The Relationship Between British Labour Party And Trade Unions Under Mainstream Ideology

Labour Party’s mainstream ideology has profound impact on its relationship with the Labour Union. From another perspective, the relationship also reflects the variation of Labour Party’s mainstream ideology. This article holds the opinion that the Labour Party’s mainstream ideology composes of Labourism, Socialism and theThird Road. Meanwhile, the changes of complicated relationship between Labour Party and Trade Union also influenced by the three mainstream ideologies above.The first chapter gives a brief summary about the relation between Labour Party and Trade Union, the generation of Labour Party and the convertion of Trade Union’s attitude dominated by Labourism. In the Labourism period (1900-1914), as a new-born party, Labour Party was too vulnerable to contend against Liberal Party and Conservative Party. To grasb the central power, Labour Party had to accumulate strength. Compared to the cooperatives and the socialist group, the powerful Trade Union was the best choice. The special relation between Labour Party and Trade Union determined that the Labourism became the main ideology in this period. The unpolitical Trade Union was involved into politic and became the tool of Labour Party. That means Labour Party was in a leading role and their relation was depended on it.The second chapter narrates the transform of the ideology from Labourism to Socialism. The WW I saved the fall of Labour Party. Before the War, the Labour Party’s seats in the Parliament was only37, included12seats from the Minor Union. If the War didn’t happen, Labour Party might be disappeared in the British politic scene. The national danger became the most urgent thing during this period, which provided Labour Party with opportunities to reflect and readjust. The WW I push forward the change of Labour Union’s attitude towards Socialism and nationalization. The transistion had great effect on British indoor politic and promote the position of Labour Party, who became the essential part of state apparatus. After the WW I, Labour Party firstly appeared in the Cabinet, meanwhile, amended its constitution and policy, which means the real formation of the party. The change also based the foundation of Liberal Party as a opposition to His Majesty. The third chapter discusses the relation between Labour Party and Trade Union guided by of Socialism. The1918new constitution was a symbol of the party’s leading position. The Labourism was taken place by the Socialism. During the two World Wars, excluded some small frustrations, Trade Union had a progressive development. Especially, the cooperation with the government in WWⅡ promoted Trade Union’s position and power. When Attlee government was in charge, the relation between Labour Party and Labour Unions was more compact. But, during the latter years of Attlee government, the change of the political atmosphere and Labour Party’s policy contributed to the conflicts between them. The Trade Union transferred to the ideology of Socialism and accepted the Socialist policy by Labour Party. The reasons were various:the experience of two World Wars made the Union concsious that the socialism and related policy could protect its interest instead of harming it. The WW Ⅱ enhanced Trade Union’s support to the Socialist ideology of Labour Party.The fourth chapter has a research on debates between Labour Party and Trade Union in Socialism period. From Gaitskell to Foot (1951-1979), Socialism provided political chance to Labour Party in the early time, which mainly led to the winning of1945Election. However, along with the process of nationalization, Keynesiam was inappropriate to the new problem appeared in British economy. The left wing supported by Trade Union had drastic argument with the right wing, who wanted to amend the constitution. The right wing didn’t reach its goal. As a result, the broken-up showed in1950. After the fail in1955campaign, Attlee took the blame and gave up the leadership to Gaitskell. The real reason of the fail in1955was the disunity. The left wing was unsatisfied with the socialization process and supported by Trade Union. In the meantime, the right wing wanted to amend the Socialist constitution to win more support. Because of the strong support, Gaitskell and the right wing loss the battle.The fifth chapter analyzes the reformation of Labour Party after the defeat in1983election. Suffering the spilt-up in the early years during1980s, the gap produced between the extreme-left and modest-left wing. After the continous fails in1980s, Kinnock and other modest-left wing people raised the reform movement and were proned to the right wing. The new changes included political strategy, organization structure and election tactics. From Kinnock to John Smith, Labour Party paved the way for reform. During the period of Blair, the pace was accelerated and finished. The third road became the main ideology of Labour Party. The reform decade also experienced the fall of Labour Party since the late1970s. As the amending of the Article4in the constitution, the content of public ownership was removed, which ended the special relationship between Labour Party and Trade Union.