The Labour Party 193139

1
The Labour Party 1931-39

• How significantly did the Labour Party recover
  from the crisis of 1931?

2
What was the extent of the problem?
3
The main areas to consider

• Leadership
• Organisation and discipline
• Policy formation
• Electoral prospects
• We need to be very clear about what these terms
  mean

4
Leadership

• RMD left
• Arthur Henderson now in charge 1931 election
  meltdown
• George Lansbury
• Clement Atlee
• Did Labour have the right leader at any stage?

5
Organisation

• Rise in membership
• Battle between constituency branches and Trade
  Unions
• Unions role strengthened TUC and Ernest Bevin
• Battle with Communists trying to infiltrate the
  party
• This was a battle won by the party

6
Policy

• This had been a problem in 1929-31 no clear
  policies in opposition
• Labours immediate programme 1937
• Foreign affairs a problem area attitude to
  appeasement a concern

7
Electoral prospects

• 10 gains in by-elections 1931-1935
• Better in areas of higher unemployment
• 1935 General Election Labour was no match for
  Stanley Baldwin
• Continued to win by-elections up to 1939
• Would they have won an election in 1939?