| Campaign for Socialism | |
| Colorcode: |
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| Country: | Scotland |
| Abbreviation: | CfS |
| Secretary: | Peter Duffy |
| Headquarters: | Glasgow |
| Newspaper: | The Citizen |
| Membership: | 600 |
| Membership Year: | 2024 |
| Leader1 Title: | Co-Chair |
| Leader2 Title: | Treasurer |
| Leader2 Name: | Frieda Park |
| Website: | [{http://www.campaignforsocialism.org.uk/}] |
| Affiliation1 Title: | UK affiliate |
| Affiliation1: | Momentum |
| Position: | Left-wing |
| National: | Scottish Labour |
| Seats1 Title: | Endorsed MSPs |
| Seats2 Title: | Endorsed MPs |
Campaign for Socialism (CfS) is an autonomous political organisation of Scottish Labour Party members and supporters who campaign for left-wing policies and candidates within the party.[1] In 2016, CfS agreed to a joint membership scheme with Momentum, a UK-wide grassroots movement supportive of Jeremy Corbyn and his leadership of the Labour Party.[2] [3]
CfS was originally established in 1994 to campaign against the removal of Clause IV from the Labour Party's constitution.[4] By 2012, it was one of the only remaining ideological-based groupings in the party but Gerry Hassan and Eric Shaw, writing that year, claimed that CfS "has few members, little organisational presence and has had a negligible influence on the direction of the party".[5]
CfS played a key role in organising Neil Findlay and Katy Clark's leadership bid in the 2014 Scottish Labour leadership election. Though unsuccessful, CfS claims the campaign "built the foundations for Jeremy [Corbyn]'s campaign just a few months later" by "giving many new, young volunteers experience and a network of contacts across the country that would help quickly mobilise an effective campaign".[6]
In 2016, Scottish Labour Young Socialists founded in 2015[7] became CfS's official youth wing.[8]
In 2017, five CfS members won seats on the Scottish Labour Party's national executive. They called for the then Scottish Labour leader, Kezia Dugdale, to pursue a socialist agenda and work more closely with Jeremy Corbyn's team.[9]
CfS endorsed[10] Richard Leonard to be the next leader of Scottish Labour following the resignation of Kezia Dugdale in August 2017. Leonard went on to win the leadership with 56.7% of the vote.[11]
In the 2021 Scottish Labour leadership election the CfS endorsed Monica Lennon to be the next leader of Scottish Labour following Richard Leonard's resignation in January 2021.[12] She lost the election to Anas Sarwar, gaining 42.4% of the vote to his 57.6%.[13]
Notable members of CfS include: former Convenors Elaine Smith MSP and Neil Findlay MSP, former MPs Danielle Rowley and Hugh Gaffney (2017–2019), and Baroness Pauline Bryan.