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.







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.







The British General Election of 1945


Book Description

A seminal analysis of the election that reshaped Britain.







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 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.




Volume Three. Liberal Party General Election Manifestos 1900-1997


Book Description

This volume brings together for the first time the British Liberal Political Party General Election Manifestos, dating back to 1900, and including the most recent General Election manifesto of 1997. The project provides an indispensible source of data about the Liberal Party's political ideologies and policy positions, as well as charting their changes over time. The volume has a new introduction written by Duncan Brack, who is Programmes Director at the Royal Institute of International Affairs. He was previously the Policy Director for the Liberal Democrats and editor of the Dictionary of Liberal Biography, published by Politicos in February 1999. In addition to the new introduction, the volume has a comprehensive index, making it easy to use.