The Labour Party in Opposition 1970-1974

ISBN-13: 9781138867765 / Angielski / Miękka / 2016 / 304 str.

Patrick Bell

Opis

1970 to 1974 was a pivotal period in the history of the Labour Party. This book shows how the Labour Party responded to electoral defeat in 1970 and to what extent its political and policy activity in opposition was directed to the recovery of power at the following general election. At a point in Labour's history when social democracy had apparently failed, this book considers what the party came up with in its place. The story of the Labour Party in opposition, 1970-1974, is shown to be one of a major political party sustaining policy activity of limited relevance to its electoral requirements. Not only that, but Labour regained office in 1974 with policies on wages and industrial relations whose unworkability led to the failure of the Labour government 1974-1979, and the Labour Party's irrelevance to so many voters after 1979. Using primary sources, the author documents and explains how this happened, focusing on the party's response to defeat in 1970 and the behaviour of key individuals in the parliamentary leadership in response to pressure for a review of policy.

Spis treści

Introduction; Chapter 1 Labour’s Response to Defeat (I); Chapter 2 Labour’s Response to Defeat (II); Chapter 3 Labour in Parliament; Chapter 4 James Callaghan at the Home Policy Committee 1970–71; Chapter 5 The NEC Research Programme; Chapter 6 The NEC Research Programme; Chapter 7 Parliamentary Factionalism 1970–74; Chapter 8 The TUC–Labour Part y Liaison Committee 1972–74; Chapter 9 Conclusion;

O autorze

Patrick Bell lectures in British Politics at the University of Durham. He was previously Lecturer in History at the University of Leeds.