The Socialist Union was a British political party active from February 1886 to 1888.

The group was formed by socialists around C. L. Fitzgerald who left the Social Democratic Federation (SDF) in protest at SDF leader H. M. Hyndman's acceptance of money which Maltman Barry had obtained from the Conservative Party, in order to campaign against the Liberal Party. The group published a newspaper, The Socialist. It succeeded in gaining the support of the Bristol Socialist Society, but elsewhere, membership was small.

Socialist Union (UK)

The group disbanded in 1887. James MacDonald, a prominent leader, rejoined the SDF, after Hyndman promised never again to accept money from bourgeois politicians. Other notable members of the group included future Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald.

Socialist Union (UK)

References

Social Democratic Federation breakaway groups

1880s in the United Kingdom

1886 establishments in the United Kingdom

1888 disestablishments in the United Kingdom

Political parties established in 1886

Political parties disestablished in 1888

Defunct socialist parties in the United Kingdom

Socialist Union (UK)