Return of the radicals

THE battle between Labour and its Militant faction was one of the biggest political controversies in British politics in the 1980s.

The Trotskyist movement grew out of the Revolutionary Socialist League and was accused of trying to take over the party.

Advocating the nationalisation of industry, the movement – with Derek Hatton to the fore – took over Liverpool Council in 1983. But its leader and a many members were expelled after then party leader Neil Kinnock attacked them in a rousing conference speech in 1985.

After Mr Corbyn became leader, 75 senior figures, including leaders of Militant Tendency who were driven out of the party, put in applications to be readmitted.