Changes

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.]]  [[Keir Hardie]] was the first leader of the party.

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.]]  [[Keir Hardie]] was the first leader of the party.

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 [[Christian socialists]], non-Christians, and anti-Christians. These groups generally coexisted in a state of compromise. Though Labour was not an openly religious organization “it was nevertheless permeated by religion both in its origin and in its subsequent development”. The [[French Revolution]]’s principles of “liberty, fraternity and equality,” were important, as were “early[[Robert Owen| Owenite]] socialism” and [[John Wesley]]'s [[Methodist]] emphasis on helping the poor”.<ref> Nigel Scotland, “Methodism and the English Labour Movement 1800-1906”. ‘’Anvil,’’ Vol. 14, No 11997.</ref> The membership of the SDF was generally secularist and freethinking. 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 [[Christian socialists]], non-Christians, and anti-Christians. These groups generally coexisted in a state of compromise. Though Labour was not an openly religious organization “it was nevertheless permeated by religion both in its origin and in its subsequent development”. The [[French Revolution]]’s principles of “liberty, fraternity and equality,” were important, as were “early[[Robert Owen| Owenite]] socialism” and [[John Wesley]]'s [[Methodist]] emphasis on helping the poor”.<ref> Nigel Scotland, “Methodism and the English Labour Movement 1800-1906”. ‘’Anvil,’’ Vol. 14, No 11997.</ref> The membership of the SDF was generally secularist and freethinking. For all parties in the SDF, the central issue was commitment to socialism. Other important early influences were "radicals such as [[William Cobbett]] (1736-1835), [[Tom Paine]] (1737-1809) and [[Francis Place]] (1771-1854) whose writings and campaigning produced a seedbed of democracy".<ref> Nigel Scotland, “Methodism and the English Labour Movement 1800-1906”.</ref>

[[File:Labour1910.jpg|thumb|290px|Labour called for abolition of the [[House of Lords]] in 1910; when elected, they kept it and appointed their own favourites to peerages. Later posters dropped the violent imagery and called for peaceful change.]]

[[File:Labour1910.jpg|thumb|290px|Labour called for abolition of the [[House of Lords]] in 1910; when elected, they kept it and appointed their own favourites to peerages. Later posters dropped the violent imagery and called for peaceful change.]]