92 Years of Labor

Britain’s Labor Party has its roots in the trade union movement and socialist reformist societies. Here are some key dates:

1900--The Trades Union Congress cooperates with the Independent Labor Party, founded in 1893, to form a Labor Representation Committee--an effort to gain working-class representation in Parliament.

1906--Supported by socialist groups such as the Fabian Society, the Committee formally changes its name to the Labor Party. Its first leader in the House of Commons is the dedicated socialist Keir Hardie, a coal miner who is an outspoken pacifist and supporter of the feminist movement. Within 20 years, the Labor Party surpasses the Liberal Party as the leading opposition to the Conservative Party.

1924--With Liberal Party support, Ramsay MacDonald forms the first Labor government, but it falls that same year. In 1929, Labor again leads a Liberal-supported government, which lasts until 1931.

1940--Labor is still out of office when Conservative Winston Churchill invites Labor members to join a wartime coalition government. A big surprise comes shortly before the war ends in 1945 when Labor, under Clement Attlee, ousts Churchill on a platform calling for nationalization and extended public welfare services.

1950s--Labor remains in power until 1951, and throughout the 1950s, party leaders argue over how best to adapt socialist programs to an increasingly affluent society. An argument also rages over the strength of Britain’s defense and its ties to the Atlantic Alliance. Radical followers of Aneurin Bevan, or “Bevanites,” want more socialism and weaker links to the United States. Moderates under Hugh Gaitskell want to ditch the party’s commitment to the nationalization of industry.

1964--Labor regains power with Harold Wilson as prime minister; Wilson is succeeded after a second term by James Callaghan.

1979--Callaghan loses to Conservative Margaret Thatcher--the “Iron Lady”--after a series of union strikes.

1983--After choosing a radical, Michael Foot, as its new leader, Labor loses disastrously to Thatcher and turns to moderate Neil Kinnock for leadership. But in April of this year, Labor again loses to the Tories.