Labour Party

Leader

Gordon Brown

Founded

February 7, 1900

Ideology

Social Democracy

Background

The Labour Party's origins go back to the close of the nineteenth century, when it became apparent that there was a need for a party to represent the interests of the working-class population. Along with the Trade Unions, a number of other groups such as the Fabian Society, the Independent Labour Party and the Social Democratic Federation united in 1900 into a single body called the Labour Representation Committee, which then became 'The Labour Party' in 1906.

Support for the Labour Party grew during the 1910's as a result of the unparalleled scale of organised strike action from the rail workers, coal miners, sailors and dockers, and by 1922 Labour had replaced the Liberal Party as the main opposition to the Conservatives.

Its first prime minister was Ramsay MacDonald, who formed a minority government in January 1924, and returned to power in 1929. They came into power again after the Second World War in 1945, beating Churchill's government Labour Party in a landslide victory. This new government, led by Clement Attlee was one of the most radical ever seen, nationalising the Bank of England, the railways, electricity, coal, gas and iron & steel; and creating the modern welfare state and National Health system in 1948.

Labour were next elected in 1964 and 1974 (headed by Harold Wilson); however, during the 1970's the country suffered from widespread strikes and trade union militancy, and the Labour Party lost much of its support. It suffered defeat in the 1979 General Election to the Conservatives, led by Margaret Thatcher.

When Neil Kinnock took over the party leadership in 1983, he sought to move away from the far-left views that had developed under leader Michael Foot, and hired Peter Mandelson to modernise the party's image. Kinnock stood down from leadership in 1992 after two election defeats, handing the reins over to John Smith. However in May 1994, Smith died suddenly from a heart attack, and Tony Blair was subsequently elected to the post.

Under the leadership of Blair, 'New Labour' won the 1997 General Election with a parliamentary majority of 179, and went on to retain their position in the 2001 and 2005 elections with majorities of 169 and 66 respectively.

On 10 May 2007, Tony Blair announced that he would stand down as Prime Minister, and on 24 June 2007, Gordon Brown, the long serving Chancellor of the Exchequer, took over as Labour leader, and as as Prime Minister on 27 June.

Contact Details

www.labour.org.uk