This book explores the central paradox of British democracy - the fact that Conservative governments have held office for nearly 50 of the 70 years since manhood suffrage was introduced in 1918 - as well as the dilemmas and ambiguities of the 20th century British left. The book analyzes the reasons why the Labour Party of the 1920s failed to construct a Labour-dominated coalition which held power before World War I and examines the roles of individual socialist and social democratic politicians, from Ernest Bevin and Stafford Cripps to Anthony Crosland and David Owen. The author ends this work with a plea for a new progressive coalition, based on the values of community and citizenship.
- ISBN10 0753807068
- ISBN13 9780753807064
- Publish Date 9 September 1999 (first published 1 January 1989)
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 19 November 2006
- Publish Country GB
- Publisher Orion Publishing Co
- Imprint Weidenfeld & Nicolson History
- Edition New edition
- Format Paperback
- Pages 288
- Language English