Feature

Overview 2006/2007

2006 witnessed all manner of shifts and changes in the Labour party, none of which were a terrible surprise.

Blair was forced into admitting that his step-down from power would take place ‘some time’ in 2007, therefore we saw him perform at his last party political conference and deliver his last Christmas address to the public. Brown lurks in his shadows ready to firmly take on the reigns of New Labour, despite infighting within the party about referendums and personal opinion about who really is best for the job.

Key moments for the Labour party in the past year have included the UK’s continued involvement in Iraq, our support of the American line on Iran and Israel, and Blair’s decision to abandon a fraud investigation into a Saudi/UK arms deal.

Let’s also not forget Blair’s appointment with police investigators with regard to the cash for honours scandal that is currently sweeping the British political stage – the first Prime Minister of Britain to be questioned in relation to a criminal investigation!

The party continues to lag on environment issues, pushing nuclear power as the way forward in order to dispel the energy crisis, whilst Labour continues it’s relentless reforms on education and the NHS, with no apparent progress in either direction.



A brief history

The rise of the trade union movement in 1900 signalled the political awakening of a section of society that had gone unrepresented since the conception of government. The Labour Party was created to argue for the interests of the working class in the palace of Westminster.

In the first half of the twentieth century the political landscape changed in two very important ways. Firstly, the Liberal Party declined irreversibly after the Great War, leaving Labour as the main opposition party in Government. Secondly, restoration of peace after the catastrophic Second World War focused public interest on the creation of a better society at home, towards utopianism and common responsibility. The Beverage Report, championed by Clement Attlee in the war years, paved the way for the creation of the welfare state and sweeping social changes. The electorate put their faith in Labour Party, convincingly electing them to power in 1945.

The party went on to create a national insurance scheme, a national health service and nationalised all the major industries including coal, steel and the railways – major achievements that prepared social rejuvenation in the post war period. However, after this heady period of reform, public enthusiasm dramatically waned and Labour again faced an extended period in opposition as the indomitable Winston Churchill led the Conservatives to victory in 1951.

The Labour party would not regain power until 1964, when the weakened, scandalised Conservative party lost the trust of voters.  Harold Wilson’s government enjoyed two reasonably successful terms before losing control of the economy and devaluing the pound.  The Labour party could not rid itself of its economic demons in the Jim Callaghan years (1976-9) either. In a series of events which irrevocably damaged the Labour Party’s standing amongst voters, Callaghan countered an economic crisis by asking for an enormous international loan and drastically cutting pubic spending. Having trusted them implicitly in the immediate post war years, the electorate now seemed ready to turn its back on the Labour Party forever as Margaret Thatcher took control in 1987.

Fast forward ten years, and cue Mr Tony Blair. To a public which had been alienated by the ignominious collapse of Thatcherism he offered modernisation, a fairer society as well as reassurances that “New Labour” was committed to rational economics. Co-operation with trade unions would remain important but the unions would not be allowed to wield disproportionate power. Private business would be invited to work in partnership with the government in the name of greater prosperity for all. He also built upon the firm strategic alliance created between America and Britain in the Thatcher-Reagan era by aligning his foreign policy still more with that of the US.

New Labour has overseen a period of great economic prosperity and social stability. Serious questions surrounding the way in which Blair committed British armed forces to the American led invasion of Iraq remain, as well as charges of cronyism within his government. 


Official Links
www.labour.org.uk
www.scottishlabour.org.uk
www.welshlabour.org.uk
www.number10.gov.uk