Momentum (organisation)
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Momentum
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| National organisers | Adam Klug Emma Rees James Schneider |
| Digital officer | Ruth Berry |
| Founder | Jon Lansman |
| Founded | 8 October 2015 |
| Membership (2017) |
 27,000 |
| Political position | Left-wing |
| National affiliation | Labour Party (unofficial) |
| Website | |
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Momentum is a left-wing, British political organisation. It was founded in 2015 by Jon Lansman, four weeks after Jeremy Corbyn's successful campaign for the Labour Party leadership. It has been described as a grassroots movement supportive of Corbyn and the Labour Party.. It has drawn comparisons to the hard left entryist group Militant, with Labour MP Owen Smith describing it as a 'party within a party'. Momentum itself and a number of political commentators characterise these accusations as unfair.
In February 2016, Momentum set up a paid formal membership structure, under which those who wanted to join had to support the values and aims of the Labour Party. Under the constitution introduced in January 2017, Momentum activists must also be or become members of the Labour party. As of July 2017[update], there are over 150 local groups across the UK and Momentum's membership has risen to 27,000 members.
Momentum describes itself as an organisation that "exists to build on the energy and enthusiasm from the Jeremy Corbyn for Labour Leader campaign, to increase participatory democracy, solidarity, and grassroots power and help Labour become the transformative governing party of the 21st century". It campaigns on local issues and on topics within the Labour Party. The organisation states that it aims to organise local groups across the country to "encourage mass mobilisation for a more democratic, equal and decent society" and "assist members in making their voice heard in Labour Party debates".
Momentum draws inspiration and cross-pollinates ideas with Syriza in Greece and Podemos in Spain, both of which were fed by practical, grassroots organising to counter the effects of austerity cuts.
Members of the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) had raised concerns that groups including the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition, Left Unity, the Socialist Workers Party (SWP), the Socialist Party and the Alliance for Workers' Liberty (AWL) might attach themselves to Momentum as a means to rejoin the Labour Party. Left Unity in November 2015 was looking into the possibility of cooperation with Momentum and the Labour Party because it shares Corbyn's values. The Socialist Workers Party and the Socialist Party have denied having any intention to be involved. Momentum stated that it would resist entryism by the SWP and other groups. In October 2015, James Schneider, a leading organiser of Momentum, admitted that he had voted for the Green Party in the May general election, saying it was only because “I'm in a safe Labour seat”.
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