Young Fabians
Encyclopedia
The Young Fabians is the under 31 years of age section of the Fabian Society
, a socialist society in the United Kingdom
.
entry for full details). For example HG Wells was 27 when he joined the Committee as was George Bernard Shaw
. However, by the middle of the 20th century, the average age of active members was relatively elderly. In order to encourage more young people to join the society, a Young Fabian Group was proposed.
The Young Fabian Group for members of the Fabian society 30 years of age or younger was officially convened in May 1960 at a meeting organised by Fabian Society assistant General Secretary, Dick Leonard.
From small beginnings, the Young Fabians produced a steady stream of pamphlets through the 1960s and 1970s, and produced some 50 by 1980.
The Young Fabians became less prominent during the 1980s while the Labour Party re-organised its youth wing, partly based on a template set out in a Young Fabian pamphlet.
However, in the early 1990s, the group underwent a revival and played an important role in the discussion of the next stage of modernisation within the Labour Party
. In 1994, members of the Young Fabians were part of the campaign to elect Tony Blair
leader of the party and then the campaign to change Clause IV
, although the group itself took no formal position on these issues.
In recent years several controversial pamphlets have been produced including "Students as citizens" which advocated granting more choice to university students and "The Case for Socialism" which set out the socialist themes and actions of the Government of Tony Blair
. The most recent pamphlet, number 55, was on the rise of the far right in British Politics.
The Group's magazine Anticipations, named after the title of an essay by HG Wells, was founded in 1996. It was originally edited by Liam Byrne
, Tom Happold
, Mark Leonard and Emma Beswick.
Unlike other youth socialist groups, the Young Fabians has maintained this position of neutrality on policy issues, upholding the Fabian Society principle that its role is merely to determine whether a matter or position is suitable for discussion, not to take a group position on an issue. This has helped the group survive through many changes in the Labour Party without being identified as part of the left or right wing factions.
Along with the Fabian Society the Young Fabians is affiliated to the Labour Party
and indeed has the right to appoint one member to the Executive Committee of Young Labour. However, non-members of the Labour Party, who are members of other political parties, are able to join the group as non-voting members.
The Young Fabians also fills the gap between student politics and mainstream Labour Party politics, a gap which is filled in the Liberal Democrat and Conservative Party structures by having youth wings which include graduates up to the age of 30.
, Peter Mandelson
, Jack Straw
, Stephen Twigg
, Ann Taylor
, John Mann
, Phil Woolas
, Oona King
, Lorna Fitzsimons
, Paul Richards, Tom Watson
, Liam Byrne
, Stella Creasy
, Sunder Katwala
and Mark Leonard.
. It also holds regular social events and the annual boat party on the Thames has become a popular fixture in the Westminster calendar. The current Chair is Adrian Prandle, and details of other executive members are available on the website.
Fabian Society
The Fabian Society is a British socialist movement, whose purpose is to advance the principles of democratic socialism via gradualist and reformist, rather than revolutionary, means. It is best known for its initial ground-breaking work beginning late in the 19th century and continuing up to World...
, a socialist society in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
History
The Fabian Society was founded by a group of young idealists in the late 19th century (see Fabian SocietyFabian Society
The Fabian Society is a British socialist movement, whose purpose is to advance the principles of democratic socialism via gradualist and reformist, rather than revolutionary, means. It is best known for its initial ground-breaking work beginning late in the 19th century and continuing up to World...
entry for full details). For example HG Wells was 27 when he joined the Committee as was George Bernard Shaw
George Bernard Shaw
George Bernard Shaw was an Irish playwright and a co-founder of the London School of Economics. Although his first profitable writing was music and literary criticism, in which capacity he wrote many highly articulate pieces of journalism, his main talent was for drama, and he wrote more than 60...
. However, by the middle of the 20th century, the average age of active members was relatively elderly. In order to encourage more young people to join the society, a Young Fabian Group was proposed.
The Young Fabian Group for members of the Fabian society 30 years of age or younger was officially convened in May 1960 at a meeting organised by Fabian Society assistant General Secretary, Dick Leonard.
From small beginnings, the Young Fabians produced a steady stream of pamphlets through the 1960s and 1970s, and produced some 50 by 1980.
The Young Fabians became less prominent during the 1980s while the Labour Party re-organised its youth wing, partly based on a template set out in a Young Fabian pamphlet.
However, in the early 1990s, the group underwent a revival and played an important role in the discussion of the next stage of modernisation within the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
. In 1994, members of the Young Fabians were part of the campaign to elect Tony Blair
Tony Blair
Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
leader of the party and then the campaign to change Clause IV
Clause IV
Clause IV historically refers to part of the 1918 text of the British Labour Party constitution which set out the aims and values of the party. Before its revision in 1995, its application was the subject of considerable dispute.-Text:...
, although the group itself took no formal position on these issues.
In recent years several controversial pamphlets have been produced including "Students as citizens" which advocated granting more choice to university students and "The Case for Socialism" which set out the socialist themes and actions of the Government of Tony Blair
Tony Blair
Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
. The most recent pamphlet, number 55, was on the rise of the far right in British Politics.
The Group's magazine Anticipations, named after the title of an essay by HG Wells, was founded in 1996. It was originally edited by Liam Byrne
Liam Byrne
Liam Dominic Byrne is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Birmingham Hodge Hill since 2004, and was the Chief Secretary to the Treasury from 2009 to 2010 before being appointed Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on 20 January 2011.-Early...
, Tom Happold
Tom Happold
Tom Happold is Head of Multimedia of Guardian News Media. He previously worked on the BBC Ten O'clock News and Channel 4 News. He was previously Deputy Editor of Comment is free.-External links:...
, Mark Leonard and Emma Beswick.
Political position
The Young Fabians' initial statement of purpose was to avoid commitment to any one brand of socialism and to provide a "forum for different points of view within the left," a commitment which continues more than 40 years later.Unlike other youth socialist groups, the Young Fabians has maintained this position of neutrality on policy issues, upholding the Fabian Society principle that its role is merely to determine whether a matter or position is suitable for discussion, not to take a group position on an issue. This has helped the group survive through many changes in the Labour Party without being identified as part of the left or right wing factions.
Along with the Fabian Society the Young Fabians is affiliated to the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
and indeed has the right to appoint one member to the Executive Committee of Young Labour. However, non-members of the Labour Party, who are members of other political parties, are able to join the group as non-voting members.
The importance of the Young Fabians
The book The Modernisers' Dilemma cites the Young Fabians as one of the most important groups within the Labour Party. As an organised network of younger, generally well educated party members, often researchers or academics, the Young Fabians is one of the main social and informal networks through which political activity is carried out. However, by taking no formal policy stance, the Young Fabians has been able to include both supporters and sceptics of the current Labour Government.The Young Fabians also fills the gap between student politics and mainstream Labour Party politics, a gap which is filled in the Liberal Democrat and Conservative Party structures by having youth wings which include graduates up to the age of 30.
Young Fabian alumni
Young Fabian alumni include: Professor Colin Crouch, Brian Lapping, Howard Glennerster, Giles Radice, Conrad Russell, Michael CrickMichael Crick
Michael Crick is a British journalist, author and broadcaster. Crick was a founding member of the Channel 4 News Team in 1982. He worked on the BBC's Newsnight between 1992 and 2011, acting as the programme's political editor from 2007 to his departure...
, Peter Mandelson
Peter Mandelson
Peter Benjamin Mandelson, Baron Mandelson, PC is a British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Hartlepool from 1992 to 2004, served in a number of Cabinet positions under both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, and was a European Commissioner...
, Jack Straw
Jack Straw (politician)
John Whitaker Straw is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Blackburn since 1979. He served as Home Secretary from 1997 to 2001, Foreign Secretary from 2001 to 2006 and Lord Privy Seal and Leader of the House of Commons from 2006 to 2007 under Tony Blair...
, Stephen Twigg
Stephen Twigg
Stephen Twigg is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Labour Co-operative Member of Parliament for Liverpool West Derby since 2010. He previously served as the Member of Parliament for Enfield Southgate from 1997 to 2005, when he lost his seat. He came to national prominence in 1997...
, Ann Taylor
Ann Taylor, Baroness Taylor of Bolton
Winifred Ann Taylor, Baroness Taylor of Bolton, PC is a British Labour Party politician, who was Minister for International Defence and Security, based at both the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, from October 2008 until 11 May 2010.-Member of Parliament:Taylor was the...
, John Mann
John Mann (politician)
John Mann is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Bassetlaw since 2001, after the retirement of previous MP Joe Ashton.John Mann serves on the Treasury Select Committee...
, Phil Woolas
Phil Woolas
Philip James Woolas was a British Labour Party politician who was the Member of Parliament for Oldham East and Saddleworth from his election in 1997 to 2010. He was the Minister of State for Borders and Immigration in the Home Office, as well as being the Minister of State for the Treasury...
, Oona King
Oona King
Oona Tamsyn King, Baroness King of Bow is a Baroness and Member of the House of Lords, and former Chief Diversity Officer of Channel 4. She previously had served as a Labour Party Member of Parliament for Bethnal Green and Bow from 1997 until 2005, when she was defeated by Respect candidate George...
, Lorna Fitzsimons
Lorna Fitzsimons
Lorna Fitzsimons is a British politician. A member of the Labour Party, she served as a Member of Parliament representing the constituency of Rochdale from 1997 to 2005.-Early life:...
, Paul Richards, Tom Watson
Tom Watson (politician)
Thomas Anthony Watson is a British Labour Party politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for West Bromwich East since 2001. Watson was a Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office from 2008 to 2009...
, Liam Byrne
Liam Byrne
Liam Dominic Byrne is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Birmingham Hodge Hill since 2004, and was the Chief Secretary to the Treasury from 2009 to 2010 before being appointed Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on 20 January 2011.-Early...
, Stella Creasy
Stella Creasy
Dr Stella Judith Creasy is a British Labour Co-operative politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Walthamstow since 2010.-Education:...
, Sunder Katwala
Sunder Katwala
Sunder Katwala is a British political activist and former general secretary of the Fabian Society. He was previously with The Observer newspaper, as a leader writer and internet editor, and was Research Director of The Foreign Policy Centre think-tank from 1999 to 2001...
and Mark Leonard.
The Young Fabians today
Since 1994, the Young Fabians has grown to more than 1,400 members. It currently holds a series of events including policy seminars, debates and receptions in foreign embassies, recent campaigning visits to Ohio for the 2008 Presidential election and Sweden for the 2010 general election, and publishes the quarterly magazine AnticipationsAnticipations
Anticipations is the magazine of the Young Fabians, the under-31 section of the Fabian Society.The magazine was founded in 1996, however the group only produced one edition. It was re-formatted and re-launched the following year and since then had published three or four editions per year.The title...
. It also holds regular social events and the annual boat party on the Thames has become a popular fixture in the Westminster calendar. The current Chair is Adrian Prandle, and details of other executive members are available on the website.
Young Fabian Chairs
Chairs of the Young Fabians are elected at the November AGM and hold office for one year. Recent Chairs have included:- 1993-1994 Katherine Edwards
- 1994-1995 Darren Kalynuk
- 1995-1996 Emma Beswick
- 1996-1997 Tom HappoldTom HappoldTom Happold is Head of Multimedia of Guardian News Media. He previously worked on the BBC Ten O'clock News and Channel 4 News. He was previously Deputy Editor of Comment is free.-External links:...
- 1997-1998 Peter Metcalfe
- 1998-1999 Howard Dawber
- 1999-2000 Seema Malhotra
- 2000-2001 Mari Williams
- 2001-2002 Guy Lodge
- 2002-2003 James Connal
- 2003-2004 Jessica Asato
- 2004-2005 Kevin Bonavia
- 2005-2006 Prema Gurunathan
- 2006-2007 Conor McGinnConor McGinnConor Patrick McGinn is a County Armagh-born politician who is Chair of the Labour Party Irish SocietyHe stood as a Labour candidate in Mildmay ward, London Borough of Islington in May 2006, but narrowly lost to the Liberal Democrats by less than 100 votes....
- 2007-2008 Mark Rusling
- 2008-2009 Kate Groucutt
- 2009-2010 David ChaplinDavid ChaplinDavid Chaplin was Chair of the Young Fabians from 2009–2010 and he is a British Labour Party blogger and commentator. In 2010 he was elected to the Fabian Society Executive Committee....
- 2010-2011 Adrian Prandle
- 2011-2012 Sara Ibrahim