead the way. Militant.

The Tory’s first mistake was to launch it in Scotland. Militant had a firm presence in Scotland, a strong working class tradition, combined with a distrust and rebellious history towards the English. The Scottish Anti-Poll Tax Union was set up in 1989 and was led by the charismatic Tommy Sheridan, who ranks for me as one of the best live public speakers I’ve ever heard.

Tommy Sheridan

As a member, or comrade, I helped organise meetings throughout numerous council wards assisting in creating a network united by one simple common tactic – non-payment. This is what a true peoples revolt looks like. I took part in huge demonstrations including the riot in Trafalger Square. Court convictions and imprisonments took place, including that of Tommy Sheridan. In the end I believe it is fair to say that Militant was the key component in bringing together and coalescing a campaign of non-payment. The campaign was a success and forced the Iron Lady to turn, and indeed played a part in her downfall.

Not long following this success the Militant split. Things were never the same after that. I have often wondered what MI5 might have done to sow discord. I miss being part of something bigger, I miss the comradeship, a sense of community. I did learn a lot from being a member of Militant. Most importantly I learnt that changing things is possible if you are determined enough and have the right tactics.