Description

Admin History:

The New Left in Britain developed out of an internal controversy within the Communist Party of Great Britain. In 1956, the Communist Party's handling of the debate around Soviet Union's invasion of Hungary and Kruschev's 'Secret Speech' led many to question the Soviet Union's methods. Two party members, both academics, argued that there should be discussion of the issue and began to publish a discussion journal, 'The Reasoner' in contravention of Party wishes. These two academics, John Saville and E.P. Thompson, were given an ultimatum to cease publication or they would be expelled from the Party. They issued a joint statement resigning their membership. A number of likeminded individuals also resigned over the issue. Saville and Thompson went on to publish a sequel to 'The Reasoner', titled 'The New Reasoner' which became a rallying point for discussion amongst members of the British New Left. 'The Rhyming Reasoner' was a friendly satire of 'The Reasoner' which was created by W. McGonagall.

Description:

Contains issues of 'The New Reasoner' [U DP210/1] and 'The Rhyming Reasoner' [U DP219/2], both of which were created by members of the New Left in Britain following the 1956 controversy within the Communist Party of Great Britain which arose over the question of free speech in the wake of the Hungarian Invasion and Kruschev's 'Secret Speech'