Social Democracy and Labour Politicsin Britain,1892-1911

Abstract

Before the First World War European socialist parties developed in a social democratic tradition inspired by Marx. The British, however, went their own way and produced a unique and distinctive labour politics; the major organizations representing the political labour movement were the Independent Labour Party and the Labour Party. Despite this, Britain did have a party of the European type: the Social Democratic Federation (SDF). This article sets out to analyse the political differences between these organizations and to study the relationships between them. In particular, the prevailing view among contemporaries and historians that the SDF was mistaken in abandoning the labour alliance in 1901 is questioned. British social democrats adopted a more subtle and complex stance towards labour than is usually allowed. They often worked amicably with local labour activists, playing prominent roles as members of local labour representational committees, while attacking the Labour Party leadership for its moderation and closeness to the Liberals. Their contradictory stance gave them enhanced credibility among militants at a time of realignment in British politics, and allowed them to continue to influence the Labour Party from within.