The Socialist Party in England and Wales, and the Socialist Workers Party (SWP) are the two largest organisations on the ‘Marxist left’ in Britain. Therefore, in a period when the left in general has been weakened – as a, consequence of the collapse of the Berlin Wall, the ideological offensive that flowed from this, combined with the neo-liberal fuelled boom – there are many who argue ‘why can’t you forget your differences and combine to unite yourselves and the left in a real alternative?’

Socialism and Left Unity, by Peter Taaffe, attempts to answer this question.