Details
Targeted by:
At least spied on:
Overview

The Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB) was the largest communist organisation in Britain. It was established on 31 July 1920 and dissolved on 23 November 1991. For most of its existence, it aligned itself with the USSR and received funding from it. The British surveillance state saw it as the main subversive threat to the United Kingdom for much of the 20th century, and was consequently the target of many operations by MI5. 

The CPGB was one of the few groups on the left in Britian that the SDS did not target. It is often remarked that the CPGB did not present any issues regarding public order. While there is the occasional mention of it in reporting, the majority of disclosure regarding the CPGB instead relates to the Whitehall 'subversion' committees.

Reports

Date
Originator
MPS-UCPI
Title
MI5
UCPI0000035236
MI5 paper ‘Subversion in the United Kingdom – Autumn 1967’ and note from the Secretary of the Official Committee on Communism (Home) (CAB 301-509)
MI5
UCPI0000035235
MI5 paper ‘Subversion in the United Kingdom – Spring 1968’ with cover note by Secretary of the Official Committee on Communism (Home) (CAB 301-509)
MI5
UCPI0000035234
MI5 paper ‘Subversive Influences on Student Protest’ with cover note from Cabinet Office (CAB 301-509)
Metropolitan Police Special Branch
MPS-0722098/91-102
Subversion and the Student Protest in the United Kingdom, 27 May 1968, pp.91-102
Metropolitan Police Special Branch
MPS-0722098/214-218
Report on Lambeth VSC magazine, 16 August 1968, pp.214-218
Metropolitan Police Special Branch
MPS-0742196
Minutes of meeting between Home Office, the Met and MI5 to discuss Oct 27 Vietnam march, held at Leconfield House on 20 Sept 1968
Metropolitan Police Special Branch
MPS-0730779
Quarterly Survey of Subversive Activities July-Sept 1968, extract on the VSC
MI5
UCPI0000035229
MI5 note on ‘Subversion in the UK’, with cover note from Secretary of the Official Committee on Subversion at Home (CAB 134-3248)
Cabinet Office
UCPI0000035230
Minutes of a meeting of the Official Committee on Subversion at Home discussing MI5 note on ‘Subversion in the United Kingdom’ (CAB 134-3248)
Metropolitan Police Special Branch
MPS_0737414
Report submitting a copy of “Ultra-Leftism in Britain”, published by the Communist Party
Cabinet Office
UCPI0000035252
Paper: ‘The Extreme Left in Britain’, Nov 1970 (CAB 301-490-1)
Committee on Subversion (Home)
UCPI0000035227
Minutes of meeting of Official Committee on Subversion at Home discussing the industrial situation and student protest, 27 Nov 1970 (CAB 134-3248)
MI5
UCPI0000035278
MI5 paper ‘Subversion in Industry and the Mass Media, 1965 – 1971’ and associated correspondence among government officials (FCO 168-4448)
Cabinet Office
UCPI0000035257
MI5 report ‘Organised Disruption in Industry’, letter from Prime Minister criticising its complacency and demanding more action (CAB 301-490-1)
Metropolitan Police Special Branch
UCPI0000026456
Report on meeting held by the Black Defence Committee inc talk on Angela Davis by Michael Seifert, held at the George IV pub, Pentonville Rd N1 on 24 Sept 1971
Metropolitan Police Special Branch
UCPI0000027026
Report on weekly meeting of Women’s Liberation Front inc talk on member's visit to China, held at redacted venue on 2 Dec 1971
Metropolitan Police Special Branch
MPS_0747786
Special Branch Annual Report 1971
MI5
UCPI0000034279
Extract of MI5 paper ‘Subversion in the UK – 1972’
MI5
UCPI0000035255
MI5 report 'Subversion in the UK - 1972' with cover letter from Cabinet Secretary to Prime Minister (CAB 301-490-1)
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
UCPI0000035318
'Counter Subversion in the United Kingdom' report by Leslie Glass of the Counter Subversion Committee, with cover letter (FCO 168-4797)
Metropolitan Police Special Branch
UCPI0000011758
Report on weekly meeting of the Revolutionary Women’s Union, held at redacted venue on 25 Sept 1972, inc petition titled ‘Women of Islington Demand Adequate Day Nurseries’
Group on Subversion in Public Life
UCPI0000035263
Group on Subversion in Public Life report ‘The Impact of Subversive Groups on Trade Union Activity’ plus cover letter and list of recipients (CAB 301-491)
Group on Subversion in Public Life
UCPI0000035258
Group on Subversion in Public Life report ‘Claimants and Unemployed Workers Unions’, with Home Office cover letter to Cabinet Secretary (CAB 301-490-1)
Metropolitan Police Special Branch
MPS_0747796
Special Branch Annual Report 1972
Metropolitan Police Special Branch
UCPI0000010900
Report on a meeting of West London IMG meeting on two upcoming demonstrations (20 Jan 1973 Vietnam War and 28 Jan 1973 Bloody Sunday Commemoration), held at redacted venue on 10 Jan 1973
Metropolitan Police Special Branch
UCPI0000010247
Report on private meeting of the BVSF committee, held at 101 Gower Street W1 on 17 Jan 1972 
Metropolitan Police Special Branch
MPS-0729093
Minute Sheet enclosing report from HN338 on IMG dissension (not attached)
Metropolitan Police Special Branch
UCPI0000007920
Report on International Socialists' National Industrial Conference ('rally of industrial militants'), held at Belle Vue, Manchester on 11 Nov 1973
Metropolitan Police Special Branch
MPS_0747833
Special Branch Annual Report 1973
Metropolitan Police Special Branch
UCPI0000015077
Report on personal poltitical history and activity of a member of Battersea Claimants’ Union who is also on the production staff of Pavement
Metropolitan Police Special Branch
UCPI0000006852
Report on the chair of Battersea and Wandsworth Trades Council who is also a member of the Anti-Fascist Committee of that Council & engaged in picketing Leach's site (inc leaflet)
Metropolitan Police Special Branch
UCPI0000007194
Report on a demo by the Free Desmond Trotter Campaign, held at Ladbroke Grove Underground Station on 3 May 1975
Metropolitan Police Special Branch
UCPI0000007449
Report on an open discussion of 'The Nature of the Soviet Union' held jointly by the NE Lewisham Communist Party and SE London International Marxist Group, held at the Lee Centre, Aislibie Road SE12 on 8 August 1975
Metropolitan Police Special Branch
MPS-0728740
Report on weekly meeting of SE London TOM inc discussion of the attitude of the Communist Party towards Ireland, held at Charlton House SE7, 27 Oct 1975, inc minute sheet
Home Office
UCPI0000035249
Home Office letter to Cabinet Secretary on extending methods of countering and discrediting subversive people and organisations (CAB 301-489)
Metropolitan Police Special Branch
MPS-0728980
SDS Annual Report 1976, inc letter from Assistant Commissioner to Home Office
Metropolitan Police Special Branch
UCPI0000012373
Report on a meeting to form the Trade Union Committee Against the Prevention of Terrorism Act in Nov 1975 and its launch conference, held at Hammersmith Town Hall on 10 April 1976
Metropolitan Police Special Branch
UCPI0000012396
Report on a meeting of the South London Group of Big Flame on lessons from Portugal inc screening of 'On The Side of the People' chaired by HN297, held at Charlton House, Hornfair Road SE7 on 12 April 1974
MI5
UCPI0000035247
MI5 report ‘The Threat of Subversion to the UK – April 1976’, with Home Office cover letter (CAB 301-489)
Metropolitan Police Special Branch
UCPI0000009766
Report on a regular fortnightly meeting of the SE London branch of TOM (charied by HN297) inc an educational lecture by Richard Chessum on CPGB's position on Ireland, held at Charlton House SE7 on 2 June 1976
Metropolitan Police Special Branch
UCPI0000010868
Report on meeting held by the Trico Strike Committee chaired by the AUEW Divisional Organiser for the strike, held at 1 Woodlands Rd, Southall on 31 Aug 1976
Metropolitan Police Special Branch
UCPI0000035329
Meeting minutes of reconstituted Inter-Departmental Group on Subversion in Public Life, held at Cabinet Office on 10 Nov 1976 (CAB 163-269)
MI5
UCPI0000035333
MI5 report ‘The Threat of Subversion to the UK: April 1977’ (CAB 163-269)
Cabinet Office
UCPI0000035334
Minutes of a meeting of the Interdepartmental Group on Subversion in Public Life discussing MI5 report 'The Threat of Subversion in the UK', held at Cabinet Office on 11 July 1977 (CAB 163-269)
Group on Subversion in Public Life
UCPI0000035335
Report by the Interdepartmental Group on Subversion in Public Life, ‘The Threat of Subversion to the United Kingdom’ (CAB 301-484)
Metropolitan Police Special Branch
MPS_0747791
Special Branch Annual Report 1978
Metropolitan Police Special Branch
MPS_0747444
Essay on Policing of Political Demonstrations, written by HN103 David Smith
Metropolitan Police Special Branch
UCPI0000035110
Agenda for the Advanced Training Course for Special Branch Officers 1979
MI5
UCPI0000035314
MI5 Prime Ministerial briefing paper ‘The Threat of Subversion in the UK’, annotated by Thatcher, inc letter from Cabinet Secretary to the PM (attached)
MI5
UCPI0000035312
Part 1 of MI5 report ‘Influence of Subversive Organisations in Major Trade Unions’, 1979
Metropolitan Police Special Branch
UCPI0000013374
Report on a National Planning Meeting of Stop All Racist Tours regarding the South African rugby tour of Britain in 1979/80, held at Central London Polytechnic, New Cavendish Street W1 on 16 Sept 1979
Metropolitan Police Special Branch
UCPI0000013420
Report on meeting of Waltham Forest District SWP discussing the upcoming Waltham Forest Trades Council Conference and SWP influnce there, held at redacted address on 20 Sept 1979
Metropolitan Police Special Branch
MPS_0727595
Special Branch Annual Report 1979
Metropolitan Police Special Branch
MPS-0733126
Large collection of police and Home Office documents in advance of a Friends of Blair Peach Committee demo to be held on 27 April 1980
Metropolitan Police Special Branch
UCPI0000016366
Report on CPGB conference entitled 'Racism and the Police', held at Conway Hall on 31 Jan 1981, inc 'charter of demands' discussion paper (attached)
MI5
UCPI0000035300
MI5 letter to Home Office enclosing MI5 draft report ‘Subversive Aspects of Racialist Activity’ (attached)
MI5
UCPI0000035299
MI5 cover letter to Phillips (Home Office) submitting appendices to MI5 report ‘Subversive Aspects of Racialist Activity’ (attached)
MI5
MPS-0729094
MI5 Report of 1981 Anti-Nazi League annual conference, 28 March 1981
Metropolitan Police Special Branch
MPS-0748355
Huge report entitled ‘Political Extremism and the Campaign for Police Accountability within the Metropolitan Police District’
Metropolitan Police Special Branch
UCPI0000009979
Report on the inaugural meeting of the United Youth Campaign for a Free Chile