Changes

Despite the party being generally in favour of far-left globalist and socialist policies, the views of individual groups within the Labour Party differ substantially. This includes [[Blue Labour]] which, despite being committed to [[democratic socialism]], seeks a more [[conservative]] approach to social policy.  

Despite the party being generally in favour of far-left globalist and socialist policies, the views of individual groups within the Labour Party differ substantially. This includes [[Blue Labour]] which, despite being committed to [[democratic socialism]], seeks a more [[conservative]] approach to social policy.  

==History==

==History==

[[File:Labour logo.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Old Labour Party logo (1986-2007)]]

[[File:Labour logo.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Old Labour Party logo (1986–2007)]]

===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.]]  [[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. 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>  

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.]]

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===

* [[Gordon Brown]] (2007–2010)

* [[Gordon Brown]] (2007–2010)

* [[Keir Starmer|Sir Keir Starmer]] (2024-present)

* [[Keir Starmer|Sir Keir Starmer]] (2024–present)

==See also==

==See also==