The Party Is Not Always Right

This chapter looks at Morton’s final years and how his activity and status in the CPGBCommunist Party of Great Britain (CPGB) History GroupHistory Group (Communist Party of Great Britain) gave him some insulation from the fierce disputes taking place over Eurocommunism and the interpretation of Gramsci in the wider party. Morton did not give up on his hope for socialism—even if qualified when compared with earlier expectations—and he remained a staunch defender of historical materialismHistorical materialism. The final years are marked by retrospective publications (e.g., pamphlets on familiar topics, reflections on his past as a CPGBCommunist Party of Great Britain (CPGB) activist) and a festschrift presented to him. His publication on the 600th anniversary of the Peasants’ Revolt in 1981 could have led to a revival of his influence on the Left but it seems other leftist movements were gaining ownership of Wat TylerTyler, Wat and John BallBall, John at his expense (as least at this time) as his influence began to wane and the CPGBCommunist Party of Great Britain (CPGB) began to implode. This chapter also offers some discussion of memorials after Morton’s deathMorton, Arthur Lesliedeath and funeral in 1987.