Protest and Power: The Battle for the Labour Party

A meticulously researched and balanced history of the Labour Party's hard left, from its New Left origins to its current Corbynista incarnation, and its potential for power with a group of activists from the 1970s. The book explores the conflicts within the party, between ideologues and pragmatists, and how these fissures may keep Labour in opposition.

\n Format: Hardback
\n Length: 448 pages
\n Publication date: 18 April 2019
\n Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
\n

A meticulously researched and balanced history of the twists and turns undertaken by the hard left of the Labour Party to retain relevance and the hope of power. The Times, Highly-readable and well-researched The Sunday Times, Faultless account of the twists and turns undertaken by the hard left of the Labour Party to retain relevance and the hope of power. James O Brien, TLS, A very good book, probably the most even-handed of all the accounts of Corbyns rise to power. Guardian, Timely new book about Labour. Independent, The battle for the Labour party is dramatic and intense. This is its definitive history. Labour has shifted from the New Left, to New Labour, to Corbynista Labour. Now, it may see power again with a most unlikely group of activists from the 1970s becoming the fourth generation to win power since 1945. Only Clement Attlee, Harold Wilson, and Tony Blair have won power from a sitting Conservative government. Of the ten general elections since 1979, Labour has won three, all under Blair. This record of failure, if applied to any other walk of life, would raise the fundamental question of why continue to fight a losing battle? For Labour, it asks whether it is a party of protest – designed only to be a voice from opposition, commenting on the flaws and falsities of Conservative policy – or a party of power? Including exclusive interviews with key party members from the 1970s to today, including Neil Kinnock, Tony Blair, Ed Miliband, and Jon Lansman; and the parties recent struggles with antisemitism and Brexit, this book chronicles the conflicts within the Labour party, the schisms between ideologues and pragmatists, and how these fissures seem destined to keep Labour in opposition.

\n Weight: 820g\n
Dimension: 235 x 152 x 40 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781448217281\n \n