The Labour Party and economic strategy, 1979-1997 : the long road back

The book considers Labour's economic strategy as it developed through the party's long period of opposition between 1979 and 1997. This history argues strongly that accounts of Labour's recent past which claim that the Party was driven by a combination of Thatcherism and opinion polls are flawed. It offers an alternative account which stresses the importance of debates within and around the Party about how the economy should be understood, the role of markets and the state, and British industrial decline. This Book Considers Labour's Economic Strategy As It Developed Through The Party's Long Period Of Opposition Between 1979 And 1997. Richard Hill Argues Strongly That Accounts Of Labour's Recent Past, Which Claim That The Party Was Driven By A Combination Of Thatcherism And Responding To Opinion Polls, Are Flawed. Labour's Policy Choices On Issues Such As The Minimum Wage And Erm Membership Were Driven By A Variety Of Factors. The Author Offers An Alternative Account Which Stresses The Importance Of Debates Within And Around The Party About How The Economy Should Be Understood, The Role Of Markets And The State, And British Industrial Decline. It Is The Choices That The Party Made In These Areas, And In Economic Strategy Generally, Which Led To The Creation Of New Labour.--jacket. 1. The Forward March Halted -- 2. The Years Of Opposition -- 3. Labour's Mixed Economy -- 4. Reversing British Industrial Decline -- 5. Macroeconomic Policy -- 6. A European Party -- 7. The Long Road Back. Richard Hill. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 241-257) And Index. Annotation "This book considers Labour's economic strategy as it developed through the party's long period of opposition between 1979 and 1997. Richard Hill argues strongly that accounts of Labour's recent past, which claim that the party was driven by a combination of Thatcherism and responding to opinion polls, are flawed. Labour's policy choices on issues such as the minimum wage and ERM membership were driven by a variety of factors. The author offers an alternative account which stresses the importance of debates within and around the party about how the economy should be understood, the role of markets and the state, and British industrial decline. It is the choices that the party made in these areas, and in economic strategy generally, which led to the creation of New Labour."--BOOK JACKET. Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved Front Matter....Pages i-x The Forward March Halted....Pages 1-18 The Years of Opposition....Pages 19-47 Labour’s Mixed Economy....Pages 48-87 Reversing British Industrial Decline....Pages 88-123 Macroeconomic Policy....Pages 124-161 A European Party....Pages 162-191 The Long Road Back....Pages 192-203 Back Matter....Pages 204-261 This work considers Labour's economic strategy as it developed through the party's long period of opposition between 1979 and 1997. It argues against accounts which stress the influence of Thatcherism and "opinion polling" and demonstrates the strategies which led to the emergence of "New Labour." It is easy to see in retrospect that the 1979 election marked a paradigm shift in British politics, comparable to the Liberal's landslide victory of 1906 or Attlee's postwar triumph.