The British General Election of 1931


Book Description

The British general election of 1931 marked the culmination of a period of political and economic crisis, and has long been regarded as a watershed in twentieth-century British history. In the summer of 1931, a struggling Labour government collapsed: its leader, Ramsay MacDonald, stayed on to form a National government supported mainly by Conservatives and Liberals. Within six weeks, the decision to call an election was taken, and in the ensuing contest the Nationals won an overwhelming victory. Thorpe argues that while 1931 changed much, the general trends towards conservative hegemony and two-party politics were little disturbed by the crisis. He traces the background to the events of 1931, and examines their implications in detail.




The Labour Party and the Planned Economy, 1931-1951


Book Description

An exploration of Labour's 1931 pledge to create a planned socialist economy and the reasons for its failure to do so. In the general election of 1931, the Labour Party campaigned on the slogan "Plan or Perish". The party's pledge to create a planned socialist economy was a novelty, and marked the rejection of the gradualist, evolutionary socialism to which Labour had adhered under the leadership of Ramsay MacDonald. Although heavily defeated in that election, Labour stuck to its commitment. The Attlee government came to power in 1945 determined to plan comprehensively. Yet, the aspiration to create a fully planned economy was not met. This book explores the origins and evolution of the promise, in order to explain why it was not fulfilled. RICHARD TOYE lectures in history at Homerton College, Cambridge.







British General Election Campaigns 1830–2019


Book Description

This remarkable book, edited by one of the UK's leading political commentators, takes us on a deep dive into nearly 200 years of British political history through its most dramatic expression: the general election. The British general election is the linchpin of our liberal democracy, and its results are often fundamental to how we live. With the next general election on the horizon, now is the perfect time to consider those that came before. From the general election of 1830, in which electoral reform was the centrepiece, to the so-called Brexit election of 2019, Iain Dale delivers a showcase of all 50 general election campaigns, with an essay for each of them penned by key political writers, including John Curtice, Julia Langdon, Simon Heffer, Peter Snow, Sue Cameron, Vernon Bogdanor, Adam Boulton and many others. If you want to get to the heart of British politics and democracy, there is no greater guide than this meticulously researched, insightful and engaging collection.







The Decline Of The Liberal Party 1910-1931


Book Description

Paul Adelman seeks to explain the Liberal Party's dramatic transformation in political fortune. This clear, objective up-to-date account of the history of the Liberal Party covers the key period, 1910-1931. Focusing on liberal decline and drawing upon the different views forwarded by historians to account for this phenomenon, it discusses liberal decline before World War 1, the impact of the war on the liberals and the divisions that grew in the party after December 1916 between followers of Asquith and Lloyd George. A number of general factors are also covered, the impact of social and economic change, the effects of the Reform Act of 1918 and the rise of the Labour party. An ideal text for A-level and undergraduate students of history and politics.







Britain in Transition


Book Description

This new edition extends and brings up to date the story of political, economic, and social change among the British. An entirely new chapter covers the Thatcher years, discussing such events as the Falkland Island crisis and the General Election of 1983. Other sections have been revised to reflect information only recently available. Throughout, Havighurst has incorporated material from official documents, monographs, biographies, articles, and the press. His fascinating narrative fully captures the ongoing importance of change itself in shaping the character of Britain.




The British General Election of 1945


Book Description

A seminal analysis of the election that reshaped Britain.




The Labour Party in Britain and Norway


Book Description

In the aftermath of World War I and the Russian Revolution of 1917, the nature, aims and trajectories of the Labour parties of Europe were fundamentally altered and transformed. In this compelling and thoughtful analysis of the Labour parties of Britain and Norway, David Redvaldsen offers an insight into the successes and failures of these two parties as they faced the challenges of the economic and political situation of the interwar era and their relentless pursuit of power. Redvaldsen asks what made each party successful, and by proposing that the Labour Party of Norway was the more successful of the two, draws important conclusions that have resonance for the study of political parties in general. It will thus be of utmost relevance not only to students and researchers of left-wing politics, but also to those interested in the nature of the pursuit of power itself in the crucial interwar period.