Fabian Society

The Fabian Society is a British socialist intellectual movement best known for its initial ground-breaking work beginning in the late 19th century and then up to World War I. The society laid many of the foundations of the Labour Party in this time-period and is still in existence today. Similar societies exist in Australia (see Australian Fabian Society) and New Zealand.

Legacy

Through the course of the 20th century the group has always been influential in Labour Party circles, with members including Ramsay MacDonald, Clement Attlee, Anthony Crosland, Richard Crossman, Tony Benn, Harold Wilson and more recently Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. The late Ben Pimlott served as its Chairman in the 1990s. The Society is affiliated to the Party as a Socialist Society.

Related Topics:
20th century - Ramsay MacDonald - Clement Attlee - Anthony Crosland - Richard Crossman - Tony Benn - Harold Wilson - Tony Blair - Gordon Brown - Ben Pimlott - Socialist Society

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In recent years the Young Fabian group, founded in 1960, has become an important networking and discussion organisation for younger (under-31) Labour Party activists and played a role in the 1994 election of Tony Blair as Labour Leader.

Related Topics:
1960 - 1994 - Tony Blair

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The society's 2004 annual report showed that there were 5,810 individual members (down 70 from the previous year), of whom 1,010 were Young Fabians, and 294 institutional subscribers, of which 31 were Constituency Labour Parties, co-operative societies, or trade unions, 190 were libraries, 58 corporate, and 15 other—making 6,104 members in total. The society's net assets were £86,057, its total income £486,456, and its total expenditure £475,425. There was an overall surplus for the year of £1,031.

Related Topics:
2004 - Young Fabians - Constituency Labour Parties - Co-operative - Trade union - Libraries

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The latest edition of the Dictionary of National Biography (a reference work listing details of famous or significant Britons throughout history) includes 174 Fabians.

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