The Brink

What is Militant, and why is it so controversial?

Published: 27 January 2020 at 13:18 UTC

Listen on

Episode notes

For many in the Labour Party, Liverpool became a cautionary tale of what happens when you dare to be too left-wing.

The story of Militant was a warning about the dangers of entryism - how an organisation within a party can come close to taking over the party itself.

Julia Rampen travels back to 1980s Liverpool to look at the most controversial group in British politics.

In this episode, she speaks to former Militant members, Felicity Dowling and Lesley Mahmood, and journalist and author Michael Crick.

Presented and produced by Julia Rampen

Edited by Daniel J. McLaughlin