Victory at the Ballot Box: The History of How Labour Built Britain
By: Douglas Beattie
‘Highly recommended’ PETER FRANKOPAN
‘Labour’s record in government shows that Attlee and Blair were in the top rank of change-making Prime Ministers, and Wilson not far behind. An inspirational history.’ ALASTAIR CAMPBELL
The Labour party was founded in 1900 to give a voice to the working people of Britain and to fight for the many not the few. In the unfolding drama of each general election from 1900 to 2024, Victory at the Ballot Box charts Labour’s progress across social, political and economic reform. It encompasses Labour’s creation of the NHS and the welfare state, nationalised industries, housebuilding programmes, the comprehensive education system, introduction of the minimum wage, and Sure Start.
With exclusive insights from former leaders and prime ministers, including Gordon Brown and Neil Kinnock, Douglas Beattie tracks Labour’s successes and failures over the last century. Delving into the secrets of longforgotten campaigns, he traces the party’s roots and studies the strategies, leaders, transformative moments and missteps that have shaped modern Britain.
VICTORY AT THE BALLOT BOX is a book about the pursuit of power for working people. In assessing the fortunes of the Labour Party at the ballot box, it asks a simple overarching question – how and why does Labour win and lose?
‘If Labour is to flourish in power, it needs to know much more about its history. Reading this book would be an excellent starting point for its leaders and followers.’ Anthony Seldon
‘A timely and brilliantly illuminating book that offers much needed context to the 2024 general election. A must read.’ Steve Richards, BBC Radio 4 Week in Westminster and host of Rock and Roll Politics
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‘A timely and brilliantly illuminating book that offers much needed context to the 2024 general election. It takes us back to Labour’s early elections and up to modern times, challenging orthodoxies about why Labour loses and how it wins. A must read.’
- Steve Richards, BBC Radio 4 Week in Westminster and host of Rock and Roll Politics -
‘If Labour is to flourish in power, it needs to know much more about its history. Reading this book would be an excellent starting point for its leaders and followers.’
- Anthony Seldon -
‘A fascinating exploration of the party – an indispensable guide to understanding what Labour once was and what it’s become.’
- The Herald on Sunday -
‘Here will be a particularly worthy stocking filler for any politico wanting to press pause and reflect on all that’s gone on in the past frantic 10 to 20 years … the spats, dramas and memories along the way will all come flooding back with this lively, convincing read’
- Richard Osley, Camden New Journal -
‘Labour’s record in government shows that Attlee and Blair were in the top rank of change-making Prime Ministers, and Wilson not far behind. An inspirational history.’
- Alastair Campbell -
‘An interesting and enjoyable read’
- The House -
‘If you’re interested in politics, history and the Labour Party and want answers about their electoral performance, pick up this book and read it.’
- The Indiependent -
‘An outstanding book about Labour party election performances over the course of more than a century – and even more importantly, an invaluable and terrific guide to Labour party politics. Highly recommended.’
- Peter Frankopan