A Short History of the Labour Party is the classic account of the rise of the Labour Party from its foundation through to Tony Blair's second term as Prime Minister. Thoroughly revised and updated, it describes the events that led to the inception of the party, the role of the trade unions within the party, the successes and failures of the twentieth century and the revival of the party's fortunes under Kinnock, Smith and then Blair. It closes with an analysis of the current crisis that the Party faces over its foreign policy choices since 9/11 including the war in Iraq. This book thus provides the essential background for an understanding and appreciation of today's political debates.
List of Illustrations The New Party: Ideals and Reality (to 1906) A Pressure-Group under Pressure (1906-14) Henderson's Party: War and Reconstruction (1914-22) The MacDonald Leadership (1922-31) Convalescence: The General Council's Party (1931-40) Office and Power under Attlee and Bevin (1940-50) Dissension and Decline (1950-60) The Road Back to Power (1960-66) Wilson and the Vicissitudes of Economic Insolvency (1966-70) The Common Market and the Social Contract (1970-79) The SDP Secession and the Dream Ticket (1979-84) Revival under Kinnock and Smith and Blair (1985-94) Blair and New Labour (1994-2001) The Primacy of Foreign Policy (2001-2004) Conclusion: The Past and the Future Appendix A: Party Membership Appendix B: General Election Results Appendix C: Chairmen and Leaders of the Parliamentary Party Appendix D: Party Secretaries Index
