The ILP had branches across Britain. In some places, it was not only strong but influential.

On a day that saw around two million workers from 29 trade unions take strike action in defence of their pensions, thousands gathered at rallies around the UK on Wednesday 30 November.

Part two of the ILP’s interview with Maurice Glasman, the social thinker most closely associated with the ideas around ‘Blue Labour’, and one of Labour leader Ed Miliband’s most influential advisers.

Glasman is a senior lecturer in political theory at London Metropolitan University and a former community organiser with London Citizens. He was made a peer by Miliband in February this year.

Socialism did not begin with the ILP. But the ILP created a unique blend of socialism. Not only did it achieve independent representation for labour and links with the trade unions, it also worked outside the formal political structures.

From the beginning, the ILP accepted women and men as equal members and, as early as 1895, it supported the extension of the vote to both women and men.

In the 18th century the US produced a Declaration of Independence. Today we need to declare our interdependence, says BARRY WINTER, and this should be a guiding feature of the world we live in.

A dozen or so experienced politicos from across the north met at Sowerby Bridge Station one Friday earlier this month to set up ‘The Hannah Mitchell Foundation’, a think tank for northern socialists named after an old ILPer.

The Leeds Summat Gathering 2011 is a free, all-day event for people from all walks of life across Leeds and the North.

The second of six instalments from The ILP: Past & Present covering ethical socialism, the Labour Party, the women’s suffrage movement, and the onset of World War One.

The first of a two-part interview with Maurice Glasman, the social thinker most closely associated with ideas around ‘Blue Labour’ and one of Labour leader Ed Miliband’s most influential advisers.