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From the moment that the New Labour government left office in 2010, it became a bone of contention for the party. Ed Miliband was styled as the "moving on" leader, Jeremy Corbyn set himself up as its antithesis, Keir Starmer has begun a counter-reaction, embracing New Labour and particularly Tony Blair. Why has the party been seemingly unable to move on from this period in its history? Particularly given the tumultuous and eventful period of politics since 2015, with Brexit and Covid dominating parliamentary time for most of the last decade.
Karl Pike argues that it is impossible to understand the Labour Party today without an appreciation of how people in the party have reacted to the New Labour legacy. He unpicks the efforts each of the three leaders have made in reforming the party’s ideology, its democracy and organization and their political style and approach to the leadership.
Short, sharp and essential. Karl Pike’s diagnosis of the legacy of New Labour provides what a generation has missed: a nuanced assessment of what was – at least electorally – the party’s most successful period in its history. A vital resource for anyone seeking to reach beyond factional assertion and reassess recent history to contribute to Labour’s future.
Introduction
1. Ideology: stuck between utopia and The Dog & Duck
2. Democracy: knocking on doors and changing the world
3. Politics: head and heart
4. Moving on: Labour’s democratic socialism
Conclusion