starter activity

The ‘Red Flag’ is the traditional anthem of the Labour movement. Listen to the song and watch this history of the development of the Labour Party in the UK. What were key reasons why the Labour Party grew in popularity and achieved

electoral success?

Electoral reform in the nineteenth century meant that more and more working class men were winning the right to vote. This encouraged

parties to tailor their policies towards the needs of these new voters.

The breakthrough came when Keir Hardie (above) a former miner, became the first working class MP to be elected for the

Independent Labour Party (ILP) in 1892.

To begin with the few socialist groups that existed enjoyed little success. In 1900, 70% of men and no women had the right to vote. Real socialists had little chance of being elected. To make matters worse, only those with a private income could afford to become MPs as they were paid relatively little.

However, the trade union movement was growing in numbers. By 1900, several million workers had joined unions and the TUC (Trades Union Congress – the national body for all trades unions) had been formed.

Employers tried to limit the power of the Labour movement. When workers at the Taff Vale railway went on in 1901 strike their employers

successfully sued them. It seemed as if belonging to a union and protesting for better conditions was being made a crime by the

establishment.

In the end, the Taff Vale case lent further strength to the Labour movement. It gave them a clear issue to campaign on and membership

of socialist parties like the Labour Representation Committee (LRC) grew in numbers

The LRC was renamed the Labour Party with Keir Hardie as their leader. They won 29 seats in the 1906 general election

By 1924, just 21 years after the first 2 MPs were elected the Labour Party were in a position to form

a government, albeit a minority one which relied

on Liberal support for survival. At its head was the first Labour PM and

son of a domestic servant – Ramsay

McDonald.

The Labour Party won its first majority in 1945, beating Churchill’s Conservatives. They came to power on a ticket of reform,

promising to introduce the NHS and social welfare for a society recovering from the effects of World War Two.

Clement Attlee (Labour PM, 1945-51)

Between 1945 and 1979 the Labour and Conservative Parties were each in power for 17 years. In an era of ‘consensus’ politics there often was very little clear political ground between the parties on key issues of education, health and housing.

Harold Wilson (Labour PM, 1964-70 & 1974-6)

Jim Callaghan (Labour PM, 1976-9)

The success of Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative Party in the 1980s sent Labour into a tail spin as they struggled to identify policies that

would win electoral support. Their policies on nuclear disarmament and a return to nationalisation were out of step with the times.

Neil Kinnock (leader 1983-92) began the process of modernising the party. Reducing the dominance of trade unions over Party

policy decisions and creating a more open and democratic structure for the party

The modernisation of the Labour Party was completed with Tony Blair’s New Labour project (leader 1994-2007) and his ‘Third Way’ approach to

politics, combining the best elements of Thatcherite free market economics with a continued commitment to social justice

Your taskYour task

Create a timeline highlighting the Create a timeline highlighting the changing fortunes of the Labour changing fortunes of the Labour Party from its origins to the present Party from its origins to the present day.day.Keir Hardie

becomes first working-class

MP to be elected in 1892

Labour lose to Margaret Thatcher’s Conservatives in 1979 general election

Key eventsKey events

Early C20th - Labour Party emerged Early C20th - Labour Party emerged from Labour Representation from Labour Representation Committee (LRC), Independent Committee (LRC), Independent Labour Party (ILP) & Fabians helped Labour Party (ILP) & Fabians helped by growth of trade union movementby growth of trade union movement

1906 Labour Party founded1906 Labour Party founded 1918-39 Labour Party formed 2 1918-39 Labour Party formed 2

minority governmentsminority governments 1945 Labour won a landslide victory 1945 Labour won a landslide victory

under Clement Attleeunder Clement Attlee

Key eventsKey events

1945-79 was the era of ‘consensus 1945-79 was the era of ‘consensus politics’politics’

1980s the party moved to the left & it 1980s the party moved to the left & it seemed out of touch with the electorateseemed out of touch with the electorate

1983-92 Neil Kinnock (leader of Labour 1983-92 Neil Kinnock (leader of Labour Party) modernised party, abandoning Party) modernised party, abandoning unpopular policies, e.g. wide-scale unpopular policies, e.g. wide-scale nationalisationnationalisation, , unilateral unilateral disarmamentdisarmament, withdrawal from , withdrawal from EECEEC))

Key eventsKey events

1994-2007 Tony Blair modernised party 1994-2007 Tony Blair modernised party - ‘New Labour’, ‘Third Way’, ‘hand up - ‘New Labour’, ‘Third Way’, ‘hand up rather than hand-out’, public-private rather than hand-out’, public-private partnerships, equality of opportunity not partnerships, equality of opportunity not income AND ALSO – minimum wage, income AND ALSO – minimum wage, NHS, constitutional reformNHS, constitutional reform

1997 1997 landslide victorylandslide victory, 43.2% (179 seat , 43.2% (179 seat majority)majority)

2005 GE victory 35% (66 seat majority)2005 GE victory 35% (66 seat majority)

What do we mean by the

terms ‘Old’ and ‘New Labour’?

Read the extract your teacher

gives you and highlight evidence

of Old or New Labour values

This house believes that New Labour is

no longer a socialist party.

Discuss

PlenaryPlenary

What is meant by ‘Old’ and ‘New What is meant by ‘Old’ and ‘New Labour’Labour’

To what extent could you describe To what extent could you describe the current Labour Party as a the current Labour Party as a ‘socialist’ party?‘socialist’ party?

Extension taskExtension task

Visit the Labour website and Visit the Labour website and research the current policies of New research the current policies of New Labour on Health, Education and Labour on Health, Education and Law & OrderLaw & Order

HomeworkHomework

As you did for the Labour Party As you did for the Labour Party create a timeline detailing key create a timeline detailing key events, individuals and policies in events, individuals and policies in the development of the Conservative the development of the Conservative Party from its origins to the present Party from its origins to the present day. Use Watts, p.83-7day. Use Watts, p.83-7

Burke Cameron