The Battle of Ideas in the Labour Party, 1945–92

The first chapter is a broad sweep of the historical battle of ideas in the party starting from the Attlee government and finishing on Neil Kinnock’s terms as leader. For the Attlee period, there is a focus on the liberal ideas that guided that government and the beginnings of the left. It tracks the left’s thinking into the 50s with Bevanism and the riposte to it that came Tony Crosland and revisionism. It analyses the rise of the left in the early 70s and its dominance until the early 80s. It finishes on the leadership of Neil Kinnock over both his terms as leader, which are often seen as the reassertion of the right over the left.

Introduction

[T]he ideas of economists and political philosophers … are more powerful than is commonly understood. Indeed, the world is ruled by little else. (John Maynard Keynes, 1964) Corbynism was the new political thought in town. Its advocates claimed it heralded the end of neoliberalism, the dominant idea that has guided UK policy since its implementation by Margaret Thatcher (see ...

Corbynism: Brexit and Globalization

The sixth chapter builds upon the conclusions of the fifth chapter around Labour’s renewal, but with a particular focus on Brexit. It chronicles the leadership’s deliberations on Brexit and what it means for Corbynism and the party’s policy programme. It covers the areas of Brexit, state aid, globalisation, the concept of socialism ‘in one country’.

The Rise of New Labour: Electoral Concerns Trump Ideology

The second chapter details the ideas under the leaderships of John Smith and Tony Blair. It chronicles Smith’s short term in terms of new ideas and policy processes he began to develop. After Smith’s tragic death, this chapter analyses the rise of Blair and the ideas he engaged with before winning in 1997.

Corbynism: The Left’s Resurgence

The fifth chapter is a detailed investigation of Corbynism. It delves into what it is substantively. Through many interviews and secondary sources, it reveals the main thinkers and who are the chief actors driving it forward. It notes that it is largely defined by what it is not, namely New Labour and neoliberalism, critiquing the previous Labour administration’s accommodation with neoliberalism. However, its advocates deliberately avoid accusations of a lurch back to ‘Old’ Labour and there is an attempt to project a newness to Labour’s thinking; to develop a 21st century socialism.

Pre-distribution

The fourth chapter concentrates solely on the idea of pre-distribution. It warrants this sole focus given the considerable academic scholarship behind it and being a coherent proposal to reform the economic system. In other words, it was a significant attempt to move beyond Keynesianism and neoliberalism.

Bridging the Divide: Ed Miliband and Ideas

The third chapter notes the intellectual exhaustion of New Labour leading into the 2010 General Election and the attempts to renew the party outside of the leadership circle. It focuses on Ed Miliband’s leadership and the ideas that he engaged with. In particular, there is an analysis of Blue Labour and One Nation.