Labour: A party fit for imperialism

by Robert Clough

Genres: History, Nonfiction, British Literature, Politics, Economics

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

Reviews

[Wesam · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the most important books I've read in a long time. Should be required reading for leftists in the UK, if not all Western countries.

[tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good history of the disgusting colonial and imperialist history of the Labour Party. Analysis stunted by constant use of the vague and misplaced (and never properly defined) term 'middle class'. Sometimes the middle class is presented in opposition to the 'labour aristocracy', sometimes presented as the same thing. The conclusion that the Labour Party, and the class it represents, the labour aristocracy, is an 'anti-working class party' and that is 'always has been' (pg. 231) is proven wrong by Clough's definition as the aristocracy as a strata of the working class, and also from the implication that increased working class militancy lead to a working class control of the Labour Party that Black Friday ended when it 'put the labour aristocracy back in control' (pg. 135). Despite quoting Lenin's understanding of the aristocracy's 'desertion... to the side of the bourgouisie' (pg. 245) Clough never clearly indicates why he seems to believe this strata is in antagonistic, irreconcilable contradiction to the rest of the working class, and further fails to prove his conclusion as I see it. The book being principally a history book, I suppose it may be unfair to ask it for a direction in praxis, but the vague 'We have to oppose it. (The Labour Party)' (pg. 242) feels naive and like it lacks nuance, nevermind lending itself to ultra-left opportunism.

[Aldus Still · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing, goes in depth to the history of the Labour party, I didn't know much of this. There was no good 'old labour' that was completely distinct and anti capitalist, it has always been and always will be a party that defends British imperialism and capitalist interests.

[Ben North · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slight mischaracterisation of the Hebron massacre early on made me take everything else with a grain of salt but still a pretty good historical summary.

[tara bomp · Rating 4 out of 5]

short so doesn't fully argue all its points - understandable given it's giving a history of 100 years of the Labour party and British imperialism - so i imagine a lot of people would be unconvinced but i think it says a lot of important stuff and would at the very least make people think more deeply about their assumptions of what the Labour party is and does. i found the stuff about the earlier (pre ww2) history of the Labour party really interesting because it's not something that's ever talked about now- the racism is horrifying and their absolute contempt for the majority of the working class is unreal. also tries to explain the serious problems Labour have getting elected using a class basis. probably the biggest thing i think people would have trouble with here is the stuff about the privileged section of the working class - a lot of people seem to see this concept as inherently absurd and the book doesn't do a good job arguing for it so if you don't agree with it you're not going to like the book. personally it makes sense to me but I'd have appreciated more detail on it in this book. but it does show convincingly how the post war consensus was completely funded by colonial imperialist exploitation. honestly it reminds me of settlers a bit in its willingness to explode conventional labour movement mythology. would have been great if it was longer, will have to check the 2nd edition sometime. also really want to check out more RCG stuff

[fowzia. · Rating 4 out of 5]

took me some time to get through (some parts are a slog) but this is a really good comprehensive history of the british labour party. from its conception its been a racist, imperialist, anti-working class party thats only ever represented the labour aristocracy.