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| name = Labour Party | name = Labour Party
| logo = Labour Party (UK) logo.svg | logo = Labour Party (UK) logo.svg
| logo_size = 228px | logo_size = 250px
| colorcode = {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}} | colorcode = {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}
| leader1_title = ] | leader1_title = ]
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| leader3_name = ] | leader3_name = ]
| leader4_title = ] | leader4_title = ]
| leader4_name = ] | leader4_name = Hollie Ridley
| leader5_title = ] | leader5_title = ]
| leader5_name = ] | leader5_name = ]
| founded = {{start date and age|1900|02|27|df=yes}}{{sfn|Brivati|Heffernan|2000|ps=: "On 27 February 1900, the Labour Representation Committee was formed to campaign for the election of working class representatives to parliament."}}{{sfn|Thorpe|2008|p=8}}<br>(as the ]) | founded = {{start date and age|1900|02|27|df=yes|br=yes}}{{sfn|Brivati|Heffernan|2000|ps=: "On 27 February 1900, the Labour Representation Committee was formed to campaign for the election of working class representatives to parliament."}}{{sfn|Thorpe|2008|p=8}}<br>(as the ])
| headquarters = {{plainlist| | headquarters = ]<br>{{plainlist|
*20 Rushworth Street,<br>]<br>SE1 0SS<ref>{{cite web |url=https://labour.org.uk/ |title=Labour |work=The Labour Party |access-date=7 December 2024}}</ref>
*Southside, 105 Victoria Street, ] SW1E 6QT<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.costar.co.uk/en/assets/news/2015/December/Victoria-calls-for-Labour-HQ/ |title=Corbyn's Labour party set for swanky HQ move |last1=O'Shea |first1=Stephen |last2=Buckley |first2=James |date=8 December 2015 |access-date=8 October 2017 |work=CoStar |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171009042326/http://www.costar.co.uk/en/assets/news/2015/December/Victoria-calls-for-Labour-HQ/ |archive-date=9 October 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
*Labour Central, Kings Manor, ] NE1 6PA<ref>{{cite web |url=https://labour.org.uk/contact/ |title=Contact |publisher=Labour Party |access-date=14 September 2020 |archive-date=24 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924174125/https://labour.org.uk/contact/ |url-status=live}}</ref> *Labour Central,<br>Kings Manor,<br> ]<br>NE1 6PA<ref>{{cite web |url=https://labour.org.uk/contact/ |title=Contact |publisher=Labour Party |access-date=14 September 2020 |archive-date=24 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924174125/https://labour.org.uk/contact/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
}} }}
| student_wing = ]
| youth_wing = ] | youth_wing = ]
| womens_wing = Labour Women's Network | womens_wing = ]
| wing2_title = LGBT wing | wing2_title = LGBT wing
| wing2 = ] | wing2 = ]
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|] |]
}} }}
| position = ]{{refn|<ref name="auto1">{{cite web |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2024/07/04/europe/uk-election-europe-populist-surge-intl/index.html |title=As Europe turns right, why has a center-left party won by a landslide in the UK? |publisher=] |first=Luke |last=McGee |date=5 July 2024 |access-date=8 July 2024}}</ref>}} | position = ]{{refn|<ref name="auto1">{{cite web |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2024/07/04/europe/uk-election-europe-populist-surge-intl/index.html |title=As Europe turns right, why has a center-left party won by a landslide in the UK? |publisher=] |first=Luke |last=McGee |date=5 July 2024 |access-date=8 July 2024 |archive-date=5 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240705023128/https://edition.cnn.com/2024/07/04/europe/uk-election-europe-populist-surge-intl/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="auto2">{{cite web |title=Europe's Center-Left Can Learn a Lot From Scholz, Sanchez and Starmer |date=20 September 2023 |url=https://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/spain-sanchez-scholz-germany/ |publisher=] |access-date=8 July 2024 |archive-date=8 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240708184116/https://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/spain-sanchez-scholz-germany/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="auto4"/><ref name="auto3"/>{{sfn|Budge|2008|pp=26–27|}}}}
| european = ] | european = ]
| international = ]<br />] (observer) | international = ]<br />] (observer)
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| affiliation2 = ] (Northern Ireland) | affiliation2 = ] (Northern Ireland)
| colours = {{colour box|{{party colour|Labour Party (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} ] | colours = {{colour box|{{party colour|Labour Party (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} ]
| governing_body = ] | governing_body = ]
| slogan = ''Change Begins'' (2024)<ref>{{cite news|title='Change begins now', says Sir Keir Starmer in first speech after winning general election|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/07/05/keir-starmer-first-speech-labour-biggest-party-holborn/|author=The Telegraph|publisher=The Telegraph|access-date=18 October 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Andrew|last=Sparrow|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2024/sep/17/keir-starmer-gifts-labour-conservatives-lib-dems-uk-politics-news-latest-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&page=with%3Ablock-66e9a11e8f086ad2b4929b15#block-66e9a11e8f086ad2b4929b15|title=Labour unveils 'Change Begins' as conference slogan|publisher=The Guardian|date=17 September 2024|access-date=18 October 2024}}</ref>
| slogan = ''Change'' (2024)
| anthem = "]"{{parabr}}] | anthem = "]"{{parabr}}]
| symbol = ] | symbol = ]
| blank2_title = ] | blank2_title = ]
| blank2 = {{plainlist| | blank2 = {{plainlist|
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| blank3 = ] (PLP) | blank3 = ] (PLP)
| seats1_title = ] | seats1_title = ]
| seats1 = {{composition bar|404|650|hex={{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}}} | seats1 = {{composition bar|402|650|hex={{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}}}
| seats2_title = ] | seats2_title = ]
| seats2 = {{composition bar|{{HOL|LAB}}|{{HOL|TOTAL}}|hex={{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}}} | seats2 = {{composition bar|{{HOL|LAB}}|{{HOL|TOTAL}}|hex={{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}}}
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| seats8_title = ] | seats8_title = ]
| seats8 = {{composition bar|10|16|hex={{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}}} | seats8 = {{composition bar|10|16|hex={{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}}}
| seats9_title = ]{{ref label|b|nb}}<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://opencouncildata.co.uk/ |title=Open Council Data UK – compositions councillors parties wards elections |website=opencouncildata.co.uk}}</ref> | seats9_title = ]{{ref label|b|nb}}<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://opencouncildata.co.uk/ |title=Open Council Data UK – compositions councillors parties wards elections |website=opencouncildata.co.uk |access-date=19 December 2022 |archive-date=30 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210430183531/http://opencouncildata.co.uk/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| seats9 = {{composition bar|6561|18646|hex={{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}}} | seats9 = {{composition bar|6474|18740|hex={{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}}}
| footnotes = <small>{{note|a||] and 11 ] mayors.}}<br />{{note|b||Councillors of local authorities in England (including 25 aldermen of the ]) and Scotland, principal councils in Wales and local councils in Northern Ireland.}}</small> | footnotes = <small>{{note|a||] and 11 ] mayors.}}<br />{{note|b||Councillors of local authorities in England (including 25 aldermen of the ]) and Scotland, principal councils in Wales and local councils in Northern Ireland.}}</small>
| flag =
| website = {{Official URL}} | website = {{Official URL}}
| country = the United Kingdom | country = the United Kingdom
| seats10 = {{composition bar|155|371|hex={{party colour|Labour Party (UK)
}}}}
| seats10_title = ]
}} }}
{{Social democracy sidebar}}
{{labour|sp=uk|expanded=parties}} {{labour|sp=uk|expanded=parties}}
The '''Labour Party''' is a ] that sits on the ] of the political spectrum.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Abou-Chadi |first1=Tarik |last2=Gingrich |first2=Jane |date=2021-05-09 |title=It's not just in Britain – across Europe, social democracy is losing its way |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/may/09/not-just-britain-across-europe-social-democracy-losing-way |access-date=2024-07-17 |work=The Observer |language=en-GB |issn=0029-7712 |archive-date=13 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240913233645/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/may/09/not-just-britain-across-europe-social-democracy-losing-way |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=11 October 2023 |title=Britain's Labour Party embraces supply-side social democracy |url=https://www.economist.com/britain/2023/10/11/britains-labour-party-embraces-supply-side-social-democracy |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240718054136/https://www.economist.com/britain/2023/10/11/britains-labour-party-embraces-supply-side-social-democracy |archive-date=18 July 2024 |access-date=2024-07-17 |newspaper=The Economist |issn=0013-0613}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Clarkson |first=Alexander |date=2023-09-20 |title=Europe's Center-Left Can Learn a Lot From Scholz, Sanchez and Starmer |url=https://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/spain-sanchez-scholz-germany/ |access-date=2024-07-17 |website=World Politics Review |language=en-US |archive-date=8 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240708184116/https://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/spain-sanchez-scholz-germany/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The party has been described as an alliance of ], ] and ]ists.<ref name="Worley2009">{{cite book|author=Matthew Worley|title=The Foundations of the British Labour Party: Identities, Cultures and Perspectives, 1900–39|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Fki0YScKbA8C&pg=PA1|year=2009|publisher=Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.|isbn=978-0-7546-6731-5|pages=1–2}}</ref> It is one of ] in the United Kingdom, along with the ]. The party has been led by ] since 2020, who became ] in July 2024. Since the ], the Labour Party has been the ] and the largest political party in the ], followed by the Conservative Party and the ]. As of 2024, there have been seven Labour ] and fourteen Labour ]. The party traditionally holds the annual ] during ], at which debates and voting take place, and senior Labour figures promote party policy.
{{Socialism in the UK}}

The '''Labour Party''' is a ] ] that sits on the ] of the political spectrum.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Abou-Chadi |first=Tarik |last2=Gingrich |first2=Jane |date=2021-05-09 |title=It’s not just in Britain – across Europe, social democracy is losing its way |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/may/09/not-just-britain-across-europe-social-democracy-losing-way |access-date=2024-07-17 |work=The Observer |language=en-GB |issn=0029-7712}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Britain’s Labour Party embraces supply-side social democracy |url=https://www.economist.com/britain/2023/10/11/britains-labour-party-embraces-supply-side-social-democracy |access-date=2024-07-17 |work=The Economist |issn=0013-0613}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Clarkson |first=Alexander |date=2023-09-20 |title=Europe’s Center-Left Can Learn a Lot From Scholz, Sanchez and Starmer |url=https://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/spain-sanchez-scholz-germany/ |access-date=2024-07-17 |website=World Politics Review |language=en-US}}</ref> It is the ], having won the ], and is currently the largest political party by number of votes cast and number of seats in the ]. There have been seven Labour ] and fourteen Labour ]. The party traditionally holds the annual ] during ], at which senior Labour figures promote party policy.
The Labour Party was founded in 1900, having emerged from the ] and ]. It was electorally weak before the ], but in the early 1920s overtook the ] to become the main opposition to the Conservative Party, and briefly formed a minority government under ] in 1924. In 1929, Labour for the first time became the largest party in the House of Commons with 287 seats, but fell short of a majority, forming another minority government. In 1931, in response to the ], MacDonald formed ] with Conservative and Liberal support, which led to his expulsion from the party. Labour was soundly defeated by his coalition in the 1931 election, winning only 52 seats, but began to recover in 1935, with 154 seats.


The Labour Party was founded in 1900, having grown out of the ] and ], and formed an alliance with the ] in 1927. It overtook the ] to become the main opposition to the ] in the early 1920s, forming two minority governments under ] in the 1920s and early 1930s. Labour served in the ] of 1940–1945, after which ] established the ] and expanded the ] from 1945 to 1951. Under ] and ], Labour again governed ] and ]. In the 1990s, ] took Labour to the ] as part of his ] project, which governed under Blair and then ] from 1997 to 2010. In the 2020s, ] again took Labour to the centre and has governed since 2024. During the ], Labour served in the ], after which it won a majority in the 1945 election. ] enacted extensive ] and established the modern ] and ] before losing power in 1951. Under ] and ], Labour again governed ] and ]. The party then entered a period of intense internal division which ended in the defeat of its left wing by the mid-1980s. After electoral defeats to the Conservatives in 1987 and 1992, ] took the party to the ] as part of his ] project, which governed under Blair and then ] from 1997 to 2010. After further electoral defeats in the 2010s, ] again moved Labour to the political centre from 2020 and has governed since 2024.


Labour is the largest party in the ] (Welsh Parliament), being the only party in the ]. The party won most Scottish seats in the 2024 general election. Labour is a member of the ] and the ], and holds observer status in the ]. The party includes semi-autonomous ], ], ] and ]; it supports the ] (SDLP) in Northern Ireland, while still organising there. {{As of|March 2024}}, Labour has 366,604 registered members. Labour is the largest party in the ] (Welsh Parliament), being the only party in the ]. Labour is a member of the ] and the ], and holds observer status in the ]. The party includes semi-autonomous ], ], ] and ]; it supports the ] (SDLP) in Northern Ireland, while still organising there. {{As of|March 2024}}, Labour has 366,604 registered members.


== History == == History ==
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=== Origins to 1890s=== === Origins to 1890s===
], (1856–1915), first leader of the Labour Party contingent in the House of Commons]] ], (1856–1915), first leader of the Labour Party contingent in the House of Commons]]
The origins of what became the Labour Party emerged in the late 19th century. It represented the interests of the labour unions and more generally the growing urban working class. Hundreds of thousands of workers had recently gained voting rights by laws passed in ]. Many different trade unions flourished in the industrial districts. Their leaders used the ] revival tradition to find ways to rally the membership. Several small ] organizations formed and wanted power based on the ]; the most influential was the ], which was made up of ] reformers. ] worked for cooperation among the unions and left-wing groups such as his small ] (ILP).<ref>Martin Pugh, ''Speak for Britain!: a new history of the Labour Party'' (1910), pp. 14–50. </ref> The origins of what became the Labour Party emerged in the late 19th century. It represented the interests of the labour unions and more generally the growing urban working class. Hundreds of thousands of workers had recently gained voting rights by laws passed in ]. Many different trade unions flourished in the industrial districts. Their leaders used the ] revival tradition to find ways to rally the membership. Several small ] organizations formed and wanted power based on the ]; the most influential was the ], which was made up of ] reformers. ] worked for cooperation among the unions and left-wing groups such as his small ] (ILP).<ref>Martin Pugh, ''Speak for Britain!: a new history of the Labour Party'' (1910), pp. 14–50. </ref>


=== Labour Representation Committee (1900–1906) === === Labour Representation Committee (1900–1906) ===
{{main|Labour Representation Committee (1900)}} {{main|Labour Representation Committee (1900)}}
The Labour Party was formed by unions and left-wing groups to create a distinct political voice for the working class in Britain. In 1900 the ] (TUC), an umbrella body for most unions, sponsored a national conference to unite into a single party that would sponsor candidates for the House of Commons. The conference created the ] (LRC), as a coalition of separate groups with ] as secretary. The fearsome issue for labour was the 1901 ] legal decision which made most strikes illegal; the urgent goal was to get Parliament to reverse it. The LRC cut a secret deal with the ]: they would not compete against each other in the ].<ref>Frank Bealey, "The Electoral Arrangement between the Labour Representation Committee and the Liberal Party," ''Journal of Modern History'' 28#4 (1956), pp. 353–373 </ref> Voters gave the Liberals a landslide with 397 seats out of 664; the new LRC won 29 seats. The LRC renamed itself "The Labour Party," with veteran MP Keir Hardie narrowly winning the role of leader of the ] (PLP).<ref>Pugh, ''Speak for Britain!'', pp. 52–68.</ref> The Labour Party was formed by unions and left-wing groups to create a distinct political voice for the working class in Britain. In 1900 the ] (TUC), an umbrella body for most unions, sponsored a national conference to unite into a single party that would sponsor candidates for the House of Commons. The conference created the ] (LRC), as a coalition of separate groups with ] as secretary. The fearsome issue for labour was the 1901 ] legal decision which made most strikes illegal; the urgent goal was to get Parliament to reverse it. The LRC cut a secret deal with the ]: they would not compete against each other in the ].<ref>Frank Bealey, "The Electoral Arrangement between the Labour Representation Committee and the Liberal Party," ''Journal of Modern History'' 28#4 (1956), pp. 353–373 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240701112156/https://www.jstor.org/stable/1871799 |date=1 July 2024 }}</ref> Voters gave the Liberals a landslide with 397 seats out of 664; the new LRC won 29 seats. The LRC renamed itself "The Labour Party", with veteran MP Keir Hardie narrowly winning the role of leader of the ] (PLP).<ref>Pugh, ''Speak for Britain!'', pp. 52–68.</ref>


=== Early years (1906–1923) === === Early years (1906–1923) ===
] ]


The Labour Party's first national conference in Belfast in 1907 helped shape many of its key policies. Never fully resolved was the puzzle of where the final decisions ought to lie—in the annual conference? the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP)? The local chapters? The Trade Union Congress (which brought together the heads of most unions)? The conference created a "conscience clause" allowing diversity of opinions rather than a rigid orthodoxy. Irish politics proved to be so different that the Party simply quit Ireland and worked only in England, Scotland and Wales. In 1908–1910 the Party supported the momentous and largely successful Liberal battles in favor of a welfare state and against the Unionist/Conservative Party and against the veto power of the House of Lords. Growth continued, with 42 Labour MPs elected to the House of Commons in the December 1910 general election. During World War I, the party experienced internal divisions over support for the war effort, but also saw one of its top leaders ], serve in the powerful war cabinet.<ref>{{cite book |chapter-url=https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1057/9780230595583_2 |doi=10.1057/9780230595583_2 |chapter=Out of the bowels of the Movement: The Trade Unions and the Origins of the Labour Party 1900–18 |title=The Labour Party |date=2000 |last1=Taylor |first1=Robert |pages=8–49 |isbn=978-0-333-74650-9 }}</ref> The Labour Party's first national conference in Belfast in 1907 helped shape many of its key policies. Never fully resolved was the puzzle of where the final decisions ought to lie—in the annual conference? the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP)? The local chapters? The Trade Union Congress (which brought together the heads of most unions)? The conference created a "conscience clause" allowing diversity of opinions rather than a rigid orthodoxy. Irish politics proved to be so different that the Party simply quit Ireland and worked only in England, Scotland and Wales. In 1908–1910 the Party supported the momentous and largely successful Liberal battles in favor of a welfare state and against the Unionist/Conservative Party and against the veto power of the House of Lords. Growth continued, with 42 Labour MPs elected to the House of Commons in the December 1910 general election. During World War I, the party experienced internal divisions over support for the war effort, but also saw one of its top leaders ], serve in the powerful war cabinet.<ref>{{cite book |chapter-url=https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1057/9780230595583_2 |doi=10.1057/9780230595583_2 |chapter=Out of the bowels of the Movement: The Trade Unions and the Origins of the Labour Party 1900–18 |title=The Labour Party |date=2000 |last1=Taylor |first1=Robert |pages=8–49 |isbn=978-0-333-74650-9 |access-date=2 July 2024 |archive-date=13 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240913233623/https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1057/9780230595583_2 |url-status=live }}</ref>


After the war, the party focused on building a strong constituency-based support network and adopted a comprehensive statement of policies titled "Labour and the New Social Order". In 1918, ] was added to Labour's constitution, committing the party to work towards common ownership of the means of production, distribution, and exchange. Socialism was vaguely promised, but there was no effort made to draw up detailed plans on what that would mean or how it could be accomplished.<ref>Stanley Shapiro, "The Passage of Power: Labor and the New Social Order." ''Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society'' 120.6 (1976): 464–474. </ref> After the war, the party focused on building a strong constituency-based support network and adopted a comprehensive statement of policies titled "Labour and the New Social Order". In 1918, ] was added to Labour's constitution, committing the party to work towards common ownership of the means of production, distribution, and exchange. Socialism was vaguely promised, but there was no effort made to draw up detailed plans on what that would mean or how it could be accomplished.<ref>Stanley Shapiro, "The Passage of Power: Labor and the New Social Order." ''Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society'' 120.6 (1976): 464–474. </ref>
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===The failed general strike (1926–1929) === ===The failed general strike (1926–1929) ===
In 1925-26 coal sales fell and the mining companies demanded an increase in hours and a cut in wages. The miners were totally opposed and planned a strike. The TUC coalition of unions decided it would support the miners by a nationwide general strike that would paralyze most of the national economy. A strike was postponed when the Conservative government offered a subsidy for wages, but it also prepared to deal with the threatened general strike. Meanwhile, the TUC failed to make preparations. It ignored the Labour Party in and out of Parliament and in turn party leaders opposed a national strike. The ] failed after 9 days as the government plan devised by Winston Churchill proved highly effective in keeping the economy open while minimizing violence. In the long run, however, the episode tended to strengthen working class support for Labour, and it gained in the 1929 general election, forming a second government with Liberal help.<ref>Marquand, ''Ramsay Macdonald'' (1977), pp. 422–440, 483–488.</ref> In 1925–26, coal sales fell and the mining companies demanded an increase in hours and a cut in wages. The miners were totally opposed and planned a strike. The TUC coalition of unions decided it would support the miners by a nationwide general strike that would paralyze most of the national economy. A strike was postponed when the Conservative government offered a subsidy for wages, but it also prepared to deal with the threatened general strike. Meanwhile, the TUC failed to make preparations. It ignored the Labour Party in and out of Parliament and in turn party leaders opposed a national strike. The ] failed after 9 days as the government plan devised by Winston Churchill proved highly effective in keeping the economy open while minimizing violence. In the long run, however, the episode tended to strengthen working class support for Labour, and it gained in the 1929 general election, forming a second government with Liberal help.<ref>Marquand, ''Ramsay Macdonald'' (1977), pp. 422–440, 483–488.</ref>


=== Second Labour Ministry in 1929 and failures in 1930s === === Second Labour Ministry in 1929 and failures in 1930s ===
{{Main|Second MacDonald ministry}} {{Main|Second MacDonald ministry}}
], first Labour prime minister (1924 and 1929–1931).]] ], first Labour prime minister (1924 and 1929–1931).]]
With Liberal help again MacDonald became prime following the successful ]. There were some promising achievements in foreign policy, notably the ] that seemed to resolve the issue of German reparations, and the ] of 1930 that limited submarine construction.<ref>Paul W. Doerr, ''British Foreign Policy, 1919–1939'' (1998) pp.106–107, 119–120.</ref> Some minor legislation was passed, notably a ]. Overnight in October 1929 the world economy plunged into the ], and no party had an answer as tax revenue plunged, unemployment doubled to 2.5 million (in late 1930), prices fell, and government spending on unemployment benefits soared. Conditions became much worse in 1931 as the banks became unable to loan the government enough to cover the growing deficit. In an era before Keynesian economics, the strong consensus among experts was for the government to balance its budget. <ref>Hugh Dalton, ''Principles of public finance'' (1954) p. 213–220 . </ref> Spending was cut again and again but MacDonald and his ] ] argued that the only way to get an emergency loan from New York banks was to cut unemployment benefits by 10%. They pointed out that cost of food was down 15% and overall prices were down 10%. But in the cabinet most Labour members were vehemently opposed--they demanded new taxes on the rich instead. MacDonald gave up and on 23 August went to King ] and resigned the government. Unexpectedly the monarch insisted that the only patriotic solution was for MacDonald to stay and form an all-party "national government" with the Conservatives, which he did the next day. The Labour Party felt betrayed and expelled MacDonald and Snowden. Once again with Liberal help, MacDonald became prime minister following the successful ]. There were some promising achievements in foreign policy, notably the ] that seemed to resolve the issue of German reparations, and the ] of 1930 that limited submarine construction.<ref>Paul W. Doerr, ''British Foreign Policy, 1919–1939'' (1998) pp.106–107, 119–120.</ref> Some minor legislation was passed, notably a ]. Overnight in October 1929 the world economy plunged into the ], and no party had an answer as tax revenue plunged, unemployment doubled to 2.5 million (in late 1930), prices fell, and government spending on unemployment benefits soared. Conditions became much worse in 1931 as the banks became unable to loan the government enough to cover the growing deficit. In an era before ], the strong consensus among experts was for the government to balance its budget.<ref>Hugh Dalton, ''Principles of public finance'' (1954) p. 213–220 .</ref>
The new ] kept Macdonald and Snowden and two others, replacing the rest of the Laborites with Conservatives. The ] Labour had 6.3 million votes (31 percent), down from 8.0 million and 37 percent in 1929. Nevertheless it was reduced to a helpless minority of only 52 members, chiefly from coal mining districts. The old leadership was gone. One bright note came in 1934 when ] led Labour to take control of the ] for the first time ever.<ref>Pelling, ''A Short History of the Labour Party,'' pp.63–79.</ref><ref> R. Bassett, ''Nineteen thirty-one political crisis'' (1958) pp. 127–182. </ref>


Spending was cut again and again but MacDonald and his ] ] argued that the only way to get an emergency loan from New York banks was to cut unemployment benefits by 10%. They pointed out that cost of food was down 15% and overall prices were down 10%. But in the cabinet most Labour members were vehemently opposed—they demanded new taxes on the rich instead. MacDonald gave up and on 23 August went to King ] and resigned the government. Unexpectedly the monarch insisted that the only patriotic solution was for MacDonald to stay and form an all-party "national government" with the Conservatives, which he did the next day. The Labour Party felt betrayed and expelled MacDonald and Snowden.
In the ], Labour recovered to 8.0 million votes (38 percent), and ] became Minority Leader. The Party now had 154 seats but had minimal influence in Parliament. At the local level union leaders, led by ], successfully defeated Communist infiltration.<ref> Andrew Thorpe, ''Britain in the 1930s'' (1992) pp. 41–49.</ref> In foreign policy a strong pacifist element made it slow to support the government's rearmament program. As the threat from ] escalated, the Party gradually abandoned its pacifist stance and came to support re-armament, largely due to the efforts of Bevin and ]. By 1937 they had persuaded the Party to oppose ]'s policy of ].<ref>Pelling, ''A Short History of the Labour Party,'' pp.79–87.</ref><ref>L. C. B. Seaman, ''Post-Victorian Britain: 1902-1951'' (1966) pp. 205–246.</ref> However as late as April 1939 the Party strongly opposed conscription for the Army.<ref>Kenneth Harris, ''Attlee'' (1982) pp.161–162.</ref>
The new ] kept Macdonald and Snowden and two others, replacing the rest of the Laborites with Conservatives. The ] Labour had 6.3 million votes (31 percent), down from 8.0 million and 37 percent in 1929. Nevertheless, it was reduced to a helpless minority of only 52 members, chiefly from coal mining districts. The old leadership was gone. One bright note came in 1934 when ] led Labour to take control of the ] for the first time ever.<ref>Pelling, ''A Short History of the Labour Party,'' pp.63–79.</ref><ref>R. Bassett, ''Nineteen thirty-one political crisis'' (1958) pp. 127–182. </ref>

In the ], Labour recovered to 8.0 million votes (38 percent), and ] became Minority Leader. The Party now had 154 seats but had minimal influence in Parliament. At the local level union leaders, led by ], successfully defeated Communist infiltration.<ref>Andrew Thorpe, ''Britain in the 1930s'' (1992) pp. 41–49.</ref> In foreign policy a strong pacifist element made it slow to support the government's rearmament program. As the threat from ] escalated, the Party gradually abandoned its pacifist stance and came to support re-armament, largely due to the efforts of Bevin and ]. By 1937 they had persuaded the Party to oppose ]'s policy of ].<ref>Pelling, ''A Short History of the Labour Party,'' pp.79–87.</ref><ref>L. C. B. Seaman, ''Post-Victorian Britain: 1902-1951'' (1966) pp. 205–246.</ref> However, as late as April 1939 the Party strongly opposed conscription for the Army.<ref>Kenneth Harris, ''Attlee'' (1982) pp.161–162.</ref>


=== Wartime coalition (1940–1945) === === Wartime coalition (1940–1945) ===
{{see also|Churchill war ministry}} {{see also|Churchill war ministry}}
The party returned to power in May 1940, with about a third of the seats in the ] under Churchill. Attlee was given a new position as ]. He was in charge of the cabinet when Churchill was absent, and handled domestic affairs, working closely with Bevin as ].<ref>John Bew, ''Clement Attlee'' (2017) pp.245–336.</ref> The war set in motion profound demands for reform. This mood was epitomised in the ] of 1942, by the Liberal economist ]. The ''Report'' assumed that the maintenance of full employment would be the aim of post-war governments, and that this would provide the basis for the ]. Immediately upon its release, it sold hundreds of thousands of copies. All major parties committed themselves to fulfilling this aim, but the Labour Party was seen by the electorate as the party most likely to follow it through.<ref>Steven Fielding, "What did 'the people' want?: the meaning of the 1945 general election". ''Historical Journal'' 35#3 (1992): 623–639 .</ref> The party returned to power in May 1940, with about a third of the seats in the ] under Churchill. Attlee was given a new position as ]. He was in charge of the cabinet when Churchill was absent, and handled domestic affairs, working closely with Bevin as ].<ref>John Bew, ''Clement Attlee'' (2017) pp.245–336.</ref> The war set in motion profound demands for reform. This mood was epitomised in the ] of 1942, by the Liberal economist ]. The ''Report'' assumed that the maintenance of full employment would be the aim of post-war governments, and that this would provide the basis for the ]. Immediately upon its release, it sold hundreds of thousands of copies. All major parties committed themselves to fulfilling this aim, but the Labour Party was seen by the electorate as the party most likely to follow it through.<ref>Steven Fielding, "What did 'the people' want?: the meaning of the 1945 general election". ''Historical Journal'' 35#3 (1992): 623–639 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170302033054/http://www.jstor.org/stable/2639633 |date=2 March 2017 }}.</ref>


=== Attlee government (1945–1951) === === Attlee government (1945–1951) ===
{{main|Attlee ministry}} {{main|Attlee ministry}}
], Prime Minister (1945–1951)]] ], Prime Minister (1945–1951)]]
With victory in Europe the coalition broke up in May 1945. The ] gave Labour a landslide victory, as they won 12 million votes (50% of the total) and 393 seats.<ref>William Harrington, and Peter Young. ''The 1945 revolution'' (1978) pp. 186-206 ''''</ref> The Labour government proved the most radical in British history. It presided over a policy of nationalising major industries and utilities including the ], coal mining, the steel industry, electricity, gas and inland transport (including railways, road haulage and canals). It developed and implemented the "cradle to grave" ]. It created the ] (NHS), which gave publicly funded medical treatment for all.<ref>John Bew, ''Clement Attlee: The Man Who Made Modern Britain''(Oxford UP, 2017) pp. 397–409. </ref> With the victory in Europe, the coalition broke up in May 1945. The ] gave Labour a landslide victory, as they won 12 million votes (50% of the total) and 393 seats.<ref>William Harrington, and Peter Young. ''The 1945 revolution'' (1978) pp. 186-206 ''''</ref> The Labour government proved the most radical in British history. It presided over a policy of nationalising major industries and utilities including the ], coal mining, the steel industry, electricity, gas and inland transport (including railways, road haulage and canals). It developed and implemented the "cradle to grave" ]. It created the ] (NHS), which gave publicly funded medical treatment for all.<ref>John Bew, ''Clement Attlee: The Man Who Made Modern Britain''(Oxford UP, 2017) pp. 397–409. </ref>


Nationalization primarily affected weak and poorly managed industries, opening the hope that centralized planning would reverse the decline. Iron and steel, however, were already well-run and nationalization was denounced and later reversed by the Conservatives.<ref>John Singleton, "Labour, the Conservatives and nationalisation." in ''The political economy of nationalisation in Britain, 1920–1950'' (1995): 13-33. </ref> Nationalisation primarily affected weak and poorly managed industries, opening the hope that centralized planning would reverse the decline. Iron and steel, however, were already well-run and nationalization was denounced and later reversed by the Conservatives.<ref>John Singleton, "Labour, the Conservatives and nationalisation." in ''The political economy of nationalisation in Britain, 1920–1950'' (1995): 13-33.</ref>


The economy was precarious during the age of austerity, as wartime restrictions and rationing continued, and the wartime bombing damage was slowly being rebuilt at great cost.<ref> David Kynaston, ''Austerity Britain, 1945–1951'' (2008)</ref> The Treasury depended heavily on American money, especially ] at a low 2% interest rate, and the gift of $2.694 billion in ] funds. Canada also provided gifts and $1.25 billion in loans.<ref>Derek H. Aldcroft, ''The British Economy: Volume 1 The Years of Turmoil, 1920-1951'' (1986) pp.206, 209. .</ref> <ref>Michael J. Hogan, ''The Marshall Plan: America, Britain and the Reconstruction of Western Europe, 1947-1952'' (Cambridge Up, 1987), pp. 29, 31, 48, 82–84.</ref><ref>Kenneth O. Morgan, ''Labour in Power, 1945-1951'' (1984) pp.270–272, 366.</ref><ref>Norman Moss, ''Picking up the Reins: America, Britain and the Postwar World''(Duckworth, 2008) pp.131–151.</ref> The economy was precarious during the age of austerity, as wartime restrictions and rationing continued, and the wartime bombing damage was slowly being rebuilt at great cost.<ref>David Kynaston, ''Austerity Britain, 1945–1951'' (2008)</ref> The Treasury depended heavily on American money, especially ] at a low 2% interest rate, and the gift of $2.694 billion in ] funds. Canada also provided gifts and $1.25 billion in loans.<ref>Derek H. Aldcroft, ''The British Economy: Volume 1 The Years of Turmoil, 1920-1951'' (1986) pp.206, 209. .</ref><ref>Michael J. Hogan, ''The Marshall Plan: America, Britain and the Reconstruction of Western Europe, 1947-1952'' (Cambridge Up, 1987), pp. 29, 31, 48, 82–84.</ref><ref>Kenneth O. Morgan, ''Labour in Power, 1945-1951'' (1984) pp.270–272, 366.</ref><ref>Norman Moss, ''Picking up the Reins: America, Britain and the Postwar World''(Duckworth, 2008) pp.131–151.</ref>


The government began the process of dismantling the ], starting with independence to India and Pakistan in 1947, followed by Burma (Myanmar) and Ceylon (Sri Lanka) the following year. It ] to the United Nations in 1948.<ref>Bew, ''Clement Attlee'' (2017) pp. 426–443.</ref> Elsewhere independence movements were much weaker and London's policy was to keep the Empire in business.<ref>John Darwin. "The Crisis of Empire, 1945–48." in ''Britain and Decolonisation: The retreat from empire in the post-war world'' (1988): 69-125.</ref> The government began the process of dismantling the ], starting with independence to India and Pakistan in 1947, followed by Burma (Myanmar) and Ceylon (Sri Lanka) the following year. It ] to the United Nations in 1948.<ref>Bew, ''Clement Attlee'' (2017) pp. 426–443.</ref> Elsewhere independence movements were much weaker and London's policy was to keep the Empire in business.<ref>John Darwin. "The Crisis of Empire, 1945–48." in ''Britain and Decolonisation: The retreat from empire in the post-war world'' (1988): 69-125.</ref>


Under ]'s leadership, London pushed Washington into an anti-Communist coalition that launched the ] in 1947 and established the ] military alliance against the USSR in 1949.<ref>Robert Frazier, "Did Britain Start the Cold War? Bevin and the Truman Doctrine" ''The Historical Journal'' (1984) 27#3:715-727. doi:10.1017/S0018246X00018045 </ref> Furthermore, independent of Washington London committed large sums to developing a secret ].<ref>Richard Gott, “The Evolution of the Independent British Deterrent.” ''International Affairs'' 39#2 (1963), pp. 238–52. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/2611300. </ref> Under ]'s leadership, London pushed Washington into an anti-Communist coalition that launched the ] in 1947 and established the ] military alliance against the USSR in 1949.<ref>Robert Frazier, "Did Britain Start the Cold War? Bevin and the Truman Doctrine" ''The Historical Journal'' (1984) 27#3:715-727. doi:10.1017/S0018246X00018045</ref> Furthermore, independent of Washington London committed large sums to developing a secret ].<ref>Richard Gott, “The Evolution of the Independent British Deterrent.” ''International Affairs'' 39#2 (1963), pp. 238–52. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/2611300.</ref>


In the ], Labour narrowly lost to Churchill's Conservatives, despite receiving the larger share of the popular vote. Its 13.9 million vote total was the highest ever.Most of its innovation were accepted by the Conservatives and Liberals and became part of the "]" that lasted until the Thatcher era of the 1980s.<ref>Brian Harrison, “The Rise, Fall and Rise of Political Consensus in Britain since 1940.” ''History'' 84#274 (1999), pp. 301–24. </ref> In the ], Labour narrowly lost to Churchill's Conservatives, despite receiving the larger share of the popular vote. Its 13.9 million vote total was the highest ever. Most of its innovation were accepted by the Conservatives and Liberals and became part of the "]" that lasted until the Thatcher era of the 1980s.<ref>Brian Harrison, “The Rise, Fall and Rise of Political Consensus in Britain since 1940.” ''History'' 84#274 (1999), pp. 301–24. </ref>


=== Internal feuds (1951–1964) === === Internal feuds (1951–1964) ===
], Leader of the Opposition (1955–1963).|219x219px]] ], Leader of the Opposition (1955–1963).|upright]]
Labour spent 13 years in opposition. It suffered an ideological split, between the left-wing followers of ] (known as ]) and the right-wing following ] (known as ]). The economy recovered as Conservatives hung together and chanted, "You Never Had It So Good."<ref>Jeremy Black, '' A history of Britain: 1945 to Brexit'' ( Indiana University Press, 2017) p. 130.</ref>.<ref>Peter Hennessy, ''Having it so good: Britain in the fifties'' (Penguin UK, 2007).</ref> The ageing Attlee contested the ], which saw Labour lose ground; he retired. Internal squabbling now focused on the issues of ], Britain's entry into the ] (EEC), and ] of the Labour Party Constitution, with its commitment to nationalisation.<ref>Alastair J. Reid and Henry Pelling, ''A Short History of the Labour Party'' (12th ed. 2005) pp.94–103 .</ref> Labour spent 13 years in opposition. It suffered an ideological split, between the left-wing followers of ] (known as ]) and the right-wing following ] (known as ]). The economy recovered as Conservatives hung together and chanted, "You Never Had It So Good.".<ref>Jeremy Black, '' A history of Britain: 1945 to Brexit'' ( Indiana University Press, 2017) p. 130.</ref><ref>Peter Hennessy, ''Having it so good: Britain in the fifties'' (Penguin UK, 2007).</ref> The ageing Attlee contested the ], which saw Labour lose ground; he retired and was replaced by Gaitskell. Internal squabbling now focused on the issues of ], Britain's entry into the ] (EEC), and ] of the Labour Party Constitution, with its commitment to nationalisation. Gaitskell led Labour to a third consecutive defeat at the ] despite the party appearing more united than it had been for some time. Gaitskell responded by attempting to remove Clause IV (the nationalisation clause) from the party constitution, but this was unsuccessful. Gaitskell died suddenly in 1963, and cleared the way for ] to lead the party.<ref>Alastair J. Reid and Henry Pelling, ''A Short History of the Labour Party'' (12th ed. 2005) pp.94–103 .</ref>


=== Wilson as leader (1964–1974) === === Wilson as leader (1964–1974) ===
{{main|Labour government, 1964–1970}} {{main|Labour government, 1964–1970}}
], Prime Minister (1964–1970 and 1974–1976)]] ], Prime Minister (1964–1970 and 1974–1976)]]
A downturn in the economy and a series of scandals in the early 1960s had engulfed the Conservative government by 1963. The Labour Party returned to government with a 4-seat majority under Wilsonin the ] but a landslide increased its majority to 96 in the ].<ref>Ben Pimlott, ''Harold Wilson'' (HarperCollins, 1992) pp.282–309, 395–404. </ref><ref>David E. Butler, and Anthony King, ''The British General Election of 1966'' (1966) pp.1-22 . </ref> A downturn in the economy and a series of scandals in the early 1960s had engulfed the Conservative government by 1963. The Labour Party returned to government with a 4-seat majority under Wilson in the ] but a landslide increased its majority to 96 in the ].<ref>Ben Pimlott, ''Harold Wilson'' (HarperCollins, 1992) pp.282–309, 395–404. </ref><ref>David E. Butler, and Anthony King, ''The British General Election of 1966'' (1966) pp.1-22 .</ref>


Labour was responsible for a number of sweeping social and cultural reforms under the leadership of ] ] such as the abolishment of the ] in 1965; the legalisation of ]; loosening restrictions on ]; and the abolition of theatre censorship in 1968.<ref>Peter Dorey, "Social and Sexual Liberalisation," in Andrew S. Crines and Kevin Hickson, eds., ''Harold Wilson: The Unprincipled Prime Minister?: A Reappraisal of Harold Wilson'' (Biteback Publishing, 2016) pp.165–203. </ref> Labour was responsible for a number of sweeping social and cultural reforms mostly under the leadership of ] ] such as the abolition of the ]; the legalisation of ]; loosening restrictions on ], the abolition of ], and legislation to ]<ref>Peter Dorey, "Social and Sexual Liberalisation," in Andrew S. Crines and Kevin Hickson, eds., ''Harold Wilson: The Unprincipled Prime Minister?: A Reappraisal of Harold Wilson'' (Biteback Publishing, 2016) pp.165–203.</ref>


The government put heavy emphasis on expanding opportunities through education. ] was expanded at the secondary level and the ] created for adults.<ref> Jane Martin, "Education Policy," in Crines and Hickson, eds., ''Harold Wilson'' (2016) pp.131–148. </ref> The government put heavy emphasis on expanding opportunities through education: ] was expanded at the secondary level and the ] created for adults.<ref>Jane Martin, "Education Policy," in Crines and Hickson, eds., ''Harold Wilson'' (2016) pp.131–148.</ref>


Wilson's first period as Prime Minister coincided with a period of relatively low unemployment and economic prosperity, it was however hindered by significant problems with a large trade deficit which it had inherited from the previous government. The first three years of the government were spent in an ultimately doomed attempt to stave off the continued devaluation of the pound. Labour went on to unexpectedly lose the ] to the Conservatives under ].<ref>Philip Ziegler, ''Harold Wilson: The Authorized Biography Life of Lord Wilson of Rievaulx'' (Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1993) PP.346–354 .</ref>. Labour in opposition kept Wilson as Leader. The 1970s proved a difficult time to be in government for both the Conservatives and Labour due to the ], which caused high inflation and a global recession. The Labour Party was returned to power again under Wilson a few days after the ], forming a minority government with the support of the ]s.<ref>David Butler, ''The British general election of February 1974'' (1974) pp.10–26, 270–273. </ref> In a bid to gain a majority, Prime Minister Wilson soon called an election for ]. Labour won a slim majority of three, gaining 18 seats taking its total to 319.<ref>Ziegler, ''Harold Wilson'' pp Death.400–421 .</ref>. Wilson's first period as Prime Minister coincided with a period of relatively low unemployment and economic prosperity, it was however hindered by significant problems with a large trade deficit which it had inherited from the previous government. The first three years of the government were spent in an ultimately doomed attempt to stave off the continued devaluation of the pound. Labour went on to unexpectedly lose the ] to the Conservatives under ].<ref>Philip Ziegler, ''Harold Wilson: The Authorized Biography Life of Lord Wilson of Rievaulx'' (Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1993) PP.346–354 .</ref> Labour in opposition kept Wilson as Leader. The 1970s proved a difficult time to be in government for both the Conservatives and Labour due to the ], which caused high inflation and a global recession. The Labour Party was returned to power again under Wilson a few days after the ], forming a minority government with the support of the ]s.<ref>David Butler, ''The British general election of February 1974'' (1974) pp.10–26, 270–273. </ref> In a bid to gain a majority, Prime Minister Wilson soon called an election for ]. Labour won a slim majority of three, gaining 18 seats taking its total to 319.<ref>Ziegler, ''Harold Wilson'' pp Death.400–421 .</ref>


=== Majority to minority (1974–1979) === === Majority to minority (1974–1979) ===
{{main|Labour government, 1974–1979}} {{main|Labour government, 1974–1979}}
], Prime Minister (1976–1979)]]
For much of its time in office the Labour government struggled with serious economic problems and a precarious majority in the Commons, while the party's internal dissent over Britain's membership of the ], which Britain had entered under Edward Heath in 1972, led in 1975 to a ] on the issue in which two thirds of the public supported continued membership. Harold Wilson's personal popularity remained reasonably high but he unexpectedly resigned as Prime Minister in 1976 citing health reasons, and was replaced by ]. The Wilson and Callaghan governments of the 1970s tried to control ] (which reached 23.7% in 1975<ref name="SeldonHickson2004">{{cite book |first1=Anthony |last1=Seldon |first2=Kevin |last2=Hickson |title=New Labour, old Labour: the Wilson and Callaghan governments, 1974–79 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Gmy8wS1bBZwC&pg=PA64 |access-date=29 October 2010 |year=2004 |publisher=] |isbn=978-0-415-31281-3 |pages=64– |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511124955/http://books.google.com/books?id=Gmy8wS1bBZwC&pg=PA64 |archive-date=11 May 2013 |url-status=live |via=]}}</ref>) by a policy of ]. This was fairly successful, reducing inflation to 7.4% by 1978.{{sfn|Thorpe|2001}}<ref name="SeldonHickson2004" /> However it led to increasingly strained relations between the government and the trade unions.
In March 1974 Wilson was appointed prime minister ]; he called a ] in October 1974, which gave Labour a small majority. During his second term as prime minister, Wilson oversaw the ] that confirmed the UK's membership of the ].<ref>Ziegler, ''Wilson'' (1995) pp. 400–491.</ref>

], Prime Minister (1976–1979)]]
Fear of advances by the nationalist parties, particularly in Scotland, led to the suppression of a ] that suggested that an independent Scotland would be "chronically in surplus".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.snpyouth.org/ysi/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12&Itemid=24 |title=Young Scots For Independence – Revealed: True oil wealth hidden to stop independence |publisher=] |date=12 September 2005 |access-date=13 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090919150144/http://www.snpyouth.org/ysi/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12&Itemid=24 |archive-date=19 September 2009}}</ref> By 1977 by-election losses and defections to the breakaway ] left Callaghan heading a minority government, forced to do deals with smaller parties in order to govern. An arrangement negotiated in 1977 with ] leader ], known as the ], ended after one year. Deals were then forged with various small parties including the ] (SNP) and the Welsh nationalist ], prolonging the life of the government.

The nationalist parties, in turn, demanded ] to their respective constituent countries in return for their supporting the government. When referendums for Scottish and Welsh devolution were held in March 1979 the ] saw a large majority vote against, while the ] returned a narrow majority in favour without reaching the required threshold of 40% support. When the Labour government duly refused to push ahead with setting up the proposed Scottish Assembly, the SNP withdrew its support for the government: this finally brought the government down as the Conservatives triggered a ] in Callaghan's government that was lost by a single vote on 28 March 1979, necessitating a general election.

By 1978, the economy had started to show signs of recovery, with inflation falling to single digits, unemployment falling and living standards starting to rise during the year.<ref>A Short History of the Labour Party by Henry Pelling.</ref> Labour's opinion poll ratings also improved, with most showing the party to be in the lead.{{sfn|Thorpe|2001}} Callaghan had been widely expected to call a general election in the autumn of 1978 to take advantage of the improving situation. In the event, he decided to gamble that extending the wage restraint policy for another year would allow the economy to be in better shape for a 1979 election. However, this proved unpopular with the trade unions, and during the winter of 1978–79 there were widespread strikes among lorry drivers, railway workers, car workers and local government and hospital workers in favour of higher pay-rises that caused significant disruption to everyday life. These events came to be dubbed the "]".

These industrial disputes sent the Conservatives now led by ] into the lead in the polls, which led to Labour's defeat in the ]. The Labour vote held up in the election, with the party receiving nearly the same number of votes than in 1974. However, the Conservative Party achieved big increases in support in the Midlands and South of England, benefiting from both a surge in turnout and votes lost by the ailing Liberals.<ref>David Butler, and Dennis Kavanagh, ''The British General Election of 1979'' (Palgrave Macmillan UK, 1980) pp.336–339. </ref>

=== Opposition and internal conflict (1979–1994) ===
{{see also|Shadow Cabinet of Michael Foot|Shadow Cabinet of Neil Kinnock|Shadow Cabinet of John Smith}}
], Leader of the Opposition (1980–1983)|238x238px]]
After its defeat in the ] the Labour Party underwent a period of internal rivalry between the left, represented by ], and the right, represented by ]. The election of ] as leader in 1980, and the leftist policies he espoused, such as ], leaving the ] and ], closer governmental influence in the banking system, the creation of a ] and a ban on ]<nowiki><ref name="longest suicide note"></nowiki>{{cite news |last1=Vaidyanathan |first1=Rajini |date=4 March 2010 |title=Michael Foot: What did the 'longest suicide note' say? |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8550425.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902193702/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8550425.stm |archive-date=2 September 2017 |access-date=24 December 2015 |work=] Magazine Online}}

led in 1981 to ] from the right of the Labour Party (], ], ] and ]) forming the ].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Scott |first1=Jennifer |title=Who were the Social Democratic Party? |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-47280218 |access-date=19 October 2019 |date=18 February 2019 |work=] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190218223102/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-47280218 |archive-date=18 February 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> Benn was only narrowly defeated by Healey in a bitterly fought deputy leadership election in 1981 after the introduction of an electoral college intended to widen the voting franchise to elect the leader and their deputy. By 1982, the ] had concluded that the ] ] group were in contravention of the party's constitution.

The Labour Party was defeated heavily in the ], winning only 27.6% of the vote, its lowest share since ], and receiving only half a million votes more than the ], which leader Michael Foot condemned for "siphoning" Labour support and enabling the Conservatives to greatly increase their majority of parliamentary seats.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/june/9/newsid_2500000/2500847.stm |title=1983: Thatcher wins landslide victory |work=] |date=9 June 1983 |access-date=13 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150612170844/http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/june/9/newsid_2500000/2500847.stm |archive-date=12 June 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> The party manifesto for this election was termed by critics as "]".<ref name="longest suicide note"/>


When Wilson suddenly announced his retirement in March 1976, Callaghan ] to be elected Leader of the Labour Party; he was appointed prime minister on 5 April 1976. By now Labour had lost its narrow majority. To stay in power Callaghan made a ] with the ]. While this initially proved stable, it could not survive in the face of major industrial disputes and widespread strikes in the 1978&ndash;79 "]", as well as the defeat of the ]. Minor parties joined the ] to pass a ] in Callaghan on 28 March 1979. Callaghan led Labour to defeat at the ] and was replaced by Conservative ]. The 1979 defeat marked the beginning of 18 years in opposition for the Labour Party, the longest in its history. According to historian ], the fall of Callaghan meant the passing of an old obsolete system, as well as the end of ], ], subsidised welfare payments, and labour union power.<ref>Kenneth O. Morgan, ''Britain Since 1945: The People's Peace'' (Oxford UP, 2001). p. 437.</ref>
Foot resigned and was replaced as leader by ], with ] as his deputy. The new leadership progressively dropped unpopular policies. The ] over coal mine closures, which divided the ] (NUM) as well as the Labour Party, and the ] led to clashes with the left of the party and negative coverage in most of the press.]


=== Thatcherism and Labour's civil war (1979–1992) ===
The alliances which campaigns such as ] forged between ] (LGBT) and ], as well as the Labour Party itself, also proved to be an important turning point in the progression of LGBT issues in the UK.{{sfn|Kelliher|2014}} At the 1985 Labour Party conference in Bournemouth, a resolution committing the party to support LGBT equality rights passed for the first time with block voting support from the NUM.{{sfn|Kelliher|2014|p=256}}
{{see also|Shadow Cabinet of Michael Foot|Shadow Cabinet of Neil Kinnock|Social Democratic Party (UK)}}
], Leader of the Opposition (1980–1983)|upright]]
] and as the official logotype from 1980 to 1987, more specifically under Foot's leadership.|left]]
Following 1979 the Labour Party found itself overwhelmed by the Conservative government led by a highly aggressive ]. From the right she largely rejected the ] on economic and social policies that had bipartisan support since the 1950s. At first Thatcher's economic reforms were doing poorly. Argentina's invasion of a British possession in the ] in Spring 1982 transformed British politics. Thatcher's aggressive reaction produced a smashing victory and national elation, guaranteeing Conservatives a massive landslide victory in the ]. Thatcher's successful ] further weakened the Labour base. It took a decade for Labour to recover.<ref>Kenneth O. Morgan, ''The People's Peace'' (2001) pp 456–478, 490–491, 500–501.</ref>


Labour's inward turn flared into a civil war between left and right. The party came under the control of young middle-class left-wing activists in the local constituencies. The left was led by ] and ]. They were keen on radical proposals as presented in the 1983 manifesto entitled "The New Hope for Britain". It called for extensive nationalisation of industry, with heavily centralized economic planning, and many additional controls on business.<ref>The 1983 manifesto entitled "The New Hope for Britain" {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924123945/http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/man/lab83.htm |date=24 September 2015 }}</ref> It demanded unilateral nuclear disarmament and withdrawal from the European Community. Labour's manifesto was a repudiation of the ] from the left. It alienated so many moderates, skilled workers and the general public that it was ridiculed as the "]." Some top leaders quit the Labour Party and formed a new ], but it could not survive. After Labour's massive defeat in the ], ] replaced Foot. He defeated the left wing, reversed the highly controversial Manifesto proposals, expelled extremist factions like the Trotskyist ], and began a process of modernization and acceptance of many Thatcherite innovations.<ref>Peter Jenkins, ''Mrs. Thatcher's Revolution: The Ending of the Socialist Era'' (1988) pp. 102-128. </ref><ref>Brian Brivati and Richard Heffernan, eds. ''The Labour Party: A Centenary History'' (2000) pp. 112-142, 376-377.</ref>
Labour improved its performance in ], gaining 20 seats and so reducing the Conservative majority from 143 to 102. They were now firmly re-established as the second political party in Britain as the Alliance had once again failed to make a breakthrough with seats. A merger of the SDP and Liberals formed the ]. Following the 1987 election, the National Executive Committee resumed disciplinary action against members of Militant, who remained in the party, leading to further expulsions of their activists and the two MPs who supported the group. During the 1980s radically socialist members of the party were often described as the "]", particularly in the ].<ref name="Julian Petley 2005 85–107">{{cite book |title=Culture wars: the media and the British left |editor1-first=James |editor1-last=Curran |editor2-first=Julian |editor2-last=Petley |editor3-first=Ivor |editor3-last=Gaber |publisher=] |year=2005|isbn=978-0-7486-1917-7 |chapter=Hit and Myth |pages=85–107 |first=Julian |last=Petley}}</ref> The print media in the 1980s also began using the pejorative "hard left" to sometimes describe ] groups such as the ], ] and ].{{sfn|Shaw|1988|p=267}} In 1988, ] by ] for the party leadership. Based on the percentages, 183 members of parliament supported Kinnock, while Benn was backed by 37. With a clear majority, Kinnock remained leader of the Labour Party.<ref name="kinnockchallenge">{{cite news |last1=Webster |first1=Philip |title=Kinnock stunned by size of his election victory |url=http://find.galegroup.com/ttda/infomark.do?&source=gale&prodId=TTDA&userGroupName=wes_ttda&tabID=T003&docPage=article&searchType=BasicSearchForm&docId=IF500534823&type=multipage&contentSet=LTO&version=1.0 |access-date=5 April 2015 |work=] |issue=63202 |date=3 October 1988 |page=4 |url-access=subscription |via=The Times Digital Archive}}</ref>


=== Modernisers take charge (1992–1997)===
]In November 1990 following a contested leadership election, ] resigned as leader of the Conservative Party and was succeeded as leader and Prime Minister by ]. Most opinion polls had shown Labour comfortably ahead of the Conservatives for more than a year before Thatcher's resignation, with the fall in Tory support blamed largely on her introduction of the unpopular ], combined with the fact that the economy was ] at the time. The change of leader in the Tory government saw a turnaround in support for the Conservatives, who regularly topped the opinion polls throughout 1991 although Labour regained the lead more than once.
], ensured that the red flag image would disappear, with the party's new symbol being the gentle emblem of the red rose.<ref>Kenneth Morgan, ''Britain since 1945: The People's Peace'' (2001) p.510.</ref> This was the party's logo from 1987 to 2007.|upright]]
The "yo-yo" in the opinion polls continued into 1992, though after November 1990 any Labour lead in the polls was rarely sufficient for a majority. Major resisted Kinnock's calls for a general election throughout 1991. Kinnock campaigned on the theme "It's Time for a Change", urging voters to elect a new government after more than a decade of unbroken Conservative rule. However, the Conservatives themselves had undergone a change of leader from Thatcher to Major and replaced the Community Charge.
In November 1990, Thatcher resigned and was succeeded by the less confrontational Thatcherite ]. Opinion polls had shown Labour comfortably ahead of the Conservatives largely because of Thatcher's introduction of the highly unpopular ], combined with the fact that the economy was ]. Major replaced the poll tax but Kinnock energized Labour with the theme "It's Time for a Change", after more than a decade of unbroken Conservative rule.<ref>Dennis Kavanaugh, "Opposition" in Dennis Kavanaugh and Anthony Selden, eds ''The Major Effect'' (1994) pp. 145-153.</ref> The ] gave Conservatives a victory with a much-reduced majority of 21. It was a deeply disappointing result for Labour. For the first time in over 30 years there was serious doubt among the public and the media as to whether Labour could ever return to government. Kinnock resigned as leader and was succeeded by ].<ref>David Butler, and Dennis Kavanagh, eds ''The British General Election of 1992'' (1992) pp.247–275. </ref>
], Leader of the Opposition (1983-1992)]]
], Leader of the Opposition (1983–1992)]]
The ] was widely tipped to result in a hung parliament or a narrow Labour majority, but in the event, the Conservatives were returned to power, though with a much-reduced majority of 21.<ref name="1992: Tories win again against odds">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/basics/election4/past_elections/4393317.stm |title=1992: Tories win again against odds |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170908173422/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/basics/election4/past_elections/4393317.stm |archive-date=8 September 2017 |work=] |date=5 April 2005}}</ref> Despite the increased number of seats and votes, it was a disappointing result for the Labour party. For the first time in over 30 years there was serious doubt among the public and the media as to whether Labour could ever return to government.Kinnock resigned as leader and was succeeded by ].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2005/apr/04/electionspast.past3 |title=Pollsters taxed |author=Martin Kettle |work=The Guardian |date=4 April 2005 |access-date=28 November 2023}}</ref> Once again the battle erupted between the old guard on the party's left and those identified as "modernisers". The old guard argued that trends showed they were regaining strength under Smith's strong leadership. The new Liberal Democrats seemed to pose a major threat to the Labour base. ], the Shadow Home Secretary, had a different vision to traditional Labour politics. Blair, the leader of the "modernising" faction, argued that the long-term trends had to be reversed, arguing that the party was too locked into a base that was shrinking, since it was based on the working-class, on trade unions and on residents of subsidised council housing. Blair argued that the rapidly growing middle class was largely ignored, as well as more ambitious working-class families. Blair said that they aspired to become middle-class and accepted the Conservative argument that traditional Labour was holding ambitious people back to some extent with higher tax policies. To present a fresh face and new policies to the electorate, ] needed more than fresh leaders; it had to jettison outdated policies, argued the modernisers.<ref>David Butler and Dennis Kavanagh, ''The British general election of 1997'' (1997), pp 46–67.</ref> The first step was procedural, but essential. Calling on the slogan, "]" Blair (with some help from Smith) defeated the union element and ended ] by leaders of ].{{sfn|Rentoul|2001|pp=206–218}} Blair and the modernisers called for radical adjustment of Party goals by repealing "Clause IV", the historic commitment to nationalisation of industry. This was achieved in 1995.{{sfn|Rentoul|2001|pp=249–266}}
The damage to the economy on ] in September 1992 undermined the Conservative reputation for superior economic competence. By December, Labour had a comfortable lead in the opinion polls. The recession ended in early 1993 and was followed by a sharp fall in unemployment, together with sustained economic growth. Nevertheless, the Labour lead in the polls remained strong. Smith died suddenly in May 1994, and ] became leader.


Once again the battle resumed between the old guard on the left and the younger "modernisers". The old guard argued that they were regaining strength under Smith's strong leadership. Blair, the leader of the modernisers, warned that the long-term weaknesses had to be reversed. He argued that the party was too locked into a base that was shrinking, since it was based on the working-class, on trade unions and on residents of subsidised council housing. Blair said that the rapidly growing middle class was largely ignored, as well as more ambitious working-class families. He argued that they aspired to become middle-class and accepted the Conservative argument that traditional Labour was holding ambitious people back with higher tax policies. To present a fresh face and new policies to the electorate, ] needed more than fresh leaders; it had to jettison outdated policies, argued the modernisers.<ref>David Butler and Dennis Kavanagh, eds., ''The British general election of 1997'' (1997), pp 46–67.</ref> Calling on the slogan, "]" Blair defeated the union element and ended ] by leaders of labour unions.{{sfn|Rentoul|2001|pp=206–218}} Blair and the modernisers called for radical adjustment of Party goals by repealing "Clause IV", the historic commitment to nationalisation of industry. This was achieved in 1995.{{sfn|Rentoul|2001|pp=249–266}}
] in September 1992 damaged the Conservative government's reputation for economic competence, and by the end of that year, Labour had a comfortable lead over the Conservatives in the opinion polls. Although the recession was declared over in April 1993 and a period of strong and sustained economic growth followed, coupled with a relatively swift fall in unemployment, the Labour lead in the opinion polls remained strong. However, Smith died from a heart attack in May 1994.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/basics/4393323.stm |work=] |title=1997: Labour landslide ends Tory rule |date=15 April 2005 |access-date=10 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170901033201/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/basics/4393323.stm |archive-date=1 September 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> {{As of|2023}}, he is the last Labour leader not to have contested a general election (excluding acting leaders and the incumbent, whose tenure is ongoing).{{Refn|See ] and ].|group=nb}}


=== New Labour (1994–2010) === === New Labour (1994–2010) ===
{{main|New Labour}} {{main|New Labour}}
{{see also|Premiership of Tony Blair|Premiership of Gordon Brown}} {{see also|Premiership of Tony Blair|Premiership of Gordon Brown}}
{{further|Shadow Cabinet of Tony Blair|First Blair ministry|Second Blair ministry|Third Blair ministry|Brown ministry}}]Blair continued to move the party further to the centre, abandoning the largely symbolic ] at the 1995 mini-conference in a strategy to increase the party's appeal to "]". The political philosophy of New Labour was influenced by the party's development of ]' ] which attempted to provide a synthesis between ] and ]. {{further|Shadow Cabinet of Tony Blair|First Blair ministry|Second Blair ministry|Third Blair ministry|Brown ministry}}]Blair continued to move the party further to the centre, abandoning the largely symbolic ] at the 1995 mini-conference in a strategy to increase the party's appeal to "]". The political philosophy of New Labour was influenced by the party's development of ]' ] which attempted to provide a synthesis between ] and ].
], Prime Minister (1997–2007)]] ], Prime Minister (1997–2007)]]
] 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 '']''. It was a continuation of the trend that had begun under the leadership of ]. New Labour as a name has no official status, but remains in common use to distinguish modernisers from those holding to more traditional positions, normally referred to as "Old 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 '']''. It was a continuation of the trend that had begun under the leadership of ]. New Labour as a name has no official status, but remains in common use to distinguish modernisers from those holding to more traditional positions, normally referred to as "Old Labour".


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A perceived turning point was when Blair controversially allied himself with US President ] in supporting the ], which caused him to lose much of his political support.<ref name="Deutsche Welle">{{cite news |url=http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,745536,00.html |title=European Opposition To Iraq War Grows &#124; Current Affairs |work=] |date=13 January 2003 |access-date=13 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120123164522/http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,745536,00.html |archive-date=23 January 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> The ], among many, considered the war illegal and a violation of the ].<ref name="Tucker2015">{{cite book |first=Spencer C. |last=Tucker |title=U.S. Conflicts in the 21st Century: Afghanistan War, Iraq War, and the War on Terror &#91;3 volumes&#93;: Afghanistan War, Iraq War, and the War on Terror |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d8EnCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA83|date=14 December 2015 |publisher=] |isbn=978-1-4408-3879-8 |page=83 |access-date=7 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161215101037/https://books.google.com/books?id=d8EnCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA83 |archive-date=15 December 2016 |url-status=live |via=]}}</ref>{{sfn|McClintock|2010|p=150}} The Iraq War was deeply unpopular in most western countries, with Western governments divided in their support<ref name="Bennhold">{{cite web|last=Bennhold |first=Katrin |url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2004/08/28/sochi_ed3_.php |title=Unlikely alliance built on opposition to Iraq war now raises questions |work=International Herald Tribune |date=28 August 2004 |access-date=13 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207073550/http://www.iht.com/articles/2004/08/28/sochi_ed3_.php |archive-date=7 December 2008}}</ref> and under pressure from ].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fishwick |first1=Carmen |title='We were ignored': anti-war protesters remember the Iraq war marches |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/jul/08/we-were-ignored-anti-war-protestors-remember-the-iraq-war-marches |access-date=10 October 2017 |work=] |date=8 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011022219/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/jul/08/we-were-ignored-anti-war-protestors-remember-the-iraq-war-marches |archive-date=11 October 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> The decisions that led up to the Iraq war and its subsequent conduct were the subject of the ].<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Chilcot report: key points from the Iraq inquiry |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/jul/06/iraq-inquiry-key-points-from-the-chilcot-report |access-date=10 October 2017 |work=] |date=6 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011022052/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/jul/06/iraq-inquiry-key-points-from-the-chilcot-report |archive-date=11 October 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> A perceived turning point was when Blair controversially allied himself with US President ] in supporting the ], which caused him to lose much of his political support.<ref name="Deutsche Welle">{{cite news |url=http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,745536,00.html |title=European Opposition To Iraq War Grows &#124; Current Affairs |work=] |date=13 January 2003 |access-date=13 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120123164522/http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,745536,00.html |archive-date=23 January 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> The ], among many, considered the war illegal and a violation of the ].<ref name="Tucker2015">{{cite book |first=Spencer C. |last=Tucker |title=U.S. Conflicts in the 21st Century: Afghanistan War, Iraq War, and the War on Terror &#91;3 volumes&#93;: Afghanistan War, Iraq War, and the War on Terror |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d8EnCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA83|date=14 December 2015 |publisher=] |isbn=978-1-4408-3879-8 |page=83 |access-date=7 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161215101037/https://books.google.com/books?id=d8EnCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA83 |archive-date=15 December 2016 |url-status=live |via=]}}</ref>{{sfn|McClintock|2010|p=150}} The Iraq War was deeply unpopular in most western countries, with Western governments divided in their support<ref name="Bennhold">{{cite web|last=Bennhold |first=Katrin |url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2004/08/28/sochi_ed3_.php |title=Unlikely alliance built on opposition to Iraq war now raises questions |work=International Herald Tribune |date=28 August 2004 |access-date=13 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207073550/http://www.iht.com/articles/2004/08/28/sochi_ed3_.php |archive-date=7 December 2008}}</ref> and under pressure from ].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fishwick |first1=Carmen |title='We were ignored': anti-war protesters remember the Iraq war marches |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/jul/08/we-were-ignored-anti-war-protestors-remember-the-iraq-war-marches |access-date=10 October 2017 |work=] |date=8 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011022219/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/jul/08/we-were-ignored-anti-war-protestors-remember-the-iraq-war-marches |archive-date=11 October 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> The decisions that led up to the Iraq war and its subsequent conduct were the subject of the ].<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Chilcot report: key points from the Iraq inquiry |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/jul/06/iraq-inquiry-key-points-from-the-chilcot-report |access-date=10 October 2017 |work=] |date=6 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011022052/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/jul/06/iraq-inquiry-key-points-from-the-chilcot-report |archive-date=11 October 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>


], Prime Minister (2007–2010)]]In the ], Labour was re-elected for a third term, but with a reduced majority of 66 and popular vote of only 35.2%. Blair announced in September 2006 that he would step down as leader within the year, though he had been under pressure to quit earlier than May 2007 in order to get a new leader in place before the ] which were expected to be disastrous for Labour.<ref name="I will quit within a year – Blair">{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5322094.stm |title=I will quit within a year – Blair |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061117032828/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5322094.stm |archive-date=17 November 2006 |work=] |date=7 September 2007}}</ref> In the event, the party did lose power in Scotland to a minority ] government at the ] and, shortly after this, Blair resigned as Prime Minister and was replaced by the ], ].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2007/may/04/scotland.devolution |title=SNP wins historic victory |author=Patrick Wintour |work=The Guardian |date=4 May 2007 |access-date=16 June 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6243558.stm |title=Blair resigns as prime minister |publisher=BBC News |date=27 June 2007 |access-date=16 June 2023}}</ref> Brown coordinated the UK's response to the ].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-13032013 |title=Gordon Brown admits 'big mistake' over banking crisis |publisher=BBC News |date=11 April 2011 |access-date=16 June 2023}}</ref> Membership of the party also reached a low falling to 156,205 by the end of 2009: over 40 per cent of the 405,000 peak reached in 1997 and thought to be the lowest total since the party was founded.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/2475301/Labour-membership-falls-to-historic-low.html |location=London |work=] |first1=James |last1=Kirkup |first2=Rosa |last2=Prince |title=Labour Party membership falls to lowest level since it was founded in 1900 |date=30 July 2008 |access-date=2 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417044145/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/2475301/Labour-membership-falls-to-historic-low.html |archive-date=17 April 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="parliament.uk">{{Cite web |url=http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/briefings/snsg-05125.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130121122534/http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/briefings/snsg-05125.pdf |url-status=dead |title=John Marshall: Membership of UK political parties; House of Commons, SN/SG/5125; 2009, page 9 |archive-date=21 January 2013}}</ref> ], Prime Minister (2007–2010)]]In the ], Labour was re-elected for a third term, but with a reduced majority of 66 and popular vote of only 35.2%. Blair announced in September 2006 that he would step down as leader within the year, though he had been under pressure to quit earlier than May 2007 in order to get a new leader in place before the ] which were expected to be disastrous for Labour.<ref name="I will quit within a year – Blair">{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5322094.stm |title=I will quit within a year – Blair |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061117032828/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5322094.stm |archive-date=17 November 2006 |work=] |date=7 September 2007}}</ref> In the event, the party did lose power in Scotland to a minority ] government at the ] and, shortly after this, Blair resigned as Prime Minister and was replaced by the ], ].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2007/may/04/scotland.devolution |title=SNP wins historic victory |author=Patrick Wintour |work=The Guardian |date=4 May 2007 |access-date=16 June 2023 |archive-date=23 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170323055546/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2007/may/04/scotland.devolution |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6243558.stm |title=Blair resigns as prime minister |publisher=BBC News |date=27 June 2007 |access-date=16 June 2023 |archive-date=13 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913084307/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6243558.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> Brown coordinated the UK's response to the ].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-13032013 |title=Gordon Brown admits 'big mistake' over banking crisis |publisher=BBC News |date=11 April 2011 |access-date=16 June 2023 |archive-date=16 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616145625/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-13032013 |url-status=live }}</ref> Membership of the party also reached a low falling to 156,205 by the end of 2009: over 40 per cent of the 405,000 peak reached in 1997 and thought to be the lowest total since the party was founded.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/2475301/Labour-membership-falls-to-historic-low.html |location=London |work=] |first1=James |last1=Kirkup |first2=Rosa |last2=Prince |title=Labour Party membership falls to lowest level since it was founded in 1900 |date=30 July 2008 |access-date=2 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417044145/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/2475301/Labour-membership-falls-to-historic-low.html |archive-date=17 April 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="parliament.uk">{{Cite web |url=http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/briefings/snsg-05125.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130121000000/http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/briefings/snsg-05125.pdf |url-status=dead |title=John Marshall: Membership of UK political parties; House of Commons, SN/SG/5125; 2009, page 9 |archive-date=21 January 2013}}</ref>


In the ] on 6 May that year, Labour with 29.0% of the vote won the second largest number of seats (258).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/election2010/results/ |title=Election 2010 results |publisher=BBC News |access-date=16 June 2023}}</ref> The Conservatives with 36.5% of the vote won the largest number of seats (307), but ], meaning that Labour could still remain in power if they managed to form a coalition with at least one smaller party.<ref name="guardian.co.uk">{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2010/may/07/uk-election-results-data-candidates-seats |title=UK election results: data for every candidate in every seat |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170328091628/https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2010/may/07/uk-election-results-data-candidates-seats |archive-date=28 March 2017 |work=] |location=London |date=7 May 2010}}</ref> However, the Labour Party would have had to form a coalition with more than one other smaller party to gain an overall majority; anything less would result in a minority government.<ref name="Wintour">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/wintour-and-watt/2010/may/07/gordon-brown-rainbow-coalition |title=General election 2010: Can Gordon Brown put together a rainbow coalition? |date=7 May 2010 |work=] |location=London |first=Patrick |last=Wintour |access-date=15 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170328094703/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/wintour-and-watt/2010/may/07/gordon-brown-rainbow-coalition |archive-date=28 March 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> On 10 May 2010, after talks to form a coalition with the ] broke down, Brown announced his intention to stand down as Leader before the Labour Party Conference but a day later resigned as both Prime Minister and party leader.<ref name="The Independent">{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/gordon-brown-to-resign-as-labour-leader-1970273.html |title=Gordon Brown to resign as Labour leader |date=10 May 2010 |work=] |location=London |first1=Trevor |last1=Mason |first2=Jon |last2=Smith |access-date=2 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100513014237/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/gordon-brown-to-resign-as-labour-leader-1970273.html |archive-date=13 May 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> In the ] on 6 May that year, Labour with 29.0% of the vote won the second largest number of seats (258).<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/election2010/results/ |title=Election 2010 results |publisher=BBC News |access-date=16 June 2023 |archive-date=14 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100414102452/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/election2010/results/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The Conservatives with 36.5% of the vote won the largest number of seats (307), but ], meaning that Labour could still remain in power if they managed to form a coalition with at least one smaller party.<ref name="guardian.co.uk">{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2010/may/07/uk-election-results-data-candidates-seats |title=UK election results: data for every candidate in every seat |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170328091628/https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2010/may/07/uk-election-results-data-candidates-seats |archive-date=28 March 2017 |work=] |location=London |date=7 May 2010}}</ref> However, the Labour Party would have had to form a coalition with more than one other smaller party to gain an overall majority; anything less would result in a minority government.<ref name="Wintour">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/wintour-and-watt/2010/may/07/gordon-brown-rainbow-coalition |title=General election 2010: Can Gordon Brown put together a rainbow coalition? |date=7 May 2010 |work=] |location=London |first=Patrick |last=Wintour |access-date=15 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170328094703/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/wintour-and-watt/2010/may/07/gordon-brown-rainbow-coalition |archive-date=28 March 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> On 10 May 2010, after talks to form a coalition with the ] broke down, Brown announced his intention to stand down as Leader before the Labour Party Conference but a day later resigned as both Prime Minister and party leader.<ref name="The Independent">{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/gordon-brown-to-resign-as-labour-leader-1970273.html |title=Gordon Brown to resign as Labour leader |date=10 May 2010 |work=] |location=London |first1=Trevor |last1=Mason |first2=Jon |last2=Smith |access-date=2 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100513014237/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/gordon-brown-to-resign-as-labour-leader-1970273.html |archive-date=13 May 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref>


=== Opposition (2010–2024) === === Opposition (2010–2024) ===
{{see also|Labour Party leadership of Ed Miliband|Labour Party leadership of Jeremy Corbyn}} {{see also|Labour Party leadership of Ed Miliband|Labour Party leadership of Jeremy Corbyn}}
{{further|Shadow Cabinet of Ed Miliband|Shadow Cabinet of Jeremy Corbyn}} {{further|Shadow Cabinet of Ed Miliband|Shadow Cabinet of Jeremy Corbyn}}
], Leader of the Opposition (2010–2015)]] ], Leader of the Opposition (2010–2015)]]
] won the subsequent ].<ref name="Harman made acting Labour leader">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8676333.stm |work=] |title=Harman made acting Labour leader |date=11 May 2010 |access-date=11 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902190645/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8676333.stm |archive-date=2 September 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> Miliband emphasised "responsible capitalism" and greater ] to rebalance the economy away from ].<ref name="Miliband">{{cite web |last=Miliband |first=Ed |author-link=Ed Miliband |title=Building a responsible capitalism |work=Juncture (IPPR) |date=25 May 2012 |url=http://www.ippr.org/junctures/166/9200/building-a-responsible-capitalism |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120526093233/http://www.ippr.org/junctures/166/9200/building-a-responsible-capitalism |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 May 2012 |access-date=5 June 2012}}</ref> He advocated for more regulation of banks and energy companies<ref name="New Statesman">{{Cite news |title=Ed Miliband's Banking Reform Speech: The Full Details |url=http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2014/01/ed-milibands-banking-reform-speech-full-details |work=] |access-date=5 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721052136/http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2014/01/ed-milibands-banking-reform-speech-full-details |archive-date=21 July 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> and often addressed the need to challenge vested interests<ref>{{cite news |title=Ed Miliband: Surcharge culture is fleecing customers |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-16624805 |access-date=5 June 2012 |work=] |date=19 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120122003700/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-16624805 |archive-date=22 January 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> and increase inclusivity in British society.<ref name="The Labour Party">{{cite web |title=Ed Miliband speech on Social Mobility to the Sutton Trust|url=http://www.labour.org.uk/ed-miliband-speech-on-social-mobility-to-the-sutton-trust,2012-05-21 |publisher=The Labour Party |access-date=5 June 2012 |date=21 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120524060329/http://www.labour.org.uk/ed-miliband-speech-on-social-mobility-to-the-sutton-trust,2012-05-21 |archive-date=24 May 2012}}</ref> He adopted the "]" branding in 2012. The ] voted to abolish ] in 2011,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2011/jul/06/labour-abolish-shadow-cabinet-elections |title=Labour MPs vote to abolish shadow cabinet elections |date=6 July 2011 |access-date=26 July 2011 |work=] |last=Neild |first=Barry |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151003224028/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2011/jul/06/labour-abolish-shadow-cabinet-elections |archive-date=3 October 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> ratified by the National Executive Committee and Party Conference. Henceforth the leader of the party chose the ] members.<ref name="bbc-20110926">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-15056108 |title=John Prescott calls for Labour shadow cabinet reshuffle |work=] |date=26 September 2011 |access-date=31 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170906190641/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-15056108 |archive-date=6 September 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> ] won the subsequent ].<ref name="Harman made acting Labour leader">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8676333.stm |work=] |title=Harman made acting Labour leader |date=11 May 2010 |access-date=11 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902190645/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8676333.stm |archive-date=2 September 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> Miliband emphasised "responsible capitalism" and greater ] to rebalance the economy away from ].<ref name="Miliband">{{cite web |last=Miliband |first=Ed |author-link=Ed Miliband |title=Building a responsible capitalism |work=Juncture (IPPR) |date=25 May 2012 |url=http://www.ippr.org/junctures/166/9200/building-a-responsible-capitalism |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120526093233/http://www.ippr.org/junctures/166/9200/building-a-responsible-capitalism |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 May 2012 |access-date=5 June 2012}}</ref> He advocated for more regulation of banks and energy companies<ref name="New Statesman">{{Cite news |title=Ed Miliband's Banking Reform Speech: The Full Details |url=http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2014/01/ed-milibands-banking-reform-speech-full-details |work=] |access-date=5 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721052136/http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2014/01/ed-milibands-banking-reform-speech-full-details |archive-date=21 July 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> and often addressed the need to challenge vested interests<ref>{{cite news |title=Ed Miliband: Surcharge culture is fleecing customers |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-16624805 |access-date=5 June 2012 |work=] |date=19 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120122003700/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-16624805 |archive-date=22 January 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> and increase inclusivity in British society.<ref name="The Labour Party">{{cite web |title=Ed Miliband speech on Social Mobility to the Sutton Trust|url=http://www.labour.org.uk/ed-miliband-speech-on-social-mobility-to-the-sutton-trust,2012-05-21 |publisher=The Labour Party |access-date=5 June 2012 |date=21 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120524060329/http://www.labour.org.uk/ed-miliband-speech-on-social-mobility-to-the-sutton-trust,2012-05-21 |archive-date=24 May 2012}}</ref> He adopted the "]" branding in 2012. The ] voted to abolish ] in 2011,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2011/jul/06/labour-abolish-shadow-cabinet-elections |title=Labour MPs vote to abolish shadow cabinet elections |date=6 July 2011 |access-date=26 July 2011 |work=] |last=Neild |first=Barry |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151003224028/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2011/jul/06/labour-abolish-shadow-cabinet-elections |archive-date=3 October 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> ratified by the National Executive Committee and Party Conference. Henceforth the leader of the party chose the ] members.<ref name="bbc-20110926">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-15056108 |title=John Prescott calls for Labour shadow cabinet reshuffle |work=] |date=26 September 2011 |access-date=31 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170906190641/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-15056108 |archive-date=6 September 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>


Line 218: Line 215:
After the 2015 general election, Miliband resigned as party leader and Harriet Harman again became interim leader.<ref name="edresigns">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/health-32633388 |work=] |title=Labour election results: Ed Miliband resigns as leader |date=8 May 2015 |access-date=8 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150508052003/http://www.bbc.com/news/health-32633388 |archive-date=8 May 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> Labour held a ] in which ], then a member of the ],<ref name="Mason">{{cite news |last=Mason |first=Rowena |title=Labour leadership: Jeremy Corbyn elected with huge mandate |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/sep/12/jeremy-corbyn-wins-labour-party-leadership-election |access-date=12 September 2015 |work=] |location=London |date=12 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150917033507/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/sep/12/jeremy-corbyn-wins-labour-party-leadership-election |archive-date=17 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> was considered a fringe candidate when the contest began, receiving nominations from just 36 MPs, one more than the minimum required to stand, and the support of just 16 MPs.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Eaton |first1=George |title=The epic challenges facing Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader |url=http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2015/09/epic-challenges-facing-jeremy-corbyn-labour-leader |access-date=20 September 2015 |work=] |date=12 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923085835/http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2015/09/epic-challenges-facing-jeremy-corbyn-labour-leader |archive-date=23 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> The Labour Party saw a flood of membership applications during the leadership election, with most of the new members thought to be Corbyn supporters.<ref name=bbc-20150812>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-33892407 |title=Labour leadership: Huge increase in party's electorate |publisher=] |date=12 August 2015 |access-date=15 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150929072843/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-33892407 |archive-date=29 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> Corbyn was elected leader with 60% of the vote. Membership continued to climb after his victory;<ref name="ibtimes">{{cite news |url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/jeremy-corbyn-membership-labour-party-has-doubled-since-2015-general-election-1523171 |title=Jeremy Corbyn: Membership of Labour party has doubled since 2015 general election |work=International Business Times |date=8 October 2015 |access-date=11 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161205131359/http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/jeremy-corbyn-membership-labour-party-has-doubled-since-2015-general-election-1523171 |archive-date=5 December 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> one year later it had grown to more than 500,000, making it the largest political party in Western Europe.<ref name="nytimes">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/25/world/europe/jeremy-corbyn-labour-party-leader.html?_r=0 |title=Jeremy Corbyn Is Re-elected as Leader of Britain's Labour Party |work=] |date=24 September 2016 |access-date=11 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170904012747/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/25/world/europe/jeremy-corbyn-labour-party-leader.html?_r=0 |archive-date=4 September 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> After the 2015 general election, Miliband resigned as party leader and Harriet Harman again became interim leader.<ref name="edresigns">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/health-32633388 |work=] |title=Labour election results: Ed Miliband resigns as leader |date=8 May 2015 |access-date=8 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150508052003/http://www.bbc.com/news/health-32633388 |archive-date=8 May 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> Labour held a ] in which ], then a member of the ],<ref name="Mason">{{cite news |last=Mason |first=Rowena |title=Labour leadership: Jeremy Corbyn elected with huge mandate |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/sep/12/jeremy-corbyn-wins-labour-party-leadership-election |access-date=12 September 2015 |work=] |location=London |date=12 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150917033507/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/sep/12/jeremy-corbyn-wins-labour-party-leadership-election |archive-date=17 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> was considered a fringe candidate when the contest began, receiving nominations from just 36 MPs, one more than the minimum required to stand, and the support of just 16 MPs.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Eaton |first1=George |title=The epic challenges facing Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader |url=http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2015/09/epic-challenges-facing-jeremy-corbyn-labour-leader |access-date=20 September 2015 |work=] |date=12 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923085835/http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2015/09/epic-challenges-facing-jeremy-corbyn-labour-leader |archive-date=23 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> The Labour Party saw a flood of membership applications during the leadership election, with most of the new members thought to be Corbyn supporters.<ref name=bbc-20150812>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-33892407 |title=Labour leadership: Huge increase in party's electorate |publisher=] |date=12 August 2015 |access-date=15 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150929072843/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-33892407 |archive-date=29 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> Corbyn was elected leader with 60% of the vote. Membership continued to climb after his victory;<ref name="ibtimes">{{cite news |url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/jeremy-corbyn-membership-labour-party-has-doubled-since-2015-general-election-1523171 |title=Jeremy Corbyn: Membership of Labour party has doubled since 2015 general election |work=International Business Times |date=8 October 2015 |access-date=11 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161205131359/http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/jeremy-corbyn-membership-labour-party-has-doubled-since-2015-general-election-1523171 |archive-date=5 December 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> one year later it had grown to more than 500,000, making it the largest political party in Western Europe.<ref name="nytimes">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/25/world/europe/jeremy-corbyn-labour-party-leader.html?_r=0 |title=Jeremy Corbyn Is Re-elected as Leader of Britain's Labour Party |work=] |date=24 September 2016 |access-date=11 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170904012747/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/25/world/europe/jeremy-corbyn-labour-party-leader.html?_r=0 |archive-date=4 September 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>


Tensions soon developed in the parliamentary party over Corbyn's leadership, particularly after the ].<ref name="guardian-20160627">{{cite news |last1=Syal |first1=Rajeev |last2=Perraudin |first2=Frances |last3=Slawson |first3=Nicola |date=27 June 2016 |title=Shadow cabinet resignations: who has gone and who is staying |newspaper=] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jun/26/labour-shadow-cabinet-resignations-jeremy-corbyn-who-has-gone |url-status=live |access-date=8 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160722213447/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jun/26/labour-shadow-cabinet-resignations-jeremy-corbyn-who-has-gone |archive-date=22 July 2016}}</ref> Many in the party were angered that Corbyn did not campaign strongly against Brexit;<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Asthana |first1=Anushka |last2=Syal |first2=Rajeev |last3=Elgot |first3=Jessica |date=28 June 2016 |title=Labour MPs prepare for leadership contest after Corbyn loses confidence vote |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jun/28/jeremy-corbyn-loses-labour-mps-confidence-vote |access-date=28 July 2023 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> he had been only a "lukewarm" supporter of remaining in the European Union and refused to join ] in campaigning for the ].<ref>{{Cite web |last=McTague |first=Tom |date=25 June 2016 |title=How David Cameron blew it |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/how-david-cameron-lost-brexit-eu-referendum-prime-minister-campaign-remain-boris-craig-oliver-jim-messina-obama/ |access-date=28 July 2023 |website=Politico |language=en}}</ref> 21 members of the ] resigned after the referendum.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Elgot |first=Jessica |date=27 June 2016 |title=Labour crisis: the most powerful lines from shadow cabinet resignations |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jun/27/most-powerful-lines-labour-shadow-cabinet-resignations |access-date=28 July 2023 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Corbyn lost a ] among Labour MPs by 172–40,<ref name="Elgot">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jun/28/jeremy-corbyn-loses-labour-mps-confidence-vote |title=Jeremy Corbyn suffers heavy loss in Labour MPs confidence vote |newspaper=] |last1=Asthana |first1=Anushka |last2=Elgot |first2=Jessica |last3=Syal |first3=Rajeev |date=28 June 2016 |access-date=28 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160628171010/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jun/28/jeremy-corbyn-loses-labour-mps-confidence-vote |archive-date=28 June 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> triggering a ], which he won decisively with 62% support among Labour party members.<ref name="BBC240916">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-37461219 |title=Labour leadership: Jeremy Corbyn defeats Owen Smith |work=] |date=24 September 2016 |access-date=24 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160924105517/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-37461219 |archive-date=24 September 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> Tensions soon developed in the parliamentary party over Corbyn's leadership, particularly after the ].<ref name="guardian-20160627">{{cite news |last1=Syal |first1=Rajeev |last2=Perraudin |first2=Frances |last3=Slawson |first3=Nicola |date=27 June 2016 |title=Shadow cabinet resignations: who has gone and who is staying |newspaper=] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jun/26/labour-shadow-cabinet-resignations-jeremy-corbyn-who-has-gone |url-status=live |access-date=8 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160722213447/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jun/26/labour-shadow-cabinet-resignations-jeremy-corbyn-who-has-gone |archive-date=22 July 2016}}</ref> Many in the party were angered that Corbyn did not campaign strongly against Brexit;<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Asthana |first1=Anushka |last2=Syal |first2=Rajeev |last3=Elgot |first3=Jessica |date=28 June 2016 |title=Labour MPs prepare for leadership contest after Corbyn loses confidence vote |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jun/28/jeremy-corbyn-loses-labour-mps-confidence-vote |access-date=28 July 2023 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=28 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160628171010/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jun/28/jeremy-corbyn-loses-labour-mps-confidence-vote |url-status=live }}</ref> he had been only a "lukewarm" supporter of remaining in the European Union and refused to join ] in campaigning for the ].<ref>{{Cite web |last=McTague |first=Tom |date=25 June 2016 |title=How David Cameron blew it |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/how-david-cameron-lost-brexit-eu-referendum-prime-minister-campaign-remain-boris-craig-oliver-jim-messina-obama/ |access-date=28 July 2023 |website=Politico |language=en |archive-date=19 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119202218/https://www.politico.eu/article/how-david-cameron-lost-brexit-eu-referendum-prime-minister-campaign-remain-boris-craig-oliver-jim-messina-obama/ |url-status=live }}</ref> 21 members of the ] resigned after the referendum.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Elgot |first=Jessica |date=27 June 2016 |title=Labour crisis: the most powerful lines from shadow cabinet resignations |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jun/27/most-powerful-lines-labour-shadow-cabinet-resignations |access-date=28 July 2023 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Corbyn lost a ] among Labour MPs by 172–40,<ref name="Elgot">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jun/28/jeremy-corbyn-loses-labour-mps-confidence-vote |title=Jeremy Corbyn suffers heavy loss in Labour MPs confidence vote |newspaper=] |last1=Asthana |first1=Anushka |last2=Elgot |first2=Jessica |last3=Syal |first3=Rajeev |date=28 June 2016 |access-date=28 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160628171010/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jun/28/jeremy-corbyn-loses-labour-mps-confidence-vote |archive-date=28 June 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> triggering a ], which he won decisively with 62% support among Labour party members.<ref name="BBC240916">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-37461219 |title=Labour leadership: Jeremy Corbyn defeats Owen Smith |work=] |date=24 September 2016 |access-date=24 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160924105517/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-37461219 |archive-date=24 September 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>


In April 2017, Prime Minister Theresa May called a ] for June 2017.<ref name=":0">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-39628713 |title=Theresa May seeks general election |date=18 April 2017 |work=] |access-date=18 April 2017 |language=en-GB |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815231711/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-39628713 |archive-date=15 August 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> Corbyn resisted pressure from within the Labour Party to call for a referendum on the eventual Brexit deal, instead focusing on healthcare, education and ending austerity.<ref name="nyt230918">{{cite news |last=Castle |first=Stephen |date=23 September 2018 |title=Jeremy Corbyn, at Labour Party Conference, Faces Pressure on New Brexit Vote |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/23/world/europe/uk-labour-party.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191206134404/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/23/world/europe/uk-labour-party.html |archive-date=6 December 2019 |work=]}}</ref> Although Labour started the campaign as far as 20 points behind, it defied expectations by gaining 40% of the vote, its greatest share since ] and the biggest increase in vote share in a single general election since ].<ref name="londoneconomic">{{cite news |last=Griffin |first=Andrew |date=9 June 2017 |title=Corbyn gives Labour biggest vote share increase since 1945 |publisher=The London Economic |url=http://www.thelondoneconomic.com/news/corbyn-gives-labour-biggest-vote-share-increase-since-1945/09/06/ |url-status=live |access-date=10 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170611180523/http://www.thelondoneconomic.com/news/corbyn-gives-labour-biggest-vote-share-increase-since-1945/09/06/ |archive-date=11 June 2017}}</ref> The party gained a net 30 seats with the Conservatives losing their overall majority.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/jun/11/labour-can-win-majority-if-it-pushes-for-new-general-election-within-two-years |title=Labour can win majority if it pushes for new general election within two years |last=Travis |first=Alan |date=11 June 2017 |work=] |access-date=24 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170724002649/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/jun/11/labour-can-win-majority-if-it-pushes-for-new-general-election-within-two-years |archive-date=24 July 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.ft.com/content/60d5a46e-3575-11e7-bce4-9023f8c0fd2e |title=The UK Conservative party's deal with DUP is the easy part |first=James |last=Blitz |website=Financial Times |date=26 June 2017 |access-date=21 June 2024}}</ref> In April 2017, Prime Minister Theresa May called a ] for June 2017.<ref name=":0">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-39628713 |title=Theresa May seeks general election |date=18 April 2017 |work=] |access-date=18 April 2017 |language=en-GB |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815231711/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-39628713 |archive-date=15 August 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> Corbyn resisted pressure from within the Labour Party to call for a referendum on the eventual Brexit deal, instead focusing on healthcare, education and ending austerity.<ref name="nyt230918">{{cite news |last=Castle |first=Stephen |date=23 September 2018 |title=Jeremy Corbyn, at Labour Party Conference, Faces Pressure on New Brexit Vote |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/23/world/europe/uk-labour-party.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191206134404/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/23/world/europe/uk-labour-party.html |archive-date=6 December 2019 |work=]}}</ref> Although Labour started the campaign as far as 20 points behind, it defied expectations by gaining 40% of the vote, its greatest share since ] and the biggest increase in vote share in a single general election since ].<ref name="londoneconomic">{{cite news |last=Griffin |first=Andrew |date=9 June 2017 |title=Corbyn gives Labour biggest vote share increase since 1945 |publisher=The London Economic |url=http://www.thelondoneconomic.com/news/corbyn-gives-labour-biggest-vote-share-increase-since-1945/09/06/ |url-status=live |access-date=10 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170611180523/http://www.thelondoneconomic.com/news/corbyn-gives-labour-biggest-vote-share-increase-since-1945/09/06/ |archive-date=11 June 2017}}</ref> The party gained a net 30 seats with the Conservatives losing their overall majority.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/jun/11/labour-can-win-majority-if-it-pushes-for-new-general-election-within-two-years |title=Labour can win majority if it pushes for new general election within two years |last=Travis |first=Alan |date=11 June 2017 |work=] |access-date=24 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170724002649/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/jun/11/labour-can-win-majority-if-it-pushes-for-new-general-election-within-two-years |archive-date=24 July 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.ft.com/content/60d5a46e-3575-11e7-bce4-9023f8c0fd2e |title=The UK Conservative party's deal with DUP is the easy part |first=James |last=Blitz |website=Financial Times |date=26 June 2017 |access-date=21 June 2024 |archive-date=21 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240621142644/https://www.ft.com/content/60d5a46e-3575-11e7-bce4-9023f8c0fd2e |url-status=live }}</ref>


From 2016, the Labour Party faced criticism for failing to deal with ]. Criticism was also levelled at Corbyn.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-43523445 |title=Jeremy Corbyn regrets comments about 'anti-Semitic' mural |date=23 March 2018 |work=] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213073631/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-43523445 |archive-date=13 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/labour-party/jeremy-corbyn/news/97795/jeremy-corbyn-defends-%E2%80%98zionists-and |title=Jeremy Corbyn defends 'Zionists and English irony' comments |last=Coulter |first=Martin |date=25 August 2019 |website=PoliticsHome |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190622232103/https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/labour-party/jeremy-corbyn/news/97795/jeremy-corbyn-defends-%E2%80%98zionists-and |archive-date=22 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2019/may/01/jeremy-corbyn-rejects-antisemitism-claim-over-book-foreword |title=Jewish leaders demand explanation over Corbyn book foreword |last1=Stewart |first1=Heather |first2=Sarah |last2=Marsh |date=1 May 2019 |website=] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191018063020/https://www.theguardian.com/news/2019/may/01/jeremy-corbyn-rejects-antisemitism-claim-over-book-foreword |archive-date=18 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-45027582 |title=Jeremy Corbyn apologises over 2010 Holocaust event |date=1 August 2018 |website=] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219121209/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-45027582 |archive-date=19 December 2019}}</ref> The ] cleared the party of widespread antisemitism but identified an "occasionally toxic atmosphere".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-36672022 |title=Chakrabarti inquiry: Labour not overrun by anti-Semitism |website=BBC News |date=30 June 2016 |access-date=14 January 2024}}</ref> High-profile party members, including ],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Crerar |first=Pippa |last2= |first2= |date=21 May 2018 |title=Ken Livingstone quits Labour after antisemitism claims |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/may/21/ken-livingstone-quits-labour-after-antisemitism-claims |access-date=29 July 2023 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> ]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ben-David |first=Daniel |date=23 November 2022 |title=Veteran Labour activist Peter Willsman expelled from party |url=https://www.thejc.com/news/politics/veteran-labour-activist-peter-willsman-expelled-from-party-2Mnf01nsnI7Y8JyRsLpLrW |access-date=29 July 2023 |website=]}}</ref> and ],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Speare-Cole |first=Rebecca |date=7 November 2019 |title=Chris Williamson to stand as independent MP after Labour ban |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/general-election-news-latest-chris-williamson-to-stand-as-independent-mp-after-labour-bans-him-from-party-a4280721.html |access-date=29 July 2023 |website=Evening Standard}}</ref> left the party or were suspended over antisemitism-related incidents. In 2018, internal divisions emerged over adopting the IHRA ], with 68 rabbis criticising the leadership.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/jul/16/labour-party-must-listen-to-the-jewish-community-on-defining-antisemitism|title=Labour party must listen to the Jewish community on defining antisemitism|date=16 July 2018|website=The Guardian|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017174506/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/jul/16/labour-party-must-listen-to-the-jewish-community-on-defining-antisemitism|archive-date=17 October 2019}}</ref> The issue was cited by a number of MPs who left the party to set up ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.itv.com/news/granada/2019-02-18/luciana-berger-quits-the-labour-party-over-institutional-anti-semitism/|title=Luciana Berger quits the Labour party over 'institutional anti-semitism'|date=18 February 2019|website=ITV|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191203192558/https://www.itv.com/news/granada/2019-02-18/luciana-berger-quits-the-labour-party-over-institutional-anti-semitism/|archive-date=3 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ephraim-mirvis-what-will-become-of-jews-in-britain-if-labour-forms-the-next-government-ghpsdbljk|title=What will become of Jews in Britain if Labour forms the next government?|last=Mirvis|first=Ephraim|date=25 November 2019|website=The Times|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191128024726/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ephraim-mirvis-what-will-become-of-jews-in-britain-if-labour-forms-the-next-government-ghpsdbljk|archive-date=28 November 2019}}</ref> An investigation by the ] found the party responsible for three Equality Act breaches, including harassment political interference in antisemitism complaints.<ref name="auto">{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-54731222 |title=What does the Labour anti-Semitism report say? |work=] |date=29 October 2020 |access-date=7 December 2020 |archive-date=20 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201120235700/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-54731222 |url-status=live}}</ref> From 2016, the Labour Party faced criticism for failing to deal with ]. Criticism was also levelled at Corbyn.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-43523445 |title=Jeremy Corbyn regrets comments about 'anti-Semitic' mural |date=23 March 2018 |work=] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213073631/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-43523445 |archive-date=13 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/labour-party/jeremy-corbyn/news/97795/jeremy-corbyn-defends-%E2%80%98zionists-and |title=Jeremy Corbyn defends 'Zionists and English irony' comments |last=Coulter |first=Martin |date=25 August 2019 |website=PoliticsHome |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190622232103/https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/labour-party/jeremy-corbyn/news/97795/jeremy-corbyn-defends-%E2%80%98zionists-and |archive-date=22 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2019/may/01/jeremy-corbyn-rejects-antisemitism-claim-over-book-foreword |title=Jewish leaders demand explanation over Corbyn book foreword |last1=Stewart |first1=Heather |first2=Sarah |last2=Marsh |date=1 May 2019 |website=] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191018063020/https://www.theguardian.com/news/2019/may/01/jeremy-corbyn-rejects-antisemitism-claim-over-book-foreword |archive-date=18 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-45027582 |title=Jeremy Corbyn apologises over 2010 Holocaust event |date=1 August 2018 |website=] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219121209/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-45027582 |archive-date=19 December 2019}}</ref> The ] cleared the party of widespread antisemitism, but identified an "occasionally toxic atmosphere".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-36672022 |title=Chakrabarti inquiry: Labour not overrun by anti-Semitism |website=BBC News |date=30 June 2016 |access-date=14 January 2024 |archive-date=30 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630121456/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-36672022 |url-status=live }}</ref> High-profile party members, including ],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Crerar |first=Pippa |last2= |first2= |date=21 May 2018 |title=Ken Livingstone quits Labour after antisemitism claims |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/may/21/ken-livingstone-quits-labour-after-antisemitism-claims |access-date=29 July 2023 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=30 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230730212322/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/may/21/ken-livingstone-quits-labour-after-antisemitism-claims |url-status=live }}</ref> ]<ref name="q481">{{cite web | title=Peter Willsman: Labour suspends NEC member over anti-Semitism remarks | website=BBC News | date=31 May 2019 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-48472977 | access-date=23 September 2024}}</ref> and ],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Speare-Cole |first=Rebecca |date=7 November 2019 |title=Chris Williamson to stand as independent MP after Labour ban |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/general-election-news-latest-chris-williamson-to-stand-as-independent-mp-after-labour-bans-him-from-party-a4280721.html |access-date=29 July 2023 |website=Evening Standard |archive-date=29 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230729093505/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/general-election-news-latest-chris-williamson-to-stand-as-independent-mp-after-labour-bans-him-from-party-a4280721.html |url-status=live }}</ref> left the party or were suspended over antisemitism-related incidents. In 2018, internal divisions emerged over adopting the IHRA ], with those opposed arguing the definition limits ] including criticism of the state of ]. 68 ] criticised the leadership for its stance.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/jul/16/labour-party-must-listen-to-the-jewish-community-on-defining-antisemitism|title=Labour party must listen to the Jewish community on defining antisemitism|date=16 July 2018|website=The Guardian|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017174506/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/jul/16/labour-party-must-listen-to-the-jewish-community-on-defining-antisemitism|archive-date=17 October 2019}}</ref> The issue was cited by a number of Labour MPs who left the party to create ], a new political party made up of ex-Conservative and ex-Labour MPs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.itv.com/news/granada/2019-02-18/luciana-berger-quits-the-labour-party-over-institutional-anti-semitism/|title=Luciana Berger quits the Labour party over 'institutional anti-semitism'|date=18 February 2019|website=ITV|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191203192558/https://www.itv.com/news/granada/2019-02-18/luciana-berger-quits-the-labour-party-over-institutional-anti-semitism/|archive-date=3 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ephraim-mirvis-what-will-become-of-jews-in-britain-if-labour-forms-the-next-government-ghpsdbljk|title=What will become of Jews in Britain if Labour forms the next government?|last=Mirvis|first=Ephraim|date=25 November 2019|website=The Times|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191128024726/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ephraim-mirvis-what-will-become-of-jews-in-britain-if-labour-forms-the-next-government-ghpsdbljk|archive-date=28 November 2019}}</ref>


During the ], Labour campaigned on a manifesto widely considered the most radical in decades, more closely resembling Labour's politics of the 1970s than subsequent decades. These included plans to nationalise the country's biggest energy firms, the National Grid, the water industry, Royal Mail, the railways and the broadband arm of ].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/commentisfree/2016/aug/15/the-parallels-between-jeremy-corbyn-and-michael-foot-are-almost-all-false- |title=The parallels between Jeremy Corbyn and Michael Foot are almost all false |last=Mason |first=Paul |work=] |date=15 August 2016 |access-date=20 December 2019 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403204612/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/commentisfree/2016/aug/15/the-parallels-between-jeremy-corbyn-and-michael-foot-are-almost-all-false |archive-date=3 April 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> The election saw Labour win its lowest number of seats since 1935.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Collier |first=Ian |date=14 December 2019|title=General election: Jeremy Corbyn to quit as Labour leader after disastrous night |url=https://news.sky.com/story/general-election-jeremy-corbyn-to-stand-down-as-labour-leader-after-disastrous-night-11885159 |access-date=19 December 2020 |work=] |archive-date=6 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210106141000/https://news.sky.com/story/general-election-jeremy-corbyn-to-stand-down-as-labour-leader-after-disastrous-night-11885159 |url-status=live}}</ref> Following Labour's defeat in the ] Corbyn announced that he would stand down as leader.<ref>{{cite news |date=13 December 2019 |title=Jeremy Corbyn: 'I will not lead Labour at next election' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2019-50766114 |access-date=17 September 2023 |publisher=BBC News}}</ref> In the ], Labour campaigned on a manifesto widely considered the most radical in decades, more closely resembling Labour's politics of the 1970s than subsequent decades. These included plans to nationalise the country's biggest energy firms, the National Grid, the water industry, Royal Mail, the railways and the broadband arm of ].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/commentisfree/2016/aug/15/the-parallels-between-jeremy-corbyn-and-michael-foot-are-almost-all-false- |title=The parallels between Jeremy Corbyn and Michael Foot are almost all false |last=Mason |first=Paul |work=] |date=15 August 2016 |access-date=20 December 2019 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403204612/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/commentisfree/2016/aug/15/the-parallels-between-jeremy-corbyn-and-michael-foot-are-almost-all-false |archive-date=3 April 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> The election saw Labour win its lowest number of seats since 1935.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Collier |first=Ian |date=14 December 2019|title=General election: Jeremy Corbyn to quit as Labour leader after disastrous night |url=https://news.sky.com/story/general-election-jeremy-corbyn-to-stand-down-as-labour-leader-after-disastrous-night-11885159 |access-date=19 December 2020 |work=] |archive-date=6 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210106141000/https://news.sky.com/story/general-election-jeremy-corbyn-to-stand-down-as-labour-leader-after-disastrous-night-11885159 |url-status=live}}</ref> Following Labour's defeat in the ] Corbyn announced that he would stand down as leader.<ref>{{cite news |date=13 December 2019 |title=Jeremy Corbyn: 'I will not lead Labour at next election' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2019-50766114 |access-date=17 September 2023 |publisher=BBC News |archive-date=14 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191214155812/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2019-50766114 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2020, a report by the ] found the party responsible for three ] breaches, including harassment and political interference in antisemitism complaints, but did not directly implicate Corbyn.<ref name="auto">{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-54731222 |title=What does the Labour anti-Semitism report say? |work=] |date=29 October 2020 |access-date=7 December 2020 |archive-date=20 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201120235700/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-54731222 |url-status=live}}</ref> In response, Corbyn said “One antisemite is one too many, but the scale of the problem was also dramatically overstated for political reasons by our opponents inside and outside the party, as well as by much of the media.”<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jeremy Corbyn rejects overall findings of EHRC report on antisemitism in Labour {{!}} Labour {{!}} The Guardian |url=https://amp.theguardian.com/politics/2020/oct/29/jeremy-corbyn-rejects-findings-of-report-on-antisemitism-in-labour |access-date=2024-12-07 |website=amp.theguardian.com}}</ref> The ] concluded allegations of antisemitism were weaponised by opponents of Corbyn and that hostility towards Corbyn inside the party from his opponents contributed to the party’s ineffective handling of antisemitism complaints and undermined the party’s leader and election campaigns.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-19 |title=Anti-Semitism used as factional weapon within Labour, says report |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-62226042.amp |access-date=2024-12-07 |website=BBC News |language=en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Stewart |first=Heather |last2=Elgot |first2=Jessica |date=2022-07-19 |title=Key takeaways from the Forde report on Labour factionalism |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/jul/19/key-takeaways-forde-report-labour-factionalism |access-date=2024-12-07 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Forde |first=Martin |title=The Forde Report |url=https://labour.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/The-Forde-Report.pdf |journal=The Forde Report}}</ref>


=== Return to government (2024–present) === === Return to government (2024–present) ===
{{Main|Premiership of Keir Starmer|Starmer ministry}}], Prime Minister (2024–present)]] {{Main|Premiership of Keir Starmer|Starmer ministry}}], Prime Minister (2024–present)]]
On 4 April 2020, ] was elected as Leader of the Labour Party amidst the ].<ref>{{Cite news |date=4 April 2020 |title=Keir Starmer elected as new Labour leader |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-52164589 |url-status=live |access-date=4 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200425080229/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-52164589 |archive-date=25 April 2020}}</ref> During ], Starmer repositioned the party from the ] toward the ] and ], and emphasised the importance of eliminating ]. Starmer led Labour to victory in the local elections in ] and ]. In 2023, Starmer set out five missions for ], targeting issues such as economic growth, health, clean energy, crime and education.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Mason |first1=Chris |last2=Whannel |first2=Kate |date=23 February 2023 |title=Keir Starmer unveils Labour's five missions for the country |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-64739371 |access-date=5 July 2024 |work=]}}</ref> On 4 April 2020, ] was elected as Leader of the Labour Party amidst the ].<ref>{{Cite news |date=4 April 2020 |title=Keir Starmer elected as new Labour leader |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-52164589 |url-status=live |access-date=4 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200425080229/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-52164589 |archive-date=25 April 2020}}</ref> During ], Starmer repositioned the party from the ] toward the ], and emphasised the importance of eliminating ]. Starmer led Labour to victory in the local elections in ] and ]. In 2023, Starmer set out five missions for ], targeting issues such as economic growth, health, clean energy, crime and education.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Mason |first1=Chris |last2=Whannel |first2=Kate |date=23 February 2023 |title=Keir Starmer unveils Labour's five missions for the country |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-64739371 |access-date=5 July 2024 |work=] |archive-date=7 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240707072442/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-64739371 |url-status=live}}</ref>


During the ], Labour maintained a strong poll lead, with ] focusing on on economic growth, planning system reform, infrastructure, clean energy, healthcare, education, childcare, constitutional reform, and strengthening workers' rights.<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 May 2024 |title=Labour manifesto 2024: Find out how Labour will get Britain's future back |url=https://labour.org.uk/updates/stories/labour-manifesto-2024-sign-up/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240613141625/https://labour.org.uk/updates/stories/labour-manifesto-2024-sign-up/ |archive-date=13 June 2024 |access-date=12 June 2024 |website=The Labour Party}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |title=Labour Party Manifesto 2024 |url=https://labour.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Labour-Party-manifesto-2024.pdf |journal=Labour Party Manifesto 2024}}</ref> It pledged a new ] to achieve ] by 2030, a "Green Prosperity Plan", reducing patient waiting times and <nowiki>''rebuilding the NHS''</nowiki>, reforming public services, public ownership of the ] and local bus services.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reid |first=Jenni |date=13 June 2024 |title=Britain's Labour Party pledges 'wealth creation' as it targets landslide election victory |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2024/06/13/uk-general-election-2024-labour-publishes-manifesto-.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240613173116/https://www.cnbc.com/2024/06/13/uk-general-election-2024-labour-publishes-manifesto-.html |archive-date=13 June 2024 |access-date=13 June 2024 |website=CNBC |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=13 June 2024 |title=Starmer launches Labour's pro-business, pro-worker manifesto with £7.35bn of new taxes |url=https://nz.news.yahoo.com/starmer-hopes-labour-pro-business-103304717.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240613173115/https://nz.news.yahoo.com/starmer-hopes-labour-pro-business-103304717.html |archive-date=13 June 2024 |access-date=13 June 2024 |website=Yahoo News}}</ref> The manifesto also pledged to give votes to 16 year olds, reform the ], and to tax private schools.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mason |first=Rowena |date=13 June 2024 |title=Change and growth: five key takeaways from the Labour manifesto launch |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/jun/13/change-and-growth-five-key-takeaways-from-the-labour-manifesto-launch |access-date=13 June 2024 |work=The Guardian |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Gibbons |first1=Amy |last2=Sigsworth |first2=Tim |date=16 May 2024 |title=Labour Party manifesto 2024: Keir Starmer's election promises |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/0/labour-party-pledges-manifesto-general-election-voters/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240706003421/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/07/05/labour-party-pledges-manifesto-general-election-voters/ |archive-date=6 July 2024 |access-date=13 June 2024 |work=The Telegraph |issn=0307-1235}}</ref> During the ], Labour maintained a strong poll lead, with ] focusing on economic growth, planning system reform, infrastructure, clean energy, healthcare, education, childcare, constitutional reform, and strengthening workers' rights.<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 May 2024 |title=Labour manifesto 2024: Find out how Labour will get Britain's future back |url=https://labour.org.uk/updates/stories/labour-manifesto-2024-sign-up/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240613141625/https://labour.org.uk/updates/stories/labour-manifesto-2024-sign-up/ |archive-date=13 June 2024 |access-date=12 June 2024 |website=The Labour Party}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |title=Labour Party Manifesto 2024 |url=https://labour.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Labour-Party-manifesto-2024.pdf |journal=Labour Party Manifesto 2024 |access-date=13 June 2024 |archive-date=14 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240614003615/https://labour.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Labour-Party-manifesto-2024.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> It pledged a new ] to achieve ] by 2030, a "Green Prosperity Plan", reducing patient waiting times and "rebuilding the NHS", reforming public services, and public ownership of the ] and local bus services.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reid |first=Jenni |date=13 June 2024 |title=Britain's Labour Party pledges 'wealth creation' as it targets landslide election victory |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2024/06/13/uk-general-election-2024-labour-publishes-manifesto-.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240613173116/https://www.cnbc.com/2024/06/13/uk-general-election-2024-labour-publishes-manifesto-.html |archive-date=13 June 2024 |access-date=13 June 2024 |website=CNBC |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=13 June 2024 |title=Starmer launches Labour's pro-business, pro-worker manifesto with £7.35bn of new taxes |url=https://nz.news.yahoo.com/starmer-hopes-labour-pro-business-103304717.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240613173115/https://nz.news.yahoo.com/starmer-hopes-labour-pro-business-103304717.html |archive-date=13 June 2024 |access-date=13 June 2024 |website=Yahoo News}}</ref> The manifesto also pledged to give votes to 16 year olds, reform the ], and to tax private schools, with money generated going into improving state education.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mason |first=Rowena |date=13 June 2024 |title=Change and growth: five key takeaways from the Labour manifesto launch |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/jun/13/change-and-growth-five-key-takeaways-from-the-labour-manifesto-launch |access-date=13 June 2024 |work=The Guardian |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Gibbons |first1=Amy |last2=Sigsworth |first2=Tim |date=16 May 2024 |title=Labour Party manifesto 2024: Keir Starmer's election promises |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/0/labour-party-pledges-manifesto-general-election-voters/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240706003421/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/07/05/labour-party-pledges-manifesto-general-election-voters/ |archive-date=6 July 2024 |access-date=13 June 2024 |work=The Telegraph |issn=0307-1235}}</ref>


Starmer led Labour to a landslide victory with a majority of 174, ending fourteen years of Conservative government with Labour becoming the largest party in the ].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4nglegege1o |title=General election 2024 in maps and charts |website=BBC News |date=6 July 2024 |access-date=8 July 2024}}</ref><ref name=":112">{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Faye |date=5 July 2024 |title='Change begins now', Starmer says - as Labour win historic landslide |url=https://news.sky.com/story/the-labour-party-has-won-this-general-election-sunak-concedes-defeat-13162921 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240705091108/https://news.sky.com/story/the-labour-party-has-won-this-general-election-sunak-concedes-defeat-13162921 |archive-date=5 July 2024 |access-date=5 July 2024 |website=]}}</ref> He succeeded ] as prime minister on 5 July 2024, becoming the first Labour prime minister since Gordon Brown in 2010 and the first one to win a general election since Tony Blair in ].<ref name=":12">{{Cite news |last=Mason |first=Rowena |date=5 July 2024 |title=Keir Starmer promises 'stability and moderation' in first speech as PM |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/jul/05/keir-starmer-first-speech-prime-minister-pm-labour-downing-street |access-date=5 July 2024 |work=] |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> One of Starmer's first cabinet appointments was ] as Chancellor, which made her the first woman to hold the office.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-07-05 |title=Rachel Reeves Goes for Growth as UK's First Female Chancellor |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-07-05/rachel-reeves-goes-for-growth-as-uk-s-first-female-chancellor |access-date=2024-07-05 |work=Bloomberg.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-08 |title=Rachel Reeves: First female chancellor a 'game-changer' says MP |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cnl05pyw8yjo |access-date=2024-07-09 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> The ] outlined 39 pieces of legislation that Labour proposed, including ] to ], strengthen the rights of workers, and to give areas of England ].<ref name="Growth2">{{Cite web |date=17 July 2024 |title=Starmer pledges growth with building and rail reforms |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c903d09jwk7o |accessdate=17 July 2024 |website=BBC News |publisher=BBC}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-15 |title=Key points in King's Speech at a glance |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c51y7pqy1v3o |access-date=2024-07-25 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>{{clear}}<!--This section is meant to be just a summary. Please do not add too much detail&nbsp;– the "History of the Labour Party (UK)" article is intended for detailed additions--> Starmer led Labour to a landslide victory with a majority of 174, with a popular vote share of 33.7%,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4nglegege1o |title=General election 2024 in maps and charts |website=BBC News |date=6 July 2024 |access-date=8 July 2024 |archive-date=8 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240708035327/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4nglegege1o |url-status=live }}</ref> ending fourteen years of Conservative government with Labour becoming the largest party in the ].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4nglegege1o |title=General election 2024 in maps and charts |website=BBC News |date=6 July 2024 |access-date=8 July 2024 |archive-date=8 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240708035327/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4nglegege1o |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":112">{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Faye |date=5 July 2024 |title='Change begins now', Starmer says - as Labour win historic landslide |url=https://news.sky.com/story/the-labour-party-has-won-this-general-election-sunak-concedes-defeat-13162921 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240705091108/https://news.sky.com/story/the-labour-party-has-won-this-general-election-sunak-concedes-defeat-13162921 |archive-date=5 July 2024 |access-date=5 July 2024 |website=]}}</ref> He succeeded ] as prime minister on 5 July 2024, becoming the first Labour prime minister since Gordon Brown in 2010 and the first one to win a general election since Tony Blair in ].<ref name=":12">{{Cite news |last=Mason |first=Rowena |date=5 July 2024 |title=Keir Starmer promises 'stability and moderation' in first speech as PM |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/jul/05/keir-starmer-first-speech-prime-minister-pm-labour-downing-street |access-date=5 July 2024 |work=] |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=7 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240707072441/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/jul/05/keir-starmer-first-speech-prime-minister-pm-labour-downing-street |url-status=live }}</ref> One of Starmer's first cabinet appointments was ] as Chancellor, which made her the first woman to hold the office.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-07-05 |title=Rachel Reeves Goes for Growth as UK's First Female Chancellor |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-07-05/rachel-reeves-goes-for-growth-as-uk-s-first-female-chancellor |access-date=2024-07-05 |work=Bloomberg.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-08 |title=Rachel Reeves: First female chancellor a 'game-changer' says MP |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cnl05pyw8yjo |access-date=2024-07-09 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB |archive-date=9 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240709134404/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cnl05pyw8yjo |url-status=live }}</ref> The ] outlined 39 pieces of legislation that Labour proposed, including ] to ], strengthen the rights of workers, and to give areas of England ].<ref name="Growth2">{{Cite web |date=17 July 2024 |title=Starmer pledges growth with building and rail reforms |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c903d09jwk7o |accessdate=17 July 2024 |website=BBC News |publisher=BBC |archive-date=31 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240831053821/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c903d09jwk7o |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-15 |title=Key points in King's Speech at a glance |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c51y7pqy1v3o |access-date=2024-07-25 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB |archive-date=29 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240829120054/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c51y7pqy1v3o |url-status=live }}</ref>{{clear}}<!--This section is meant to be just a summary. Please do not add too much detail&nbsp;– the "History of the Labour Party (UK)" article is intended for detailed additions-->


== Ideology == == Ideology ==
{{Socialism in the UK}}
Labour sits on the ] of the political spectrum.{{refn|<ref name="auto1"/><ref name="auto2">{{cite web |title=Europe's Center-Left Can Learn a Lot From Scholz, Sanchez and Starmer |date=20 September 2023 |url=https://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/spain-sanchez-scholz-germany/ |publisher=]}}</ref><ref name="auto4"/><ref name="auto3"/>{{sfn|Budge|2008|pp=26–27|ps=.{{verify source|date=January 2016}}}}}} It was formed to provide political representation for the ] at ]. The Labour Party gained a socialist commitment with the party constitution of 1918, ] of which called for the "common ownership", or ], of the "means of production, distribution and exchange". Although about a third of British industry was taken into public ownership after the Second World War and remained so until the 1980s, the right of the party were questioning the validity of expanding on this by the late 1950s. Influenced by ]'s book '']'' (1956), the circle around party leader ] felt that the commitment was no longer necessary. An attempt to remove Clause IV from the party constitution in 1959 failed, ] and New Labour "modernisers" were successful in doing so 35 years later.<ref name="historytoday.com">Martin Daunton {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721122126/http://www.historytoday.com/martin-daunton/labour-party-and-clause-four-1918-1995 |date=21 July 2015 }}, ''History Review 1995'' (''History Today'' website)</ref><ref>Philip Gould ''The Unfinished Revolution: How New Labour Changed British Politics Forever'', London: Hachette digital edition, 2011, p.30 (originally published by Little, Brown, 1998)</ref><ref name="independent.co.uk">John Rentoul {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170908021337/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/defining-moment-as-blair-wins-backing-for-clause-iv-1611135.html |date=8 September 2017 }}, '']'', 14 March 1995.</ref> Labour sits on the ] of the political spectrum.{{refn|<ref name="auto1">{{cite web |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2024/07/04/europe/uk-election-europe-populist-surge-intl/index.html |title=As Europe turns right, why has a center-left party won by a landslide in the UK? |publisher=] |first=Luke |last=McGee |date=5 July 2024 |access-date=8 July 2024 |archive-date=5 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240705023128/https://edition.cnn.com/2024/07/04/europe/uk-election-europe-populist-surge-intl/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="auto2">{{cite web |title=Europe's Center-Left Can Learn a Lot From Scholz, Sanchez and Starmer |date=20 September 2023 |url=https://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/spain-sanchez-scholz-germany/ |publisher=] |access-date=8 July 2024 |archive-date=8 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240708184116/https://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/spain-sanchez-scholz-germany/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="auto4"/><ref name="auto3"/>{{sfn|Budge|2008|pp=26–27|}}}} It was formed to provide political representation for the ] in Parliament. The Labour Party gained a socialist commitment with the party constitution of 1918, ] of which called for the "common ownership", or ], of the "means of production, distribution and exchange". Although about a third of British industry was taken into public ownership after the Second World War and remained so until the 1980s, the right of the party was questioning the validity of expanding on this by the late 1950s. Influenced by ]'s book '']'' (1956), the circle around party leader ] felt that the commitment was no longer necessary. An attempt to remove Clause IV from the party constitution in 1959 failed; Tony Blair and New Labour "modernisers" were successful in removing Clause IV in 1994.<ref name="historytoday.com">Martin Daunton {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721122126/http://www.historytoday.com/martin-daunton/labour-party-and-clause-four-1918-1995 |date=21 July 2015 }}, ''History Review 1995'' (''History Today'' website)</ref><ref>Philip Gould ''The Unfinished Revolution: How New Labour Changed British Politics Forever'', London: Hachette digital edition, 2011, p.30 (originally published by Little, Brown, 1998)</ref><ref name="independent.co.uk">John Rentoul {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170908021337/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/defining-moment-as-blair-wins-backing-for-clause-iv-1611135.html |date=8 September 2017 }}, '']'', 14 March 1995.</ref>


Historically influenced by ], the party favoured ] in the economy and the ] of wealth. Taxation was seen as a means to achieve a "major redistribution of wealth and income" in the October 1974 election manifesto.{{sfn|Lund|2006|p=111}} The party also desired increased rights for workers and a ] including publicly funded healthcare. From the late-1980s onwards, the party adopted ] policies,<ref name="mulholland1">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2011/apr/07/labour-pro-business-ed-miliband |location=London |work=] |first=Helene |last=Mulholland |title=Labour will continue to be pro-business, says Ed Miliband |date=7 April 2011 |access-date=15 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170328104934/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2011/apr/07/labour-pro-business-ed-miliband |archive-date=28 March 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> leading many observers to describe the Labour Party as ] or the ], rather than democratic socialist.{{sfnm|1a1=Hay|1y=2002|1pp=114–115|2a1=Hopkin|2a2=Wincott|2y=2006|3a1=Jessop|3y=2004|4a1=McAnulla|4y=2006|4pp=118, 127, 133, 141|5a1=Merkel|5a2=Petring|5a3=Henkes|5a4=Egle|5y=2008|5pp=4, 25–26, 40, 66}} Other commentators go further and argue that traditional social democratic parties across Europe, including the British Labour Party, have been so deeply transformed in recent years that it is no longer possible to describe them ideologically as "social democratic",<ref name="Lavelle 2008">{{cite book |title=The Death of Social Democracy, Political Consequences for the 21st Century |last=Lavelle |first=Ashley |year=2008 |publisher=]}}</ref> and that this ideological shift has put new strains on the Labour Party's traditional relationship with the trade unions.{{sfnm|1a1=Daniels|1a2=McIlroy|1y=2009|2a1=McIlroy|2y=2011|3a1=Smith|3y=2009|4a1=Smith|4a2=Morton|4y=2006}} Within the party, differentiation was made between the social democratic and the ] wings of the party, the latter often subscribed to a radical socialist, even ], ideology.{{sfn|Crines|2011|p=161}}<ref name="What's left of the Labour left">{{cite web |title=What's left of the Labour left? |url=http://www.totalpolitics.com/print/161892/whats-left-of-the-labour-left.thtml |publisher=Total Politics |access-date=6 May 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150821005801/http://www.totalpolitics.com/print/161892/whats-left-of-the-labour-left.thtml |archive-date=21 August 2015}}</ref> Historically influenced by ], the party favoured ] in the economy and the ] of wealth. Taxation was seen as a means to achieve a "major redistribution of wealth and income" in the October 1974 election manifesto.{{sfn|Lund|2006|p=111}} The party also desired increased rights for workers and a ], including publicly funded healthcare. From the late-1980s onwards, the party adopted ] policies,<ref name="mulholland1">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2011/apr/07/labour-pro-business-ed-miliband |location=London |work=] |first=Helene |last=Mulholland |title=Labour will continue to be pro-business, says Ed Miliband |date=7 April 2011 |access-date=15 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170328104934/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2011/apr/07/labour-pro-business-ed-miliband |archive-date=28 March 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> leading many observers to describe the Labour Party as ] or the ], rather than democratic socialist.{{sfnm|1a1=Hay|1y=2002|1pp=114–115|2a1=Hopkin|2a2=Wincott|2y=2006|3a1=Jessop|3y=2004|4a1=McAnulla|4y=2006|4pp=118, 127, 133, 141|5a1=Merkel|5a2=Petring|5a3=Henkes|5a4=Egle|5y=2008|5pp=4, 25–26, 40, 66}} Other commentators go further and argue that traditional social democratic parties across Europe, including the British Labour Party, have been so deeply transformed in recent years that it is no longer possible to describe them ideologically as "social democratic",<ref name="Lavelle 2008">{{cite book |title=The Death of Social Democracy, Political Consequences for the 21st Century |last=Lavelle |first=Ashley |year=2008 |publisher=]}}</ref> and that this ideological shift has put new strains on the Labour Party's traditional relationship with the trade unions.{{sfnm|1a1=Daniels|1a2=McIlroy|1y=2009|2a1=McIlroy|2y=2011|3a1=Smith|3y=2009|4a1=Smith|4a2=Morton|4y=2006}} Within the party, differentiation was made between the social democratic and the ] wings of the party, the latter often subscribed to a radical socialist, even ], ideology.{{sfn|Crines|2011|p=161}}<ref name="What's left of the Labour left">{{cite web |title=What's left of the Labour left? |url=http://www.totalpolitics.com/print/161892/whats-left-of-the-labour-left.thtml |publisher=Total Politics |access-date=6 May 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150821005801/http://www.totalpolitics.com/print/161892/whats-left-of-the-labour-left.thtml |archive-date=21 August 2015}}</ref>


While affirming a commitment to ],<ref name="constitution"/><ref name=hww>{{cite web |url=http://www.labour.org.uk/how_we_work |title=How we work – How the party works |publisher=Labour Party |access-date=31 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130606111421/http://www.labour.org.uk/how_we_work |archive-date=6 June 2013}}</ref> the new version of Clause IV no longer definitely commits the party to public ownership of industry and in its place advocates "the enterprise of the market and the rigour of competition" along with "high quality public services either owned by the public or accountable to them".<ref name="constitution"/> MPs in the ] and the ] see themselves as standard bearers for the radical socialist tradition in contrast to the democratic socialist tradition represented by organisations such as ] and the magazine '']''.<ref name="labourlist.org">{{cite web |last1=Akehurst |first1=Luke |title=Compass and Progress: A tale of two groupings |url=http://labourlist.org/2011/03/compass-and-progress-a-tale-of-two-groupings/ |website=] |access-date=6 May 2015 |date=14 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150706111123/http://labourlist.org/2011/03/compass-and-progress-a-tale-of-two-groupings/ |archive-date=6 July 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> The group ], founded in 1996, represents the centrist position in the party and was opposed to the Corbyn leadership.<ref name="progress-20170302">{{cite news |url=http://www.progressonline.org.uk/2017/03/02/the-problem-is-politics-not-pr/ |title=The problem is politics, not PR |last=Angell |first=Richard |publisher=Progress Online |date=2 March 2017 |access-date=26 July 2017 |quote=few come more 'militant anti-Corbyn' than I |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170917150807/http://www.progressonline.org.uk/2017/03/02/the-problem-is-politics-not-pr/ |archive-date=17 September 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="progress-20170720">{{cite web |url=http://www.progressonline.org.uk/2017/07/20/what-would-jeremy-do/ |title=What would Jeremy do? |publisher=Progress Online |date=20 July 2017 |access-date=24 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808155205/http://www.progressonline.org.uk/2017/07/20/what-would-jeremy-do/ |archive-date=8 August 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2015, ] was created by ] as a grass-roots left-wing organisation following ]'s election as party leader. Rather than organising among the ], Momentum is a rank and file grouping with an estimated 40,000 members.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/momentum-membership-jeremy-corbyn-green-party-40000-labour-nec-jon-lansman-a8286706.html |title=Momentum: Corbyn-backing organisation now has 40,000 paying members, overtaking Green Party |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180405024730/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/momentum-membership-jeremy-corbyn-green-party-40000-labour-nec-jon-lansman-a8286706.html |archive-date=5 April 2018 |work=] |first=Ashley |last=Cowburn |date=4 April 2018 |access-date=11 April 2018}}</ref> The party also has a ] faction, the ] society.<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 May 2009 |title=Christian Socialist Movement : Labour party affiliation |url=http://www.thecsm.org.uk/Groups/87275/Christian_Socialist_Movement/About_CSM/Labour_party_affiliation/Labour_party_affiliation.aspx |access-date=8 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090503012029/http://www.thecsm.org.uk/Groups/87275/Christian_Socialist_Movement/About_CSM/Labour_party_affiliation/Labour_party_affiliation.aspx |archive-date=3 May 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |editor-first=Thomas |editor-last=Kurian |title=The Encyclopedia of Political Science |publisher=CQ Press |location=Washington D.C. |date=2011 |page=1555}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Routledge |first=Paul |date=22 May 1994 |title=Labour revives faith in Christian Socialism |work=] on Sunday}}</ref> While affirming a commitment to ],<ref name="constitution"/><ref name=hww>{{cite web |url=http://www.labour.org.uk/how_we_work |title=How we work – How the party works |publisher=Labour Party |access-date=31 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130606111421/http://www.labour.org.uk/how_we_work |archive-date=6 June 2013}}</ref> the new version of Clause IV no longer definitely commits the party to public ownership of industry and in its place advocates "the enterprise of the market and the rigour of competition" along with "high quality public services either owned by the public or accountable to them".<ref name="constitution"/> MPs in the ] and the ] see themselves as standard bearers for the radical socialist tradition in contrast to the democratic socialist tradition represented by organisations such as ] and the magazine '']''.<ref name="labourlist.org">{{cite web |last1=Akehurst |first1=Luke |title=Compass and Progress: A tale of two groupings |url=http://labourlist.org/2011/03/compass-and-progress-a-tale-of-two-groupings/ |website=] |access-date=6 May 2015 |date=14 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150706111123/http://labourlist.org/2011/03/compass-and-progress-a-tale-of-two-groupings/ |archive-date=6 July 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> The group ], founded in 1996, represents the centrist position in the party and was opposed to the Corbyn leadership.<ref name="progress-20170302">{{cite news |url=http://www.progressonline.org.uk/2017/03/02/the-problem-is-politics-not-pr/ |title=The problem is politics, not PR |last=Angell |first=Richard |publisher=Progress Online |date=2 March 2017 |access-date=26 July 2017 |quote=few come more 'militant anti-Corbyn' than I |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170917150807/http://www.progressonline.org.uk/2017/03/02/the-problem-is-politics-not-pr/ |archive-date=17 September 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="progress-20170720">{{cite web |url=http://www.progressonline.org.uk/2017/07/20/what-would-jeremy-do/ |title=What would Jeremy do? |publisher=Progress Online |date=20 July 2017 |access-date=24 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808155205/http://www.progressonline.org.uk/2017/07/20/what-would-jeremy-do/ |archive-date=8 August 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2015, ] was created by ] as a grass-roots left-wing organisation following ]'s election as party leader. Rather than organising among the ], Momentum is a rank-and-file grouping with an estimated 40,000 members.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/momentum-membership-jeremy-corbyn-green-party-40000-labour-nec-jon-lansman-a8286706.html |title=Momentum: Corbyn-backing organisation now has 40,000 paying members, overtaking Green Party |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180405024730/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/momentum-membership-jeremy-corbyn-green-party-40000-labour-nec-jon-lansman-a8286706.html |archive-date=5 April 2018 |work=] |first=Ashley |last=Cowburn |date=4 April 2018 |access-date=11 April 2018}}</ref> The party also has a ] faction, the ] society.<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 May 2009 |title=Christian Socialist Movement: Labour party affiliation |url=http://www.thecsm.org.uk/Groups/87275/Christian_Socialist_Movement/About_CSM/Labour_party_affiliation/Labour_party_affiliation.aspx |access-date=8 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090503012029/http://www.thecsm.org.uk/Groups/87275/Christian_Socialist_Movement/About_CSM/Labour_party_affiliation/Labour_party_affiliation.aspx |archive-date=3 May 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |editor-first=Thomas |editor-last=Kurian |title=The Encyclopedia of Political Science |publisher=CQ Press |location=Washington D.C. |date=2011 |page=1555}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Routledge |first=Paul |date=22 May 1994 |title=Labour revives faith in Christian Socialism |work=] on Sunday}}</ref>


=== Symbols === === Symbols ===
Labour has long been identified with red, a ] traditionally affiliated with socialism and the ]. Prior to the red flag logo, the party had used a modified version of the classic 1924 shovel, torch and quill emblem. In 1924 a brand conscious Labour leadership had devised a competition, inviting supporters to design a logo to replace the 'polo mint' like motif that had previously appeared on party literature. The winning entry, emblazoned with the word "Liberty" over a design incorporating a torch, shovel and quill symbol, was popularised through its sale, in badge form, for a shilling. The party conference in 1931 passed a motion "That this conference adopts Party Colours, which should be uniform throughout the country, colours to be red and gold".<ref name="ReferenceA">"Labour Party Annual Conference Report", 1931, p. 233.</ref> During the New Labour period, the colour purple was also used, and the party has employed other colours in certain areas according to local tradition.<ref>{{Cite news |date=3 May 2015 |title=The seats where Tories weren't blue and Labour wasn't red |language=en-GB |work=] |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-32510493 |access-date=2 July 2023 |archive-url= |archive-date=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Abrams |first=Fran |date=20 April 1997 |title=Election '97: Labour go from red to purple |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/election-97-labour-go-from-red-to-purple-1268462.html |access-date=2 July 2023 |work=] |language=en |archive-url= |archive-date=}}</ref> Labour has long been identified with red, a ] traditionally affiliated with socialism and the ]. Prior to the red flag logo, the party had used a modified version of the classic 1924 shovel, torch, and quill emblem. In 1924, a brand-conscious Labour leadership had devised a competition, inviting supporters to design a logo to replace the 'polo mint' like motif that had previously appeared in party literature. The winning entry, emblazoned with the word "Liberty" over a design incorporating a torch, shovel, and quill symbol, was popularised through its sale, in badge form, for a shilling. The party conference in 1931 passed a motion "That this conference adopts Party Colours, which should be uniform throughout the country, colours to be red and gold".<ref name="ReferenceA">"Labour Party Annual Conference Report", 1931, p. 233.</ref> During the New Labour period, the colour purple was also used, and the party has employed other colours in certain areas according to local tradition.<ref>{{Cite news |date=3 May 2015 |title=The seats where Tories weren't blue and Labour wasn't red |language=en-GB |work=] |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-32510493 |access-date=2 July 2023 |archive-date=2 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230702094333/https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-32510493 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Abrams |first=Fran |date=20 April 1997 |title=Election '97: Labour go from red to purple |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/election-97-labour-go-from-red-to-purple-1268462.html |access-date=2 July 2023 |work=] |language=en |archive-date=2 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230702094336/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/election-97-labour-go-from-red-to-purple-1268462.html |url-status=live }}</ref>


], originally the official flag and symbol of the Labour Party.]] ], originally the official flag and symbol of the Labour Party.]]
Since the party's inception, the ] has been Labour's official symbol; the flag has been associated with socialism and revolution ever since the 1789 ] and the ]. The ], a symbol of socialism and social democracy, was adopted as the party symbol in 1986 as part of a rebranding exercise and is now incorporated into the party logo.<ref name="The Telegraph">{{cite news |title=The long and the short about Labour's red rose |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/4263355/The-long-and-the-short-about-Labours-red-rose.html |access-date=31 August 2014 |work=] |location=London |date=26 June 2001 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903182029/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/4263355/The-long-and-the-short-about-Labours-red-rose.html |archive-date=3 September 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> Since the party's inception, the ] has been Labour's official symbol; the flag has been associated with socialism and revolution ever since the 1789 ] and the ]. The ], a symbol of socialism and social democracy, was adopted as the party symbol in 1986 as part of a rebranding exercise and is now incorporated into the party logo.<ref name="The Telegraph">{{cite news |title=The long and the short about Labour's red rose |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/4263355/The-long-and-the-short-about-Labours-red-rose.html |access-date=31 August 2014 |work=] |location=London |date=26 June 2001 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903182029/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/4263355/The-long-and-the-short-about-Labours-red-rose.html |archive-date=3 September 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>


The red flag became an inspiration which resulted in the composition of "]", the official party anthem since its inception, being sung at the end of party conferences and on various occasions such as in Parliament in February 2006 to mark the centenary of the Labour Party's founding. It still remains in use, although attempts were made to play down the role of the song during New Labour.<ref name="bbc">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12759902 |work=] |first=Helen |last=Grady |title=Blue Labour: Party's radical answer to the Big Society? |date=21 March 2011 |access-date=20 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180915233157/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12759902 |archive-date=15 September 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Hoggart">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2007/sep/28/labourconference.politicalcolumnists |title=Red Flag rises above a dodgy future |first=Simon |last=Hoggart |author-link=Simon Hoggart |work=] |location=London |date=28 September 2007 |access-date=21 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002143642/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2007/sep/28/labourconference.politicalcolumnists |archive-date=2 October 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> The song "]", based on a ] poem, is also traditionally sung at the end of party conferences with The Red Flag.<ref name="Telegraph.co.uk">{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/labour/8796628/Ed-Miliband-sings-The-Red-Flag-and-Jerusalem-at-the-Labour-Party-Conference.html |title=Video: Ed Miliband sings The Red Flag and Jerusalem at the Labour Party Conference |date=29 September 2011 |work=] |location=London |access-date=2 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909073707/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/labour/8796628/Ed-Miliband-sings-The-Red-Flag-and-Jerusalem-at-the-Labour-Party-Conference.html |archive-date=9 September 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=19 September 2022 |title=Labour conference: National Anthem to open event |language=en-GB |work=] |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-62960726 |access-date=2 July 2023 |archive-url= |archive-date=}}</ref> The red flag became an inspiration, which resulted in the composition of "]", the official party anthem since its inception, being sung at the end of party conferences and on various occasions such as in Parliament in February 2006 to mark the centenary of the Labour Party's founding. It still remains in use, although attempts were made to play down the role of the song during New Labour.<ref name="bbc">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12759902 |work=] |first=Helen |last=Grady |title=Blue Labour: Party's radical answer to the Big Society? |date=21 March 2011 |access-date=20 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180915233157/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12759902 |archive-date=15 September 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Hoggart">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2007/sep/28/labourconference.politicalcolumnists |title=Red Flag rises above a dodgy future |first=Simon |last=Hoggart |author-link=Simon Hoggart |work=] |location=London |date=28 September 2007 |access-date=21 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002143642/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2007/sep/28/labourconference.politicalcolumnists |archive-date=2 October 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> The song "]", based on a ] poem, is also traditionally sung at the end of party conferences with The Red Flag.<ref name="Telegraph.co.uk">{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/labour/8796628/Ed-Miliband-sings-The-Red-Flag-and-Jerusalem-at-the-Labour-Party-Conference.html |title=Video: Ed Miliband sings The Red Flag and Jerusalem at the Labour Party Conference |date=29 September 2011 |work=] |location=London |access-date=2 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909073707/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/labour/8796628/Ed-Miliband-sings-The-Red-Flag-and-Jerusalem-at-the-Labour-Party-Conference.html |archive-date=9 September 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=19 September 2022 |title=Labour conference: National Anthem to open event |language=en-GB |work=] |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-62960726 |access-date=2 July 2023 |archive-date=2 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230702092857/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-62960726 |url-status=live }}</ref>


== Constitution and structure == == Constitution and structure ==
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| title = ] (1995) | title = ] (1995)
| quote = The Labour Party is a ] party. It believes that by the strength of our common endeavour we achieve more than we achieve alone, so as to create for each of us the means to realise our true potential and for all of us a community in which power, wealth and opportunity are in the hands of the many, not the few, where the rights we enjoy reflect the duties we owe, and where we live together, freely, in a spirit of solidarity, tolerance and respect. | quote = The Labour Party is a ] party. It believes that by the strength of our common endeavour we achieve more than we achieve alone, so as to create for each of us the means to realise our true potential and for all of us a community in which power, wealth and opportunity are in the hands of the many, not the few, where the rights we enjoy reflect the duties we owe, and where we live together, freely, in a spirit of solidarity, tolerance and respect.
| source = Party Constitution, Labour Party Rule Book<ref name="constitution">{{cite web |title=Labour Party Rule Book |url=https://labour.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Rule-Book-2023-FINAL_web_v3.pdf |publisher=Labour Party |access-date=4 January 2023 |date=2023}}</ref> | source = Party Constitution, Labour Party Rule Book<ref name="constitution">{{cite web |title=Labour Party Rule Book |url=https://labour.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Rule-Book-2023-FINAL_web_v3.pdf |publisher=Labour Party |access-date=4 January 2023 |date=2023 |archive-date=5 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240705171502/https://labour.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Rule-Book-2023-FINAL_web_v3.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
| width = 25% | width = 25%
| align = right | align = right
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=== Membership and registered supporters === === Membership and registered supporters ===
] ]
As of 31 December 2010, under Leader ], individual membership of the party was 193,261; a historical low for the Party since the 1930s.<ref name="search">{{cite web|url=https://search.electoralcommission.org.uk//Api/Accounts/Documents/826|title=Financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2011|website=search.electoralcommission.org.uk}}</ref> Membership remained relatively unchanged in the following years.<ref name="search"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://search.electoralcommission.org.uk//Api/Accounts/Documents/15409|title=Financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2013|website=search.electoralcommission.org.uk}}</ref><ref name="search2">{{cite web|url=https://search.electoralcommission.org.uk/Api/Accounts/Documents/17488|title=Financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2015|website=search.electoralcommission.org.uk}}</ref> In August 2015, prior to the ], the Labour Party reported 292,505 full members, 147,134 affiliated supporters (mostly from affiliated ]s and ]) and 110,827 registered supporters; a total of about 550,000 members and supporters.<ref name=independent-20150910>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/labour-leadership-contest-after-88-days-of-campaigning-how-did-labours-candidates-do-10495726.html |title=Labour leadership contest: After 88 days of campaigning, how did Labour's candidates do? |author=Oliver Wright |newspaper=] |date=10 September 2015 |access-date=11 September 2015 |quote=the electorate is divided into three groups: 292,000 members, 148,000 union "affiliates" and 112,000 registered supporters who each paid £3 to take part |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150914020112/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/labour-leadership-contest-after-88-days-of-campaigning-how-did-labours-candidates-do-10495726.html |archive-date=14 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=mirror-20150825>{{cite news |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/four-labour-leadership-candidates-rule-6316659 |title=All four Labour leadership candidates rule out legal fight – despite voter count plummeting by 60,000 |first=Dan |last=Bloom |newspaper=] |date=25 August 2015 |access-date=11 September 2015 |quote=total of those who can vote now stands at 550,816 ... The total still eligible to vote are now 292,505 full paid-up members, 147,134 supporters affiliated through the unions and 110,827 who've paid a £3 fee. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150908123212/http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/four-labour-leadership-candidates-rule-6316659 |archive-date=8 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> As of 31 December 2010, under the new leader ], individual membership of the party was 193,261; a historical low for the Party since the 1930s.<ref name="search">{{cite web|url=https://search.electoralcommission.org.uk//Api/Accounts/Documents/826|title=Financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2011|website=search.electoralcommission.org.uk}}</ref> Membership remained relatively unchanged in the following years.<ref name="search"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://search.electoralcommission.org.uk//Api/Accounts/Documents/15409|title=Financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2013|website=search.electoralcommission.org.uk}}</ref><ref name="search2">{{cite web|url=https://search.electoralcommission.org.uk/Api/Accounts/Documents/17488|title=Financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2015|website=search.electoralcommission.org.uk|access-date=26 July 2023|archive-date=1 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230701174044/https://search.electoralcommission.org.uk/Api/Accounts/Documents/17488|url-status=live}}</ref> In August 2015, prior to the ], the Labour Party reported 292,505 full members, 147,134 affiliated supporters (mostly from affiliated ]s and ]) and 110,827 registered supporters; a total of about 550,000 members and supporters.<ref name=independent-20150910>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/labour-leadership-contest-after-88-days-of-campaigning-how-did-labours-candidates-do-10495726.html |title=Labour leadership contest: After 88 days of campaigning, how did Labour's candidates do? |author=Oliver Wright |newspaper=] |date=10 September 2015 |access-date=11 September 2015 |quote=the electorate is divided into three groups: 292,000 members, 148,000 union "affiliates" and 112,000 registered supporters who each paid £3 to take part |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150914020112/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/labour-leadership-contest-after-88-days-of-campaigning-how-did-labours-candidates-do-10495726.html |archive-date=14 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=mirror-20150825>{{cite news |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/four-labour-leadership-candidates-rule-6316659 |title=All four Labour leadership candidates rule out legal fight – despite voter count plummeting by 60,000 |first=Dan |last=Bloom |newspaper=] |date=25 August 2015 |access-date=11 September 2015 |quote=total of those who can vote now stands at 550,816 ... The total still eligible to vote are now 292,505 full paid-up members, 147,134 supporters affiliated through the unions and 110,827 who've paid a £3 fee. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150908123212/http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/four-labour-leadership-candidates-rule-6316659 |archive-date=8 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>


Following the election of ] as leader, individual membership almost doubled to 388,262 in December 2015;<ref name="search2"/> and rose significantly again the following year to 543,645 in December 2016.<ref> ''Labour Party''. July 2018. Retrieved 20 January 2022.</ref> Following the election of ] as leader, individual membership almost doubled to 388,262 in December 2015;<ref name="search2"/> and rose significantly again the following year to 543,645 in December 2016.<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230920015435/https://search.electoralcommission.org.uk/Api/Accounts/Documents/20546 |date=20 September 2023 }} ''Labour Party''. July 2018. Retrieved 20 January 2022.</ref>
{{As of|December 2017}}, the party had 564,443 full members,<ref name=labour-201807>{{cite web |url=http://search.electoralcommission.org.uk/Api/Accounts/Documents/20546 |title=The Labour Party – Financial statements for the year ending 31 December 2017 |website=Labour Party |date=July 2018 |access-date=20 January 2022 |archive-url= |archive-date=}}</ref> a peak since 1980 making it the largest political party in Western Europe.<ref name=huffpost-20170613>{{cite news |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/labour-party-membership-soars-by-33000-in-four-days-since-general-election_uk_59400feee4b0e84514ee930f |title=Labour Party Membership Soars By 35,000 In Just Four Days – After 'Corbyn Surge' In 2017 General Election |last=Waugh |first=Paul |work=] |date=13 June 2017 |access-date=30 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630055010/http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/labour-party-membership-soars-by-33000-in-four-days-since-general-election_uk_59400feee4b0e84514ee930f |archive-date=30 June 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/parliament-and-elections/parliament/uk-political-party-membership-figures-august-2018/ |title=UK political party membership figures: August 2018 |website=House of Commons library |date=3 September 2018 |access-date=4 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180903215310/https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/parliament-and-elections/parliament/uk-political-party-membership-figures-august-2018/ |archive-date=3 September 2018 |url-status=live |last1=Audickas |first1=Lukas}}</ref> Consequently, membership fees became the largest component of the party's income, overtaking trade unions donations which were previously of most financial importance, making Labour the most financially well-off British political party in 2017.<ref name=guardian-20180822>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/aug/22/labour-coffers-make-party-richest-in-britain |title=Labour is Britain's richest party – and it's not down to the unions |last=Sabbagh |first=Dan |newspaper=] |date=22 August 2018 |access-date=23 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180822203856/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/aug/22/labour-coffers-make-party-richest-in-britain |archive-date=22 August 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> As of December 2019, the party had 532,046 full members.<ref name=labour-202007>{{cite web |url=http://search.electoralcommission.org.uk/Api/Accounts/Documents/22602 |title=The Labour Party – Financial statements for the year ending 31 December 2019 |website=The Electoral Commission |date=July 2020 |access-date=20 January 2022 |archive-url= |archive-date=}}</ref> {{As of|December 2017}}, the party had 564,443 full members,<ref name=labour-201807>{{cite web |url=http://search.electoralcommission.org.uk/Api/Accounts/Documents/20546 |title=The Labour Party – Financial statements for the year ending 31 December 2017 |website=Labour Party |date=July 2018 |access-date=20 January 2022 |archive-date=20 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120230152/http://search.electoralcommission.org.uk/Api/Accounts/Documents/20546 |url-status=live }}</ref> a peak since 1980 making it the largest political party in Western Europe.<ref name=huffpost-20170613>{{cite news |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/labour-party-membership-soars-by-33000-in-four-days-since-general-election_uk_59400feee4b0e84514ee930f |title=Labour Party Membership Soars By 35,000 In Just Four Days – After 'Corbyn Surge' In 2017 General Election |last=Waugh |first=Paul |work=] |date=13 June 2017 |access-date=30 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630055010/http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/labour-party-membership-soars-by-33000-in-four-days-since-general-election_uk_59400feee4b0e84514ee930f |archive-date=30 June 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/parliament-and-elections/parliament/uk-political-party-membership-figures-august-2018/ |title=UK political party membership figures: August 2018 |website=House of Commons library |date=3 September 2018 |access-date=4 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180903215310/https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/parliament-and-elections/parliament/uk-political-party-membership-figures-august-2018/ |archive-date=3 September 2018 |url-status=live |last1=Audickas |first1=Lukas}}</ref> Consequently, membership fees became the largest component of the party's income, overtaking trade unions donations which were previously of most financial importance, making Labour the most financially well-off British political party in 2017.<ref name=guardian-20180822>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/aug/22/labour-coffers-make-party-richest-in-britain |title=Labour is Britain's richest party – and it's not down to the unions |last=Sabbagh |first=Dan |newspaper=] |date=22 August 2018 |access-date=23 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180822203856/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/aug/22/labour-coffers-make-party-richest-in-britain |archive-date=22 August 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> As of December 2019, the party had 532,046 full members.<ref name=labour-202007>{{cite web |url=http://search.electoralcommission.org.uk/Api/Accounts/Documents/22602 |title=The Labour Party – Financial statements for the year ending 31 December 2019 |website=The Electoral Commission |date=July 2020 |access-date=20 January 2022 |archive-date=20 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120230151/http://search.electoralcommission.org.uk/Api/Accounts/Documents/22602 |url-status=live }}</ref>


In the ] 490,731 people voted, of which 401,564 (81.8%) were members, 76,161 (15.5%) had affiliated membership and 13,006 (2.6%) were registered supporters. The registered supporter class was abolished in 2021.<ref name=hocl-20220830>{{cite web |url=https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN05125/SN05125.pdf |title=Membership of political parties in Great Britain |last1=Burton |first1=Matthew |last2=Tunnicliffe |first2=Richard |publisher=UK Parliament |work=House of Commons Library |date=30 August 2022 |access-date=25 March 2023 |archive-url= |archive-date=}}</ref> By July 2023, the party's membership was reported to have fallen to 399,195 members.<ref name="Membership, March 2023">{{cite news|url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/23683781.labour-party-lose-10k-members-just-two-months/ |title=Labour Party lose 10k members in just two months |first=Adam |last=Robertson |work=The National |date=27 July 2023 |access-date=28 July 2023}}</ref> In March 2024, it was reported that the Labour Party's membership had fallen to 366,604.<ref name="Membership, March 2024"/> In the ], 490,731 people voted, of which 401,564 (81.8%) were members, 76,161 (15.5%) had affiliated membership and 13,006 (2.6%) were registered supporters. The registered supporter class was abolished in 2021.<ref name=hocl-20220830>{{cite web |url=https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN05125/SN05125.pdf |title=Membership of political parties in Great Britain |last1=Burton |first1=Matthew |last2=Tunnicliffe |first2=Richard |publisher=UK Parliament |work=House of Commons Library |date=30 August 2022 |access-date=25 March 2023 |archive-date=25 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230325200441/https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN05125/SN05125.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> By December 2023, the party's membership had fallen to 370,450 members.<ref name=bbc-20240822>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c33n6311577o |title=Party memberships fell in 2023 despite looming election |last=Morton |first=Becky |work=BBC News |date=22 August 2024 |access-date=23 August 2024 |archive-date=22 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240822205546/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c33n6311577o |url-status=live}}</ref> In March 2024, it was revealed the party's membership had reduced further to 366,604 members.<ref name="Membership, March 2024"/>


==== Northern Ireland ==== ==== Northern Ireland ====
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=== UK general election results === === UK general election results ===
{{see also|Elections in the United Kingdom#General elections}} {{see also|Elections in the United Kingdom#General elections}}
Following the ], Labour became the Official Opposition after the Conservatives went into ] with the ].<ref name=":8">{{cite web|url=https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-7529/CBP-7529.pdf#page=8 |title=UK Election Statistics: 1918–2023, A Long Century of Elections |last1=Cracknell |first1=Richard |last2=Uberoi |first2=Elise |last3=Burton |first3=Matthew |date=9 August 2023 |website=House of Commons Library |access-date=27 September 2023 |page=8}}</ref> Labour's first minority governments came following the ] and ] general elections, the latter being the first time Labour were the largest party in the country by seats won.<ref name=":8"/> They formed their first majority government following the ].<ref name=":8"/> However, after winning the ], Labour would lose the following election in ] to the Conservatives despite gaining the highest share of votes to date at 48.8%.<ref name=":8"/> During the ] election, Labour posted their worst vote share in the post-war period at 27.6%.<ref name=":8"/> In ], a party record of 418 Labour MPs were elected.<ref name=":8"/> At the ], Labour won a landslide victory and returned to government with ] as prime minister.<ref name=":112"/> Following the ], Labour became the Official Opposition after the Conservatives went into ] with the ].<ref name=":8">{{cite web |url=https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-7529/CBP-7529.pdf#page=8 |title=UK Election Statistics: 1918–2023, A Long Century of Elections |last1=Cracknell |first1=Richard |last2=Uberoi |first2=Elise |last3=Burton |first3=Matthew |date=9 August 2023 |website=House of Commons Library |access-date=27 September 2023 |page=8 |archive-date=26 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926002706/https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-7529/CBP-7529.pdf#page=8 |url-status=live }}</ref> Labour's first minority governments came following the ] and ] general elections, the latter being the first time Labour were the largest party in the country by seats won.<ref name=":8"/> They formed their first majority government following the ].<ref name=":8"/> However, after winning the ], Labour would lose the following election in ] to the Conservatives despite gaining the highest share of votes to date at 48.8%.<ref name=":8"/> During the ] election, Labour posted their worst vote share in the post-war period at 27.6%.<ref name=":8"/> In ], a party record of 418 Labour MPs were elected.<ref name=":8"/> At the ], Labour won a landslide victory and returned to government with ] as prime minister.<ref name=":112"/>


{{see also|Elections in the United Kingdom#General elections}} {{see also|Elections in the United Kingdom#General elections}}
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! rowspan=2|Election ! rowspan=2|Election
! rowspan=2|Leader<ref>{{cite book |first1=Alastair J. |last1=Reid |first2=Henry |last2=Pelling |title=A Short History of the Labour Party |year=2005 |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |location=New York |isbn=1-4039-9313-0 |page=210|edition=12th }}</ref><ref name="leaders">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-37357314 |title=A quick guide to Labour's leaders |website=BBC News |date=23 September 2016 |access-date=27 September 2023}}</ref> ! rowspan=2|Leader<ref>{{cite book |first1=Alastair J. |last1=Reid |first2=Henry |last2=Pelling |title=A Short History of the Labour Party |year=2005 |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |location=New York |isbn=1-4039-9313-0 |page=210|edition=12th }}</ref><ref name="leaders">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-37357314 |title=A quick guide to Labour's leaders |website=BBC News |date=23 September 2016 |access-date=27 September 2023 |archive-date=25 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230925224546/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-37357314 |url-status=live }}</ref>
! colspan=2|Votes ! colspan=2|Votes
! colspan=3|Seats ! colspan=3|Seats
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|<ref name="CraigFWS23">{{cite book |first=F. W. S. |last=Craig |title=British General Election Manifestos, 1900–1974 |year=1975 |publisher=Macmillan |location=London |isbn=0-333-17154-3 |page=23}}</ref> |<ref name="CraigFWS23">{{cite book |first=F. W. S. |last=Craig |title=British General Election Manifestos, 1900–1974 |year=1975 |publisher=Macmillan |location=London |isbn=0-333-17154-3 |page=23}}</ref>
|- |-
!]{{efn|The first election held under the ] in which all men over 21, and most women over the age of 30 could vote, and therefore a much larger electorate.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/transformingsociety/parliament-and-the-first-world-war/legislation-and-acts-of-war/acts-of-war---representation-of-the-people-act-1918--/ |title=Representation of the People Act 1918 |website=UK Parliament |access-date=6 October 2023}}</ref>}} !]{{efn|The first election held under the ] in which all men over 21, and most women over the age of 30 could vote, and therefore a much larger electorate.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/transformingsociety/parliament-and-the-first-world-war/legislation-and-acts-of-war/acts-of-war---representation-of-the-people-act-1918--/ |title=Representation of the People Act 1918 |website=UK Parliament |access-date=6 October 2023 |archive-date=10 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231110172925/https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/transformingsociety/parliament-and-the-first-world-war/legislation-and-acts-of-war/acts-of-war---representation-of-the-people-act-1918--/ |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
|{{sortname|William|Adamson}} |{{sortname|William|Adamson}}
|style="text-align:right;"|2,245,777 |style="text-align:right;"|2,245,777
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|{{refn|<ref name=":1617"/><ref>{{cite book |first=F. W. S. |last=Craig |title=British General Election Manifestos, 1900–1974 |year=1975 |publisher=Macmillan |location=London |isbn=0-333-17154-3 |page=54}}</ref>}} |{{refn|<ref name=":1617"/><ref>{{cite book |first=F. W. S. |last=Craig |title=British General Election Manifestos, 1900–1974 |year=1975 |publisher=Macmillan |location=London |isbn=0-333-17154-3 |page=54}}</ref>}}
|- |-
!]{{efn|First election held under the ] which gave all women aged over 21 the vote.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/offices/commons/media-relations-group/news/on-this-day-on-30-may-1929-women-vote-on-same-terms-as-men-for-first-time-in-general-election/ |title=On this day in May 1929 women vote in general election on same terms as men |website=UK Parliament |date=30 May 2018 |access-date=6 October 2023}}</ref>}} !]{{efn|First election held under the ] which gave all women aged over 21 the vote.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/offices/commons/media-relations-group/news/on-this-day-on-30-may-1929-women-vote-on-same-terms-as-men-for-first-time-in-general-election/ |title=On this day in May 1929 women vote in general election on same terms as men |website=UK Parliament |date=30 May 2018 |access-date=6 October 2023 |archive-date=10 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231110172924/https://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/offices/commons/media-relations-group/news/on-this-day-on-30-may-1929-women-vote-on-same-terms-as-men-for-first-time-in-general-election/ |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
|style="text-align:right;"|8,370,417 |style="text-align:right;"|8,370,417
|style="text-align:right;"|37.1 |style="text-align:right;"|37.1
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|{{decrease}} 2nd |{{decrease}} 2nd
|{{no2|Conservative}} |{{no2|Conservative}}
|<ref name=":1617">{{cite web|url=https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-7529/CBP-7529.pdf |title=UK Election Statistics: 1918–2023, A Long Century of Elections |last1=Cracknell |first1=Richard |last2=Uberoi |first2=Elise |last3=Burton |first3=Matthew |date=9 August 2023 |website=House of Commons Library |access-date=28 September 2023 |pages=16–17}}</ref> |<ref name=":1617">{{cite web |url=https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-7529/CBP-7529.pdf |title=UK Election Statistics: 1918–2023, A Long Century of Elections |last1=Cracknell |first1=Richard |last2=Uberoi |first2=Elise |last3=Burton |first3=Matthew |date=9 August 2023 |website=House of Commons Library |access-date=28 September 2023 |pages=16–17 |archive-date=26 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926002706/https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-7529/CBP-7529.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
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!] !]
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|{{steady}} 2nd |{{steady}} 2nd
|{{no2|Conservative}} |{{no2|Conservative}}
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.parliament.uk/globalassets/documents/commons-information-office/m09.pdf |title=General Election Results, 9 June 1983 |website=House of Commons Public Information Office |access-date=27 September 2023}}</ref> |<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.parliament.uk/globalassets/documents/commons-information-office/m09.pdf |title=General Election Results, 9 June 1983 |website=House of Commons Public Information Office |access-date=27 September 2023 |archive-date=26 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126023124/https://www.parliament.uk/globalassets/documents/commons-information-office/m09.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
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|{{steady}} 2nd |{{steady}} 2nd
|{{no2|Conservative}} |{{no2|Conservative}}
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.parliament.uk/globalassets/documents/commons-information-office/m11.pdf |title=General Election Results, 1987 |website=House of Commons Public Information Office |access-date=27 September 2023}}</ref> |<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.parliament.uk/globalassets/documents/commons-information-office/m11.pdf |title=General Election Results, 1987 |website=House of Commons Public Information Office |access-date=27 September 2023 |archive-date=23 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023011516/https://www.parliament.uk/globalassets/documents/commons-information-office/m11.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
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|{{steady}} 2nd |{{steady}} 2nd
|{{no2|Conservative}} |{{no2|Conservative}}
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.parliament.uk/globalassets/documents/commons-information-office/m13.pdf |title=General Election Results |website=House of Commons Public Information Office |access-date=27 September 2023}}</ref> |<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.parliament.uk/globalassets/documents/commons-information-office/m13.pdf |title=General Election Results |website=House of Commons Public Information Office |access-date=27 September 2023 |archive-date=14 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114185026/https://www.parliament.uk/globalassets/documents/commons-information-office/m13.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
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|{{increase}} 1st |{{increase}} 1st
|{{yes2|Labour}} |{{yes2|Labour}}
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/RP01-38/RP01-38.pdf |title=General Election results, 1 May 1997 |website=House of Commons Library |date=29 March 2001 |access-date=26 September 2023}}</ref> |<ref>{{cite web |url=https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/RP01-38/RP01-38.pdf |title=General Election results, 1 May 1997 |website=House of Commons Library |date=29 March 2001 |access-date=26 September 2023 |archive-date=26 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230926225550/https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/RP01-38/RP01-38.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
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|{{steady}} 1st |{{steady}} 1st
|{{yes2|Labour}} |{{yes2|Labour}}
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/RP01-54/RP01-54.pdf |title=General Election results, 7 June 2001 |website=House of Commons Library |date=18 June 2001 |access-date=26 September 2023}}</ref> |<ref>{{cite web |url=https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/RP01-54/RP01-54.pdf |title=General Election results, 7 June 2001 |website=House of Commons Library |date=18 June 2001 |access-date=26 September 2023 |archive-date=27 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231127162028/https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/RP01-54/RP01-54.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
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|style="text-align:right;"|40.0 |style="text-align:right;"|40.0
|{{decrease}} 2nd |{{decrease}} 2nd
|{{no2|Conservative–]}}<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8677552.stm |title=Election 2010 Timeline: How coalition was agreed |website=BBC News |date=13 May 2010 |access-date=26 September 2023}}</ref> |{{no2|Conservative–]}}<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8677552.stm |title=Election 2010 Timeline: How coalition was agreed |website=BBC News |date=13 May 2010 |access-date=26 September 2023 |archive-date=6 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170906140456/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8677552.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/RP10-36/RP10-36.pdf |title=General Election 2010 |website=House of Commons Library |date=2 February 2011 |access-date=2 October 2023 |pages=30, 86}}</ref> |<ref>{{cite web |url=https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/RP10-36/RP10-36.pdf |title=General Election 2010 |website=House of Commons Library |date=2 February 2011 |access-date=2 October 2023 |pages=30, 86 |archive-date=8 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231008074838/https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/RP10-36/RP10-36.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
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|{{steady}} 2nd |{{steady}} 2nd
|{{no2|Conservative}} |{{no2|Conservative}}
|{{refn|<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-interactive/2015/may/07/live-uk-election-results-in-full |title=UK 2015 general election results in full |work=The Guardian |date=7 May 2015 |access-date=26 September 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-7186/CBP-7186.pdf |title=General Election 2015 |website=House of Commons Library |date=28 July 2015 |access-date=2 October 2023}}</ref>}} |{{refn|<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-interactive/2015/may/07/live-uk-election-results-in-full |title=UK 2015 general election results in full |work=The Guardian |date=7 May 2015 |access-date=26 September 2023 |archive-date=13 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190913214657/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-interactive/2015/may/07/live-uk-election-results-in-full |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-7186/CBP-7186.pdf |title=General Election 2015 |website=House of Commons Library |date=28 July 2015 |access-date=2 October 2023 |archive-date=6 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231006204311/https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-7186/CBP-7186.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
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|style="text-align:right;"|40.3 |style="text-align:right;"|40.3
|{{steady}} 2nd |{{steady}} 2nd
|{{no2|Conservative minority<br />(with ])<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2017-40245514 |title=Theresa May and the DUP deal: What you need to know |last=Hunt |first=Alex |website=BBC News |date=26 June 2017 |access-date=26 September 2023}}</ref>}} |{{no2|Conservative minority<br />(with ])<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2017-40245514 |title=Theresa May and the DUP deal: What you need to know |last=Hunt |first=Alex |website=BBC News |date=26 June 2017 |access-date=26 September 2023 |archive-date=23 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123150803/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2017-40245514 |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-7979/CBP-7979.pdf |title=General Election 2017: results and analysis |website=House of Commons Library |date=29 January 2019 |access-date=2 October 2023 |pages=8–12}}</ref> |<ref>{{cite web |url=https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-7979/CBP-7979.pdf |title=General Election 2017: results and analysis |website=House of Commons Library |date=29 January 2019 |access-date=2 October 2023 |pages=8–12 |archive-date=12 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191112183438/https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-7979/CBP-7979.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
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|{{steady}} 2nd |{{steady}} 2nd
|{{no2|Conservative}} |{{no2|Conservative}}
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-8749/CBP-8749.pdf |title=General Election 2019: results and analysis |website=House of Commons Library |date=28 January 2020 |access-date=2 October 2023 |pages=8–12}}</ref> |<ref>{{cite web |url=https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-8749/CBP-8749.pdf |title=General Election 2019: results and analysis |website=House of Commons Library |date=28 January 2020 |access-date=2 October 2023 |pages=8–12 |archive-date=18 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211118043715/https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-8749/CBP-8749.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
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<!-- Several articles link to this section. --> <!-- Several articles link to this section. -->
{{main|Leader of the Labour Party (UK)}} {{main|Leader of the Labour Party (UK)}}
Source:<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-37357314 |title=A quick guide to Labour's leaders |publisher=BBC News |date=23 September 2016 |access-date=25 September 2023}}</ref> Source:<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-37357314 |title=A quick guide to Labour's leaders |publisher=BBC News |date=23 September 2016 |access-date=25 September 2023 |archive-date=25 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230925224546/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-37357314 |url-status=live }}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=20em}} {{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* ] (1906–1908) * ] (1906–1908)
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|- |-
!scope="row"|] !scope="row"|]
|] |]
|Scotland |Scotland
|]; ]–]<br />(] and ]) |]; ]–]<br />(] and ])
|- |-
!scope="row"|] !scope="row"|]
|] |]
|England |England
|]–]; ]–]<br />(]) |]–]; ]–]<br />(])
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|] |]
|England |England
|]–]; ]–]; ]; ]–]<br />(], ] Wilson ministries) |]–]; ]–]; ]; ]–]<br />(], ] Wilson ministries)
|- |-
!scope="row"|] !scope="row"|]
|] |]
|England |England
|]–]<br />(]) |]–]<br />(])
|- |-
!scope="row"|] !scope="row"|]
|] |]
|Scotland |Scotland
|]–]; ]–]; ]–]<br />(], ] and ] Blair ministries) |]–]; ]–]; ]–]<br />(], ] and ] Blair ministries)
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|- |-
!scope="row"|] !scope="row"|]
|] |]
|England |England
|]–present<br />(]) |]–present<br />(])
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== See also == == See also ==
{{Portal|Politics|United Kingdom|Organised labour|Socialism}}

* ] * ]
* ] * ]
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* ] * ]
* ] * ]
* ]
* ] * ]
* ] * ]

== Notes ==
{{reflist|group=nb}}


== References == == References ==
{{reflist|refs= {{reflist|refs=


<ref name="auto3">{{cite news |last1=Peacock |first1=Mike |title=The European centre-left's quandary |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-europe-left-analysis-idUKKBN0O905M20150524 |access-date=26 May 2015 |work=] |date=8 May 2015 |quote=A crushing election defeat for Britain's Labour party has laid bare the dilemma facing Europe's centre-left. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526172436/http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/05/24/uk-europe-left-analysis-idUKKBN0O905M20150524 |archive-date=26 May 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> <ref name="auto3">{{cite news |last1=Peacock |first1=Mike |title=The European centre-left's quandary |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-europe-left-analysis-idUKKBN0O905M20150524 |access-date=26 May 2015 |work=] |date=8 May 2015 |quote=A crushing election defeat for Britain's Labour party has laid bare the dilemma facing Europe's centre-left. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526172436/http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/05/24/uk-europe-left-analysis-idUKKBN0O905M20150524 |archive-date=26 May 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref>


<ref name="auto4">{{cite web |last1=Dahlgreen |first1=Will |title=Britain's changing political spectrum |url=https://yougov.co.uk/news/2014/07/23/britains-changing-political-spectrum/ |publisher=] |access-date=26 May 2015 |date=23 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526172107/https://yougov.co.uk/news/2014/07/23/britains-changing-political-spectrum/ |archive-date=26 May 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> <ref name="auto4">{{cite web |last1=Dahlgreen |first1=Will |title=Britain's changing political spectrum |url=https://yougov.co.uk/news/2014/07/23/britains-changing-political-spectrum/ |publisher=] |access-date=26 May 2015 |date=23 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526172107/https://yougov.co.uk/news/2014/07/23/britains-changing-political-spectrum/ |archive-date=26 May 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>
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* {{cite book |editor1-last=Daniels |editor1-first=Gary |editor2-last=McIlroy |editor2-first=John |year=2009 |title=Trade Unions in a Neoliberal World: British Trade Unions under New Labour |series=Routledge Research in Employment Relations |volume=20 |location=London |publisher=] |isbn=978-0-415-42663-3}} * {{cite book |editor1-last=Daniels |editor1-first=Gary |editor2-last=McIlroy |editor2-first=John |year=2009 |title=Trade Unions in a Neoliberal World: British Trade Unions under New Labour |series=Routledge Research in Employment Relations |volume=20 |location=London |publisher=] |isbn=978-0-415-42663-3}}
* Garnett, Mark, Gavin Hyman, and Richard Johnson. ''Keeping the Red Flag Flying: The Labour Party in Opposition Since 1922'' (John Wiley & Sons, 2024). * Garnett, Mark, Gavin Hyman, and Richard Johnson. ''Keeping the Red Flag Flying: The Labour Party in Opposition Since 1922'' (John Wiley & Sons, 2024).

* {{cite book |last=Hay |first=Colin |author-link=Colin Hay (political scientist) |year=2002 |title=British Politics Today |location=Cambridge |publisher=] |isbn=978-0-7456-2319-1 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/britishpoliticst0000unse}} * {{cite book |last=Hay |first=Colin |author-link=Colin Hay (political scientist) |year=2002 |title=British Politics Today |location=Cambridge |publisher=] |isbn=978-0-7456-2319-1 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/britishpoliticst0000unse}}
* {{cite book |last1=Heath |first1=Anthony F. |author1-link=Anthony Heath |last2=Jowell |first2=Roger M. |author2-link=Roger Jowell |last3=Curtice |first3=John K. |author3-link=John Curtice |year=2001 |title=The Rise of New Labour: Party Policies and Voter Choices: Party Policies and Voter Choices |publisher=] |isbn=978-0-19-152964-1}} * {{cite book |last1=Heath |first1=Anthony F. |author1-link=Anthony Heath |last2=Jowell |first2=Roger M. |author2-link=Roger Jowell |last3=Curtice |first3=John K. |author3-link=John Curtice |year=2001 |title=The Rise of New Labour: Party Policies and Voter Choices: Party Policies and Voter Choices |publisher=] |isbn=978-0-19-152964-1}}
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== Further reading == == Further reading ==
{{refbegin|30em}} {{refbegin|30em}}
* Bassett, Lewis. "Corbynism: Social democracy in a new left garb." '']'' 90.4 (2019): 777–784 * Bassett, Lewis. "Corbynism: Social democracy in a new left garb." '']'' 90.4 (2019): 777–784 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205001645/https://www.academia.edu/40317267/Corbynism_Social_Democracy_in_a_New_Left_Garb |date=5 February 2023 }}
* Brivati, Brian, and Richard Heffernan, eds. ''The Labour Party: A Centenary History'' (2000) , 27 chapters by experts * Brivati, Brian, and Richard Heffernan, eds. ''The Labour Party: A Centenary History'' (2000) {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221123184636/https://link.springer.com/book/10.1057/9780230595583 |date=23 November 2022 }}, 27 chapters by experts
* Davies, A. J. ''To Build a New Jerusalem: Labour Movement from the 1890s to the 1990s'' (1996). * Davies, A. J. ''To Build a New Jerusalem: Labour Movement from the 1890s to the 1990s'' (1996).
* Driver, Stephen; and Luke Martell. ''New Labour: Politics after Thatcherism'' (], wnd ed. 2006). * Driver, Stephen; and Luke Martell. ''New Labour: Politics after Thatcherism'' (], wnd ed. 2006).
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* Kavanagh, Dennis. ''The Politics of the Labour Party'' (Routledge, 2013). * Kavanagh, Dennis. ''The Politics of the Labour Party'' (Routledge, 2013).
* Morgan, Kenneth O. ''Labour People: Leaders and Lieutenants, Hardie to Kinnock'' (Oxford UP, 1992), scholarly biographies of 30 key leaders. * Morgan, Kenneth O. ''Labour People: Leaders and Lieutenants, Hardie to Kinnock'' (Oxford UP, 1992), scholarly biographies of 30 key leaders.
* Morgan, Kenneth O. "United Kingdom: A Comparative Case Study of Labour Prime Ministers Attlee, Wilson, Callaghan and Blair" ''The Journal of Legislative Studies'' 10.2-3 (2004): 38-52. https://doi.org/10.1080/135723304200032220 * Morgan, Kenneth O. "United Kingdom: A Comparative Case Study of Labour Prime Ministers Attlee, Wilson, Callaghan and Blair" ''The Journal of Legislative Studies'' 10.2-3 (2004): 38–52. https://doi.org/10.1080/135723304200032220

* Pelling, Henry; and Alastair J. Reid. '' A Short History of the Labour Party'' (12th ed. 2005) * Pelling, Henry; and Alastair J. Reid. '' A Short History of the Labour Party'' (12th ed. 2005)
* Pimlott, Ben, and Chris Cook, eds. ''Trade unions in British politics: the first 250 years'' (2nd ed. Longman, 1991) * Pimlott, Ben, and Chris Cook, eds. ''Trade unions in British politics: the first 250 years'' (2nd ed. Longman, 1991)
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* Rosen, Greg, ed. ''Dictionary of Labour Biography''. (Politicos Publishing, 2001), 665pp; 300 short biographies by experts. * Rosen, Greg, ed. ''Dictionary of Labour Biography''. (Politicos Publishing, 2001), 665pp; 300 short biographies by experts.
* Rosen, Greg. ''Old Labour to New'', ], 2005. * Rosen, Greg. ''Old Labour to New'', ], 2005.
* Seaman, L. C. B. ''Post-Victorian Britain: 1902-1951'' (1966) * Seaman, L. C. B. ''Post-Victorian Britain: 1902-1951'' (1966)
* Shaw, Eric. ''The Labour Party since 1979: Crisis and Transformation'' (Routledge, 1994). * Shaw, Eric. ''The Labour Party since 1979: Crisis and Transformation'' (Routledge, 1994).
* Shaw, Eric. "Understanding Labour Party Management under Tony Blair." ''Political Studies Review'' 14.2 (2016): 153–162. https://doi.org/10.1177/1478929915623296 * Shaw, Eric. "Understanding Labour Party Management under Tony Blair." ''Political Studies Review'' 14.2 (2016): 153–162. https://doi.org/10.1177/1478929915623296
* Taylor, Robert. ''The Parliamentary Labour Party: A History 1906–2006'' (2007). * Taylor, Robert. ''The Parliamentary Labour Party: A History 1906–2006'' (2007).
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{{Party of European Socialists}} {{Party of European Socialists}}
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Political party in the United Kingdom

‹ The template Infobox political party is being considered for merging. ›
Labour Party
Governing bodyNational Executive Committee
LeaderKeir Starmer
Deputy LeaderAngela Rayner
ChairEllie Reeves
General SecretaryHollie Ridley
Lords LeaderThe Baroness Smith of Basildon
Founded27 February 1900;
124 years ago (1900-02-27)
(as the Labour Representation Committee)
HeadquartersLabour Party Headquarters
Student wingLabour Students
Youth wingYoung Labour
Women's wingLabour Women's Network
LGBT wingLGBT+ Labour
Membership (March 2024)Decrease 366,604
Ideology
Political positionCentre-left
European affiliationParty of European Socialists
International affiliationProgressive Alliance
Socialist International (observer)
Affiliate partyCo-operative Party
(Labour and Co-operative)
Former affiliates:
Other affiliationsSocial Democratic and Labour Party (Northern Ireland)
Colours  Red
SloganChange Begins (2024)
Anthem"The Red Flag"
Devolved or semi-autonomous branches
Parliamentary partyParliamentary Labour Party (PLP)
House of Commons402 / 650
House of Lords185 / 801
Scottish Parliament22 / 129
Senedd30 / 60
Regional mayors11 / 12
London Assembly11 / 25
PCCs and PFCCs17 / 37
Directly elected mayors10 / 16
Councillors6,474 / 18,740
Councils Led155 / 371
Election symbol
Website
labour.org.uk Edit this at Wikidata

Mayor of London and 11 combined authority mayors.
Councillors of local authorities in England (including 25 aldermen of the City of London) and Scotland, principal councils in Wales and local councils in Northern Ireland.
Part of a series on
Social democracy
History
Concepts
Variants
People
Organizations
By region
Related
Part of a series on
Organised labour
Labour movement
Labour rights
Trade unions
Strike action
Labour parties
Academic disciplines

The Labour Party is a political party in the United Kingdom that sits on the centre-left of the political spectrum. The party has been described as an alliance of social democrats, democratic socialists and trade unionists. It is one of two dominant political parties in the United Kingdom, along with the Conservative Party. The party has been led by Keir Starmer since 2020, who became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in July 2024. Since the 2024 general election, the Labour Party has been the governing party of the United Kingdom and the largest political party in the House of Commons, followed by the Conservative Party and the Liberal Democrats. As of 2024, there have been seven Labour prime ministers and fourteen Labour ministries. The party traditionally holds the annual Labour Party Conference during party conference season, at which debates and voting take place, and senior Labour figures promote party policy.

The Labour Party was founded in 1900, having emerged from the trade union movement and socialist parties of the 19th century. It was electorally weak before the First World War, but in the early 1920s overtook the Liberal Party to become the main opposition to the Conservative Party, and briefly formed a minority government under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924. In 1929, Labour for the first time became the largest party in the House of Commons with 287 seats, but fell short of a majority, forming another minority government. In 1931, in response to the Great Depression, MacDonald formed a new government with Conservative and Liberal support, which led to his expulsion from the party. Labour was soundly defeated by his coalition in the 1931 election, winning only 52 seats, but began to recover in 1935, with 154 seats.

During the Second World War, Labour served in the wartime coalition, after which it won a majority in the 1945 election. Clement Attlee's government enacted extensive nationalisation and established the modern welfare state and National Health Service before losing power in 1951. Under Harold Wilson and James Callaghan, Labour again governed from 1964 to 1970 and from 1974 to 1979. The party then entered a period of intense internal division which ended in the defeat of its left wing by the mid-1980s. After electoral defeats to the Conservatives in 1987 and 1992, Tony Blair took the party to the political centre as part of his New Labour project, which governed under Blair and then Gordon Brown from 1997 to 2010. After further electoral defeats in the 2010s, Keir Starmer again moved Labour to the political centre from 2020 and has governed since 2024.

Labour is the largest party in the Senedd (Welsh Parliament), being the only party in the current Welsh government. Labour is a member of the Party of European Socialists and the Progressive Alliance, and holds observer status in the Socialist International. The party includes semi-autonomous London, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish branches; it supports the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) in Northern Ireland, while still organising there. As of March 2024, Labour has 366,604 registered members.

History

Main articles: History of the Labour Party (UK) and History of the socialist movement in the United Kingdom

Origins to 1890s

Keir Hardie, (1856–1915), first leader of the Labour Party contingent in the House of Commons

The origins of what became the Labour Party emerged in the late 19th century. It represented the interests of the labour unions and more generally the growing urban working class. Hundreds of thousands of workers had recently gained voting rights by laws passed in 1867 and 1884. Many different trade unions flourished in the industrial districts. Their leaders used the Methodist revival tradition to find ways to rally the membership. Several small socialist organizations formed and wanted power based on the working class; the most influential was the Fabian Society, which was made up of middle class reformers. Keir Hardie worked for cooperation among the unions and left-wing groups such as his small Independent Labour Party (ILP).

Labour Representation Committee (1900–1906)

Main article: Labour Representation Committee (1900)

The Labour Party was formed by unions and left-wing groups to create a distinct political voice for the working class in Britain. In 1900 the Trades Union Congress (TUC), an umbrella body for most unions, sponsored a national conference to unite into a single party that would sponsor candidates for the House of Commons. The conference created the Labour Representation Committee (LRC), as a coalition of separate groups with Ramsay MacDonald as secretary. The fearsome issue for labour was the 1901 Taff Vale legal decision which made most strikes illegal; the urgent goal was to get Parliament to reverse it. The LRC cut a secret deal with the Liberal Party: they would not compete against each other in the 1906 general election. Voters gave the Liberals a landslide with 397 seats out of 664; the new LRC won 29 seats. The LRC renamed itself "The Labour Party", with veteran MP Keir Hardie narrowly winning the role of leader of the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP).

Early years (1906–1923)

The original Liberty logo, in use until 1983

The Labour Party's first national conference in Belfast in 1907 helped shape many of its key policies. Never fully resolved was the puzzle of where the final decisions ought to lie—in the annual conference? the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP)? The local chapters? The Trade Union Congress (which brought together the heads of most unions)? The conference created a "conscience clause" allowing diversity of opinions rather than a rigid orthodoxy. Irish politics proved to be so different that the Party simply quit Ireland and worked only in England, Scotland and Wales. In 1908–1910 the Party supported the momentous and largely successful Liberal battles in favor of a welfare state and against the Unionist/Conservative Party and against the veto power of the House of Lords. Growth continued, with 42 Labour MPs elected to the House of Commons in the December 1910 general election. During World War I, the party experienced internal divisions over support for the war effort, but also saw one of its top leaders Arthur Henderson, serve in the powerful war cabinet.

After the war, the party focused on building a strong constituency-based support network and adopted a comprehensive statement of policies titled "Labour and the New Social Order". In 1918, Clause IV was added to Labour's constitution, committing the party to work towards common ownership of the means of production, distribution, and exchange. Socialism was vaguely promised, but there was no effort made to draw up detailed plans on what that would mean or how it could be accomplished.

The Representation of the People Act 1918 greatly expanded the electorate, enfranchising all men and most women. The party concentrated its appeal on the new electorate with considerable success among working men, but far less success among women. As the Liberal Party collapsed, Labour became the official opposition to the Conservative government. Its support for the war effort demonstrated that the Labour Party was a patriotic and moderate force that solved problems and did not threaten class warfare.

Labour forms a government (1923–1924)

Main article: First MacDonald ministry

The 1923 election was a pivotal achievement with the formation of the first Labour government. The Conservatives called for high tariffs. Labour and Liberals both wanted free trade. Labour leader Ramsay MacDonald formed a minority government with Liberal support that lasted 10 months. The only domestic achievement was the Wheatley Housing Act, which expanded the large-scale public housing program that started in 1919 with support from all three major parties. MacDonald was much more successful in foreign policy. He helped end the impasse over German payment of reparations by enlisting Washington to launch the Dawes Plan. Much more controversial was his decision to recognize the Soviet Union. That ignited an anti-Communist backlash that exploded four days before the 1924 election in the fake Zinoviev Letter in which Kremlin supposedly called for revolutionary uprising by British workers. The 1924 election saw the Conservatives return to power, benefiting from the Zinoviev letter and the continuing collapse of the Liberal vote. The Labour share of the popular vote went up, but it lost seats. Above all the moderation of the Macdonald government put to rest the lingering fears that a Labour victory would produce a violent class war.

The failed general strike (1926–1929)

In 1925–26, coal sales fell and the mining companies demanded an increase in hours and a cut in wages. The miners were totally opposed and planned a strike. The TUC coalition of unions decided it would support the miners by a nationwide general strike that would paralyze most of the national economy. A strike was postponed when the Conservative government offered a subsidy for wages, but it also prepared to deal with the threatened general strike. Meanwhile, the TUC failed to make preparations. It ignored the Labour Party in and out of Parliament and in turn party leaders opposed a national strike. The 1926 general strike failed after 9 days as the government plan devised by Winston Churchill proved highly effective in keeping the economy open while minimizing violence. In the long run, however, the episode tended to strengthen working class support for Labour, and it gained in the 1929 general election, forming a second government with Liberal help.

Second Labour Ministry in 1929 and failures in 1930s

Main article: Second MacDonald ministry
Ramsay MacDonald, first Labour prime minister (1924 and 1929–1931).

Once again with Liberal help, MacDonald became prime minister following the successful 1929 election. There were some promising achievements in foreign policy, notably the Young Plan that seemed to resolve the issue of German reparations, and the London Naval Treaty of 1930 that limited submarine construction. Some minor legislation was passed, notably a noncontroversial expansion of new public housing. Overnight in October 1929 the world economy plunged into the Great Depression, and no party had an answer as tax revenue plunged, unemployment doubled to 2.5 million (in late 1930), prices fell, and government spending on unemployment benefits soared. Conditions became much worse in 1931 as the banks became unable to loan the government enough to cover the growing deficit. In an era before Keynesian economics, the strong consensus among experts was for the government to balance its budget.

Spending was cut again and again but MacDonald and his Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Snowden argued that the only way to get an emergency loan from New York banks was to cut unemployment benefits by 10%. They pointed out that cost of food was down 15% and overall prices were down 10%. But in the cabinet most Labour members were vehemently opposed—they demanded new taxes on the rich instead. MacDonald gave up and on 23 August went to King George V and resigned the government. Unexpectedly the monarch insisted that the only patriotic solution was for MacDonald to stay and form an all-party "national government" with the Conservatives, which he did the next day. The Labour Party felt betrayed and expelled MacDonald and Snowden. The new National Government, 1931–1935 kept Macdonald and Snowden and two others, replacing the rest of the Laborites with Conservatives. The 1931 election took place on 27 October. Labour had 6.3 million votes (31 percent), down from 8.0 million and 37 percent in 1929. Nevertheless, it was reduced to a helpless minority of only 52 members, chiefly from coal mining districts. The old leadership was gone. One bright note came in 1934 when Herbert Morrison led Labour to take control of the London County Council for the first time ever.

In the 1935 election, Labour recovered to 8.0 million votes (38 percent), and Clement Attlee became Minority Leader. The Party now had 154 seats but had minimal influence in Parliament. At the local level union leaders, led by Ernest Bevin, successfully defeated Communist infiltration. In foreign policy a strong pacifist element made it slow to support the government's rearmament program. As the threat from Nazi Germany escalated, the Party gradually abandoned its pacifist stance and came to support re-armament, largely due to the efforts of Bevin and Hugh Dalton. By 1937 they had persuaded the Party to oppose Neville Chamberlain's policy of appeasement of Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. However, as late as April 1939 the Party strongly opposed conscription for the Army.

Wartime coalition (1940–1945)

See also: Churchill war ministry

The party returned to power in May 1940, with about a third of the seats in the wartime coalition government under Churchill. Attlee was given a new position as Deputy Prime Minister. He was in charge of the cabinet when Churchill was absent, and handled domestic affairs, working closely with Bevin as Minister of Labour. The war set in motion profound demands for reform. This mood was epitomised in the Beveridge Report of 1942, by the Liberal economist William Beveridge. The Report assumed that the maintenance of full employment would be the aim of post-war governments, and that this would provide the basis for the welfare state. Immediately upon its release, it sold hundreds of thousands of copies. All major parties committed themselves to fulfilling this aim, but the Labour Party was seen by the electorate as the party most likely to follow it through.

Attlee government (1945–1951)

Main article: Attlee ministry
Clement Attlee, Prime Minister (1945–1951)

With the victory in Europe, the coalition broke up in May 1945. The 1945 general election gave Labour a landslide victory, as they won 12 million votes (50% of the total) and 393 seats. The Labour government proved the most radical in British history. It presided over a policy of nationalising major industries and utilities including the Bank of England, coal mining, the steel industry, electricity, gas and inland transport (including railways, road haulage and canals). It developed and implemented the "cradle to grave" welfare state. It created the National Health Service (NHS), which gave publicly funded medical treatment for all.

Nationalisation primarily affected weak and poorly managed industries, opening the hope that centralized planning would reverse the decline. Iron and steel, however, were already well-run and nationalization was denounced and later reversed by the Conservatives.

The economy was precarious during the age of austerity, as wartime restrictions and rationing continued, and the wartime bombing damage was slowly being rebuilt at great cost. The Treasury depended heavily on American money, especially the 1946 loan of $3.75 billion at a low 2% interest rate, and the gift of $2.694 billion in Marshall Plan funds. Canada also provided gifts and $1.25 billion in loans.

The government began the process of dismantling the British Empire, starting with independence to India and Pakistan in 1947, followed by Burma (Myanmar) and Ceylon (Sri Lanka) the following year. It relinquished its control over Palestine to the United Nations in 1948. Elsewhere independence movements were much weaker and London's policy was to keep the Empire in business.

Under Ernest Bevin's leadership, London pushed Washington into an anti-Communist coalition that launched the Cold War in 1947 and established the NATO military alliance against the USSR in 1949. Furthermore, independent of Washington London committed large sums to developing a secret nuclear weapons programme.

In the 1951 general election, Labour narrowly lost to Churchill's Conservatives, despite receiving the larger share of the popular vote. Its 13.9 million vote total was the highest ever. Most of its innovation were accepted by the Conservatives and Liberals and became part of the "post-war consensus" that lasted until the Thatcher era of the 1980s.

Internal feuds (1951–1964)

Hugh Gaitskell, Leader of the Opposition (1955–1963).

Labour spent 13 years in opposition. It suffered an ideological split, between the left-wing followers of Aneurin Bevan (known as Bevanites) and the right-wing following Hugh Gaitskell (known as Gaitskellites). The economy recovered as Conservatives hung together and chanted, "You Never Had It So Good.". The ageing Attlee contested the general election in 1955, which saw Labour lose ground; he retired and was replaced by Gaitskell. Internal squabbling now focused on the issues of nuclear disarmament, Britain's entry into the European Economic Community (EEC), and Clause IV of the Labour Party Constitution, with its commitment to nationalisation. Gaitskell led Labour to a third consecutive defeat at the 1959 general election despite the party appearing more united than it had been for some time. Gaitskell responded by attempting to remove Clause IV (the nationalisation clause) from the party constitution, but this was unsuccessful. Gaitskell died suddenly in 1963, and cleared the way for Harold Wilson to lead the party.

Wilson as leader (1964–1974)

Main article: Labour government, 1964–1970
Harold Wilson, Prime Minister (1964–1970 and 1974–1976)

A downturn in the economy and a series of scandals in the early 1960s had engulfed the Conservative government by 1963. The Labour Party returned to government with a 4-seat majority under Wilson in the 1964 general election but a landslide increased its majority to 96 in the 1966 general election.

Labour was responsible for a number of sweeping social and cultural reforms mostly under the leadership of Home Secretary Roy Jenkins such as the abolition of the death penalty; the legalisation of abortion; loosening restrictions on homosexuality, the abolition of theatre censorship, and legislation to outlaw racial discrimination

The government put heavy emphasis on expanding opportunities through education: Comprehensive education was expanded at the secondary level and the Open University created for adults.

Wilson's first period as Prime Minister coincided with a period of relatively low unemployment and economic prosperity, it was however hindered by significant problems with a large trade deficit which it had inherited from the previous government. The first three years of the government were spent in an ultimately doomed attempt to stave off the continued devaluation of the pound. Labour went on to unexpectedly lose the 1970 general election to the Conservatives under Edward Heath. Labour in opposition kept Wilson as Leader. The 1970s proved a 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 Labour Party was returned to power again under Wilson a few days after the February 1974 general election, forming a minority government with the support of the Ulster Unionists. In a bid to gain a majority, Prime Minister Wilson soon called an election for October 1974. Labour won a slim majority of three, gaining 18 seats taking its total to 319.

Majority to minority (1974–1979)

Main article: Labour government, 1974–1979
James Callaghan, Prime Minister (1976–1979)

In March 1974 Wilson was appointed prime minister for a second time; he called a snap election in October 1974, which gave Labour a small majority. During his second term as prime minister, Wilson oversaw the referendum that confirmed the UK's membership of the European Communities.

When Wilson suddenly announced his retirement in March 1976, Callaghan defeated five other candidates to be elected Leader of the Labour Party; he was appointed prime minister on 5 April 1976. By now Labour had lost its narrow majority. To stay in power Callaghan made a confidence and supply agreement with the Liberal Party. While this initially proved stable, it could not survive in the face of major industrial disputes and widespread strikes in the 1978–79 "Winter of Discontent", as well as the defeat of the referendum on devolution for Scotland. Minor parties joined the Conservatives to pass a motion of no-confidence in Callaghan on 28 March 1979. Callaghan led Labour to defeat at the 1979 election and was replaced by Conservative Margaret Thatcher. The 1979 defeat marked the beginning of 18 years in opposition for the Labour Party, the longest in its history. According to historian Kenneth O. Morgan, the fall of Callaghan meant the passing of an old obsolete system, as well as the end of corporatism, Keynesian spending programmes, subsidised welfare payments, and labour union power.

Thatcherism and Labour's civil war (1979–1992)

See also: Shadow Cabinet of Michael Foot, Shadow Cabinet of Neil Kinnock, and Social Democratic Party (UK)
Michael Foot, Leader of the Opposition (1980–1983)
The Red Flag symbol used by the party during the 1966 general election and as the official logotype from 1980 to 1987, more specifically under Foot's leadership.

Following 1979 the Labour Party found itself overwhelmed by the Conservative government led by a highly aggressive Margaret Thatcher. From the right she largely rejected the Post-war consensus on economic and social policies that had bipartisan support since the 1950s. At first Thatcher's economic reforms were doing poorly. Argentina's invasion of a British possession in the Falklands War in Spring 1982 transformed British politics. Thatcher's aggressive reaction produced a smashing victory and national elation, guaranteeing Conservatives a massive landslide victory in the 1983 general election. Thatcher's successful attacks on labour unions in 1984–1985 further weakened the Labour base. It took a decade for Labour to recover.

Labour's inward turn flared into a civil war between left and right. The party came under the control of young middle-class left-wing activists in the local constituencies. The left was led by Michael Foot and Tony Benn. They were keen on radical proposals as presented in the 1983 manifesto entitled "The New Hope for Britain". It called for extensive nationalisation of industry, with heavily centralized economic planning, and many additional controls on business. It demanded unilateral nuclear disarmament and withdrawal from the European Community. Labour's manifesto was a repudiation of the Post-war consensus from the left. It alienated so many moderates, skilled workers and the general public that it was ridiculed as the "longest suicide note in history." Some top leaders quit the Labour Party and formed a new Social Democratic Party, but it could not survive. After Labour's massive defeat in the 1983 General Election, Neil Kinnock replaced Foot. He defeated the left wing, reversed the highly controversial Manifesto proposals, expelled extremist factions like the Trotskyist Militant tendency, and began a process of modernization and acceptance of many Thatcherite innovations.

Modernisers take charge (1992–1997)

Kenneth Morgan states, "In 1992, the party presented itself as a modern social democratic party; its communication's officer, Peter Mandelson, ensured that the red flag image would disappear, with the party's new symbol being the gentle emblem of the red rose. This was the party's logo from 1987 to 2007.

In November 1990, Thatcher resigned and was succeeded by the less confrontational Thatcherite John Major. Opinion polls had shown Labour comfortably ahead of the Conservatives largely because of Thatcher's introduction of the highly unpopular poll tax, combined with the fact that the economy was sliding into recession. Major replaced the poll tax but Kinnock energized Labour with the theme "It's Time for a Change", after more than a decade of unbroken Conservative rule. The 1992 general election gave Conservatives a victory with a much-reduced majority of 21. It was a deeply disappointing result for Labour. For the first time in over 30 years there was serious doubt among the public and the media as to whether Labour could ever return to government. Kinnock resigned as leader and was succeeded by John Smith.

Neil Kinnock, Leader of the Opposition (1983–1992)

The damage to the economy on Black Wednesday in September 1992 undermined the Conservative reputation for superior economic competence. By December, Labour had a comfortable lead in the opinion polls. The recession ended in early 1993 and was followed by a sharp fall in unemployment, together with sustained economic growth. Nevertheless, the Labour lead in the polls remained strong. Smith died suddenly in May 1994, and Tony Blair became leader.

Once again the battle resumed between the old guard on the left and the younger "modernisers". The old guard argued that they were regaining strength under Smith's strong leadership. Blair, the leader of the modernisers, warned that the long-term weaknesses had to be reversed. He argued that the party was too locked into a base that was shrinking, since it was based on the working-class, on trade unions and on residents of subsidised council housing. Blair said that the rapidly growing middle class was largely ignored, as well as more ambitious working-class families. He argued that they aspired to become middle-class and accepted the Conservative argument that traditional Labour was holding ambitious people back with higher tax policies. To present a fresh face and new policies to the electorate, New Labour needed more than fresh leaders; it had to jettison outdated policies, argued the modernisers. Calling on the slogan, "One Member, One Vote" Blair defeated the union element and ended block voting by leaders of labour unions. Blair and the modernisers called for radical adjustment of Party goals by repealing "Clause IV", the historic commitment to nationalisation of industry. This was achieved in 1995.

New Labour (1994–2010)

Main article: New Labour See also: Premiership of Tony Blair and Premiership of Gordon Brown Further information: Shadow Cabinet of Tony Blair, First Blair ministry, Second Blair ministry, Third Blair ministry, and Brown ministry
New Labour logo

Blair continued to move the party further to the centre, abandoning the largely symbolic Clause Four at the 1995 mini-conference in a strategy to increase the party's appeal to "middle England". The political philosophy of New Labour was influenced by the party's development of Anthony Giddens' Third Way which attempted to provide a synthesis between capitalism and socialism.

Tony Blair, 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. It was a continuation of the trend that had begun under the leadership of Neil Kinnock. New Labour as a name has no official status, but remains in common use to distinguish modernisers from those holding to more traditional positions, normally referred to as "Old Labour".

New Labour is a party of ideas and ideals but not of outdated ideology. What counts is what works. The objectives are radical. The means will be modern.

The Labour Party won the 1997 general election in a landslide victory with a parliamentary majority of 179; it was the largest ever Labour majority, and at the time the largest swing to a political party achieved since 1945. Over the next decade, a wide range of progressive social reforms were enacted, with millions lifted out of poverty during Labour's time in office largely as a result of various tax and benefit reforms.

Among the early acts of Blair's government were the establishment of the national minimum wage, the devolution of power to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, major changes to the regulation of the banking system and the re-creation of a citywide government body for London, the Greater London Authority, with its own elected-Mayor. Combined with a Conservative opposition that had yet to organise effectively under William Hague, and the continuing popularity of Blair, Labour went on to win the 2001 election with a similar majority, dubbed the "quiet landslide" by the media. In 2003 Labour introduced tax credits, government top-ups to the pay of low-wage workers.

A perceived turning point was when Blair controversially allied himself with US President George W. Bush in supporting the Iraq War, which caused him to lose much of his political support. The UN Secretary-General, among many, considered the war illegal and a violation of the UN Charter. The Iraq War was deeply unpopular in most western countries, with Western governments divided in their support and under pressure from worldwide popular protests. The decisions that led up to the Iraq war and its subsequent conduct were the subject of the Iraq Inquiry.

Gordon Brown, Prime Minister (2007–2010)

In the 2005 general election, Labour was re-elected for a third term, but with a reduced majority of 66 and popular vote of only 35.2%. Blair announced in September 2006 that he would step down as leader within the year, though he had been under pressure to quit earlier than May 2007 in order to get a new leader in place before the May elections which were expected to be disastrous for Labour. In the event, the party did lose power in Scotland to a minority Scottish National Party government at the 2007 elections and, shortly after this, Blair resigned as Prime Minister and was replaced by the Chancellor, Gordon Brown. Brown coordinated the UK's response to the 2007–2008 financial crisis. Membership of the party also reached a low falling to 156,205 by the end of 2009: over 40 per cent of the 405,000 peak reached in 1997 and thought to be the lowest total since the party was founded.

In the 2010 general election on 6 May that year, Labour with 29.0% of the vote won the second largest number of seats (258). The Conservatives with 36.5% of the vote won the largest number of seats (307), but no party had an overall majority, meaning that Labour could still remain in power if they managed to form a coalition with at least one smaller party. However, the Labour Party would have had to form a coalition with more than one other smaller party to gain an overall majority; anything less would result in a minority government. On 10 May 2010, after talks to form a coalition with the Liberal Democrats broke down, Brown announced his intention to stand down as Leader before the Labour Party Conference but a day later resigned as both Prime Minister and party leader.

Opposition (2010–2024)

See also: Labour Party leadership of Ed Miliband and Labour Party leadership of Jeremy Corbyn Further information: Shadow Cabinet of Ed Miliband and Shadow Cabinet of Jeremy Corbyn
Ed Miliband, Leader of the Opposition (2010–2015)

Ed Miliband won the subsequent leadership election. Miliband emphasised "responsible capitalism" and greater state intervention to rebalance the economy away from financial services. He advocated for more regulation of banks and energy companies and often addressed the need to challenge vested interests and increase inclusivity in British society. He adopted the "One Nation Labour" branding in 2012. The Parliamentary Labour Party voted to abolish Shadow Cabinet elections in 2011, ratified by the National Executive Committee and Party Conference. Henceforth the leader of the party chose the Shadow Cabinet members.

In March 2014, the party reformed internal election procedures, including replacing the electoral college system with "one member, one vote". Mass membership was encouraged by creating a class of "registered supporters" as an alternative to full membership. Trade union members would also have to explicitly opt in rather than opt out of paying a political levy to the party.

In September 2014, Labour outlined plans to cut the government's current account deficit and balance the budget by 2020, excluding investment. The party carried these plans into the 2015 general election, which Labour lost. Its representation fell to 232 seats in the House of Commons. The party lost 40 of its 41 seats in Scotland to the Scottish National Party.

Jeremy Corbyn, Leader of the Opposition (2015–2020)

After the 2015 general election, Miliband resigned as party leader and Harriet Harman again became interim leader. Labour held a leadership election in which Jeremy Corbyn, then a member of the Socialist Campaign Group, was considered a fringe candidate when the contest began, receiving nominations from just 36 MPs, one more than the minimum required to stand, and the support of just 16 MPs. The Labour Party saw a flood of membership applications during the leadership election, with most of the new members thought to be Corbyn supporters. Corbyn was elected leader with 60% of the vote. Membership continued to climb after his victory; one year later it had grown to more than 500,000, making it the largest political party in Western Europe.

Tensions soon developed in the parliamentary party over Corbyn's leadership, particularly after the 2016 Brexit referendum. Many in the party were angered that Corbyn did not campaign strongly against Brexit; he had been only a "lukewarm" supporter of remaining in the European Union and refused to join David Cameron in campaigning for the Remain side. 21 members of the Shadow Cabinet resigned after the referendum. Corbyn lost a no-confidence vote among Labour MPs by 172–40, triggering a leadership election, which he won decisively with 62% support among Labour party members.

In April 2017, Prime Minister Theresa May called a snap election for June 2017. Corbyn resisted pressure from within the Labour Party to call for a referendum on the eventual Brexit deal, instead focusing on healthcare, education and ending austerity. Although Labour started the campaign as far as 20 points behind, it defied expectations by gaining 40% of the vote, its greatest share since 2001 and the biggest increase in vote share in a single general election since 1945. The party gained a net 30 seats with the Conservatives losing their overall majority.

From 2016, the Labour Party faced criticism for failing to deal with antisemitism. Criticism was also levelled at Corbyn. The Chakrabarti Inquiry cleared the party of widespread antisemitism, but identified an "occasionally toxic atmosphere". High-profile party members, including Ken Livingstone, Peter Willsman and Chris Williamson, left the party or were suspended over antisemitism-related incidents. In 2018, internal divisions emerged over adopting the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism, with those opposed arguing the definition limits free speech including criticism of the state of Israel. 68 rabbis criticised the leadership for its stance. The issue was cited by a number of Labour MPs who left the party to create Change UK, a new political party made up of ex-Conservative and ex-Labour MPs.

In the 2019 general election, Labour campaigned on a manifesto widely considered the most radical in decades, more closely resembling Labour's politics of the 1970s than subsequent decades. These included plans to nationalise the country's biggest energy firms, the National Grid, the water industry, Royal Mail, the railways and the broadband arm of BT. The election saw Labour win its lowest number of seats since 1935. Following Labour's defeat in the 2019 general election Corbyn announced that he would stand down as leader.

In 2020, a report by the Equalities and Human Rights Commission found the party responsible for three Equality Act breaches, including harassment and political interference in antisemitism complaints, but did not directly implicate Corbyn. In response, Corbyn said “One antisemite is one too many, but the scale of the problem was also dramatically overstated for political reasons by our opponents inside and outside the party, as well as by much of the media.” The Forde Report concluded allegations of antisemitism were weaponised by opponents of Corbyn and that hostility towards Corbyn inside the party from his opponents contributed to the party’s ineffective handling of antisemitism complaints and undermined the party’s leader and election campaigns.

Return to government (2024–present)

Main articles: Premiership of Keir Starmer and Starmer ministry
Keir Starmer, Prime Minister (2024–present)

On 4 April 2020, Keir Starmer was elected as Leader of the Labour Party amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. During his tenure as opposition leader, Starmer repositioned the party from the left toward the political centre, and emphasised the importance of eliminating antisemitism within the party. Starmer led Labour to victory in the local elections in 2023 and 2024. In 2023, Starmer set out five missions for his government, targeting issues such as economic growth, health, clean energy, crime and education.

During the 2024 general election, Labour maintained a strong poll lead, with its manifesto focusing on economic growth, planning system reform, infrastructure, clean energy, healthcare, education, childcare, constitutional reform, and strengthening workers' rights. It pledged a new publicly owned energy company to achieve net zero emissions by 2030, a "Green Prosperity Plan", reducing patient waiting times and "rebuilding the NHS", reforming public services, and public ownership of the railway network and local bus services. The manifesto also pledged to give votes to 16 year olds, reform the House of Lords, and to tax private schools, with money generated going into improving state education.

Starmer led Labour to a landslide victory with a majority of 174, with a popular vote share of 33.7%, ending fourteen years of Conservative government with Labour becoming the largest party in the House of Commons. He succeeded Rishi Sunak as prime minister on 5 July 2024, becoming the first Labour prime minister since Gordon Brown in 2010 and the first one to win a general election since Tony Blair in 2005. One of Starmer's first cabinet appointments was Rachel Reeves as Chancellor, which made her the first woman to hold the office. The 2024 State Opening of Parliament outlined 39 pieces of legislation that Labour proposed, including bills to renationalise the railways, strengthen the rights of workers, and to give areas of England devolution powers.

Ideology

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Socialism in
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Ideologies
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Social democracy

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Labour sits on the centre-left of the political spectrum. It was formed to provide political representation for the trade union movement in Parliament. The Labour Party gained a socialist commitment with the party constitution of 1918, Clause IV of which called for the "common ownership", or nationalisation, of the "means of production, distribution and exchange". Although about a third of British industry was taken into public ownership after the Second World War and remained so until the 1980s, the right of the party was questioning the validity of expanding on this by the late 1950s. Influenced by Anthony Crosland's book The Future of Socialism (1956), the circle around party leader Hugh Gaitskell felt that the commitment was no longer necessary. An attempt to remove Clause IV from the party constitution in 1959 failed; Tony Blair and New Labour "modernisers" were successful in removing Clause IV in 1994.

Historically influenced by Keynesian economics, the party favoured government intervention in the economy and the redistribution of wealth. Taxation was seen as a means to achieve a "major redistribution of wealth and income" in the October 1974 election manifesto. The party also desired increased rights for workers and a welfare state, including publicly funded healthcare. From the late-1980s onwards, the party adopted free market policies, leading many observers to describe the Labour Party as social democratic or the Third Way, rather than democratic socialist. Other commentators go further and argue that traditional social democratic parties across Europe, including the British Labour Party, have been so deeply transformed in recent years that it is no longer possible to describe them ideologically as "social democratic", and that this ideological shift has put new strains on the Labour Party's traditional relationship with the trade unions. Within the party, differentiation was made between the social democratic and the socialist wings of the party, the latter often subscribed to a radical socialist, even Marxist, ideology.

While affirming a commitment to democratic socialism, the new version of Clause IV no longer definitely commits the party to public ownership of industry and in its place advocates "the enterprise of the market and the rigour of competition" along with "high quality public services either owned by the public or accountable to them". MPs in the Socialist Campaign Group and the Labour Representation Committee see themselves as standard bearers for the radical socialist tradition in contrast to the democratic socialist tradition represented by organisations such as Compass and the magazine Tribune. The group Progress, founded in 1996, represents the centrist position in the party and was opposed to the Corbyn leadership. In 2015, Momentum was created by Jon Lansman as a grass-roots left-wing organisation following Jeremy Corbyn's election as party leader. Rather than organising among the PLP, Momentum is a rank-and-file grouping with an estimated 40,000 members. The party also has a Christian socialist faction, the Christians on the Left society.

Symbols

Labour has long been identified with red, a political colour traditionally affiliated with socialism and the labour movement. Prior to the red flag logo, the party had used a modified version of the classic 1924 shovel, torch, and quill emblem. In 1924, a brand-conscious Labour leadership had devised a competition, inviting supporters to design a logo to replace the 'polo mint' like motif that had previously appeared in party literature. The winning entry, emblazoned with the word "Liberty" over a design incorporating a torch, shovel, and quill symbol, was popularised through its sale, in badge form, for a shilling. The party conference in 1931 passed a motion "That this conference adopts Party Colours, which should be uniform throughout the country, colours to be red and gold". During the New Labour period, the colour purple was also used, and the party has employed other colours in certain areas according to local tradition.

The red flag, originally the official flag and symbol of the Labour Party.

Since the party's inception, the red flag has been Labour's official symbol; the flag has been associated with socialism and revolution ever since the 1789 French Revolution and the revolutions of 1848. The red rose, a symbol of socialism and social democracy, was adopted as the party symbol in 1986 as part of a rebranding exercise and is now incorporated into the party logo.

The red flag became an inspiration, which resulted in the composition of "The Red Flag", the official party anthem since its inception, being sung at the end of party conferences and on various occasions such as in Parliament in February 2006 to mark the centenary of the Labour Party's founding. It still remains in use, although attempts were made to play down the role of the song during New Labour. The song "Jerusalem", based on a William Blake poem, is also traditionally sung at the end of party conferences with The Red Flag.

Constitution and structure

Clause IV (1995)

The Labour Party is a democratic socialist party. It believes that by the strength of our common endeavour we achieve more than we achieve alone, so as to create for each of us the means to realise our true potential and for all of us a community in which power, wealth and opportunity are in the hands of the many, not the few, where the rights we enjoy reflect the duties we owe, and where we live together, freely, in a spirit of solidarity, tolerance and respect.

Party Constitution, Labour Party Rule Book

The Labour Party is a membership organisation consisting of individual members and constituency Labour parties, affiliated trade unions, socialist societies and the Co-operative Party, with which it has an electoral agreement. Members who are elected to parliamentary positions take part in the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP). Prior to Brexit in January 2020, members also took part in the European Parliamentary Labour Party (EPLP).

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 2008 Labour Party Conference was the first at which affiliated trade unions and Constituency Labour Parties did not have the right to submit motions on contemporary issues that would previously have been debated. Labour Party conferences now include more "keynote" addresses, guest speakers and question-and-answer sessions, while specific discussion of policy now takes place in the National Policy Forum.

The Labour Party is an unincorporated association without a separate legal personality, and the Labour Party Rule Book legally regulates the organisation and the relationship with members. The General Secretary represents the party on behalf of the other members of the Labour Party in any legal matters or actions.

Membership and registered supporters

A graph showing Labour Party individual membership, excluding affiliated members and supporters.

As of 31 December 2010, under the new leader Ed Miliband, individual membership of the party was 193,261; a historical low for the Party since the 1930s. Membership remained relatively unchanged in the following years. In August 2015, prior to the 2015 leadership election, the Labour Party reported 292,505 full members, 147,134 affiliated supporters (mostly from affiliated trade unions and socialist societies) and 110,827 registered supporters; a total of about 550,000 members and supporters.

Following the election of Jeremy Corbyn as leader, individual membership almost doubled to 388,262 in December 2015; and rose significantly again the following year to 543,645 in December 2016. As of December 2017, the party had 564,443 full members, a peak since 1980 making it the largest political party in Western Europe. Consequently, membership fees became the largest component of the party's income, overtaking trade unions donations which were previously of most financial importance, making Labour the most financially well-off British political party in 2017. As of December 2019, the party had 532,046 full members.

In the 2020 leadership election, 490,731 people voted, of which 401,564 (81.8%) were members, 76,161 (15.5%) had affiliated membership and 13,006 (2.6%) were registered supporters. The registered supporter class was abolished in 2021. By December 2023, the party's membership had fallen to 370,450 members. In March 2024, it was revealed the party's membership had reduced further to 366,604 members.

Northern Ireland

For many years, Labour held to a policy of not allowing residents of Northern Ireland to apply for membership, instead supporting the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) which informally takes the Labour whip in the House of Commons. The 2003 Labour Party Conference accepted legal advice that the party could not continue to prohibit residents of the province joining, and whilst the National Executive has established a regional constituency party it has not yet agreed to contest elections there. In December 2015 a meeting of the members of the Labour Party in Northern Ireland decided unanimously to contest the elections for the Northern Ireland Assembly held in May 2016. The Labour Party in Northern Ireland moved a model motion, in July 2020, for Labour's NEC to allow them a "Right to Stand". The motion noted how the SDLP's alliance with Fianna Fáil, a member-party of the Liberal International in the Republic of Ireland, had meant that it was campaigning against the Irish Labour Party, which it saw as questioning "the legitimacy of Labour's sister party relationship".

Trade union link

See also: Trade unionism in the United Kingdom
Unite the Union showing their support for the Labour party on their Leeds offices during the 2015 general election.

The Trade Union and Labour Party Liaison Organisation is the co-ordinating structure that supports the policy and campaign activities of affiliated union members within the Labour Party at the national, regional and local level.

As it was founded by the unions to represent the interests of working-class people, Labour's link with the unions has always been a defining characteristic of the party. In recent years this link has come under increasing strain, with the RMT being expelled from the party in 2004 for allowing its branches in Scotland to affiliate to the left-wing Scottish Socialist Party. Other unions have also faced calls from members to reduce financial support for the Party and seek more effective political representation for their views on privatisation, public spending cuts and the anti-trade union laws. Unison and GMB have both threatened to withdraw funding from constituency MPs and Dave Prentis of UNISON has warned that the union will write "no more blank cheques" and is dissatisfied with "feeding the hand that bites us". Union funding was redesigned in 2013 after the Falkirk candidate-selection controversy. The Fire Brigades Union, which "severed links" with Labour in 2004, re-joined the party under Corbyn's leadership in 2015.

European and international affiliation

The Labour Party was a founder member of the Party of European Socialists (PES). The European Parliamentary Labour Party's 10 MEPs were part of the Socialists and Democrats (S&D), the second largest group in the European Parliament. The Labour Party was represented by Emma Reynolds in the PES presidency.

The party was a member of the Labour and Socialist International between 1923 and 1940. Since 1951, the party has been a member of the Socialist International, which was founded thanks to the efforts of the Clement Attlee leadership. In February 2013, the Labour Party NEC decided to downgrade participation to observer membership status, "in view of ethical concerns, and to develop international co-operation through new networks". Labour was a founding member of the Progressive Alliance international founded in co-operation with the Social Democratic Party of Germany and other social-democratic parties on 22 May 2013.

Electoral performance

Main article: Electoral history of the Labour Party (UK)

For all detailed election results involving the Labour Party including: general elections, devolved national elections, London Assembly, London Mayoral, combined authority and European Parliament elections see: Electoral history of the Labour Party (UK).

In all general elections since 1918, Labour has been either the governing party or the Official Opposition.

UK general election results

See also: Elections in the United Kingdom § General elections

Following the 1918 general election, Labour became the Official Opposition after the Conservatives went into coalition with the Liberal Party. Labour's first minority governments came following the 1923 and 1929 general elections, the latter being the first time Labour were the largest party in the country by seats won. They formed their first majority government following the 1945 general election. However, after winning the 1950 general election, Labour would lose the following election in 1951 to the Conservatives despite gaining the highest share of votes to date at 48.8%. During the 1983 election, Labour posted their worst vote share in the post-war period at 27.6%. In 1997, a party record of 418 Labour MPs were elected. At the 2024 general election, Labour won a landslide victory and returned to government with Keir Starmer as prime minister.

See also: Elections in the United Kingdom § General elections
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Election Leader Votes Seats Position Result Ref
No. Share No. ± Share
1900 Keir Hardie 62,698 1.8 2 / 670 Increase 2 0.3 4th ConservativeLiberal Unionist
1906 321,663 5.7 29 / 670 Increase 27 4.3 Steady 4th Liberal
January 1910 Arthur Henderson 505,657 7.6 40 / 670 Increase 11 6.0 Steady 4th Liberal minority
December 1910 George Nicoll Barnes 371,802 7.1 42 / 670 Increase 2 6.3 Steady 4th Liberal minority
1918 William Adamson 2,245,777 20.8 57 / 707 Increase 15 8.1 Steady 4th Coalition Liberal–Conservative
1922 J. R. Clynes 4,237,349 29.7 142 / 615 Increase 85 23.1 Increase 2nd Conservative
1923 Ramsay MacDonald 4,439,780 30.7 191 / 615 Increase 49 30.1 Steady 2nd Labour minority
1924 5,489,087 33.3 151 / 615 Decrease 40 24.6 Steady 2nd Conservative
1929 8,370,417 37.1 287 / 615 Increase 136 47.0 Increase 1st Labour minority
1931 Arthur Henderson 6,649,630 30.9 52 / 615 Decrease 235 8.5 Decrease 2nd Conservative–Liberal–National Labour
1935 Clement Attlee 8,325,491 38.0 154 / 615 Increase 102 25.0 Steady 2nd Conservative–Liberal National–National Labour
1945 11,967,746 48.0 393 / 640 Increase 239 61.0 Increase 1st Labour
1950 13,266,176 46.1 315 / 625 Decrease 78 50.4 Steady 1st Labour
1951 13,948,883 48.8 295 / 625 Decrease 20 47.2 Decrease 2nd Conservative
1955 12,405,254 46.4 277 / 630 Decrease 18 44.0 Steady 2nd Conservative
1959 Hugh Gaitskell 12,216,172 43.8 258 / 630 Decrease 19 40.1 Steady 2nd Conservative
1964 Harold Wilson 12,205,808 44.1 317 / 630 Increase 59 50.3 Increase 1st Labour
1966 13,096,629 48.0 364 / 630 Increase 47 57.8 Steady 1st Labour
1970 12,208,758 43.1 288 / 630 Decrease 76 45.7 Decrease 2nd Conservative
February 1974 11,645,616 37.2 301 / 635 Increase 13 47.4 Increase 1st Labour minority
October 1974 11,457,079 39.3 319 / 635 Increase 18 50.2 Steady 1st Labour
1979 James Callaghan 11,532,218 36.9 269 / 635 Decrease 50 42.4 Decrease 2nd Conservative
1983 Michael Foot 8,456,934 27.6 209 / 650 Decrease 60 32.2 Steady 2nd Conservative
1987 Neil Kinnock 10,029,807 30.8 229 / 650 Increase 20 35.2 Steady 2nd Conservative
1992 11,560,484 34.4 271 / 651 Increase 42 41.6 Steady 2nd Conservative
1997 Tony Blair 13,518,167 43.2 418 / 659 Increase 145 63.6 Increase 1st Labour
2001 10,724,953 40.7 412 / 659 Decrease 6 62.7 Steady 1st Labour
2005 9,552,436 35.2 355 / 646 Decrease 47 55.0 Steady 1st Labour
2010 Gordon Brown 8,606,517 29.0 258 / 650 Decrease 90 40.0 Decrease 2nd Conservative–Liberal Democrats
2015 Ed Miliband 9,347,324 30.4 232 / 650 Decrease 26 35.7 Steady 2nd Conservative
2017 Jeremy Corbyn 12,877,918 40.0 262 / 650 Increase 30 40.3 Steady 2nd Conservative minority
(with DUP confidence and supply)
2019 10,269,051 32.1 202 / 650 Decrease 60 31.1 Steady 2nd Conservative
2024 Keir Starmer 9,686,329 33.7 411 / 650 Increase 209 63.4 Increase 1st Labour
A graph showing the percentage of the popular vote received by major parties in general elections (1832–2005).
Note
  1. 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.
  2. First election held under the Representation of the People (Equal Franchise) Act 1928 which gave all women aged over 21 the vote.
  3. Franchise extended to all 18 to 20-year-olds under the Representation of the People Act 1969.

Leadership

Leaders of the Labour Party since 1906

Main article: Leader of the Labour Party (UK)

Source:

Deputy Leaders of the Labour Party since 1922

Main article: Deputy Leader of the Labour Party (UK)

Leaders in the House of Lords since 1924

Labour prime ministers

Labour prime ministers
Name Portrait Country of birth Periods in office
Ramsay MacDonald Scotland 1924; 19291931
(first and second MacDonald ministries)
Clement Attlee England 19451950; 19501951
(Attlee ministry)
Harold Wilson England 19641966; 19661970; 1974; 19741976
(first, second, third and fourth Wilson ministries)
James Callaghan England 19761979
(Callaghan ministry)
Tony Blair Scotland 19972001; 20012005; 20052007
(first, second and third Blair ministries)
Gordon Brown Scotland 20072010
(Brown ministry)
Keir Starmer Keir Starmer England 2024–present
(Starmer ministry)

See also

References

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Bibliography

Further reading

  • Bassett, Lewis. "Corbynism: Social democracy in a new left garb." Political Quarterly 90.4 (2019): 777–784 online Archived 5 February 2023 at the Wayback Machine
  • Brivati, Brian, and Richard Heffernan, eds. The Labour Party: A Centenary History (2000) online Archived 23 November 2022 at the Wayback Machine, 27 chapters by experts
  • Davies, A. J. To Build a New Jerusalem: Labour Movement from the 1890s to the 1990s (1996).
  • Driver, Stephen; and Luke Martell. New Labour: Politics after Thatcherism (Polity Press, wnd ed. 2006).
  • Foote, Geoffrey. The Labour Party's Political Thought: A History (Macmillan, 1997).
  • Harris, Kenneth. Attlee (1982) online
  • Kavanagh, Dennis. The Politics of the Labour Party (Routledge, 2013).
  • Morgan, Kenneth O. Labour People: Leaders and Lieutenants, Hardie to Kinnock (Oxford UP, 1992), scholarly biographies of 30 key leaders.
  • Morgan, Kenneth O. "United Kingdom: A Comparative Case Study of Labour Prime Ministers Attlee, Wilson, Callaghan and Blair" The Journal of Legislative Studies 10.2-3 (2004): 38–52. https://doi.org/10.1080/135723304200032220
  • Pelling, Henry; and Alastair J. Reid. A Short History of the Labour Party (12th ed. 2005) online
  • Pimlott, Ben, and Chris Cook, eds. Trade unions in British politics: the first 250 years (2nd ed. Longman, 1991)
  • Plant, Raymond, Matt Beech and Kevin Hickson, eds. The Struggle for Labour's Soul: understanding Labour's political thought since 1945 (2004)
  • Rogers, Chris. "'Hang on a Minute, I've Got a Great Idea': From the Third Way to Mutual Advantage in the Political Economy of the British Labour Party." British Journal of Politics and International Relations 15#1 (2013): 53–69.
  • Rosen, Greg, ed. Dictionary of Labour Biography. (Politicos Publishing, 2001), 665pp; 300 short biographies by experts. online
  • Rosen, Greg. Old Labour to New, Politicos Publishing, 2005.
  • Seaman, L. C. B. Post-Victorian Britain: 1902-1951 (1966) online
  • Shaw, Eric. The Labour Party since 1979: Crisis and Transformation (Routledge, 1994). online
  • Shaw, Eric. "Understanding Labour Party Management under Tony Blair." Political Studies Review 14.2 (2016): 153–162. https://doi.org/10.1177/1478929915623296
  • Taylor, Robert. The Parliamentary Labour Party: A History 1906–2006 (2007).
  • Timmins, Nicholas. The five giants: a biography of the welfare state (2nd ed. 2001) online

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