Party & Programme > Democratic centralism
The long view
29 Mar 2012
Communists must be patient, writes Paul Demarty, avoiding the twins of opportunism and adventurism
Our joint key amendments
13 Nov 2025
Avoid the quota trap
13 Nov 2025
Conference will be a pseudo-democratic stitch-up. A rally with star speakers, lots of clapping and the occasional Zoom vote. Carla Roberts reports on those who, no matter what their differences, want to do things differently
The party and the hangover
13 Nov 2025
Zohran Mamdani’s victory in New York’s mayoral election is well-deserved and rightly celebrated. But the American left must insist on accountability, writes Paul Demarty
Misleadership control-freakery
06 Nov 2025
Legal threats, secrecy, tightly controlled regional assemblies and sheer incompetence has repelled many. However, the left seems to be getting its act together, says Carla Roberts
False party concepts
30 Oct 2025
Left organisations which stand for managerialist organisational conceptions function as actual outworks of the fortifications of capitalist rule. Mike Macnair criticises the Cliffite SWP and the Grantite RCP
A study in control freakery
23 Oct 2025
The four founding documents need at the very least serious revision. However, there are no official channels whereby members and branches can exert an influence, let alone take control, says Carla Roberts
Another fine mess
16 Oct 2025
At the top there is secrecy and there is bungling. Comrades need to get organised on a serious and principled basis, says Carla Roberts. Chasing unity for unity’s sake can only but result in fudge and confusion
Probabilities, not certainties
02 Oct 2025
Should we refuse to take sides against our own ruling class because we lack absolute theoretical certainty? Should we downgrade the centrality of programme for diplomatic unity? Mike Macnair answers Jaques de Fouw
Neither king nor empress
02 Oct 2025
There is no reason to take sides in what is an unsavoury power struggle between MPs. Meanwhile, Jack Conrad warns of an impending anti-left witch-hunt and calls for the left to unite around programme and principle
Civil war continues
25 Sep 2025
Stay well clear of efforts to ‘save’ Your Party’s launch conference by a self-appointed clique intent on staging their own coup, says Carla Roberts. Instead rely on members, branches, STV elections and democracy
Straight from Momentum playbook
18 Sep 2025
Branches are to be ignored and the mass of members treated to token regional meetings and pointless break‑out sessions. Carla Roberts examines the plans for November’s founding conference
Tailing the tailists
11 Sep 2025
We are for the existence of factions where there are substantive differences. They can aid political clarity and the educational quality of debates. But what Carla Roberts proposes is that the CPGB should follow the standard far-left path. This is liquidationist, argues Mike Macnair
Reject this dog’s dinner
11 Sep 2025
Team Corbyn is postponing the launch conference. When it eventually happens, participants will be chosen by lot, things will be run under tight control and serious debate will not get a look-in, says Carla Roberts
Make the party now!
28 Aug 2025
Resolution unanimously agreed at the August 24 aggregate of CPGB members and invited supporters
Civility and its discontents
10 Jul 2025
Lessons from Martin Luther and the Hobbesian demand for speech controls. Can we build a workable communist movement without ruthless truthfulness, even at the cost of giving offence? Paul Demarty thinks no