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The Socialist Ideal in the Labour Party: From Attlee to Corbyn
by Martin R. Beveridge - £14.99 Merlin Press (2022)
paperback
ISBN 13: 9780850367768 | ISBN 10: 085036776x
Millions of people across the globe face a precarious existence
because of Covid-19, climate change, and the greatest wealth inequality
in a century.
In Britain, the pandemic has revealed critical failings in
the social safety net, especially the damage to the National Health
Service caused by years of underfunding and creeping privatisation. The
role of the state in sustaining the economy with huge disbursements of
funds has been thrown into sharp relief, showing how little truth there
was in the phrase: 'There is No Alternative'. We do depend on each
other. Funds can be found. Most Labour supporters confront the problems
of poverty and social inequity with the ethical socialist values of
collective solidarity, respect, and equality. How did these ideals
develop?
This book follows their evolution in Britain since Robert
Tressell's The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists in the early twentieth
century, and reviews developments over the last hundred years. The 1945
Labour government inspired hope that nationalisations were a 'first
step' towards socialism, and for a time ended poverty and mass
unemployment. It was followed by the Labour governments of 1964-1970,
then Tony Benn, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and Jeremy Corbyn. Despite
defeats and setbacks, ethical socialism still lives on in the Labour
Party, inspired by historical events and social struggles.
This book looks at the importance of socialist ideals for the challenge of
building a fairer and more equal society, and a better world.
(Price & availability last checked: August 2022)
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