LABOUR PARTY

1900-1924: FOUNDATIONS

Growth of Socialism

Emergence of TUs in 19th century led to need for political representation

Con + Lib had failed to address needs of the working class

The decline of the Liberal Party gave an opportunity for the rapid growth of the Labour Party

Steadily gained numbers in HoC

1900: 2 seats

1918: 57 seats

The Far Left Separates

1920: Communist Party of Great Britain Formed

Gained traction with industries and TUs

Failed to win more than 2 MPs

1924-1939: PRE-WW1

1924: First Lab Government

1926: General Strike

1929: Second Lab Government

1924: Zinoviev Letter

Con gov. collapsed after Lib+Lab voted against King' Speech

Led to a MINORITY Labour government

Eg. Policy = Wheatley Housing Act 1924 (increased funding to local authorities to build council housing)

Lab gov collapsed after only 9 months, and Con put back into power

Lasted 9 days

Called by TUC in protest to wage reductions for miners

TUC and the Labour Party gave in WITHOUT A SINGLE CONCESSION for the miners

Damaging the Lab: they betrayed the working classes who were their main voters because they were frightened by the strike

Letter supposedly sent from Communists in Russia to Communist Party of GB instructing them to take part in seditious activities

It was published only 4 days before the October Gen Election

The Tory supporting press got hold of the letter and used it to successfully damage the Labour Party who were voted out of government

HEADLINE: "Civil War Plot by Socialists Masters"

Came to power with support of Liberals

Successfully implemented socialist policies (eg. old age pensions, benefits for unemployed)

1929: GREAT DEPRESSION

Lab. had impossible task to maintain balanced budget whilst supporting the poor

May Report 1931

3 million unemployed

recommended public sector wage cuts

Caused massive split in the party with Macdonald supporting cuts and senior ministers threatening to resign

Led to formation of national government between Labour and Conservatives

Which in turn led to expulsion of Ramsay MacDonald from the Labour Party

1945-1979: POST-WAR CONCENSUS

Welfare economy with high taxes

Establishment of NHS

Mixed economy, with nationalisation of key industries

De-collonisation

Conciliation of Trade Unions

1945: FIRST LABOUR MAJORITY GOVERNMENT

HAROLD WILSON 1 1964-70

Embraced new technologies

Gov. forced to devalue pound in 1967

Inherited a deficit of £800milllion in 1964

This improved economy, but wasn't enough to keep Labour in power in 1970

HAROLD WILSON 2 1974-76

Achieved no. social reforms. Eg. legislation to decriminalise homosexuality and abortion

OPEC Energy crisis led to his re-election in 1970

Power of TUs blighted him again

Allegations of him being recruited by KGB

Wilson handed over to James Callaghan in 1976

JAMES CALLAGHAN 1976-79

Since 1974, Lab struggled to maintain workable majority in HoC and relied on support from SNP and PC (confidence + supply)

This led to referendums for devolved asseblies in 1979

Strict conditions led to failure of these referendums, which angered SNP + PC who tabled motion of no confidence

1979: Margeret Thatcher Election

WINTER OF DISCONTENT 1978-79

TUs heavily challenged this and initiated strike action in attempt to secure greater pay

This was the major reason for a loss of confidence in Labour in 1979 general election

In order to deal with economic difficulties, Callaghan sought to make wage-cuts in the public sector

1979-1997: POLITICAL WILDERNESS

Militant tendency

Trotskyist group in Labour Party who's policies were based on communist ideas of Marx, Engels, Lenin and Trotsky

Healey failed to contain radical left wing of the Labour Party

Led to moderate Labour MPs feeling alienated and splitting to join the Social Democrat Party

NEIL KINNOCK 1983-92

Labour began to modernise and challenge the left of the party

Labour begins to move towards the centre

1992 Exit Poll ranking was greatly improved

JOHN SMITH 1992-94

Many thought he would be the next PM

However, unfortunately he died of a heart attack

1997-2010: NEW LABOUR

Tony Blair championed a new form of socialism

Social cohesion

Equality

Social justice

Modernised clause 4 of the Constitution of the Labour Party

Ended party's commitment to mass nationalism

Introduced Human Rights Act 1998

Enshrining positive individual rights into EU law

Introduced national minimum wage

Signed Treaties integrating the UK even further with the EU

Lab lost power in 2010 because their policies were at odds with their left-wing members

Privitisation

Private Finance Initiative (PFI)

War in Iraq