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