The Soviet repression of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 made the crisis in the party worse, particularly as CPGB had taken the position that the Eastern Block countries, of which Hungary was one, were allowed to do what they pleased. Most of its intellectual figures (including Doris Lessing and E. P. Thompson) and many ordinary members resigned. Others, for example Eric Hobsbawm, chose to stay in the Party to try to reform it. Pollitt, depressed both by physical illness (including temporary blindness) and his increasing political isolation, resigned as General Secretary and was appointed CP Chairman.