British Labour Party in Opposition and Power 1979-2019: Forward March Halted?

This book explores Labour's years in opposition and power since 1979, examining how New Labour fought to reinvent post-war social democracy and reshape its core political ideas. It charts Labour's recovery from political disaster in the 1980s and its journey from opposition to power with the rise and fall of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. However, Labour has since found itself on the edge of oblivion, defeated in 2010 and entering a cycle of degeneration and decline. The book examines decisive points of transformational change in the party's development and raises the question of whether Labour is capable of transforming the ideological weather and shaping a new paradigm in British politics.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 422 pages
Publication date: 19 January 2021
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive book delves into the Labour Party's years in opposition and power since 1979, exploring how New Labour sought to reinvent post-war social democracy and reshape its core political ideas. It charts Labour's sporadic recovery from political disaster in the 1980s, successfully navigating the treacherous journey from opposition to power with the rise and eventual fall of the governments of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. Forty years after the 1979 debacle, Labour finds itself once again on the precipice of oblivion, having been defeated in 2010. Like many social democratic parties across Europe, Labour struggled to identify a fresh ideological rationale in the aftermath of the global financial crisis.

Drawing on a wealth of sources, including interviews and unpublished papers, the book focuses on key moments of transformational change in the party's development, raising a perennial concern in contemporary debate: whether Labour is capable of transforming the ideological weather, shaping a new paradigm in British politics, or whether it should content itself with governing within the parameters established by its Conservative opponents.

This text will appeal to a broad readership, including scholars and students of British politics, British political party history, and the history of the British Labour Party since 1918. It provides a detailed and insightful analysis of Labour's journey and its challenges in the modern political landscape.

Weight: 648g
Dimension: 155 x 234 x 38 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781138817890