Acid Horizon Comrade Delta: Organisation, Theory, and the Failure of Britain's Biggest Revolutionary Party
Jan 10, 2026
David Renton, a historian and author, and Elane Heffernan, a former SWP member and activist, dive deep into the fallout of the Socialist Workers Party's infamous scandal. They explore the party's historical allure and the toxic culture that led to its decline, particularly its treatment of sexual assault complaints. Elane shares her personal journey of disillusionment, while David highlights structural issues and the failure to confront feminism’s role. Together, they discuss practical reforms for political organizations to prevent such failures in the future.
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SWP's Rise Through Worker-Led Politics
- The SWP grew from a small Trotskyist current into Britain's largest far-left party by emphasising worker-led socialism and rejecting Soviet models.
- Its theoretical appeal drew many activists into sustained mass campaigns like Rock Against Racism and Stop the War.
Learning The Complaint And Leaving Quickly
- Elane Heffernan recounts learning about the assault in 2010 and expecting the SWP to act and expel the perpetrator.
- She left quickly after being threatened and told to 'speak to him' when raising the issue with leadership.
Power Of Full-Time Appointments
- The party protected a central figure because he controlled full-time appointments, revealing power centralisation.
- A narrowly approved investigation vote then triggered a year-long crisis and mass departures.
