{"product_id":"keeping-the-red-flag-flying-the-labour-party-in-opposition-since-1922-paperback-softback-9781509560967","title":"Keeping the Red Flag Flying; The Labour Party in Opposition since 1922 (Paperback \/ softback) 9781509560967","description":"\u003cfont face=\"Georgia\"\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"6\"\u003eKeeping the Red Flag Flying\u003c\/font\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\r\n\u003cfont size=\"5\"\u003eThe Labour Party in Opposition since 1922\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"4\"\u003eMark Garnett (Author), Gavin Hyman (Author), Richard Johnson (Author)\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e9781509560967, Polity Press\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003ePaperback \/ softback, published 26 April 2024\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e256 pages\u003cbr\u003e22.9 x 15.2 x 2.3 cm, 0.386 kg\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e“In fascinating detail, this book demonstrates that the political direction and the success or failure of Labour governments are shaped by the party’s periods in opposition. This is not only when the policy ground is laid for an incoming Labour government, but when the political battles are fought and won over how radical a new administration will be. So, at last we have an exciting analysis of these critical periods of opposition.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eJohn McDonnell MP, former Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“This important and novel book concentrates on the large majority of the historic years which the British Labour Party has spent in opposition. The authors demonstrate how the successes or failures of its rare times in government were often predetermined by the decisions or preparations made or not made during those crucial years of internal party warfare when out of office. We await the coming election to see if any new Labour government is similarly helped or hindered by Labour’s activities since it was last ejected from office in 2010.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBernard Donoughue, adviser to prime ministers Harold Wilson and Jim Callaghan\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“The Labour Party has spent more time in opposition than it would ever have wanted.  The use it has made of that time constitutes an important aspect of our democracy and has done much to define the terrain on which the political battle is fought.  How well it has been done, and what could have been done better, are the questions posed (and knowledgeably and authoritatively answered) by this important book.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBryan Gould, former Labour MP and Shadow Cabinet Minister\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“This authoritative book provides us, for the first time, with an extensive account of Labour’s periods of opposition over the last century. Out of power Labour can turn inwards, even turn on itself, or it can look outwards and present a vision of change. Too often, notably in the recent past, it has opted for the former and in so doing deflected the limitless energy demanded for the latter. \u003ci\u003eKeeping the Red Flag Flying \u003c\/i\u003eis exactly what is needed for a vibrant Labour Party: in opposition, and in power.”\u003ci\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003eRichard Leonard MSP, former leader of the Scottish Labour Party\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \"This book is a very considerable achievement. With admirable clarity and verve, it explains why Labour has so often spent long periods in opposition and the lessons this offers the Party today.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePatrick Diamond, co-chair of \u003ci\u003ePolicy Network\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"This book breaks new ground by examining Labour not through its rather sparse experience of government but through its much more extensive experience of opposition. Lively and provocative it throws new light on why the party so often fails, and why it occasionally succeeds. An important and timely contribution.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAndrew Gamble, University of Sheffield\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“we should ban it from Conservative conference book stalls in case they learn from it.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBaroness Hayter,\u003ci\u003e The House\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eLabour leader Harold Wilson was once asked how difficult he found being prime minister of the United Kingdom. ‘Not half as difficult as being Leader of the Opposition’, he replied.  Sadly for the Labour Party, much of the last century has been spent in shadow government. But were these wasted years in the Party’s history? Or did they offer vital opportunities for creation and improvement?\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn \u003ci\u003eKeeping the Red Flag Flying\u003c\/i\u003e political historians Mark Garnett, Gavin Hyman and Richard Johnson offer the first in-depth account of Labour’s periods out of office since becoming the Official Opposition in 1922. They argue that, far from being barren periods in the Party’s history, Labour’s opposition years from MacDonald to Starmer have been undervalued and misunderstood.  Across the book’s eight chapters they scrutinise Labour’s approach to reforming the party machinery, its development of policy proposals, its success in appealing to the wider electorate and its skill in opposing the government to identify the key hallmarks of successful opposition, as well as common mistakes. As the Labour Party prepares for a long-awaited return to government, this insightful book on Labour’s past has vital lessons for the Party’s future.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eList of Figures and Tables\u003cbr\u003e Preface and Acknowledgements\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Introduction\u003cbr\u003e Chapter 1: In Pursuit of an ‘Insane Miracle’ (1922-29)\u003cbr\u003e Chapter 2: A Battle Over Peace (1931-1940)\u003cbr\u003e Chapter 3: In Opposition to the Wartime Government (1940-45)\u003cbr\u003e Chapter 4: ‘Fight, Fight, and Fight Again’ (1951-1964)\u003cbr\u003e Chapter 5: Yesterday’s Men (1970-74)\u003cbr\u003e Chapter 6: Impossible Promises and Far-Fetched Resolutions (1979-1987)\u003cbr\u003e Chapter 7: Thatcher’s Greatest Achievement? (1987-97)  \u003cbr\u003e Chapter 8: In New Labour’s Shadow (2010-2024)\u003cbr\u003e Conclusion\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eBibliography \u003cbr\u003e Notes\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eSubject Areas: Politics \u0026amp; government [\u003ca title=\"See our other books on Politics \u0026amp; government\" href=\"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/search?q=%22Politics%20\u0026amp;%20government%20%5BJP%5D%22\"\u003eJP\u003c\/a\u003e]\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003c\/font\u003e","brand":"Polity","offers":[{"title":"Brand New","offer_id":52453504549144,"sku":"9781509560967","price":13.79,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0730\/2037\/5320\/files\/9781509560967.jpg?v=1785285348","url":"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/products\/keeping-the-red-flag-flying-the-labour-party-in-opposition-since-1922-paperback-softback-9781509560967","provider":"Freshly Printed Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}