The Social-Democratic Federation (SDF) was the first organisation in Britain to promote Karl Marx's socialism. Yet it was as much latter-day Chartist as Marxist. Its predecessor, the Democratic Federation, began its programme with a demand for 'Adult Suffrage' and the SDF programme soon featured proportional representation and direct democracy; a total transformation of the political system. In 1911, as many of the 'Old Guard' very much regretted...