The Revolutionary Communist Tendency (RCT) began from a sizeable split from the Revolutionary Communist Group (RCG) in 1976.Revolutionary Communist Group (RCG)The Revolutionary Communist Group (RCG) is a communist, Marxist and Leninist political organisation in the United Kingdom. It was formed out of the Revolutionary Opposition faction of the International Socialists (IS), forerunners of the Socialist Workers Party. The RCG later suffered splits itself, the most significant being a faction that later became the Revolutionary Communist Party.Full page: Revolutionary Communist Group (RCG)
The RCT was named as the main target in the Special Demonstration Squad Annual Report of 1980. Most reporting on the RCT is attributed to HN106 ‘Barry Tompkins’HN106 'Barry Tompkins'HN106 ‘Barry Tompkins’ was an SDS undercover deployed between 1979 and 1983 into various left-wing groups including the Spartacus League of Britain, Revolutionary Communist Tendency and Revolutionary Communist Party and the East London Workers Against Racism. His real name has been restricted. Full page: HN106 'Barry Tompkins' between 1980 and 1981; he also spied upon the RCT’s successor organisation, the RCP, until October 1983.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)
The split began with accusations by members of the RCG leadership, particularly against founder David Yaffe.
The RCT would later be joined by members of the Revolutionary Labour League.Revolutionary Labour League (RLL)The Revolutionary Labour League (RLL) was a tiny Trotskyist faction, numbering only three members. It was co-founded by SDS officer HN106 'Barry Tompkins'. Other than the Special Branch reports based on HN106's surveillance, the group's only known output was one pamphlet entitled 'In the wrong direction. Charting a new course'. This is dated Febuary 1980.Full page: Revolutionary Labour League (RLL) In 1981, it changed its name to the Revolutionary Communist Party (RCP).
Providing unconditional support to the Irish Republican Army (IRA), the RCT emphasised that a victory for Irish liberation would be a defeat for the United Kingdom and capital in general. Its members were active in 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) and launched the Smash the Prevention of Terror Campaign, which sought to repeal anti-terror laws introduced by the government.
In an attempt to build racial solidarity across the working class, the RCT founded the front organisation Workers Against RacismEast London Workers Against Racism (ELWAR) East London Workers Against Racism (ELWAR) and Workers Against Racism (WAR) were front groups of the Revolutionary Communist Tendency/Revolutionary Communist Party. They were spied on by HN106 ‘Barry Tompkins’. in east and south London, which agitated against racist policing, campaigned for the removal of immigration controls and organised patrols to protect victims of racist attacks.
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
Report that the Revolutionary Communist Tendency will oppose the Prevention of Terrorism Act under the banner 'Smash the PTA Campaign' with a public meeting to be held at Holborn Library WC1 on 1 Feb 1980
Report on demo organised by Hackney and Tower Hamlets Trades Council as part of TUC's 'Day of Action', held from Hackney Town Hall to Victoria Park, Hackney on 14 May 1980
Report the Revolutionary Labour League have merged with former members of the Revolutionary Communist Tendency to form the Revolutionary Marxist Tendency, inc foundational manifesto pamphlet (attached)
Report on upcoming social organised by the Smash the Prevention of Terrorism Act Campaign, to be held at The Enterprise pub, Chalk Farm Road NW1 on 15 Nov 1980
Report on a public meeting about the 'H' Block Hunger Strike, organised jointly by Revolutionary Communist Tendency and Troops Out Movement, held at Hackney Town Hall, Mare Street E8 on 3 Dec 1980
Report that the Revolutionary Communist Tendency are disappointed by the lack of impact made by the Smash the Prevention of Terrorism Act Campaign amongst the working class
Report on a proposed rally organised by the East London Workers Against Racism titled 'Clear the fascists out of Brick Lane', to be held at the Brick Lane/Bethnal Green Road junction on 11 Jan 1981
Report on rally held by East London Workers Against Racism titled 'Clear the fascists out of Brick Lane', held at Brick Lane/Bethnal Green Road junction, 11 Jan 1981
Phone message stating there had been no lobbying of Tower Hamlets Councillors that evening by the Revolutionary Communist Tendency or East London Workers Against Racism
Report on personal employment and vehicle details of a member of the Revolutionary Communist Tendency and East London Workers Against Racism who's also thought to be in West Ham Trades Council
Report on personal details of a member of the Revolutionary Communist Tendency who was arrested at an anti-British Movement demo on 23 Nov 1980 and had his case dismissed, inc photo (attached but redacted)
Report on ANL meeting, held at Centreprise Community Centre N16 on 11 Feb 1981, inc Time Out article on the Deptford Massacre Action Committee, SWP leaflet on the campaign and ANL leaflet (attached)
Report on an educational meeting of the Revolutionary Communist Tendency on “Ireland - How can we build an effective solidarity movement in this country?', held at the Hackney Trades and Labour Club, Dalston Lane E8 on 12 Feb 1981
Report on public meeting held by East London Workers Against Racism in support of their candidate in the Greater London Council elections, held at Toynbee Hall on 16 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)
Report summarising a document published by Workers Against Racism titled 'Evidence to the Greater London Police Committee - October 1981 - Racist Violence and Police Harassment'
Report submitting a photo of a former member of the Revolutionary Communist Party taken at the ‘Workers March for Irish Freedom' at Blackpool in Sep 1981 (not attached)
Report on personal political, employment, physicl and banking details of a member of East London Branch and the Kent University Section of the Revolutionary Communist Party
Report that Troops Out Movement, Revolutionary Communist Party and Sinn Fein have arranged at least 6 coaches to transport participants to a Bloody Sunday demo, to be held in Coventry on 31 Jan 1982
Report on upcoming East London Troops Out Movement rally to be held at Hackney Town Hall on 23 Jan 1982 to mobilise support for the Bloody Sunday march to be held in Coventry on 31 Jan 1982, inc leaflet for Hackney demo (attached)
MI5 Minute Sheet on a list of points to be raised at upcoming meeting with SDS focusing on the Revolutionary Communist Party, inc requests for identification from photos
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)
Report on public meeting of South London Workers Against Racism on 'Police - get off our backs' inc screening of film on New Cross Massacre, held at Stockwell Hall, Stockwell Park Estate on 25 March 1982
Report ('threat assessment') that the Revolutionary Communist Party plans to support the Argentinian occupation of the Falkland Islands, and plans to hold meeting at Friends Meeting House on 16 April 1982, inc minute sheet
Report on a public meeting of Workers Against Racism discussing support for the strike at Rulecan Ltd in Cheshire, held at Holborn Public Library on 30 April 1982
Report on a public meeting of Hackney Trades Council discussing opposition to the Nationality Act speakers inc Bernie Grant, held at the Hackney Trades Club, Dalston Lane E8 on 29 April 1982
Report listing attendees and vehicles of a Revolutionary Communist Party meeting in support of Argentinian occupation of the Falklands, held at Friends Meeting House on 16 April 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
Report submitting Revolutionary Communist Party's report of the North London Irish Freedom Movement delegation to Derry and Belfast at Easter 1982 titled 'What We Saw of the Irish War' (attached)
MI5 Minute Sheet detailing an Assistant Military Attache from the Soviet Embassy making contact with the Revolutionary Communist Party so infiltrator HN106 had meetings to sound out funding for the RCP and the Attache tried to involve him in spying
Report on public meeting of the Revolutionary Communist Party inc screening of 'Home Soldier Home', held at the Britannica pub, Mare Street, Hackney on 8 June 1982
MI5 note for liaison file reporting on meeting between HN68, Dave Short and F6 to discuss MI5's intelligence requests and SDS officers, held at SDS offices on 10 Sept 1982
Report on public meeting of East London Workers Against Racism to discuss the upcoming deportation of Afia Begum, held at the Brady Club, Hanbury Street E1 on 29 Sept 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
MI5 Minute Sheet asking the SDS to obtain a copy of 'Real Freedom' by Revolutionary Communist Party member Kate Marshall, published to coincide with the launch of the Women's Right to Work campaign
Report on upcoming 'Bloody Sunday' commemoration demo to be held in Savile Park, Leeds on 30 Jan 1983 with details of coaches from London and elsewhere
Report on public meeting of East London Workers Against Racism on 'Hackney, an equal opportunities borough?' with speaker Judith Harrison, held at Dalston Trades Club, Dalston Lane E8 on 26 Jan 1983
Phone message stating the RCP plan to hold a street meeting to publicise their Irish Freedom Movement week of action near Archway Tube on 12 March 1983
MI5 note for liaison file reporting two meetings between SDS and F6 for routine exchange of views and update on SDS personnel changes and request info on CND, held at SDS on 22 and 28 Apr 1983
Report that the Revolutionary Communist Party is considering taking up the case of a black woman suspended from her job after being attacked and her union hasn't suppported her
Report on upcoming street meeting organised by the Irish Freedom Movement to celebrate the RCP's election 'success', to be held outside Camden Tube on 18 June 1983
MI5 Minute Sheet for policy file requesting specific info from the upcoming Revolutionary Communist Party conference to be held at Polytechnic of Central London on 16-22 July 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
MI5 note for liaison file reporting F6 telling DCI Short how HN19 is regarded within the Revolutionary Communist Party but needs to avoid 'going the way of HN106', also mentions of HN85
MI5 note for liaison file after meeting with Dave Short to discuss SDS coverage and intelligence esp with 121 Bookshop, SWP, Revolutionary Communist Party and the women's peace movement, held at the SDS office on 6 Dec 1983
