Labour Party
Leader	Gordon Brown
Founded	February 27, 1900
Headquarters	39 Victoria Street London, SW1H 0HA
Ideology	Democratic socialism Social democracy Social liberalism Third Way Centre-Left
International affiliation	Socialist International
European affiliation	Party of European Socialists
European Parliament Group	Party of European Socialists
Official colours	Red
Website www.labour.org.uk

The Labour Party is a political party in the United Kingdom. WikipediaManual of Style (biographies#Academic titles --> James Gordon Brown (born 20 February 1951 is Events 1560 - The Treaty of Berwick, which would expel the French from Scotland, is signed by England and the Congregation Year 1900 ( MCM) was an exceptional Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. Democratic socialism is a description used by various socialist movements tendencies and organizations to emphasize the democratic character of their political orientation Social democracy is a Political ideology of the left and centre-left Social liberalism, also called new liberalism (as it was originally termed high liberalism radical liberalism, modern liberalism, or The Third Way is a term that has been used to describe a variety of political philosophies of governance that embracing a mix of market and interventionist philosophies The centre-left (or center-left) is a political term commonly used to describe or denote individuals political parties or organizations (such as Think Socialist International is a worldwide organization of socialist ( social democratic and labour) political parties The Party of European Socialists (PES is a European political party comprising of thirty-three socialist, social democratic and labour The Party of European Socialists (PES is a European political party comprising of thirty-three socialist, social democratic and labour Red is any of a number of similar Colors evoked by light consisting predominantly of the longest wavelengths of Light discernible by the human eye in the wavelength A political party is a Political organization that seeks to attain and maintain political power within Government, usually by participating in electoral The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Founded at the start of the 20th century, it has been since the 1920s the principal party of the centre-left in Great Britain—that is, England, Scotland and Wales, but not Northern Ireland, where the Social Democratic and Labour Party occupies a roughly similar position on the political spectrum (although people in Northern Ireland are permitted to join the Labour Party). See also Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain (Breatainn Mhòr Prydain Fawr Breten Veur Graet Breetain is the larger of the two main islands England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Northern Ireland (Tuaisceart Éireann Ulster Scots: Norlin Airlann) is a Country within the United Kingdom, lying in the northeast of The Social Democratic and Labour Party ( SDLP; Páirtí Sóisialta Daonlathach an Lucht Oibre is one of the two major nationalist parties in Northern Ireland

Labour surpassed the Liberal Party as the main opposition to the Conservatives in the early 1920s. The Liberal Party was one of the two major British political parties from the early 19th century until the rise of the Labour Party in the 1920s and a third party The Conservative Party (officially the Conservative and Unionist Party) is a Political party in the United Kingdom. It has had several spells in government, first as minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-31, then as a junior partner in the wartime coalition from 1940-1945, and then as a majority government, under Clement Attlee in 1945-51 and under Harold Wilson in 1964-70. James Ramsay MacDonald ( 12 October 1866 &ndash 9 November 1937) was a British politician and twice Prime Minister of the United Clement Richard Attlee 1st Earl Attlee, KG, OM, CH, PC ( 3 January 1883 &ndash 8 October 1967 James Harold Wilson Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, KG, OBE, FRS, PC (11 March 1916 &ndash 24 May 1995 was one of the most prominent British politicians Labour was in government again in 1974-79, under Wilson and then James Callaghan, though with a precarious and declining majority. Leonard James Callaghan Baron Callaghan of Cardiff, KG, PC (27 March 1912 – 26 March 2005 was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1976 to 1979

The current national Labour government won a landslide 179 seat majority in the 1997 general election under the leadership of Tony Blair, its first general election victory since October 1974 and the first general election since 1970 in which it had exceeded 40% of the popular vote. This article covers aspects of the current Labour government from 1997 under Tony Blair (1997-2007 to today under Gordon Brown. In Politics, a landslide victory (or landslide) is the victory of a candidate or Political party by an overwhelming margin in an Election Results The election was fought under new boundaries with a net increase of eight seats compared to the 1992 election Anthony Charles Lynton "Tony" Blair (born 6 May 1953 is a British Politician who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to Results |} Total number of votes 29189104 All parties shown Votes summary Seats summary Opinion poll summary ORC (Opinion Research Council Conservative lead of 1%Harris (Express Newspapers Labour lead of 2%NOP The party's large majority in the House of Commons was slightly reduced to 167 in the 2001 general election and more substantially reduced to 66 in 2005. The House of Commons' is the Lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords Results |} Total votes cast 26368204 All parties with more than 500 votes shown Results Overview For events leading up to the date of the election see article Pre-election day events of the United Kingdom general Labour is also the leading partner in the coalition Welsh Assembly Government, is the second largest party in the Scottish Parliament, and has representation in the European Parliament. A coalition government, or coalition cabinet, is a Cabinet of a parliamentary Government in which several parties cooperate The Welsh Assembly Government (WAG (Llywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru LlCC) was firstly an executive body of the National Assembly for Wales, consisting of The Scottish Parliament ( Scottish Gaelic: Pàrlamaid na h-Alba; Scots: Scottish Pairlament) is the devlolved national unicameral The European Parliament ( Europarl or EP) is the only directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union (EU The current party leader is Gordon Brown. The word leadership can refer to Those entities that perform one or more acts of leading WikipediaManual of Style (biographies#Academic titles --> James Gordon Brown (born 20 February 1951 is

Between January and March 2008, the Labour Party received just over £3 million in donations and are £17 million in debt; compared to the Conservatives' £6 million in donations and £12 million in borrowing, the Electoral Commission declared on 22 May 2008. ^[1]

Party ideology

The Labour Party grew out of the trade union movement and socialist political parties of the 19th century, and continues to describe itself as a party of democratic socialism. A trade union or labour union is an organization of workers who have banded together to achieve common goals in key areas such as wages hours and working conditions forming Socialism refers to a broad set of economic theories of social organization advocating state or collective ownership and administration of the Means of production and distribution Democratic socialism is a description used by various socialist movements tendencies and organizations to emphasize the democratic character of their political orientation ^[2] Labour was the first political party in Great Britain to stand for the representation of the low-paid working class and it has traditionally been the working class who are known as the Labour Party grassroots and traditional members and voters^[2] Traditionally, the party was in favour of socialist policies such as public ownership of key industries, government intervention in the economy, redistribution of wealth, increased rights for workers and trade unions, and a belief in the welfare state and publicly funded healthcare and education. Working class is a term used in academic Sociology and in ordinary conversation to describe depending on context and speaker those employed in specific fields or types Public ownership (also called government ownership, state ownership or state property) refers to Government Ownership of any Economic interventionism, is a common term used to describe any activity beyond the basic regulation of fraud and enforcement of contracts undertaken by a government in an effort to affect Income redistribution refers to a political policy intended to even the amount of income individuals are permitted to earn A trade union or labour union is an organization of workers who have banded together to achieve common goals in key areas such as wages hours and working conditions forming This article refers specifically to the Welfare state of the United Kingdom.

Since the mid-1980s, under the leadership of Neil Kinnock, John Smith and Tony Blair the party has moved away from its traditional socialist position towards what is often described as the "Third Way" adopting some free market and Thatcherite policies, after losing four general elections between 1979 and 1997. Neil Gordon Kinnock Baron Kinnock PC (born 28 March 1942 is a British Politician. John Smith QC (13 September 1938&ndash12 May 1994 was a Scottish Politician who served as leader of the Labour Party from July 1992 until his Anthony Charles Lynton "Tony" Blair (born 6 May 1953 is a British Politician who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to The Third Way is a term that has been used to describe a variety of political philosophies of governance that embracing a mix of market and interventionist philosophies A free market is a Market in which property rights are voluntarily exchanged at a price arranged completely by the mutual consent of sellers and buyers Thatcherism is the system of political thought attributed to the governments of Margaret Thatcher, British Prime Minister from 1979 to 1990

This has led many observers to describe the Labour Party as social democratic or even neo-liberal rather than democratic socialist. Social democracy is a Political ideology of the left and centre-left Originally coined by its critics and opponents " neoliberalism " is a label referring to the recent reemergence of Economic liberalism or Classical liberalism ^[3] Blair himself has described New Labour's political position as a "Third Way". The Third Way is a term that has been used to describe a variety of political philosophies of governance that embracing a mix of market and interventionist philosophies The current Labour government have brought in socialist policies such as introducing a minimum wage and increasing the spending on the NHS and education. A minimum wage is the lowest hourly daily or monthly Wage that employers may legally pay to employees or workers

Party constitution and structure

Main article: Labour Party Rule Book

The Labour Party is a membership organisation consisting of Constituency Labour Parties, affiliated trade unions, socialist societies, and the Co-operative Party, with which it has an electoral agreement. The Labour Party Rule Book is the governing document for the Labour Party in the United Kingdom and contains the Labour Party Constitution. A Constituency Labour Party (CLP is an organisation of members of the British Labour Party who live in a particular parliamentary Constituency in England In British politics, the term affiliated trade union refers to a Trade union that has an affiliation to the British Labour Party. A socialist society is a membership organization that is affiliated with the Labour Party in the UK. The Co-operative Party is a democratic socialist Political party in the United Kingdom committed to supporting and representing co-operative Members who are elected to parliamentary positions take part in the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) and European Parliamentary Labour Party (EPLP). In UK politics, the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP is the Parliamentary party of the Labour Party in Parliament: Labour MPs as a collective The party's decision-making bodies on a national level formally include the National Executive Committee (NEC), Labour Party Conference, and National Policy Forum (NPF) — although in practice the Parliamentary leadership has the final say on policy. The National Executive Committee or NEC is the chief administrative body of the UK Labour Party. The Labour Party Conference, or annual national conference of the Labour Party, is formally the supreme decision-making body of the Party The National Policy Forum (NPF of the British Labour Party is part of the policy-making system of the Party set up by Leader Tony Blair as part of the Questions of internal party democracy have frequently provoked disputes in the party.

For many years, Labour has held to a policy of uniting Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland by consent, and had not allowed residents of Northern Ireland to apply for membership,^[4] instead supporting the nationalist Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) which takes the Labour whip at the House of Commons. A United Ireland is the term used to refer to a sovereign state encompassing the whole of the island of Ireland. Northern Ireland (Tuaisceart Éireann Ulster Scots: Norlin Airlann) is a Country within the United Kingdom, lying in the northeast of Ireland ( Irish: Éire, ˈeːrʲə is a country in north-western Europe. Irish nationalism (Náisiúnachas Éireannach refers to political and sociological movements and sentiment that embodies a love for Irish ancestry, culture and language and The Social Democratic and Labour Party ( SDLP; Páirtí Sóisialta Daonlathach an Lucht Oibre is one of the two major nationalist parties in Northern Ireland The House of Commons' is the Lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords Yet Labour has a unionist faction in its ranks, many of whom assisted in the foundation in 1995 of the UK Unionist Party lead by Robert McCartney. Unionism in Ireland, is a belief in the desirability of a full constitutional and institutional relationship between Ireland and Great Britain based on the terms and The UK Unionist Party ( UKUP) was a small unionist Political party operating in Northern Ireland from 1995 to 2008 Robert Law McCartney QC (born 24 April 1936) often known as Bob is a Northern Ireland barrister and former leader of the UK Unionist The 2003 Labour Party Conference accepted legal advice that the party could not continue to prohibit residents of the province joining,^[5] but the National Executive has decided not to organise or contest elections there.

The party had 198,026 members on 31 December 2005 according to accounts filed with the Electoral Commission which was down on the previous year. In that year it had an income of about £35 million (£3. 7 million from membership fees) and expenditure of about £50 million i. e. high due to the general election. Results Overview For events leading up to the date of the election see article Pre-election day events of the United Kingdom general ^[6]

Party electoral manifestos have not contained the term socialism since 1992, although when Clause 4 was abolished the words "the Labour Party is a democratic socialist party" were added to the party's constitution. Clause IV of the United Kingdom Labour Party constitution sets out the aims and values of the party and has been the object of political fights over its direction

History

Main articles: History of the British Labour Party and History of socialism in Great Britain

Founding of the party

The Independent Labour Party, founded in 1893

The Labour Party's origins lie in the late 19th century numeric increase of the urban proletariat and the extension of the franchise to working-class males, when it became apparent that there was a need for a political party to represent the interests and needs of those groups. This is about the history of the British Labour Party. For information about the wider history of British socialism see History of socialism in Great Britain. The History of socialism in Great Britain is generally thought to stretch back to the 19th century See Independent Labor Party for the Political party in Burundi, Independent Labour Group for the Irish party and Labour candidates Suffrage (from the Latin suffragium, meaning "voting tablet" and figuratively "right to vote" probably from suffrago "hough" and originally Working class is a term used in academic Sociology and in ordinary conversation to describe depending on context and speaker those employed in specific fields or types ^[7] Some members of the trade union movement became interested in moving into the political field, and after the extensions of the franchise in 1867 and 1885, the Liberal Party endorsed some trade-union sponsored candidates. The Liberal Party was one of the two major British political parties from the early 19th century until the rise of the Labour Party in the 1920s and a third party In addition, several small socialist groups had formed around this time with the intention of linking the movement to political policies. Among these were the Independent Labour Party, the intellectual and largely middle-class Fabian Society, the Social Democratic Federation and the Scottish Labour Party. See Independent Labor Party for the Political party in Burundi, Independent Labour Group for the Irish party and Labour candidates The middle class, in colloquial usage consists of those who have some economic independence but not a great deal of social Influence or power. The Fabian Society is a British Intellectual Socialist movement whose purpose is to advance the principles of Social democracy via Gradualist The Social Democratic Federation (SDF was established as Britain's first organised socialist Political party by H The Scottish Labour Party, also known as the Scottish Parliamentary Labour Party, was formed by Robert Cunninghame-Graham, the first Socialist MP

In the 1895 General Election the Independent Labour Party put up 28 candidates but won only 44,325 votes. The UK general election of 1895 was held from 13 July - 7 August 1895 Keir Hardie, the leader of the party believed that to obtain success in parliamentary elections, it would be necessary to join with other left-wing groups. James Keir Hardie (15 August 1856 - 26 September 1915 was a Scottish Socialist and labour leader and was the first independent labour Member of Parliament

Labour Representation Committee

Keir Hardie, one of the Labour Party's founders and first leader

In 1899 a Doncaster member of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, Thomas R. James Keir Hardie (15 August 1856 - 26 September 1915 was a Scottish Socialist and labour leader and was the first independent labour Member of Parliament Doncaster is a large town in South Yorkshire, England and the principal settlement of the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster. Steels, proposed in his union branch that the Trade Union Congress call a special conference to bring together all the left-wing organisations and form them into a single body which would sponsor Parliamentary candidates. The Trades Union Congress (TUC is a national trade union centre, a federation of Trade unions in the United Kingdom, representing the majority of trade The motion was passed at all stages by the TUC, and this special conference was held at the Memorial Hall, Farringdon Street, London on February 27-28, 1900. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. The meeting was attended by a broad spectrum of working-class and left-wing organisations; trade unions representing about one third of the membership of the TUC delegates. ^[8]

After a debate the 129 delegates passed Hardie's motion to establish "a distinct Labour group in Parliament, who shall have their own whips, and agree upon their policy, which must embrace a readiness to cooperate with any party which for the time being may be engaged in promoting legislation in the direct interests of labour. " This created an association called the Labour Representation Committee (LRC), meant to coordinate attempts to support MPs, MPs sponsored by trade unions and representing the working-class population. It had no single leader. In the absence of one, the Independent Labour Party nominee Ramsay MacDonald was elected as Secretary. James Ramsay MacDonald ( 12 October 1866 &ndash 9 November 1937) was a British politician and twice Prime Minister of the United He had the difficult task of keeping the various strands of opinions in the LRC united. The October 1900 "Khaki election" came too soon for the new party to effectively campaign. Only 15 candidatures were sponsored, but two were successful: Keir Hardie in Merthyr Tydfil and Richard Bell in Derby. James Keir Hardie (15 August 1856 - 26 September 1915 was a Scottish Socialist and labour leader and was the first independent labour Member of Parliament Merthyr Tydfil was a parliamentary constituency centred on the town of Merthyr Tydfil in Wales. Richard Bell (1859 Merthyr Tydfil &mdash 1 May, 1930) was one of the first two British Labour Members of Parliament Derby is a former United Kingdom Parliamentary Constituency. It was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament

Support for the LRC was boosted by the 1901 Taff Vale Case, a dispute between strikers and a railway company that ended with the union ordered to pay £23,000 damages for a strike. Taff Vale Railway Co v Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants 1901 AC 426 commonly known as the Taff Vale case was a suit brought by the Taff Vale Railway Company Strike action, often simply called a strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal by Employees to perform work. The judgement effectively made strikes illegal since employers could recoup the cost of lost business from the unions. The apparent acquiescence of the Conservative government of Arthur Balfour to industrial and business interests (traditionally the allies of the Liberal Party in opposition to the Conservative's landed interests) intensified support for the LRC against a government that appeared to have little concern for the industrial proletariat and its problems. Arthur James Balfour 1st Earl of Balfour, KG, OM, PC (25 July 1848 - 19 March 1930 was a British Conservative politician and The Liberal Party was one of the two major British political parties from the early 19th century until the rise of the Labour Party in the 1920s and a third party The LRC won two by-elections in 1902–1903.

Labour Party Plaque from Caroone House 8 Farringdon Street (demolished 2004)

In the 1906 election, the LRC won 29 seats — helped by the secret 1903 pact between Ramsay Macdonald and Liberal Chief Whip Herbert Gladstone, which aimed at avoiding Labour/Liberal contests in the interest of removing the Conservatives from office. The United Kingdom general election of 1906 was held from 12 January to 8 February 1906 James Ramsay MacDonald ( 12 October 1866 &ndash 9 November 1937) was a British politician and twice Prime Minister of the United The Liberal Party was one of the two major British political parties from the early 19th century until the rise of the Labour Party in the 1920s and a third party Herbert John Gladstone 1st Viscount Gladstone GCB, GCMG, GBE, PC ( 18 February 1854 &ndash 6 March,

In their first meeting after the election, the group's Members of Parliament decided adopt the name "The Labour Party" (February 15, 1906). Events 590 - Khosrau II is crowned as king of Persia 1637 - Ferdinand III becomes Holy Roman Emperor Keir Hardie, who had taken a leading role in getting the party established, was elected as Chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party (in effect, the Leader), although only by one vote over David Shackleton after several ballots. Sir David James Shackleton (1863 &ndash 1938 was a cotton worker and trade unionist who became the third Labour Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom In the party's early years, the Independent Labour Party (ILP) provided much of its activist base as the party did not have an individual membership until 1918 and operated as a conglomerate of affiliated bodies until that date. See Independent Labor Party for the Political party in Burundi, Independent Labour Group for the Irish party and Labour candidates The Fabian Society provided much of the intellectual stimulus for the party. The Fabian Society is a British Intellectual Socialist movement whose purpose is to advance the principles of Social democracy via Gradualist One of the first acts of the new Liberal government was to reverse the Taff Vale judgement.

Early years, and the rise of the Labour Party

The December 1910 General Election saw 42 Labour MPs elected to the House of Commons. The United Kingdom general election of December 1910 was held from 3 to 19 December

During the First World War the Labour Party split between supporters and opponents of the conflict and opposition within the party to the war grew as time went on. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All Ramsay MacDonald, a notable anti-war campaigner, resigned as leader of the Parliamentary Labour Party and Arthur Henderson became the main figure of authority within the Party and was soon accepted into H. H. Asquith's War Cabinet, becoming the first Labour Party member to serve in government. James Ramsay MacDonald ( 12 October 1866 &ndash 9 November 1937) was a British politician and twice Prime Minister of the United Arthur Henderson (13 September 1863 – 20 October 1935 was a British union leader politician Disarmament advocate and the 1934 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Herbert Henry Asquith 1st Earl of Oxford and Asquith, KG, PC ( 12 September 1852 &ndash 15 February 1928) served

Despite mainstream Labour Party's support for the Coalition, the Independent Labour Party was instrumental in opposing mobilisation through organisations such as the Non-Conscription Fellowship and a Labour Party affiliate, the British Socialist Party organised a number of unofficial strikes. See Independent Labor Party for the Political party in Burundi, Independent Labour Group for the Irish party and Labour candidates The British Socialist Party was a Socialist party founded in Britain in 1911 Strike action, often simply called a strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal by Employees to perform work.

Arthur Henderson resigned from the Cabinet in 1917 amidst calls for Party unity, being replaced by George Barnes. Arthur Henderson (13 September 1863 – 20 October 1935 was a British union leader politician Disarmament advocate and the 1934 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate George Nicoll Barnes CH PC ( January 2, 1859 &ndash April 21, 1940) was a Scottish Politician and a The growth in Labour's local activist base and organisation was reflected in the elections following the War, with the co-operative movement now providing its own resources to the Co-operative Party after the armistice. The Co-operative Party is a democratic socialist Political party in the United Kingdom committed to supporting and representing co-operative The Co-operative Party later reached an electoral agreement with the Labour Party.

Following the war The Liberal Party went into rapid decline. The Liberal Party was one of the two major British political parties from the early 19th century until the rise of the Labour Party in the 1920s and a third party With the party suffering a catastophic split between supporters of leader David Lloyd George and former leader H. H. Asquith. David Lloyd George 1st Earl Lloyd George of Dwyfor OM, PC (17 January 1863 &ndash 26 March 1945 was a British Statesman and the only Herbert Henry Asquith 1st Earl of Oxford and Asquith, KG, PC ( 12 September 1852 &ndash 15 February 1928) served This allowed the Labour Party to co-opt much of the Liberals' support.

With the Liberals in disarray, Labour won 142 seats at the 1922 General Election making it the second largest political group in the House of Commons and the official opposition to the Conservative Government. The UK general election of 1922 was held on 15 November 1922 It was the first election held after most of the Irish counties left the United Kingdom to form the Irish After the election, the now rehabilitated Ramsay MacDonald was voted the first official leader of the Labour Party.

First Labour governments under MacDonald (1924 and 1929-31)

Ramsay MacDonald, the first Labour Prime Minister, 1924, 1929–35 (National from 1931-35)

The 1923 general election was fought on the Conservatives' protectionist proposals; although they got the most votes and remained the largest party, they lost their majority in parliament, requiring a government supporting free trade to be formed. James Ramsay MacDonald ( 12 October 1866 &ndash 9 November 1937) was a British politician and twice Prime Minister of the United In the United Kingdom the term National Government is in an abstract sense used to refer to a coalition of some or all UK major political parties. The UK general election of 1923 was held on 6 December 1923 The Conservatives, led by Stanley Baldwin, won the most seats but Labour, led by For the protectionist Australian political party from the 1880s to 1909 see Protectionist Party Free trade is a system in which the trade of goods and services between or within countries flows unhindered by government-imposed restrictions So with the acquiescence of Asquith's Liberals, Ramsay MacDonald became Prime Minister in January 1924 and formed the first ever Labour government, despite Labour only having 191 MPs (less than a third of the House of Commons). James Ramsay MacDonald ( 12 October 1866 &ndash 9 November 1937) was a British politician and twice Prime Minister of the United

Because the government had to rely on the support of the Liberals, it was unable to get any socialist legislation passed by the House of Commons. The only significant measure was the Wheatley Housing Act which began a building programme of 500,000 homes for rent to working-class families. The Housing (Financial Provisions Act 1924 (14 & 15 Geo V c 35 was an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom.

The government collapsed after only nine months when the Liberals voted for a Select Committee inquiry into the Campbell Case, a vote which MacDonald had declared to be a vote of confidence. Sir Patrick Gardiner Hastings ( March 17, 1880 &ndash February 26, 1952) was a noted British Barrister who served as The ensuing general election saw the publication, four days before polling day, of the notorious Zinoviev letter, which implicated Labour in a plot for a Communist revolution in Britain, and the Conservatives were returned to power, although Labour increased its vote from 30. The 1924 UK general election was held on 29 October 1924 The Conservatives, led by Stanley Baldwin performed dramatically better in electoral terms than in The " Zinoviev Letter " is a 1924 letter that was allegedly addressed from Grigori Zinoviev, president of the presidium of the Executive Committee of the Communist 7% of the popular vote to a third of the popular vote - most of the Conservative gains were at the expense of the Liberals. The Zinoviev letter is now generally believed to have been a forgery. ^[9]

In opposition, Ramsay MacDonald continued with his policy of presenting the Labour Party as a moderate force in politics. During the General Strike of 1926 he opposed strike action arguing that the best way to achieve social reforms was through the ballot box. The UK General Strike of 1926 was a General strike that lasted nine days from 3 May 1926 to 12 May 1926.

At the 1929 general election the Labour Party for the first time became the largest grouping in the House of Commons with 287 seats, and 37. The 1929 UK general election was held on 30 May 1929 and resulted in a Hung parliament. 1% of the popular vote (actually slightly less than the Conservatives). However, MacDonald was still reliant on Liberal support to form a minority government.

the original "liberty" logo, in use until 1983

The government however, soon found itself engufed in crisis; The Wall Street Crash of 1929 and eventual Great Depression occurred soon after the government came to power, and the crisis hit Britain hard. The Wall Street Crash of 1929, also known as the ’29 Crash, the Crash of 1929, the Great Crash of 1929, the Great Crash of October 1929 This article deals with the effects of the Great Depression of the 1930s - also known as the Great Slump - on the United Kingdom. By the end of 1930 the unemployment rate had doubled to over two and a half million. ^[10]

The government had no effective answers to the crisis. By the summer of 1931, a dispute over whether to introduce large cuts to public spending split the government. With the economic situation worsening, MacDonald agreed to form a "National Government" with the Conservatives and the Liberals. In the United Kingdom the term National Government is in an abstract sense used to refer to a coalition of some or all UK major political parties. The Conservative Party (officially the Conservative and Unionist Party) is a Political party in the United Kingdom. The Liberal Party was one of the two major British political parties from the early 19th century until the rise of the Labour Party in the 1920s and a third party

On August 24 1931 MacDonald submitted the resignation of his ministers and led a small number of his senior colleagues in forming the National Government with the other parties. Events 49 BC - Julius Caesar 's General Gaius Scribonius Curio is defeated in the Second Battle of the Bagradas River This move caused great anger within the Labour Party and MacDonald and his supporters were then expelled from the Labour Party and formed the National Labour Party. The National Labour Party was a group founded around the British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald after he was expelled from the Labour Party The remaining Labour Party, now led by Arthur Henderson, and a few Liberals went into opposition. Arthur Henderson (13 September 1863 – 20 October 1935 was a British union leader politician Disarmament advocate and the 1934 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

Soon after this, a General Election was called. A general election is an Election in which all or most members of a given political body are up for election The 1931 election resulted in a landslide victory for the National Government, and was a disaster for the Labour Party which won only 52 seats, 225 fewer than in 1929. The UK general election on Tuesday 27 October 1931 was the last in the United Kingdom not held on a Thursday

Opposition during the 1930s

Arthur Henderson, who had been elected in 1931 as Labour leader to succeed MacDonald, lost his seat in the 1931 General Election. Arthur Henderson (13 September 1863 – 20 October 1935 was a British union leader politician Disarmament advocate and the 1934 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate The only former Labour cabinet member who survived the landslide was the pacifist George Lansbury, who accordingly became party leader. George Lansbury ( 21 February 1859 &ndash 7 May 1940) was a British Politician, socialist, Christian pacifist

The party experienced a further split in 1932 when the Independent Labour Party, which for some years had been increasingly at odds with the Labour leadership, opted to disaffiliate from the Labour Party. See Independent Labor Party for the Political party in Burundi, Independent Labour Group for the Irish party and Labour candidates The ILP embarked on a long drawn out decline.

Lansbury resigned as leader in 1935 after public disagreements over foreign policy. He was replaced as leader by his deputy Clement Attlee. Clement Richard Attlee 1st Earl Attlee, KG, OM, CH, PC ( 3 January 1883 &ndash 8 October 1967 The party experienced a revival at the 1935 General Election, winning a similar number of votes to those attained in 1929 and actually, at 38% of the popular vote, the highest percentage that Labour had ever achieved, securing 154 seats. Results |} Total votes cast 20991488 All parties shown Conservatives include Ulster Unionists Seats won by the Independent Labour Party (ILP are

Wartime coalition

The party was brought back into government in 1940 as part of a wartime coalition government: When Neville Chamberlain resigned as Prime Minister after the defeat in Norway in spring 1940, and incoming Prime Minister Winston Churchill decided that it was important to bring the other main parties into the government and have a Wartime Coalition similar to that in the First World War. Arthur Neville Chamberlain (18 March 1869 &ndash 9 November 1940 was a British Conservative Politician and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, KG, OM, CH, TD, FRS, PC, PC (Can ( 30 November 1874 Clement Attlee became Lord Privy Seal and a member of the War cabinet, and was effectively (and eventually formally) Deputy Prime Minister for the remainder of the duration of the War in Europe. The Lord Privy Seal or Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal is the fifth of the Great Officers of State in the United Kingdom ranking beneath the A Deputy Prime Minister or Vice Prime Minister is in some countries a government minister who can take the position of acting Prime Minister when the

A number of other senior Labour figure took up senior positions: the trade union leader Ernest Bevin as Minister of Labour directed Britain's wartime economy and allocation of manpower; the veteran Labour statesman Herbert Morrison became Home Secretary; Hugh Dalton was Minister of Economic Warfare and later President of the Board of Trade; and A. V. Alexander resumed the role of First Lord of the Admiralty he had held in the previous Labour government. Ernest Bevin ( 9 March 1881 - 14 April 1951) was a British labour leader politician and statesman best known for his time as The Secretary of State for Employment was a position in the Cabinet of the United Kingdom. Herbert Stanley Morrison Baron Morrison of Lambeth, CH PC ( 3 January 1888 &ndash 6 March 1965) was a British The Secretary of State for the Home Department, commonly known as the Home Secretary, is the minister in charge of the United Kingdom Home Office Edward Hugh John Neale Dalton Baron Dalton PC, generally known as Hugh Dalton ( 26 August 1887 &ndash 13 February 1962 The Minister of Economic Warfare was a British government position which existed during the Second World War. The Secretary of State for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (formerly the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry before the June 28, 2007 Albert Victor Alexander 1st Earl Alexander of Hillsborough, KG, CH, PC (1 May 1885&ndash11 January 1965 was a British Labour and The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty were the members of the Board of Admiralty, which exercised command over the Royal Navy. The party generally performed well in government, and its experience there may have been partly responsible for its post-war success.

Post-War victory under Attlee

With the end of the war in Europe in May 1945, Labour resolved not to repeat the Liberals' error of 1918, and withdrew from the government to contest the 1945 general election (July 5) in opposition to Churchill's Conservatives. Results |} Total votes cast 24073025 All parties shown Conservative total includes Ulster Unionists Reason for Labour victory Surprising many observers, Labour won a landslide victory, winning just under 50% of the vote with a majority of 145 seats.

Clement Attlee: Labour Prime Minister 1945-51

Clement Attlee's government proved to be one of the most radical British governments of the 20th century. Clement Richard Attlee 1st Earl Attlee, KG, OM, CH, PC ( 3 January 1883 &ndash 8 October 1967 It presided over a policy of selective nationalisation of major industries and utilities, including the Bank of England, coal mining, the steel industry, electricity, gas, telephones, and inland transport (including the railways, road haulage and canals). Nationalization, also spelled nationalisation, is the act of taking an industry or assets into the Public ownership of a national government The Bank of England (formally the Governor and Company of the Bank of England) is a state-owned institution and the Central bank of the United Kingdom The National Coal Board (NCB was the Statutory Corporation created to run the nationalised Coal mining industry in Britain. The Iron and Steel Corporation of Great Britain was a nationalised industry set up in 1949 by Clement Attlee 's Labour government See also Rail transport in Great Britain, National Rail, Network Rail This article is about the defunct entity "British Railways" It developed the "cradle to grave" welfare state conceived by the Liberal economist William Beveridge. This article refers specifically to the Welfare state of the United Kingdom. For the Scottish footballer and athlete see William Beveridge (footballer William Henry Beveridge 1st Baron Beveridge ( 5 March To this day, the party still considers the creation in 1948 of Britain's publicly funded National Health Service under health minister Aneurin Bevan its proudest achievement. Publicly funded health care, or publicly funded healthcare, is Health care that is financed entirely or in majority part by citizens' tax payments instead of through The National Health Service is the name commonly used to refer to the four Publicly-funded healthcare systems of the United Kingdom collectively or individually (although Aneurin Bevan, usually known as Nye Bevan ( 15 November 1897 &ndash 6 July 1960) was a Welsh Labour

Attlee's government also began the process of dismantling the British Empire when it granted independence to India in 1947. The British Empire was the largest empire in history and for over a century was the foremost global power. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country This was followed by Burma (Myanmar) and Ceylon (Sri Lanka) the following year. Burma, officially the Union of Myanmar ( pjìdàunzṵ mjàmmà nàinŋàndɔ̀ is the largest country by geographical area in mainland Southeast Asia. Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka ( Sinhalese:, இலங்கை known as Ceylon before 1972 is an Island

With the onset of the Cold War, at a secret meeting in January 1947, Attlee, and six cabinet ministers including foreign minister Ernest Bevin, secretly decided to proceed with the development of Britain's nuclear deterrent,^[10] in opposition to the pacifist and anti-nuclear stances of a large element inside the Labour Party. Cold War is the state of conflict tension and competition that existed between the United States and the Soviet Union (USSR and their respective allies from the Ernest Bevin ( 9 March 1881 - 14 April 1951) was a British labour leader politician and statesman best known for his time as A nuclear deterrent is the phrase used to refer to a country's nuclear weapons arsenal when considered in the context of Deterrence theory.

Labour won the 1950 general election but with a much reduced majority of five seats. Results |} Total votes cast 28771124 All parties shown Conservative total includes Ulster Unionists Votes summary Seats summary Soon after the 1950 election, things started to go badly wrong for the Labour government. Defence became one of the divisive issues for Labour itself, especially defence spending (which reached 14% of GDP in 1951 during the Korean War^[11]). The Korean War refers to a period of military conflict between North Korean and South Korean regimes with major hostilities lasting from June 25 1950 until the These costs put enormous strain on public finances, forcing savings to be found elsewhere. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Hugh Gaitskell introduced prescription charges for NHS prescriptions, causing Bevan, along with Harold Wilson (President of the Board of Trade) to resign over the dilution of the principle of free treatment. The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the title held by the British Cabinet minister who is responsible for all Economic and Financial Hugh Todd Naylor Gaitskell ( 9 April 1906 &ndash 18 January 1963) was a British politician leader of the Labour Party from 1955 A prescription drug is a licensed medicine that is regulated by legislation to require a prescription before it can be obtained A prescription drug is a licensed medicine that is regulated by legislation to require a prescription before it can be obtained James Harold Wilson Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, KG, OBE, FRS, PC (11 March 1916 &ndash 24 May 1995 was one of the most prominent British politicians The Secretary of State for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (formerly the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry before the June 28, 2007

Soon after this, another election was called. Labour narrowly lost the October 1951 election to the Conservatives, despite their receiving a larger share of the popular vote and, in fact, their highest vote ever numerically. Results |} Total votes cast 28596594 All parties shown Conservative result includes the Ulster Unionists Votes summary Headline

Most of the changes introduced by the 1945-51 Labour government however were accepted by the Conservatives and became part of the "post war consensus", which lasted until the 1970s

The "Thirteen Wasted Years"

Following their defeat in 1951 the party underwent a long period in opposition lasting thirteen years. The post-war consensus was an era in British political history which lasted from the end of World War II to the election of Margaret Thatcher as Prime Minister The party suffered an ideological split during the 1950s, and the postwar economic recovery meant that the public was broadly contented with the Conservative governments of the time. Attlee remained as leader until his retirement in 1955.

His replacement Hugh Gaitskell struggled with internal divisions within the party in the late 1950s and early 1960s, and Labour lost the 1959 general election. Hugh Todd Naylor Gaitskell ( 9 April 1906 &ndash 18 January 1963) was a British politician leader of the Labour Party from 1955 Background Following the Suez Crisis in 1956 Anthony Eden the Conservative Prime Minister became unpopular and resigned the following year Gaitskell's sudden death in 1963 made way for Harold Wilson to lead the party. James Harold Wilson Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, KG, OBE, FRS, PC (11 March 1916 &ndash 24 May 1995 was one of the most prominent British politicians

The 1960s and 1970s

Labour in government under Wilson (1964-1970)

Harold Wilson, Labour Prime Minister 1964–1970 and 1974-1976

A downturn in the economy, along with a series of scandals in the early 1960s (the most notorious being the Profumo affair), engulfed the Conservative government by 1963. James Harold Wilson Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, KG, OBE, FRS, PC (11 March 1916 &ndash 24 May 1995 was one of the most prominent British politicians The Profumo Affair was a political scandal from 1963 in the United Kingdom that is named after the then Secretary of State for War, John Profumo The Labour party returned to government with a wafer-thin 4 seat majority under Wilson in the 1964 election, and increased their majority to 96 in 1966 election. Campaign The pre-election campaign was prolonged as Douglas-Home delayed calling a general election in order to try to give himself the maximum time to improve the National opinion poll summary Research Services: 3% swing to Labour (forecast majority of 101National Opinion Polls: 3

Events derailed the wave of optimism which swept Labour to power in 1964. Wilson's government struggled with economic problems over the balance of payments and an ultimately doomed attempt to stave off devaluation of the pound. In Economics, the balance of payments, (or BOP) measures the Payments that flow between any individual Country and all other countries The Pound Sterling ( symbol £; ISO code: GBP) subdivided into 100 pence (singular penny) is the Currency

Wilson's government however was responsible for a number of social and educational reforms such as legalisation of abortion and homosexuality, and the abolition of the death penalty for murder. An Homosexuality refers to sexual behavior with or attraction to people of the same sex or to a Homosexual orientation. Capital punishment, the death penalty or execution, is the Killing of a person by judicial process as Punishment. The 1960s Labour government also expanded comprehensive education and created the Open University. A comprehensive school is a Secondary school and State school for children from the age of 11 to at least 16 that does not select children on the basis of academic Open University is also the name of other institutions See Distance education or the Open Universities category for a list

Labour unexpectedly lost the 1970 general election to the Conservatives under Edward Heath. Opinion poll summary ORC (Opinion Research Council Conservative lead of 1%Harris (Express Newspapers Labour lead of 2%NOP Sir Edward Richard George Heath, KG, MBE (9 July 1916 &ndash 17 July 2005 often known as Ted Heath, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Heath's government however soon ran into trouble over Northern Ireland and a dispute with miners in 1973 which led to the "three-day week". Northern Ireland (Tuaisceart Éireann Ulster Scots: Norlin Airlann) is a Country within the United Kingdom, lying in the northeast of The Three-Day Week was one of several measures introduced in the United Kingdom by the Conservative Government 1970-1974 to conserve Electricity, the production

The 1970s proved to be a very difficult time to be in government for both the Conservatives and Labour due to the 1973 oil crisis which caused high inflation and a global recession. The 1973 oil crisis began on October 17 1973 when the members of Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC consisting of the Arab members of In economics inflation or price inflation is a rise in the general level of prices of goods and services over a period of time

Labour returned to power again under Wilson a few weeks after the February 1974 general election, forming a minority government with Ulster Unionist support. Results |} Total votes 31321982 All parties are shown The seats won by the Ulster Unionists are compared with those won by Unionist MPs in the 1970 election The Conservatives were unable to form a government as they had fewer seats, even though they had received more votes. It was the first General Election since 1924 in which both main parties received less than 40% of the popular vote, and was the first of six successive General Elections in which Labour failed to reach 40% of the popular vote. In a bid for Labour to gain a majority, a second election was soon called for October 1974 in which Labour, still with Harold Wilson as leader, scraped a majority of three, gaining just 18 seats and taking their total to 319. Results |} Total number of votes 29189104 All parties shown Votes summary Seats summary

Labour in power (1974-1979)

In government, the Labour Party's internal splits over Britain's membership of the European Economic Community (EEC) which Britain had entered under Edward Heath in 1972, led to a national referendum on the issue in 1975, in which two thirds of the public supported continued membership. The European Community (EC is one of the Three pillars of the European Union (EU created under the Maastricht Treaty (1992 The United Kingdom referendum of 1975 was a post-legislative Referendum held on 5 June 1975 in the whole of the United Kingdom over whether there was support for it

James Callaghan: Labour Prime Minster 1976-79

The Labour Government struggled for much of its time in office with severe economic problems and a precarious and declining majority in the commons. Leonard James Callaghan Baron Callaghan of Cardiff, KG, PC (27 March 1912 – 26 March 2005 was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1976 to 1979 Fear of advances by the natiuobnalist parties, particularly in Scotland, led to the suppression of a report from Scottish Office economist gavin McCrone which suggested that an independent Scotland would be 'chronically in surplus' and to secret collusion with Margaret Thatcher's Conservatives. Harold Wilson unexpectedly resigned as prime minister in 1976. He was replaced by James Callaghan. Leonard James Callaghan Baron Callaghan of Cardiff, KG, PC (27 March 1912 – 26 March 2005 was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1976 to 1979

By 1977 Callaghan was heading a minority government after several by-election losses and defections to the breakaway Scottish Labour Party. Scottish Labour (often but inaccurately described at the "Scottish Labour Party" is that part of the (British Labour Party which operates in Scotland This forced Labour to do deals with other parties. A pact was negotiated with the Liberal leader David Steel in 1977. David Martin Scott Steel Baron Steel of Aikwood, KT, KBE, PC (born 31 March 1938) is a British and Scottish the resultant Lib-Lab pact lasted one year. The Lib-Lab pact has been a working arrangement between the UK 's political parties of the Liberals (later Liberal Democrats) and the Labour Party After this Labour was forced into making good their election promise to hold referendums on Scottish and Welsh devolution. In Scotland the majority of voters approved the proposition, but an amendment by George Cunningham MP which effectively meant that electors who did not cast their votes counted as 'no' voters prevented the erection of a Scottish Assembly.

The Wilson and Callaghan governments in the 1970s tried to control inflation (which had reached 26. In economics inflation or price inflation is a rise in the general level of prices of goods and services over a period of time 9% in 1975) by instituting a policy of wage restraint. Incomes policies in Economics are Wage and Price controls, most commonly instituted as a response to Inflation. Although this innitially was reasonably successful, it led to increasingly strained relations between the government and the trade unions.

During the winter of 1978-79 there were widespread strikes in favour of higher pay rises which caused significant disruption to everyday life. Strike action, often simply called a strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal by Employees to perform work. The strikes affected lorry drivers, railway workers, car workers and local government and hospital workers. These came to be dubbed as the "Winter of Discontent". The "Winter of Discontent" is a term used to describe the British Winter of 1978 &ndash 1979, during which there were widespread

The perceived relaxed attitude of Callaghan to the crisis reflected badly upon public opinion of the government's ability to run the country. After the withdrawal of SNP support for the government, the Conservatives put down a vote of no confidence, which was held and passed by one vote on 28 March 1979, forcing a general election. A motion of no confidence (also vote of no confidence, censure motion, no-confidence motion, or confidence motion) is a Parliamentary motion

In the 1979 general election, Labour suffered electoral defeat to the Conservatives led by Margaret Thatcher. Background Callaghan had succeeded Harold Wilson as Labour Prime Minister after the latter's surprise resignation in April 1976 The Conservative Party (officially the Conservative and Unionist Party) is a Political party in the United Kingdom. Margaret Hilda Thatcher Baroness Thatcher LG, OM, PC, FRS (born 13 October 1925 The numbers voting Labour hardly changed between February 1974 and 1979, but in 1979 the Conservative Party achieved big increases in support in the Midlands and South of England, mainly from the ailing Liberals, and benefited from a surge in turnout.

The 'Wilderness Years' (1979-1997)

Following their defeat at the 1979 election, the Labour Party underwent a period of bitter internal rivalry in the Labour Party which had become increasingly divided between the ever more dominant left wingers under Michael Foot and Tony Benn (whose supporters dominated the party organisation at the grassroots level), and the right under Denis Healey. Michael Mackintosh Foot (born 23 July 1913 is a British politician and writer Anthony "Tony" Neil Wedgwood Benn (born 3 April 1925 formerly 2nd Viscount Stansgate, is a British Socialist Politician. Denis Winston Healey Baron Healey, CH, MBE, PC (born 30 August 1917 is a British Life peer and Labour politician

The election of Michael Foot as leader in 1980, dismayed many on the right of the party, who believed that Labour was becoming too left-wing. In 1981 a group of four former cabinet ministers from the right and centre of the Labour Party (Shirley Williams, William Rodgers, Roy Jenkins, and David Owen) issued the "Limehouse Declaration" and formed the breakaway Social Democratic Party. Shirley Williams Baroness Williams of Crosby PC (born 27 July 1930) is a British Politician and academic Roy Harris Jenkins Baron Jenkins of Hillhead OM PC ( 11 November 1920 &ndash 5 January 2003) was a British David Anthony Llewellyn Owen Baron Owen of Plymouth, CH PC FKC (born 2 July 1938) is a British Politician, The Limehouse Declaration was a statement issued on 25 January 1981 by four senior British Labour politicians all MPs or former MPs This is about the UK Social Democratic Party which existed between 1981 and 1988

Margaret Thatcher's government was initially deeply unpopular due to high unemployment and inflation. However the success of the Falklands War in 1982 revived her popularity. The Falklands War (Guerra de las Malvinas/Guerra del Atlántico Sur also called the Falklands Conflict/Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the The Labour Party was defeated by a landslide in the 1983 general election winning only 27. Results The Conservatives won with a majority of 144 seats|} Total votes cast 30661309 6% of the vote, their lowest share since 1918. The United Kingdom general election of 1918 was the first to be held after the Representation of the People Act 1918, which meant it was the first United Kingdom Labour won only half a million votes more than the SDP-Liberal Alliance which had attracted the votes of many moderate Labour supporters. The SDP-Liberal Alliance was an electoral alliance of the Social Democratic Party (SDP and the Liberal Party in the United Kingdom that operated

Michael Foot resigned as leader and was replaced by Neil Kinnock, who progressively moved the party towards the centre. Neil Gordon Kinnock Baron Kinnock PC (born 28 March 1942 is a British Politician. Labour improved its performance at the 1987 general election, gaining 20 seats reducing the Conservative majority to 102 from 143 in 1983, despite a sharp rise in turnout. Results |} All parties gaining over 500 votes listed Campaign and policies The Conservatives' campaign emphasized lower taxes a strong economy and defence

Margaret Thatcher was replaced as prime minister by John Major in 1990. Sir John Major KG CH ACIB (born 29 March 1943 is a British Politician who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom By the time of the 1992 general election, the economy was in recession and Labour looked like it could win. Results |} The turnout was 33514074 from an Electorate of 43275316 voting in a total of 651 seats The party had reformed to such an extent that it was perceived as a credible government-in-waiting. Most opinion polls showed the party to have a slight lead over the Conservatives, although rarely sufficient for a majority. In the event the Conservatives were returned to power but with a much reduced majority of 20. Although Labour's support was comparable to the February and October 1974 and May 1979 General Elections, the overall turnout was much larger.

Kinnock resigned as leader and was replaced by John Smith. John Smith QC (13 September 1938&ndash12 May 1994 was a Scottish Politician who served as leader of the Labour Party from July 1992 until his Soon after the 1992 election, the Conservative government ran into trouble, when on 'Black Wednesday' it was forced to leave the European Exchange Rate Mechanism. In British Politics and Economics, Black Wednesday refers to the events of 16 September 1992 when the Conservative The European Exchange Rate Mechanism, ERM, was a system introduced by the European Community in March 1979 as part of the European Monetary System (EMS After this, Labour moved ahead in the opinion polls as the Conservatives became unpopular. John Smith died suddenly from a heart attack in May 1994. His death made way for Tony Blair to lead the Party. Anthony Charles Lynton "Tony" Blair (born 6 May 1953 is a British Politician who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to

New Labour

Recent logo of Labour Party

Tony Blair moved the party further to the right, adopting policies which broke with Labour's socialist heritage at the 1995 mini-conference, in a strategy to increase the party's appeal to "middle England". Middle England is a socio-political and geographical term which originally indicated the central region of England, now almost always referred to as the Midlands

Tony Blair Ex-Labour Prime Minister 1997-2007

"New Labour" was first termed as an alternative branding for the Labour Party, dating from a conference slogan first used by the Labour Party in 1994 which was later seen in a draft manifesto published by the party in 1996, called New Labour, New Life For Britain. Anthony Charles Lynton "Tony" Blair (born 6 May 1953 is a British Politician who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to For the Roxy Music album see Manifesto (album. A manifesto is a public declaration of principles and intentions often New Labour New Life For Britain was a hugely significant political Manifesto published in 1996 by the UK's Labour Party, which had recently restyled itself as New The rise of the name coincided with a rightwards shift of the British political spectrum; for Labour, this was a continuation of the trend that had begun under the leadership of Neil Kinnock. Neil Gordon Kinnock Baron Kinnock PC (born 28 March 1942 is a British Politician. "New Labour" as a name has no official status but remains in common use to distinguish modernisers from those holding to more traditional positions who normally are referred to as "Old Labour".

In government

Main articles: Current Labour government (UK), Premiership of Tony Blair, and Premiership of Gordon Brown

With the unpopularity of John Major's government, the Labour party won the 1997 election with a landslide majority of 179. This article covers aspects of the current Labour government from 1997 under Tony Blair (1997-2007 to today under Gordon Brown. The Premiership of Tony Blair began on 2 May 1997 and ended on 27 June 2007 See also Gordon Brown The Premiership of Gordon Brown began on 27 June 2007 when Brown accepted the Queen's invitation to form a government replacing Results The election was fought under new boundaries with a net increase of eight seats compared to the 1992 election

Among the early acts of Tony Blair's government were the establishment of the National minimum wage, the devolution of power to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and the re-creation of a city-wide government body for London; the Greater London Authority. The National Minimum Wage Act 1998 was a flagship policy of the Labour Party in the UK during its 1997 election campaign and is still pronounced today in New Devolution is the statutory granting of powers from the central government of a State to government at subnational level Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Northern Ireland (Tuaisceart Éireann Ulster Scots: Norlin Airlann) is a Country within the United Kingdom, lying in the northeast of London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. The Greater London Authority ( GLA) is the city-wide governing body for London, England.

Labour went on to win the 2001 election with a similar majority to 1997. Results |} Total votes cast 26368204 All parties with more than 500 votes shown Tony Blair controversially allied himself with President George W Bush in supporting the Iraq War, which lost his government much support; at the 2005 election, Labour was returned to power with a much reduced majority. George Walker Bush ( born July 6 1946 is the forty-third and current President of the United States. The Iraq War, also known as the Second Gulf War, the Occupation of Iraq, or the War in Iraq, is an ongoing Military campaign Results Overview For events leading up to the date of the election see article Pre-election day events of the United Kingdom general

In Labour lost the Scottish General Election in 2007 and Tony Blair stood down as prime minister and was replaced by Gordon Brown. WikipediaManual of Style (biographies#Academic titles --> James Gordon Brown (born 20 February 1951 is During May 2008, Labour suffered heavy defeats in the London mayoral election, local elections and the Crewe and Nantwich by-election, culminating in the party registering its worst ever opinion poll result since records began in 1943, of 23%. The London mayoral election 2008 for the office of Mayor of London was held on 1 May, 2008 and was won by Conservative Party candidate The 2008 United Kingdom local elections were held on May 1, 2008. The Crewe and Nantwich by-election 2008 was a parliamentary By-election held on 22 May 2008 for the British House of Commons constituency of Crewe and Nantwich ^[12]

Electoral performance

This chart shows the electoral performance of the Labour Party in general elections since 1900. This is a list of United Kingdom general elections since the first in 1802 (Source [1])

A graph showing the percentage of the popular vote received by major parties in general elections, 1832-2005. The rapid rise of the Labour party after its founding during the Victorian era is clear, and the party is now considered as one of the dominant forces in British politics.

^†The first election held under the Representation of the People Act 1918 in which all men over 21, and most women over the age of 30 could vote, and therefore a much larger electorate. The Representation of the People Act 1918 was an Act of Parliament passed to reform the electoral system in the United Kingdom.

^‡The first election under universal suffrage in which all women aged over 21 could vote. Universal suffrage (also universal adult suffrage, general suffrage or common suffrage) consists of the extension of the right to vote to

Leaders of the Labour Party

The post of Leader of the Labour Party was created in 1922. Before this (1906-22) the post was known as Chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party. ^[13]

		Portrait	Entered office	Left office	Length of Leadership	Date of Birth and Death
1	Keir Hardie		17 February 1906	22 January 1908	1 year, 11 months, 5 days	15 August 1856 - 26 September 1915
2	Arthur Henderson		22 January 1908	14 February 1910	2 years, 3 weeks, 2 days	13 September 1863 - 20 October 1935
3	George Nicoll Barnes		14 February 1910	6 February 1911	11 months, 3 weeks, 2 days	2 January 1859 - 21 April 1940
4	James Ramsay MacDonald		6 February 1911	5 August 1914	3 years, 5 months, 4 weeks, 2 days	12 October 1866 - 9 November 1937
5	Arthur Henderson		5 August 1914	24 October 1917	3 years, 2 months, 2 weeks, 5 days	(See Box No. James Keir Hardie (15 August 1856 - 26 September 1915 was a Scottish Socialist and labour leader and was the first independent labour Member of Parliament Events 1500 - Battle of Hemmingstedt. 1600 - Philosopher Giordano Bruno is burned alive at Campo de' Fiori Year 1906 ( MCMVI) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting Events 565 - Eutychius is deposed as Patriarch of Constantinople by John Scholasticus. Year 1908 ( MCMVIII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Events 778 - The Battle of Roncevaux Pass, at which Roland is killed Year 1856 ( MDCCCLVI) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year Events 46 BC - Julius Caesar dedicates a Year 1915 ( MCMXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Arthur Henderson (13 September 1863 – 20 October 1935 was a British union leader politician Disarmament advocate and the 1934 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Events 565 - Eutychius is deposed as Patriarch of Constantinople by John Scholasticus. Year 1908 ( MCMVIII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Events 842 - Charles the Bald and Louis the German swear the Oaths of Strasbourg in the French and German Year 1910 ( MCMX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting Events 509 BC - The Temple of Jupiter on Rome 's Capitoline Hill is dedicated on the ides of September Year 1863 ( MDCCCLXIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 1740 - Maria Theresa takes the throne of Austria. France, Prussia, Bavaria and Saxony Year 1935 ( MCMXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. George Nicoll Barnes CH PC ( January 2, 1859 &ndash April 21, 1940) was a Scottish Politician and a Events 842 - Charles the Bald and Louis the German swear the Oaths of Strasbourg in the French and German Year 1910 ( MCMX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting Events 46 BC - Julius Caesar defeats the combined army of Pompeian followers and Numidians under Metellus Scipio Year 1911 ( MCMXI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Events 366 - The Alamanni cross the frozen Rhine River in large numbers invading the Roman Empire. Year 1859 ( MDCCCLIX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 753 BC - Romulus and Remus found Rome ( traditional date) Year 1940 ( MCMXL) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. James Ramsay MacDonald ( 12 October 1866 &ndash 9 November 1937) was a British politician and twice Prime Minister of the United Events 46 BC - Julius Caesar defeats the combined army of Pompeian followers and Numidians under Metellus Scipio Year 1911 ( MCMXI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Events 642 - Battle of Maserfield - Penda of Mercia defeats and kills Oswald of Bernicia. Year 1914 ( MCMXIV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Events 539 BC - The army of Cyrus the Great of Persia takes Babylon. Year 1866 ( MDCCCLXVI) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 694 - Egica, a king of the Visigoths of Hispania, accuses Jews of aiding Muslims sentencing all Year 1937 ( MCMXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Arthur Henderson (13 September 1863 – 20 October 1935 was a British union leader politician Disarmament advocate and the 1934 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Events 642 - Battle of Maserfield - Penda of Mercia defeats and kills Oswald of Bernicia. Year 1914 ( MCMXIV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Events 69 - Second Battle of Bedriacum, forces under Antonius Primus the commander of the Danube armies loyal to Vespasian, defeat Year 1917 ( MCMXVII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year 2)
6	William Adamson		24 October 1917	14 February 1921	3 years, 3 months, 3 weeks	2 April 1863 - 23 February 1936
7	John Robert Clynes		14 February 1921	21 November 1922	1 year, 9 months, 1 week	27 March 1869 - 23 October 1949
8	James Ramsay MacDonald		21 November 1922	1 September 1931	8 years, 9 months, 1 week, 4 days	(See Box No. William Adamson (2 April 1863 &ndash 23 February 1936 was born in Dunfermline, Scotland and worked as a miner in Fife where he became involved with Events 69 - Second Battle of Bedriacum, forces under Antonius Primus the commander of the Danube armies loyal to Vespasian, defeat Year 1917 ( MCMXVII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Events 842 - Charles the Bald and Louis the German swear the Oaths of Strasbourg in the French and German Year 1921 ( MCMXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1921 calendar of the Gregorian calendar Events 68 - Galba, Governor of Hispania, names himself legatus senatus populique Romani, breaking the line of Year 1863 ( MDCCCLXIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 1455 - Traditional date for the publication of the Gutenberg Bible, the first Western Book printed from Movable Year 1936 ( MCMXXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. John Robert Clynes ( 27 March 1869 &ndash 23 October 1949) was a British Trade unionist and Labour Party Events 842 - Charles the Bald and Louis the German swear the Oaths of Strasbourg in the French and German Year 1921 ( MCMXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1921 calendar of the Gregorian calendar Events 164 BC - Judas Maccabaeus, son of Mattathias of the Hasmonean family restores the Temple in Jerusalem. Year 1922 ( MCMXXII) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 196 BC - Ptolemy V ascends to the throne of Egypt. 1309 - Pope Clement V excommunicates Year 1869 ( MDCCCLXIX) is a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Events 4004 BC - Creation of the world begins according to the calculations of Archbishop James Ussher 42 BC - Year 1949 ( MCMXLIX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. James Ramsay MacDonald ( 12 October 1866 &ndash 9 November 1937) was a British politician and twice Prime Minister of the United Events 164 BC - Judas Maccabaeus, son of Mattathias of the Hasmonean family restores the Temple in Jerusalem. Year 1922 ( MCMXXII) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 462 - Possible start of first Byzantine indiction cycle. Year 1931 ( MCMXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1931 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. 4)
9	Arthur Henderson		1 September 1931	25 October 1932	1 year, 1 month, 3 weeks, 3 days	(See Box No. Arthur Henderson (13 September 1863 – 20 October 1935 was a British union leader politician Disarmament advocate and the 1934 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Events 462 - Possible start of first Byzantine indiction cycle. Year 1931 ( MCMXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1931 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1147 - The Portuguese, under Afonso I, and Crusaders from England and Flanders conquer Lisbon after a Year 1932 ( MCMXXXII) was a Leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. 2)
10	George Lansbury		25 October 1932	8 October 1935	2 years, 11 months, 1 week, 6 days	21 February 1859 - 7 May 1940
11	Clement Attlee		8 October 1935	14 December 1955	20 years, 2 months, 6 days	3 January 1883 - 8 October 1967
12	Hugh Gaitskell		14 December 1955	18 January 1963	7 years, 1 month, 4 days	9 April 1906 - 18 January 1963[14]
13	George Brown †		18 January 1963[15]	14 February 1963	3 weeks, 6 days	2 September 1914 - 2 June 1985
14	Harold Wilson[16]		14 February 1963	5 April 1976	13 years, 1 month, 3 weeks, 1 day	11 March 1916 - 24 May 1995
15	James Callaghan		5 April 1976	3 November 1980	4 years, 6 months, 4 weeks, 1 day	27 March 1912 - 26 March 2005
16	Michael Foot		3 November 1980	2 October 1983	2 years, 10 months, 4 weeks, 1 day	23 July 1913 - present
17	Neil Kinnock		2 October 1983	18 July 1992	8 years, 9 months, 2 weeks, 2 days	28 March 1942 - present
18	John Smith		18 July 1992	12 May 1994	1 year, 9 months, 3 weeks, 3 days	13 September 1938 - 12 May 1994[17]
19	Margaret Beckett †		12 May 1994	21 July 1994	2 months, 1 week, 2 days	15 January 1943 - present
20	Tony Blair		21 July 1994[18][19][20]	24 June 2007	12 years, 11 months, 3 days	6 May 1953 - present
21	Gordon Brown		24 June 2007	Present		20 February 1951 - present

^†Although these were technically leaders of the Labour Party, they only assumed this role because of the death of the incumbent and were not elected to the post. George Lansbury ( 21 February 1859 &ndash 7 May 1940) was a British Politician, socialist, Christian pacifist Events 1147 - The Portuguese, under Afonso I, and Crusaders from England and Flanders conquer Lisbon after a Year 1932 ( MCMXXXII) was a Leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 314 - Roman Emperor Licinius is defeated by his colleague Constantine I at the Battle of Cibalae, and loses Year 1935 ( MCMXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 362 - Athanasius returns to Alexandria. 1245 - Thomas, the first known Bishop of Finland Year 1859 ( MDCCCLIX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 558 - In Constantinople, the dome of the Hagia Sophia collapses Year 1940 ( MCMXL) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Clement Richard Attlee 1st Earl Attlee, KG, OM, CH, PC ( 3 January 1883 &ndash 8 October 1967 Events 314 - Roman Emperor Licinius is defeated by his colleague Constantine I at the Battle of Cibalae, and loses Year 1935 ( MCMXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1287 - St Lucia's flood: The Zuider Zee sea wall in the Netherlands collapses killing over 50000 people Year 1955 ( MCMLV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1955 Gregorian calendar) Events 1431 - Joan of Arc is handed over to the Bishop Pierre Cauchon. Year 1883 ( MDCCCLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 314 - Roman Emperor Licinius is defeated by his colleague Constantine I at the Battle of Cibalae, and loses Year 1967 ( MCMLXVII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the 1967 Gregorian calendar. Hugh Todd Naylor Gaitskell ( 9 April 1906 &ndash 18 January 1963) was a British politician leader of the Labour Party from 1955 Events 1287 - St Lucia's flood: The Zuider Zee sea wall in the Netherlands collapses killing over 50000 people Year 1955 ( MCMLV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1955 Gregorian calendar) Events 350 - Generallus Magnentius deposes Roman Emperor Constans and proclaims himself Emperor Year 1963 ( MCMLXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 193 - Septimius Severus is proclaimed Roman Emperor by the army in Illyricum (in the Balkans) Year 1906 ( MCMVI) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting Events 350 - Generallus Magnentius deposes Roman Emperor Constans and proclaims himself Emperor Year 1963 ( MCMLXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. George Alfred George-Brown Baron George-Brown, PC (2 September 1914 &ndash 2 June 1985 was a British Politician who served as Deputy Leader of the Events 350 - Generallus Magnentius deposes Roman Emperor Constans and proclaims himself Emperor Year 1963 ( MCMLXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 842 - Charles the Bald and Louis the German swear the Oaths of Strasbourg in the French and German Year 1963 ( MCMLXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 44 BC - Pharaoh Cleopatra VII of Egypt declares her son co-ruler as Ptolemy XV Caesarion. Year 1914 ( MCMXIV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Events 455 - The Vandals enter Rome, and plunder the city for two weeks Year 1985 ( MCMLXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar) James Harold Wilson Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, KG, OBE, FRS, PC (11 March 1916 &ndash 24 May 1995 was one of the most prominent British politicians Events 842 - Charles the Bald and Louis the German swear the Oaths of Strasbourg in the French and German Year 1963 ( MCMLXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 456 - St Patrick returns to Ireland as a missionary bishop Year 1976 ( MCMLXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1425 BC - Thutmose III, Pharaoh of Egypt, dies (according to the Low Chronology of the 18th Dynasty Year 1916 ( MCMXVI) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Events 1218 - The Fifth Crusade leaves Acre for Egypt. 1276 - Magnus Ladulås is crowned Year 1995 ( MCMXCV) was a Common year starting on Sunday. Events of 1995 Leonard James Callaghan Baron Callaghan of Cardiff, KG, PC (27 March 1912 – 26 March 2005 was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1976 to 1979 Events 456 - St Patrick returns to Ireland as a missionary bishop Year 1976 ( MCMLXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 644 - Umar ibn al-Khattab, the second Muslim Caliph, is killed by a Persian slave in Medina. Year 1980 ( MCMLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar) Events 196 BC - Ptolemy V ascends to the throne of Egypt. 1309 - Pope Clement V excommunicates Year 1912 ( MCMXII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year starting Events 1026 - Pope John XIX crowns Conrad II as Holy Roman Emperor. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Michael Mackintosh Foot (born 23 July 1913 is a British politician and writer Events 644 - Umar ibn al-Khattab, the second Muslim Caliph, is killed by a Persian slave in Medina. Year 1980 ( MCMLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar) Events 1187 - Siege of Jerusalem: Saladin captures Jerusalem after 88 years of Crusader rule Year 1983 ( MCMLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar) Events 1632 - Three hundred colonists bound for New France depart from Dieppe France. Year 1913 ( MCMXIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Neil Gordon Kinnock Baron Kinnock PC (born 28 March 1942 is a British Politician. Events 1187 - Siege of Jerusalem: Saladin captures Jerusalem after 88 years of Crusader rule Year 1983 ( MCMLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar) Events 390 BC - Roman - Gaulish Wars Battle of the Allia - a Roman army is defeated by raiding Gauls, Year 1992 ( MCMXCII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar) Events 37 - Roman Emperor Caligula accepts the titles of the Principate, entitled to him by the Senate. Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. John Smith QC (13 September 1938&ndash12 May 1994 was a Scottish Politician who served as leader of the Labour Party from July 1992 until his Events 390 BC - Roman - Gaulish Wars Battle of the Allia - a Roman army is defeated by raiding Gauls, Year 1992 ( MCMXCII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar) Events 1191 - Richard I of England marries Berengaria of Navarre. Year 1994 ( MCMXCIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar) Events 509 BC - The Temple of Jupiter on Rome 's Capitoline Hill is dedicated on the ides of September Year 1938 ( MCMXXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1191 - Richard I of England marries Berengaria of Navarre. Year 1994 ( MCMXCIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar) Margaret Mary Beckett (née Jackson; born 15 January 1943 is a British Labour Politician, Member of Parliament (MP for Derby Events 1191 - Richard I of England marries Berengaria of Navarre. Year 1994 ( MCMXCIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar) Events 356 BC - Herostratus sets fire to the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus, one of the Seven Wonders of the World Year 1994 ( MCMXCIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar) Events 588 BC - Nebuchadrezzar II of Babylon lays siege to Jerusalem under Zedekiah 's reign Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Anthony Charles Lynton "Tony" Blair (born 6 May 1953 is a British Politician who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to Events 356 BC - Herostratus sets fire to the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus, one of the Seven Wonders of the World Year 1994 ( MCMXCIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar) Events 972 - Battle of Cedynia, the first documented victory of Polish forces takes place Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1527 - Spanish and German troops sack Rome; some consider this the end of the Renaissance. Year 1953 ( MCMLIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. WikipediaManual of Style (biographies#Academic titles --> James Gordon Brown (born 20 February 1951 is Events 972 - Battle of Cedynia, the first documented victory of Polish forces takes place Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1472 - Orkney and Shetland are left by Norway to Scotland, due to a Dowry payment Year 1951 ( MCMLI) was a Common year starting on Monday. Events of 1951 January They were in effect acting leaders.

Deputy leaders of the Labour Party since 1922

• John Robert Clynes 1922–1931
• Jointly John Robert Clynes 1931–1932 and William Graham 1931–1932 (died in office)
• Clement Attlee 1932–1935
• Arthur Greenwood 1935–1945
• Herbert Morrison 1945–1955
• James Griffiths 1955–1959
• Aneurin Bevan 1959–1960 (died in office)
• George Brown 1960–1970
• Roy Jenkins 1970–1972
• Edward Short 1972–1976
• Michael Foot 1976–1980
• Denis Healey 1980–1983
• Roy Hattersley 1983–1992
• Margaret Beckett 1992–1994
• John Prescott 1994–2007
• Harriet Harman 2007–present

Leaders of the Labour Party in the House of Lords since 1924

• Richard Haldane, 1st Viscount Haldane 1924-1928
• Charles Cripps, 1st Baron Parmoor 1928-1931
• Arthur Ponsonby, 1st Baron Ponsonby of Shulbrede 1931-1935
• Harry Snell, 1st Baron Snell 1935-1940
• Christopher Addison, 1st Viscount Addison 1940-1952
• William Jowitt, 1st Earl Jowitt 1952-1955
• Albert Victor Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Hillsborough 1955-1964
• Francis Pakenham, 7th Earl of Longford 1964-1968
• Edward Shackleton, Baron Shackleton 1968-1974
• Malcolm Shepherd, 2nd Baron Shepherd 1974-1976
• Fred Peart, Baron Peart 1976-1982
• Cledwyn Hughes, Baron Cledwyn of Penrhos 1982-1992
• Ivor Richard, Baron Richard 1992-1998
• Margaret Jay, Baroness Jay of Paddington 1998-2001
• Gareth Williams, Baron Williams of Mostyn 2001-2003
• Valerie Amos, Baroness Amos 2003-2007
• Catherine Ashton, Baroness Ashton of Upholland 2007-

See also

References

Further reading

• Davies, A. J, To Build A New Jerusalem (1996) ISBN 0349108099
• Stephen Driver and Luke Martell, New Labour: Politics after Thatcherism, 1998, and Blair's Britain, 2002, Polity Press.
• Geoffrey Foote, The Labour Party's Political Thought: A History, Macmillan, 1997 ed.
• Martin Francis, Ideas and Policies under Labour 1945-51, Manchester University Press, 1997. Manchester University Press is the University press of the University of Manchester, England. ISBN 0719048338
• Roy Hattersley, New Statesman, May 10, 2004, 'We should have made it clear that we too were modernisers'
• David Howell, British Social Democracy, Croom Helm, 1976
• David Howell, 'MacDonald's Party, Oxford University Press, 2002. Roy Sydney George Hattersley Baron Hattersley, PC, (born 28 December 1932 is a British Labour Party Politician, published author and journalist The New Statesman is a British Left-wing political Magazine published weekly in London. Events 1291 - Scottish Nobles recognize the authority of Edward I of England. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again "
• Ralph Miliband, Parliamentary Socialism, Merlin, 1960, 1972.
• Kenneth O. Morgan, Labour in Power, 1945-51,OUP 1984.
• Kenneth O. Morgan, Labour People: Leaders and Lieutenants, Hardie to Kinnock OUP, 1987.
• Henry Pelling and Alastair J. Reid, A Short History of the Labour Party, Palgrave Macmillan, 2005 ed.
• Ben Pimlott, Labour and the Left in the 1930s,Cambridge University Press, 1977. Professor Ben Pimlott ( 4 July, 1945 - 10 April 2004) was a leading historian of the post-war period in Britain Cambridge University Press (known colloquially as CUP is a Publisher given a Royal Charter by Henry VIII in 1534
• Raymond Plant, Matt Beech and Kevin Hickson (2004), The Struggle for Labour's Soul: understanding Labour's political thought since 1945, Routledge
• Clive Ponting, Breach of Promise (1964-70), Hamish Hamilton 1989. Clive Ponting (born 1947) is a British writer former academic and former senior civil servant. For other uses of the name Hamish Hamilton please see Hamish Hamilton (disambiguation Hamish Hamilton Limited was a British book publishing house
• Greg Rosen, Dictionary of Labour Biography. Politicos Publishing, 2001. ISBN 1902301188
• Greg Rosen, Old Labour to New, Politicos Publishing, 2005. ISBN 1842750453
• Eric Shaw, The Labour Party since 1979: Crisis and Transformation, Routledge, 1994
• Andrew Thorpe, A History of the British Labour Party, Palgrave Macmillan, 2001
• Phillip Whitehead, The Writing on the Wall Michael Joseph, 1985. Pearson plc () is a London -based media conglomerate. It is the largest book Publisher in the UK, India, Australia
• Patrick Wintour and Colin Hughes, Labour Rebuilt Fourth Estate, 1990. The term Fourth Estate refers to the press, both in its explicit capacity of advocacy and in its implicit ability to frame political issues
• John Pilger, Freedom Next time Bantam Press 2006. John Richard Pilger (born October 9, 1939) is a multi-award-winning Australian born journalist and documentary filmmaker from ISBN 0593055527.

External links

• Official Labour Party website
• Unofficial website with an archive of electoral manifestos and a directory of related websites
• Labourhome - unofficial Labour Party grassroots
• Labour History Group website
• Unofficial history website
• Guardian Unlimited Politics — Special Report: Labour Party
• Labour Party aggregated news (multilingual)
• Labour History Archive and Study Centre holds archives of the National Labour Party

Other British political parties