Labour Party Manifesto, 1945

1945 was an important year for the British Labour Party. Founded in 1900, it had twice formed governments in 1924 and 1929, but it did not enjoy a majority in either of these and was heavily defeated by a coalition of all the bourgeois parties in 1931. In 1940, just before the fall of France, on the invitation of Winston Churchill the Labour Party joined a coalition government. Its leader Clement Attlee became deputy Prime Minister. When the war in Europe ended, an election was called. Labour presented the country with a radical programme, including the nationalisation of coal, railways and steel; the formation of a National Health Service; and a nationwide extensive housing programme. Labour won the election with a majority of 160 parliamentary seats. Most of the Manifesto promises were carried out within five years.

The V for Victory symbolises the Labour Party’s commitment to Britain winning the war. The point was, however, that Britain had to win the peace.

1945
Inv. Nr.
Ref. 329.12, Labour Party Library
Institute