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Victory at the Ballot Box: The History of How Labour Built Britain
A fascinating history of how the unfolding drama of each election from 1900 to 2024 has shaped the Labour Party and modern Britain.
This is an essential guide to how left-wing politics succeeds or fails through an accessible, highly readable and timely history of Labour's performance in the 33 British General Elections since 1900. There have been 8 hung parliaments resulting in coalitions. Labour has won power 11 times; the Conservatives outright on 14 occasions.
HOW LABOUR WINS is a book about the pursuit of power for working people. In assessing the fortunes of the Labour Party at the ballot box, it asks a simple overarching question – how does Labour win and why does it lose?
This is an essential guide to how left-wing politics succeeds or fails through an accessible, highly readable and timely history of Labour's performance in the 33 British General Elections since 1900. There have been 8 hung parliaments resulting in coalitions. Labour has won power 11 times; the Conservatives outright on 14 occasions.
HOW LABOUR WINS is a book about the pursuit of power for working people. In assessing the fortunes of the Labour Party at the ballot box, it asks a simple overarching question – how does Labour win and why does it lose?
458 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 27, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 18, 2024
Douglas Beattie, How Labour Wins (And Why It Loses) From 1900 to 2024, Elliott & Thompson, August 2024.
Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with this uncorrected copy for review.
Douglas Beattie’s approach to a topic that could take up so many interesting side issues is a Party Campaign Director’s dream: he unfailingly remains on message. As a result, this book is a focussed, insightful read. In referring to major events that could be tempting to dwell upon Beattie instead refers to them with well crafted, directed comments that tell the reader all that is necessary. The Labour Party, its leaders, ministers and shadow ministers, back benchers, party members are at the forefront, in their praiseworthy and not so praiseworthy, attempt to win government, success in doing so and their reaction to being in government. Outside the Labour Party, but important actors in this narrative, are the alternative governing parties, their leaders and supporters; constituents; and the role of polls and the media. The results of the 2024 election of the Kier Starmer Labour Government are not covered – the election is in the immediate future – but what information is there is an excellent precursor to that Labour win.
The book is well designed, with such a readable and intuitive introduction that it bears rereading after the book is completed. Following is a dot point section on Labour’s history – a fascinating and quick read. A history of Labour’s beginnings, ‘1893 – A Distinct Labour Group, is followed by the results of Labour’s organisation and election of Labour members of Parliament, leading to the topic of Chapter 3 – A New Party in Parliament to Chapter 4 which covers the 1910 election and, like those that follow includes a short summing up of the results. The latter are an excellent addition to the detailed narrative, including figures that show the turn out (voting, unlike in Australia is not compulsory), the number of candidates fielded by Labour, MPs, votes, percentage of the vote, and the results. Comparisons of the tun out over different elections, under different Labour leaders are particularly interesting. There are informative endnotes for each chapter.
Beattie has interviewed Labour leaders, party officials, and party members. He has direct experience of being a national candidate, a councillor and canvassing. While clearly a dedicated Labour member and observer, Beattie shows no factional bias (although he makes clear the problems factionalism has made for Labour strategists), a welcome feature of this narrative. I really loved reading Douglas Beattie’s account with its insight, warmth and understanding of the Labour Party, the challenges and the heights to which it can reach (even if these are perceived differently by different readers) and the lows (again, perceptions are important) it has overcome. For a committed Labour person this is an enlightening read; for a student of British politics, it is a perceptive and valuable interpretation; and for a person who is just interested in the way political parties respond to constituencies How Labour Wins is an accessible account of the way in which your lives are impacted by the political process and how you can respond.
Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with this uncorrected copy for review.
Douglas Beattie’s approach to a topic that could take up so many interesting side issues is a Party Campaign Director’s dream: he unfailingly remains on message. As a result, this book is a focussed, insightful read. In referring to major events that could be tempting to dwell upon Beattie instead refers to them with well crafted, directed comments that tell the reader all that is necessary. The Labour Party, its leaders, ministers and shadow ministers, back benchers, party members are at the forefront, in their praiseworthy and not so praiseworthy, attempt to win government, success in doing so and their reaction to being in government. Outside the Labour Party, but important actors in this narrative, are the alternative governing parties, their leaders and supporters; constituents; and the role of polls and the media. The results of the 2024 election of the Kier Starmer Labour Government are not covered – the election is in the immediate future – but what information is there is an excellent precursor to that Labour win.
The book is well designed, with such a readable and intuitive introduction that it bears rereading after the book is completed. Following is a dot point section on Labour’s history – a fascinating and quick read. A history of Labour’s beginnings, ‘1893 – A Distinct Labour Group, is followed by the results of Labour’s organisation and election of Labour members of Parliament, leading to the topic of Chapter 3 – A New Party in Parliament to Chapter 4 which covers the 1910 election and, like those that follow includes a short summing up of the results. The latter are an excellent addition to the detailed narrative, including figures that show the turn out (voting, unlike in Australia is not compulsory), the number of candidates fielded by Labour, MPs, votes, percentage of the vote, and the results. Comparisons of the tun out over different elections, under different Labour leaders are particularly interesting. There are informative endnotes for each chapter.
Beattie has interviewed Labour leaders, party officials, and party members. He has direct experience of being a national candidate, a councillor and canvassing. While clearly a dedicated Labour member and observer, Beattie shows no factional bias (although he makes clear the problems factionalism has made for Labour strategists), a welcome feature of this narrative. I really loved reading Douglas Beattie’s account with its insight, warmth and understanding of the Labour Party, the challenges and the heights to which it can reach (even if these are perceived differently by different readers) and the lows (again, perceptions are important) it has overcome. For a committed Labour person this is an enlightening read; for a student of British politics, it is a perceptive and valuable interpretation; and for a person who is just interested in the way political parties respond to constituencies How Labour Wins is an accessible account of the way in which your lives are impacted by the political process and how you can respond.
July 1, 2024
Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and Elliott & Thompson in exchange for an honest review.
This is a very interesting read about the electoral performance of the British Labour Party since its first election to today. Each chapter is a short summary of the election campaign, important issues, how the Leader presented the Party and the final results. Obviously, the analysis can't go into too much depth considering the number of elections covered, but it also means it doesn't get too bogged down in details and instead gives a manageable summary.
The author is a Labour activist and the book is from a Labour viewpoint, but the author doesn't hesitate to criticise or point out weak performances. The analysis is done in a fair manner without being clouded by the author's personal opinions.
It is interesting to see common themes throughout the history of the Labour Party. There has always been tension between the Left and Centre of the Party that resurfaces with new faces every generation. It's also interesting to see how Labour goes through cycles of being the fresh new face to modernise Britain, before gradually becoming worn out and exhausted.
Overall, I recommend it as an enjoyable read that gives a good oversight of the history of the Labour Party.
This is a very interesting read about the electoral performance of the British Labour Party since its first election to today. Each chapter is a short summary of the election campaign, important issues, how the Leader presented the Party and the final results. Obviously, the analysis can't go into too much depth considering the number of elections covered, but it also means it doesn't get too bogged down in details and instead gives a manageable summary.
The author is a Labour activist and the book is from a Labour viewpoint, but the author doesn't hesitate to criticise or point out weak performances. The analysis is done in a fair manner without being clouded by the author's personal opinions.
It is interesting to see common themes throughout the history of the Labour Party. There has always been tension between the Left and Centre of the Party that resurfaces with new faces every generation. It's also interesting to see how Labour goes through cycles of being the fresh new face to modernise Britain, before gradually becoming worn out and exhausted.
Overall, I recommend it as an enjoyable read that gives a good oversight of the history of the Labour Party.
July 3, 2024
How Labour Wins has all what you can ask for in a book about a political party, its policies and an analysis on what it does well and what it doesn’t.
As far as I remember, this marks the first time that I have read such a political analysis structured as in this book; the analyses of each campaign of the UK Labour party. It is in parts historical and can be read for a chronological overview, if that is what you are interested in, but its major potency is the analysis and what can be done. It is life affirming and hopeful as well as being clearly expressed and proficiently edited.
This book and what is happening right now makes me excited. Yay!
As far as I remember, this marks the first time that I have read such a political analysis structured as in this book; the analyses of each campaign of the UK Labour party. It is in parts historical and can be read for a chronological overview, if that is what you are interested in, but its major potency is the analysis and what can be done. It is life affirming and hopeful as well as being clearly expressed and proficiently edited.
This book and what is happening right now makes me excited. Yay!
February 24, 2025
This is an excellent book, as timely as it is fascinating.
Beattie looks back at every election in Labour's history, setting their wins and losses in historical context and looking at what makes the party win or lose.
This is not just a book for politics nerds (though they will love this). It's a book for anyone who wants to understand the history of the UK. Beattie has interviewed some of the big players in Labour's recent history, shared his own experiences, crafting a truly original book.
Beattie's background is journalism rather than academia and it shows. This is a well written book that will suck you in and keep you reading. Highly recommended.
Beattie looks back at every election in Labour's history, setting their wins and losses in historical context and looking at what makes the party win or lose.
This is not just a book for politics nerds (though they will love this). It's a book for anyone who wants to understand the history of the UK. Beattie has interviewed some of the big players in Labour's recent history, shared his own experiences, crafting a truly original book.
Beattie's background is journalism rather than academia and it shows. This is a well written book that will suck you in and keep you reading. Highly recommended.
January 19, 2025
An excellent election-by-election history of the Labour Party.
October 14, 2024
An interesting history of the Labour Party at elections. Very balanced and readable.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews