Labour in the post-Corbyn era: lessons from the 1985-86 inquiry into Militant

Labour’s interaction with, and tolerance of, left-wing groups within the party has particular contemporary relevance. Its retiring leader, Jeremy Corbyn, has long-standing affiliations with the Campaign Group of Labour MPs, the Campaign for Labour Party Democracy and, more recently, Momentum. Since 2015, Momentum has been widely accused of entryism: the infiltration of the party from a small but organised campaign group, with the aim of capturing control of the national party. Consequently, a number of comparisons have been made between Momentum and the Militant, the left-wing group deemed ineligible for affiliation to the Labour Party in 1982.