Trade unions and the political culture of the British Labour Party, 1931-1940
The events surrounding the collapse of the second Labour government in the summer of 1931 represented a watershed in twentieth century British politics. They brought to a close the âuneasy equilibriumâ which had characterised the countryâs political life since 1918, ensconcing a Conservative-dominated National government in power for the remainder of a decade marked by continuing economic uncertainty and the mounting threat of war. They also precipitated a crisis of political identity within the Labour party. Deprived of the founding generation of its leadership and with its parliamentary strength decimated, the âgradualistâ approach which had long characterised its politics was seemingly left in tatters. Yet Labour returned to office in 1940 as a key partner in the wartime coalition; in 1945, it secured a sweeping electoral landslide of its own, allowing it to implement much of its traditional programme. It is the contention of this thesis that the partyâs recovery during the 1930s was made possible by the crucial contribution of the trade unions. With Labourâs political leadership substantially weakened after 1931, the unions assumed a pivotal role in shaping the partyâs direction, to the
Parker, James Michael Trevor
Trade unions and the political culture of the British Labour Party, 1931-1940. The events surrounding the collapse of the second Labour government in the summer of 1931 represented a watershed in twentieth century British politics. They brought to a close the âuneasy equilibriumâ which had characterised the countryâs political life since 1918, ensconcing a Conservative-dominated National government in power for the remainder of a decade marked by continuing economic uncertainty and the mounting threat of war. They also precipitated a crisis of political identity within the Labour party. Deprived of the founding generation of its leadership and with its parliamentary strength decimated, the âgradualistâ approach which had long characterised its politics was seemingly left in tatters. Yet Labour returned to office in 1940 as a key partner in the wartime coalition; in 1945, it secured a sweeping electoral landslide of its own, allowing it to implement much of its traditional programme. It is the contention of this thesis that the partyâs recovery during the 1930s was made possible by the crucial contribution of the trade unions. With Labourâs political leadership substantially weakened after 1931, the unions assumed a pivotal role in shaping the partyâs direction, to the
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