Podcast: Gerry Healy and the Workers Revolutionary Party

Interview with Aidan Beatty on his new book ‘The Party is Always Right’, the Untold Story of Gerry Healy and British Trotskyism’, with Cathal Brenna and John Dorney. First broadcast on the Irish History Show.

 

Gerry Healy was born in Galway, but eventually became an influential figure in the British far left. His Workers Revolutionary Party, though always small, had surprisingly large influence in the fringes of British politics and society, particularly in the 1970s and 80s. Its newspaper Newsline was the first all colour newspaper in Britain.

Eventually however, Healy career ended in disgrace and expulsion from his own party in 1985 amid allegations of sexual abuse. Aidan Beatty uses Healy and his party to trace the trajectory of British Trotskyism in the post-war era. In the interview we discuss, as well as Healy, the role this ideology has played in Irish and British politics.

In you enjoy the Irish Story please consider supporting us on our patreon page.