For much of its history, Labour was in opposition, which made the PLP the key body in the party's struggle for political power. Often in conflict with other sections of the party, it ultimately was the dominant organisation in the making of the leadership and the implementation of party policy, and enjoyed exclusive rights to elect the party leader until 1981. Since that highpoint, its powers have somewhat waned as a rank-and-file movement mobilised against the autonomy and independence of the PLP, in favour of greater autonomy for Labour MPs. Drawing on the archives of the PLP, hardly previously used, and the papers and archives of Labour leaders from Ramsay MacDonald to John Smith, "The Parliamentary Labour Party" includes a roll call of major Labour leaders: MacDonald, Clement Attlee, Harold Wilson and many others. "The Parliamentary Labour Party" is aimed at a wide audience, and is based on primary scholarship as well as interviews and the large published corpus of Labour Party literature. Authoritative, yet lively and informative, it is full of incident and colour.
- ISBN10 1842751697
- ISBN13 9781842751695
- Publish Date 10 September 2007
- Publish Status Cancelled
- Out of Print 26 October 2009
- Publish Country GB
- Publisher Methuen Publishing Ltd
- Imprint Politico's Publishing Ltd
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 496
- Language English