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The 'United Front' theses were written by the Soviet leader, Lenin, and published by the Comintern in 1921. The theses called for Communist parties in Europe to work with all workers' organisations, not only Communist-inspired organisations, on issues affecting the immediate needs of workers.
The theses proved to be contentious and the adoption of the main points by the Communist Party of Great Britain caused a minor split within the new party. Many on the ultra-left of the CPGB viewed the adoption of United Front tactics as an excuse for the party to indulge in all kinds of compromises with social-democratic and reformist parties. Opponents of United Front tactics felt that this would lead to the obliteration of the CPGB's role as a party of permanent opposition to the state and to other political parties.
However, the CPGB's adoption of United Front tactics and the defection of the ultra-left of the party enabled the fledgling CPGB to escape from the sectarian and propagandist methods that had until then dogged British Marxism. The CPGB was able to make a much greater impact on working class politics than previous Marxist organisations had done.
Source: Bissett Collection, Glasgow University Special Collections
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