February 27 - Formation of the Labour Party

This Day in History: 27 February 2020

 

27 February 1900

 

120 years ago, today, the Labour Party was born, when the Trades Union Congress and the Independent Labour Party met, in London. The Party was created out of the frustration of the working-class at their inability to institute parliamentary candidates through the Liberal Party, the dominant social-reforming party in Britain at the time. So, the Trades Union Congress cooperated with the Independent Labour Party, founded in 1893, to establish the Labour Representation Committee, which took the name, 'Labour Party', officially in 1906. This early Party, however, lacked a nationwide mass membership, but after World War One, they made significant gains. By 1922, Labour had replaced the Liberal Party as the official opposition to the Conservative Party.

 

Today, in the UK, the Labour Party is the main left and social democratic political party, as well as being the second largest party in the British House of Commons, having 262 out of 650 seats, forming the Official Opposition. As a socialist party, they believe the wealthy should be taxed to pay for better public services, and the workers should be given more rights. Their current leader is Jeremy Corbyn, having been elected on 12 September 2015, with their previous leader being Ed Miliband. In addition, since the end of World War Two, the UK has had a Labour Prime Minister for a total of 30 years, contrasted with the Conservatives having 44 years.

 

Want to find out more about the history of the Labour Party in the UK? Click here for more information, and click here for a simple explanation of the Labour Party.