Alan Thornett, a prominent figure in Britain’s trade union movement and a lifelong Trotskyist activist, passed away recently at the age of 88. Known by the nickname “the Mole,” Thornett was widely regarded as a staunch defender of workers’ rights and a committed socialist who spent decades advocating for industrial militancy and political change from the shop floor to the broader Labour movement.
Born in Oxford in 1937 to working-class parents, Thornett left school at 15 and worked as a farm laborer before completing National Service. In 1959, he joined the Morris Motors plant in Cowley, Oxford, where he became involved in union organizing, eventually rising to become a shop steward representing lorry drivers and later deputy convener of the Transport and General Workers’ Union (TGWU) at the site. During the volatile years following British Leyland’s takeover of the plant in 1968, Thornett played a central role in orchestrating industrial action, at times leading strikes and work stoppages that made Cowley a symbol of union militancy. Under his leadership, shop stewards gained considerable influence over workplace conditions, securing wage increases and improvements in labor standards.
Thornett was a vocal opponent of government efforts to curtail union power, most notably resisting Barbara Castle’s 1969 white paper “In Place of Strife” and Edward Heath’s 1971 Industrial Relations Act. His militant approach frequently put him at odds with management and the media, which branded him “the Mole” in reference to his role as a behind-the-scenes organizer. Despite frequent clashes with rival union leaders and political factions, Thornett remained a key figure in the broader struggle over labor rights during the 1970s, a period marked by widespread strikes and industrial unrest.
His political journey reflected the fractious nature of the British left throughout the latter half of the 20th century. Originally a member of the Communist Party of Great Britain, Thornett moved through several Trotskyist organizations, including the Socialist Labour League and the Workers Revolutionary Party, before founding the Workers Socialist League in 1974 after a split with Gerry Healy’s leadership. His activism continued through various left-wing groups, ultimately associating with George Galloway’s Respect Party in later years. Thornett was known for combining militant union activity with political theory and writing, publishing extensively on topics ranging from labor struggles to climate change.
During the Bosnian War in the 1990s, Thornett helped establish International Workers Aid, delivering humanitarian aid to besieged communities. He also authored several books, including *Inside Cowley* (1998) and *Facing the Apocalypse: Arguments for Ecosocialism* (2019), in which he examined environmental issues through a socialist lens, focusing on the class dynamics of climate change and the costs borne by working people during transitions to sustainability.
Thornett’s archive is preserved at Warwick University, and his writings—often published under various pseudonyms—remain a resource for scholars and activists. He continued contributing to political discourse until his final months, with his last paper critiquing Labour’s energy policy released just weeks before his death. He is survived by his daughter Charlotte and son Julian.