The Revolutionary Communist Group (RCG) was a Trotskyist organisation formed in March 1974 after a split in the International Socialists (IS).International Socialists (IS) / Socialist Workers Party (SWP)The International Socialists (IS)/Socialist Worker Party (SWP) is a Trotskyist political party. It started life in 1950 as the Socialist Review Group, changing its name to the International Socialists in 1962 and then to the Socialist Workers Party in 1977. The IS/SWP was of significant interest to the policing and security apparatus, spied on by at least 35 undercover officers. This profile is a stub that will updated.Full page: International Socialists (IS) / Socialist Workers Party (SWP) In December 1976, the RCG splintered into the Revolutionary Communist Tendency (RCT), with around half its members leaving.Revolutionary Communist Tendency (RCT)The Revolutionary Communist Tendency was a faction that formed in 1977 after being expelled from the Revolutionary Communist Group in November 1976. It later changed its name to the Revolutionary Communist Party in 1981. It was spied on by HN106 ‘Barry Tompkins’.Full page: Revolutionary Communist Tendency (RCT)
Between November 1982 and September 1984, the RCG was infiltrated by HN12 ‘Mike Hartley’HN12 'Michael Hartley'HN12 'Mike Hartley' is the cover name used by a former Special Demonstration Squad undercover officer who infiltrated the Anti-Apartheid Movement City Branch, Stoke Newington and Hackney Defence Committee, Irish Solidarity Committee, Revolutionary Communist Group (RCG), Socialist Workers Party between 1982 and 1985. He gained a criminal conviction and had a sexual relationship under his cover name, which he took from a dead teenager. The RCG accused him of being a police officer. HN12 is deceased., who had at least one sexual relationship with an activist in the group. Hartley left the RCG under suspicion of being a police informant.
Towards the end of 1988, HN90 ‘Mark Kerry’HN90 'Mark Kerry'Mark Kerry infiltrated the Socialist Workers Party and City of London Anti-Apartheid Group between 1988-1992. also infiltrated the RCG. Kerry opted to infiltrate by attending the non-stop picket of the South African embassy in Trafalgar Square.
The RCP was the successor to RCG splinter group, the RCT, but despite the crossover between the two groups, it is worth noting that the SDS came to focus more on the RCT/RCP than on the RCG.
HN90 ‘Mark Kerry’ acknowledged the difficulty of infiltrating the RCG, noting in his first witness statement that the group was ‘small and security conscious’. He was later moved on to infiltrate the IS/SWP.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, RCG members were prominent in campaigns reporting on police, such as the Wandsworth Policing Campaign (WPC), and in Irish solidarity groups, notably the Troops Out MovementTroops Out Movement (TOM)The Troops Out Movement (TOM) was an Irish solidarity organisation active from 1973 to the mid-2000s, campaigning for an end to British rule in Northern Ireland, a single-issue campaign that worked with a range of groups, including Irish cultural and religious organisations and trade unions. It was spied upon by HN297 'Rick Gibson', HN298 'Michael Scott' and HN25 'Kevin Douglas'. Though it sometimes distanced itself from the IRA, TOM nonetheless maintained that armed resistance was a legitimate response to British rule. Full page: Troops Out Movement (TOM), the London Irish Solidarity Committee, and the South London Irish Solidarity Campaign.Irish Civil Rights Solidarity Campaign (ICRSC) / Irish Solidarity Campaign (ISC)The Irish Civil Rights Solidarity Campaign (ICRSC) was an umbrella organisation that sought to bring together organisations campaigning against Britain’s actions in Northern Ireland. It was active from 1969 to 1973, changing its name to the Irish Solidarity Campaign (ISC) in September 1970. It had multiple local branches, a central steering committee and close ties to the Anti-Internment League. The ICRSC/ISC was spied on by HN298 'Michael Scott', HN299/HN342 'David Hughes' and HN340 'Andy Bailey'.Full page: Irish Civil Rights Solidarity Campaign (ICRSC) / Irish Solidarity Campaign (ISC) RCG members also backed the Roach Family Support Committee.Roach Family Support CommitteeThe Roach Family Support campaign was launched after Colin Roach died of shotgun wounds in 1983 at Stoke Newington Police Station. The campaign was family-led, with support from the wider community and other political and campaign groups.Full page: Roach Family Support Committee
The RCG later focused on anti-racism and anti-imperialism, paying particular attention to Cuba and to apartheid-era South Africa. Notable campaigns against apartheid included its involvement in the City of London Anti-Apartheid Group, which organised a non-stop picket of the South African embassy in Trafalgar Square from 1982-1990.
Report on weekly meeting of SE London branch of TOM inc TOM documents Delegate Conference, held at 234 Burrage Road SE18, 14 April 1975, inc minute sheet
Report on meeting of Big Flame Ireland Commission inc discussion of a takeover of TOM by Workers Fight and Revolutionary Communist Group, 17 Sep 1975, inc minute sheet
Report on weekly meeting of SE London TOM inc discussion of the National TOM Delegate Conference, held at Charlton House SE7, 29 Sep 1975, inc minute sheet
Report on weekly meeting of SE London TOM inc report on recent National TOM Delegate Conference, held at Charlton House SE7, 13 Oct 1975, inc minute sheet
MI5 note for file reporting meeting between DI Butler, DI HN68 and F6 to discuss info requests and update on SDS personnel, held in F6 office on 7 April 1981
MI5 report for the Home Secretary, ‘Subversive Involvement in the Brixton Riots and their Aftermath’ with cover letter from Phillips (Home Office) (report attached)
MI5 note for liaison file reporting meeting between DCI Butler, DI HN68 and MI5 where MI5 supplied info on the Revolutionary Communist Party and other groups, held at MI5 offices on 11 Aug 1981
Report on public meeting of London area Workers Against Racism about racism in trade unions titled 'Cleanse our Ranks', held at Conway Hall on 26 Feb 1982
MI5 note for liaison file after discussion between Dave Short, Martin Gray and F6 listing current SDS officers with RF numbers and the groups they're infiltrating, held at the SDS office on 11 March 1982, inc MI5 briefings on the SWP (attached)
Note recording details of a SYS discussion at the SDS with Dave Short and HN68, inc specific officers withdrawn and their replacements, held at SDS office on 12 May 1982
Report on the final meeting of the May 8th Demonstration Organising Committee with overview of activity and Troops Out Movement, held at redacted private home on 13 May 1982
MI5 note for liaison file reporting meeting between HN68, Dave Short and F6 to discuss liaison between the two services and progress of SDS officers, held at Curzon St House on 20 Oct 1982
Report on public meeting of Newham 8 Defence Campaign discussing the recent arrests of eight Asian youths, held at East Ham Town Hall E6 on 28 Oct 1982
MI5 note for liaison file on meeting between HN68, Dave Short and F6 to discuss coverage and progress of SDS officers, and SDS invite MI5 to the Christmas party, held at SDS offices on 10 Nov 1982
Report on London activists planning to attend rally commemorating the 'Manchester Martyrs' executed in 1867 for demanding Irish independence, to be held at Platt Fields, Manchester on 25 Nov 1982 (leaflet attached)
MI5 note for liaison file reporting meeting between DCI Short, DI Barber and MI5, inc discussion of peace movement, sacking a public sector employee SWP member, and request to debrief HN106 after his withdrawal, held at Curzon St House on 8 June 1983
MI5 note for liaison file reporting meeting between DCI Short and F6 to discuss having an officer in Hackney/Stoke Newington, that MI5 know the officer in the RCP is well regarded there, the SDS giving MI5 printouts from the SWP computer and other SDS upd
