The Labour Party's centenary is an appropriate moment to evaluate its performance across the twentieth century, and to reflect on why a party which has so many achievements to its credit nonetheless spent so much of the period in opposition. Duncan Tanner, Pat Thane and Nick Tiratsoo have assembled a team of acknowledged experts who cover a wide range of key issues, from economic policy to gender. The editors also provide a lucid, accessible introduction. Labour's First Century covers the most important areas of party policy and practice, always placing these in a broader context. Taken together, these essays challenge those who minimize the party's contribution, whilst they also explain why mistakes and weaknesses have occurred. Everyone interested in British political history - whether supporters or opponents of the Labour Party - will need to read Labour's First Century.
List of illustrations; Acknowledgements; Notes on contributors; Introduction Duncan Tanner, Pat Thane and Nick Tiratsoo; 1. Labour's political and social thought Jose Harris; 2. Labour and the economy Jim Tomlinson; 3. Labour and welfare Pat Thane; 4. Labour and international affairs Stephen Howe; 5. Labour and the constitution Miles Taylor; 6. Labour and gender Martin Francis; 7. Labour and the trade unions Alastair J. Reid; 8. Labour and its membership Duncan Tanner; 9. Labour and the electorate Nick Tiratsoo; 10. Labour in comparative perspective Stefan Berger; 11. Labour - the myths it has lived by Jon Lawrence; 12. New Labour and the past Steven Fielding; Appendix I. Labour and the electorate, 1900-97; Appendix II. Labour Party membership; Index.