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The '''Labour Party''' is a [[United Kingdom|British]] Social Democratic<ref>http://www.labour.org.uk/labour_policies</ref> political party. The party still pays lip service to many  typical [[left-wing]] values and, along with all the main political parties in the UK, is [[Pro-choice]], pro-gay rights and pro-[[gun control]].  Typically the Labour Party is in favour of greater investment in public services via higher taxation relative to its main political rivals.

The '''Labour Party''' is a [[United Kingdom|British]] Social Democratic<ref>http://www.labour.org.uk/labour_policies</ref> political party. The party still pays lip service to many  typical [[left-wing]] values and, along with all the main political parties in the UK, is [[Pro-choice]], pro-gay rights and pro-[[gun control]].  Typically the Labour Party is in favour of greater investment in public services via higher taxation relative to its main political rivals.

The Labour Party was founded in 1900, and currently forms the [[Leader of the Opposition|Her Majesty's Opposition]], being the largest party in the UK not currently in government. The leader of the Labour Party was [[Ed Miliband]], who was elected by Labour party members on September 25th 2010, after a crushing defeat four months earlier in the UK's [[general election]]. He resigned after being defeated in a landslide in the 2015 United Kingdom general election. The new leader, from September 2015, is Jeremy Corbyn.<ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34223157</ref> The Labour Party is an observer member of the [[Socialist International]]. [[Image:Labour logo.jpg|right|thumb|170px|The Labour Party's logo]]

The Labour Party was founded in 1900, and currently forms the [[Leader of the Opposition|Her Majesty's Opposition]], being the largest party in the UK not currently in government. The leader of the Labour Party was [[Ed Miliband]], who was elected by Labour party members on September 25, 2010, after a crushing defeat four months earlier in the UK's [[general election]]. He resigned after being defeated in a landslide in the 2015 United Kingdom general election. The new leader, from September 2015, is Jeremy Corbyn.<ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34223157</ref> The Labour Party is an observer member of the [[Socialist International]]. [[Image:Labour logo.jpg|right|thumb|170px|The Labour Party's logo]]

==History==

==History==

===Origins===

===Origins===

The Labour Party was formed out of an alliance of several prominent left-wing and socialist movements that existed in Britain at the turn of the century. Chief amongst them the were the [[Trades Union Congress]], the [[Fabian Society]], and the [[Independent Labour Party]]. The group took the name [[Labour Representation Committee]], later adopting the name [[Labour Party]] after achieving seats in the [[House of Commons]] at the 1906 election.  Much of the intellectual energy came from the [[Fabian Socialism|Fabians, an informal group of intellectual socialists.]]

The Labour Party was formed out of an alliance of several prominent left-wing and socialist movements that existed in Britain at the turn of the century. Chief amongst them the were the [[Trades Union Congress]], the [[Fabian Society]], and the [[Independent Labour Party]]. The group took the name [[Labour Representation Committee]], later adopting the name Labour Party after achieving seats in the [[House of Commons]] at the 1906 election.  Much of the intellectual energy came from the [[Fabian Socialism|Fabians, an informal group of intellectual socialists.]]

The rise of Marxist socialism in the late 19th century in the Social Democratic Federation (SDF) (1881-1911) did not create a militantly atheistic and anti-religious force. From its beginnings, circa 1881, the SDF contained Christians, non-Christians, and anti-Christians. These groups generally coexisted in a state of compromise. The membership of the SDF was generally secularist and freethinking but religion was not a central issue. For all parties in the SDF, the central issue was commitment to socialism.  

The rise of Marxist socialism in the late 19th century in the Social Democratic Federation (SDF) (1881-1911) did not create a militantly atheistic and anti-religious force. From its beginnings, circa 1881, the SDF contained Christians, non-Christians, and anti-Christians. These groups generally coexisted in a state of compromise. The membership of the SDF was generally secularist and freethinking but religion was not a central issue. For all parties in the SDF, the central issue was commitment to socialism.  

Although it won the first General Election in 1951, Clement Atlee did not believe he had a large enough parliamentary majority to continue his radical reforms so he called a second election.  However, he timed it badly, as James Callaghan did in 1979, so his party lost.

Although it won the first General Election in 1951, Clement Atlee did not believe he had a large enough parliamentary majority to continue his radical reforms so he called a second election.  However, he timed it badly, as James Callaghan did in 1979, so his party lost.

The Labour Party spent the next 13 years out of office and achieved little during the governments of Wilson (1964-1970 and 1974-1976) and his successor James Callaghan (1976-79), although Denis Healey, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, started adopting broadly monetary policies from 1976 on..  Their failures set the stage for the renewal of British energy and leadership under [[Margaret Thatcher]], beginning in 1979.

The Labour Party spent the next 13 years out of office and achieved little during the governments of Wilson (1964-1970 and 1974-1976) and his successor James Callaghan (1976–79), although Denis Healey, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, started adopting broadly monetary policies from 1976 on..  Their failures set the stage for the renewal of British energy and leadership under [[Margaret Thatcher]], beginning in 1979.

===Socialism===

===Socialism===

==New Left==

==New Left==

Wilson, on becoming prime minister in 1964, tried to bypass old doctrinal arguments by harnessing nationalized industry to ideas of scientific modernization. But his government was a great failure, not least in its relations with the trade unions, the linchpin of the party since its founding. Wilson represented the older traditions of the Labour Party and never understood the emerging "New Left" with new social roots, new ideas and new styles of political behaviour in the late 1970s. Following the disillusion and demoralization of traditional Labour Party activists with Wilson's government, a more radical and well-educated local Labour leadership appeared at the local level. This bred much disillusionment and launched a new left-wing socialism in the 1970s. The Labour government of 1974-79 added to this division. The left-wing pressure reached its climax in the early 1980s when Thatcher was in power but resulted only in heavy defeats for Labour in 1983 and 1987. The general impression in 1989 is of a loss of political and intellectual confidence, with British socialism trapped between a cherished past and an uncertain future.<ref> Kenneth O. Morgan, ''Britain since 1945: The People's Peace'' (2001)</ref>

Wilson, on becoming prime minister in 1964, tried to bypass old doctrinal arguments by harnessing nationalized industry to ideas of scientific modernization. But his government was a great failure, not least in its relations with the trade unions, the linchpin of the party since its founding. Wilson represented the older traditions of the Labour Party and never understood the emerging "New Left" with new social roots, new ideas and new styles of political behaviour in the late 1970s. Following the disillusion and demoralization of traditional Labour Party activists with Wilson's government, a more radical and well-educated local Labour leadership appeared at the local level. This bred much disillusionment and launched a new left-wing socialism in the 1970s. The Labour government of 1974-79 added to this division. The left-wing pressure reached its climax in the early 1980s when Thatcher was in power but resulted only in heavy defeats for Labour in 1983 and 1987. The general impression in 1989 is of a loss of political and intellectual confidence, with British socialism trapped between a cherished past and an uncertain future.<ref>Kenneth O. Morgan, ''Britain since 1945: The People's Peace'' (2001)</ref>

   

   

===Social issues===

===Social issues===

==Sharia Infiltration==

==Sharia Infiltration==

A 2010 newspaper report repeated a claim by [[Jim Fitzpatrick]], the MP for [[Poplar and Canning Town]] that the Islamic Forum of Europe (IFE) had effectively created a party within the party in east London. The IFE seeks to make Britain and [[Europe]] an Islamic state. In covert investigations by the media it was determined that the IFE were expressing opposition to democracy, support for sharia law or mocking black people and organized meetings with extremists, including [[Taliban]] allies. <ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/labour/7333420/Islamic-radicals-infiltrate-the-Labour-Party.html Islamic radicals 'infiltrate' the Labour Party, TelegraphUK, February 27, 2010]</ref>

A 2010 newspaper report repeated a claim by [[Jim Fitzpatrick]], the MP for [[Poplar and Canning Town]] that the Islamic Forum of Europe (IFE) had effectively created a party within the party in east London. The IFE seeks to make Britain and [[Europe]] an Islamic state. In covert investigations by the media it was determined that the IFE were expressing opposition to democracy, support for sharia law or mocking black people and organized meetings with extremists, including [[Taliban]] allies.<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/labour/7333420/Islamic-radicals-infiltrate-the-Labour-Party.html Islamic radicals 'infiltrate' the Labour Party, TelegraphUK, February 27, 2010]</ref>

{{cquote| [They are] placing people within the political parties, recruiting members to those political parties, trying to get individuals selected and elected so they can exercise political influence and power, whether it's at local government level or national level.}}

{{cquote| [They are] placing people within the political parties, recruiting members to those political parties, trying to get individuals selected and elected so they can exercise political influence and power, whether it's at local government level or national level.}}

* Davies, Andrew. ''To Build a New Jerusalem: The British Labour Party from Keir Hardie to Tony Blair'' (1996)

* Davies, Andrew. ''To Build a New Jerusalem: The British Labour Party from Keir Hardie to Tony Blair'' (1996)

* Favretto, Ilaria."'Wilsonism' Reconsidered: Labour Party Revisionism, 1952-64." ''Contemporary British History'' 2000 14(4): 54-80 in [[EBSCO]]]]

* Favretto, Ilaria."'Wilsonism' Reconsidered: Labour Party Revisionism, 1952-64." ''Contemporary British History'' 2000 14(4): 54-80 in [[EBSCO]]

* Morgan, Austen.  ''Harold Wilson'' (1992), 625pp; negative appraisal

* Morgan, Austen.  ''Harold Wilson'' (1992), 625pp; negative appraisal

* Morgan, Kenneth O. ''Britain since 1945: The People's Peace'' (2001)

* Morgan, Kenneth O. ''Britain since 1945: The People's Peace'' (2001)

<references/>

<references/>

[[category:British Political Parties]]

[[Category:British Political Parties]]

[[Category:British History]]

[[Category:British History]]

[[Category:British Politics]]

[[Category:British Politics]]

[[Category:Labor Unions]]

[[Category:Labor Unions]]

[[Category:Socialism]]

[[Category:Socialism]]

[[category:New Left]]

[[Category:New Left]]

[[category:1960s]]

[[Category:1960s]]