Labour's First Century

by Edited by Duncan Tanner , Pat Thane , Nick Tiratsoo

• ISBN13: 9780521651844
• ISBN10: 0521651840
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2000-09-11
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

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.

Table of Contents

List of illustrations	vi
Acknowledgements	vii
Notes on contributors	viii
Introduction	1	(7)
Duncan Tanner
Pat Thane
Nick Tiratsoo
Labour's political and social thought	8	(38)
Jose Harris
Labour and the economy	46	(34)
Jim Tomlinson
Labour and welfare	80	(39)
Pat Thane
Labour and international affairs	119	(32)
Stephen Howe
Labour and the constitution	151	(40)
Miles Taylor
Labour and gender	191	(30)
Martin Francis
Labour and the trade unions	221	(27)
Alastair J. Reid
Labour and its membership	248	(33)
Duncan Tanner
Labour and the electorate	281	(28)
Nick Tiratsoo
Labour in comparative perspective	309	(32)
Stefan Berger
Labour - the myths it has lived	341	(26)
Jon Lawrence
New Labour and the past	367	(26)
Steven Fielding
Appendix 1: Labour and the electorate 1900--1997	393	(1)
Appendix 2: Labour Party membership	394	(4)
Index	398