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Labour's Civil Wars

How infighting has kept the left from power (and what can be done about it)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Labour's Civil Wars offers a compelling chronicle of the Labour Party’s persistent internal divisions. It traces the party’s history of factional splits from Ramsay MacDonald’s defection in 1931 to the contemporary conflicts between Keir Starmer and Jeremy Corbyn’s supporters. The book explores how these ongoing battles have often undermined Labour’s public image and electoral success, revealing the challenges faced by a party frequently more engaged in infighting than in opposing the Conservatives.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book is ideal for readers interested in British politics, particularly those keen to understand the Labour Party’s internal dynamics and history. It will engage students, political historians, and anyone seeking a detailed yet accessible examination of the challenges faced by one of the UK’s principal political parties.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

A highly readable history of the Labour party and its civil wars.

Includes a new chapter on Starmer's Labour Party and whether the unity of purpose and vision will last until a general election and thereafter.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A compelling chronicle of the Labour Party’s perpetual internal divisions.

The biblical adage that “if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand” remains sound theological advice. It is also essential counsel for any political party that aspires to win elections. When a party is riven with division, the public does not know what it stands for.

Though both major UK parties have been subject to internal conflict over the years, the Labour Party has been more prone to damaging splits. The divide exposed by the Corbyn insurgency is only the most recent example in almost a century of destructive infighting. Indeed, it has often seemed as though Labour has been more adept at fighting itself than in defeating the Tory party.

This book examines the history of Labour’s civil wars and the underlying causes of the party’s schisms, from the first split of 1931, engineered by Ramsay MacDonald, to the ongoing battle for the future between the incumbent, Keir Starmer, and those who fundamentally altered the party’s course under his predecessor, Jeremy Corbyn.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The book has been described as meticulously fair by the Times Literary Supplement and thought-provoking by Literary Review. The Fabian Review calls it a fascinating history, while House Magazine notes it as a vivid account of Labour's many civil wars that prompts sober reflection. Peter Hennessy praises it for injecting much-needed insight into social democracy, and Dianne Hayter highlights the authors' cool assessment combining historical depth with political experience, offering valuable lessons to avoid future party conflict.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781913368746

Publisher: Haus Publishing

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 18 October 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Haus Publishing

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 360

About the Author

Patrick Diamond is professor of public policy at Queen Mary University of London. He was senior adviser to the prime minister (2001-05) and head of policy planning in 10 Downing Street (2009-10). Giles Radice (1936-2022) was in parliament for forty-six years, first as an MP and later as a Labour member of the House of Lords. He was the author of fifteen books, including Friends and Rivals and Odd Couples.

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