The Workers Revolutionary Party (WRP) is a Trotskyist group established in the 1940s as 'The Club', a faction of the Revolutionary Communist PartyThis has no connection with Revolutionary Communist Party (1991-1997) advocating for entryist tactics in the Labour Party and trade unions. It became the Socialist Labour League in 1959 before changing its name to the WRP in 1973. The WRP still exists and publishes its daily paper, The News Line, online.
The party was infiltrated by HN303 'Peter Collins'HN303 'Peter Collins'‘Peter Collins’ is the cover name of a former undercover officer who joined the Special Demonstration Squad in 1973. He infiltrated the Workers Revolutionary Party (WRP) from January 1974 until 1977. Very unusually for an SDS undercover, he also infiltrated the far-right Legion of St George and National Front in 1975 at the behest of the WRP. He is dead and his real name has been restricted. and HN298' Michael Scott'HN298 'Michael Scott'‘Michael Scott’ is the assumed name of a former SDS undercover officer who infiltrated the Putney branch of the Young Liberals, Croydon anarchist group Commitment, the Little Ilford branch of the Workers Revolutionary Party and the central London branch of the Anti-Internment League between 1972 and 1976. In 1972, he did not reveal his true identity to the court when convicted alongside three anti-apartheid activists, leading to their convictions being overturned in 2023. The reliability of his testimony about the Young Liberals was challenged in the Inquiry by core participant Peter Hain. between 1973 and 1976, although there is also some SDS reporting after this. Two former members of the party, Liz LeicesterFirst Witness Statement of Elizabeth Leicester (non state core participant), given in the UCPI, Tranche 1, Phase 3, 11 Feb 2022.View Document and playwright Roy BattersbyFirst Witness Statement of Roy Battersby (non state core participant), given in the UCPI, Tranche 1, Phase 3, 11 Feb 2022.View Document, gave evidence to the Inquiry. This included Battersby's account of being blacklistedBlacklisting and Spying on Trade UnionsSpycops joined Trade Unions and spied upon trade unionists. SDS officer's also attended pickets, such as the Grunwick dispute in 1976. Undercover officers Mark Jenner and Carlo Sorrachi were amongst those who spied on trade unionists. Some information was passed on to employer blacklisting associations via the SDS. due to his work for the WRP.
Spearheaded by Gerry Healy and John Lawrence, WRP advocated 'entryist' tactics in the British Labour Party and trade unions. The WRP also published literature such as internal bulletins that amounted to book-length discussions of Marxist and communist dogma. It also published a magazine titled The Workers Press, which later changed its name to News Digest and then to Daily Newsline.
The party also had a chain of five bookshops and five youth training centres involving young people and a film production business. The WRP counted among their members many who were involved in the arts, most famously actor Vanessa Redgrave (now Dame Vanessa Redgrave) and her brother Corin. In 1973, one of these centres, 'The White House', was raided by police, reports by HN298 ‘Michael Scott’ report on the impact of this on the party’s security measures.
Much later, in 1985, Gerry Healy, one of the founders, was expelled from the party following allegations of sexual abuse.
Report on public meeting of Newham 8 Defence Campaign discussing the recent arrests of eight Asian youths, held at East Ham Town Hall E6 on 28 Oct 1982
Report on a public meeting of the Workers Revolutionary Party on 'The world significance of the PLO in Lebanon', held at Conway Hall on 6 Aug 1982, inc leaflet for WRP commemoration of the 42nd anniversary of Trotsky's death (attached)
MI5 Loose Minute enclosing briefs prepared ahead of meeting Commissioner Sir David McNee and Mr Kelland on how MI5 works with the Special Branch and the SDS in particular
MI5 Prime Ministerial briefing paper ‘The Threat of Subversion in the UK’, annotated by Thatcher, inc letter from Cabinet Secretary to the PM (attached)
MI5 note for policy file reporting meeting with DCI Ferguson to discuss how cooperation between F6 and SDS could be developed, held at MI5 offices on 22 Feb 1979
MI5 note for policy file reporting meeting with head of 'S' Squad to discuss operational overlap, training possibilities and communications security, held on 31 Jan 1978
Minutes of a meeting of the Interdepartmental Group on Subversion in Public Life discussing MI5 report 'The Threat of Subversion in the UK', held at Cabinet Office on 11 July 1977 (CAB 163-269)
Report on public meeting of the IMG in support of leaders of the American Socialist Workers’ Party, held at Friends House, Euston Road on 14 Jan 1977, inc cuttings from Observer, Red Weekly and News Line (attached)
Report on a public meeting of the Save Acton Hospital Campaign inc screening of IS film stopped due to adverse response, held at Woodlands Hall W3 on 13 April 1976
Report submitting Workers Revolutionary Party publications, thrice-weekly 'News Digest' and a sheet trailing a new newspaper 'Daily Newsline' (neither attached), and details of upcoming Mayday march
Letter from Special Branch to MI5 highlighting withdrawal of SB's source from Workers Revolutionary Party and enclosing SB report on Workers Revolutionary Party Education Centre in Derbyshire (attached)
Report on press conference by Workers Revolutionary Party to announce cessation of trading of Plough Press and publication 'Workers Press', held at WRP HQ in Clapham, 13 Feb 1976
Report on upcoming weekend school hosted by Workers Revolutionary Party for North and East London regions of WRP Young Socialists, to be held at White Meadows (aka Red House) Parwich, Derbyshire on 31 Jan and 1 Feb 1976
Report concerning personal details members of Hackney branches of the Workers Revolutionary Party and Young Socialists in response to letter from redacted source
Report on a public meeting of the Workers Revolutionary Party and All Trades Union Alliance to 'Protest against police raids and in defence of democratic rights', held at the Bloomsbury Centre, Coram Street WC1 on 13 Oct 1975
Report on an aggregate meeting of the WRP discussing the General Secretary's report on 'The campaign to defend the basic rights of the Party and the investigation into the police raids', held at Chelsea Town Hall on 6 Oct 1975
Minute sheet containing correspondence between various managers, including the Commander and DAC, discussing HN298's reporting on the WRP course in Derbyshire
Memo from Chief Inspector to Chief Superintendent requesting permission for HN298 to travel to a Workers Revolutionary Party education centre in Derbyshire to attend a course
Report on Special Delegate Conference of Workers Revolutionary Party (very detailed), held in London on 12-13 July 1975, inc numerous conference docs (not attached)
Report on meeting of East Ham Sub-District of Workers Revolutionary Party discussing Delegate Conference earlier the same day, held at redacted venue on 13 July 1975
Report on meeting of the Shrewsbury Two Action Committee, held under the aegis of the Workers Revolutionary Party at the Adelphi Hotel, Liverpool, on 29 June 1975, inc draft resolution (attached)
Report on conference of the Workers Revolutionary Party's 'Shrewsbury Two Action Committee', held at the Adelphi Hotel, Liverpool on 29 June 1975, inc draft resolution, national conference flyer and document prepared for Croydon Trades Council (attached)
Report on 5th National Conference of All Trades Union Alliance held under aegis of Workers Revolutionary Party and attended by representatives of unions inc policy docs, held at City Hall, Sheffield on 9 March 1975
Report on personal details of a member of the Central Committee of the Workers Revolutionary Party and National Committee of the All Trades Union Alliance
Report on employment details of E London Sub-district secretary of Workers Revolutionary Party who delivers milk to East Ham police station. Seriously.
Report on meeting of North London Sub-District Committee of Workers Revolutionary Party (very detailed, UCO clearly familiar with minutiae of top echelon), held at private residence on 15 Jan 1975
Report on the first conference of Workers Revolutionary Party (v detailed, HN303 highly familiar with internal workings), held at the Town Hall, Battersea SW11 on 15-17 Dec 1974
Report on meeting of Highbury section of Hackney branch of Workers Revolutionary Party discussing demo against 3 day week, held at redacted venue on 5 Jan 1974
Report on London aggregate meeting of Workers Revolutionary Party welcoming a large number of new young members, held at the Railway Training Centre, Wood Lane, White City on 13 Oct 1974
MI5 Note for File reporting meeting on current SDS structure, activity and management, held at New Scotland Yard on 30 Aug 1974, inc list of infiltrated groups (attached)
Report on upcoming production of Workers Revolutionary Party play about the Russian Revolution, ‘October’, in the hope it will increase attendance at their Mayday rally, inc leaflets
Report on meeting of Workers Revolutionary Party, main speaker general secretary Gerry Healey on 'Build the WRP – Demand Labour Gov carry out Socialist Policies', held at The Kings Arms pub, Wood Green High Rd on 19 Feb 1974
Report on meeting of Workers Revolutionary Party (North London) discussing demo and rally at Trafalgar Square that day, held at redacted venue N16 on 27 Nov 1974
Report on upcoming demo by Workers Revolutionary Party in support of striking miners, to be held from Speakers Corner to Trafalgar Square on 27 Jan 1974
