Jack Fitzgerald (politician)

Jack Fitzgerald (1873-1929) was a British socialist politician and journalist. A prominent figure in the early 20th-century socialist movement in the United Kingdom, Fitzgerald is best known for his advocacy of revolutionary Marxism and his opposition to reformist tendencies within the socialist movement.

Born in Canada, Fitzgerald migrated to Britain and became involved in socialist politics. He was a founding member of the Socialist Labour Party (SLP) in 1903, a party committed to industrial unionism and a more revolutionary path to socialism than that advocated by the Fabian Society or the Social Democratic Federation. He served as the editor of the SLP's newspaper, The Socialist.

Fitzgerald was a staunch critic of parliamentarianism, believing that true socialism could only be achieved through the revolutionary action of the working class, organized in industrial unions. He argued against participation in electoral politics, viewing it as a distraction from the primary goal of overthrowing capitalism.

He was also a key figure in the Shop Stewards' Movement during World War I, advocating for workers' control over industry and opposing the war effort. After the war, Fitzgerald played a role in the formation of the Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB) in 1920, although he later became disillusioned with the party's direction and left. He continued to advocate for revolutionary socialism until his death. His writings and activism left a lasting impact on the development of Marxist thought in Britain.