The Labour Party is the dominant left-wing party of Great Britain. Established in 1900, it originally campaigned for common ownership of the means of production and redistribution of wealth. A reform to Clause 4 of the party constitution in 1995 ended the party’s commitment to collective ownership and transformed it into a democratic socialist party which promotes social justice, reward for hard work, decency, and rights matched with responsibilities. Although the party governed for only 23 years in the 20th century, its policies transformed British society. In 1945–51, under Clement Attlee, Labour’s first majority government took a number of British industries into public ownership and expanded the provision of the welfare state, including the establishment of the National Health Service (NHS). In 1964–70 the second government, under Harold Wilson, implemented social measures, including reforms of the laws relating to divorce, homosexuality and abortion, and abolished capital punishment.
Labour spent 18 years in opposition, 1979–97. During this time party policy first moved to the left under the leadership of Michael Foot, and then, from the late 1980s, underwent a series of reviews, first under the leadership of Neil Kinnock in 1983–92, and then under that of John Smith, in 1992–94. Following the sudden death of John Smith in 1994, Tony Blair took over as leader of the party. As a result of Blair’s pragmatic and less ideological approach to politics, the party has come to be referred to as New Labour.
In 1997 New Labour was elected with a landslide victory. It won a total of 418 seats in the House of Commons, a majority of 179 seats. It was re-elected in 2001 with 412 seats and a marginally reduced majority of 167. In office New Labour has introduced a national minimum wage and reforms to the welfare state. New Labour has increased spending on the NHS and education and its chancellor, Gordon Brown, has won Labour a reputation for sound economic management. New Labour has also undertaken a radical reform of the British constitution. It held referendums on devolution for Scotland, Wales and—following the Good Friday Agreement—Northern Ireland. It has also reformed the House of Lords. By August 2003 the Labour Party had been in government for longer than at any other time in its history.
Party Leader: Tony Blair
Address: 16 Old Queen St, London SW1H 9HP, United Kingdom
