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Labour Party (UK)

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The Labour Party is one of the two main political groups in the United Kingdom.

Keir Starmer official portrait
Keir Starmer official portrait

It is often called Labour for short. The party sits on the centre-left of the political spectrum. This means it includes social democrats and democratic socialists. It also includes people from trade unions. These are groups that look after workers. Currently, Labour is the governing party in the UK. They have held power since the 2024 general election.

UK Labour ballot logo
UK Labour ballot logo

The party works through many different local groups. It has branches in London, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Labour Party logo, 1966
Labour Party logo, 1966

These branches can act on their own. Every year, the party holds a big meeting in the autumn. This is called the Labour Party Conference. At this meeting, delegates from local groups and unions vote on new ideas. Senior leaders also stand on a platform to speak to the crowd. This helps the party decide its future goals.

Labour has a long history that began in the late 1800s.

Keir Hardie by George Grantham Bain (3x4 cropped)
Keir Hardie by George Grantham Bain (3x4 cropped)

It grew out of the trade union movement. Many workers wanted a way to speak in Parliament. In 1900, different groups joined to form the Labour Representation Committee.

Oldlabour2
Oldlabour2

This group later became the Labour Party. Keir Hardie became one of its first important leaders. In the early 1920s, Labour grew very strong. It became the main opposition to the Conservative Party.

Many leaders have shaped the party over the years.

J. Ramsay MacDonald LCCN2014715885 (3x4 crop)
J. Ramsay MacDonald LCCN2014715885 (3x4 crop)

Ramsay MacDonald was the first Labour Prime Minister in 1924. Later, Clement Attlee led the party to a big win in 1945.

Clement Attlee (cropped)
Clement Attlee (cropped)

His government started the National Health Service. Other leaders like Harold Wilson and James Callaghan also led the country. In the 1990s, Tony Blair led the party as "New Labour."

Tony Blair 1997
Tony Blair 1997

He led the government from 1997 until 2007. Gordon Brown then led the party until 2010.

Today, Keir Starmer leads the Labour Party.

Keir Starmer official portrait
Keir Starmer official portrait

He became the leader in 2020. After that, he won a large victory in the 2024 election. He is now the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. The party remains a major force in British life. It has had twelve different governments in its history. It has also had seven different Prime Ministers. The party continues to represent the interests of many different people.

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🖼️ Images & Media (30)
The Red Flag from Lansbury's Labour Weekly.ogg
UK Labour ballot logo.png{{!}}class=skin-invert
File:Keir Hardie by George Grantham Bain (3x4 cropped).jpg
Keir Hardie by George Grantham Bain (3x4...
File:Oldlabour2.png
Oldlabour2.png
File:J. Ramsay MacDonald LCCN2014715885 (cropped).jpg
J. Ramsay MacDonald LCCN2014715885 (cropped).jpg
File:Person attlee2.jpg
Person attlee2.jpg
File:Hugh_Todd_Naylor_Gaitskell.jpg
Hugh_Todd_Naylor_Gaitskell.jpg
File:President Gerald Ford and British Prime Minister Harold Wilson (crop).jpg
President Gerald Ford and British Prime...
James_Callaghan_ppmsca.53218_(cropped).tif
File:Michael_Foot_(1981).jpg
Michael_Foot_(1981).jpg
File:Labour Party logo, 1966.svg
Labour Party logo, 1966.svg
File:Old Logo Labour Party.svg
Old Logo Labour Party.svg

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