Britain's second Labour government 1929-31: a reappraisal is a timely collection of essays on Labour’s second period in office beset by the international financial crisis of 1929-1931. Contributions from leading historians and younger academics provide fresh insights into a range of topics: the 1929 general election, Labour’s economic policy, consumerism, agricultural questions, the Parliamentary Labour Party’s role and Tory reaction to the 1929-1931 Labor government. Particular attention is also given to relations with the Soviet Union, socialism after 1931, the disaffiliation of the Independent Labour Party, and myths surrounding "1931" in Labor history. This important reassessment offers new and, at times, more positive views of Ramsay MacDonald’s hapless administration during a major turning point in twentieth-century British history. The Second Labour Government:A Reappraisal makes available new scholarship that will appeal to students and teachers of British political and social history. It is essential reading for sixth forms and university courses.

What similarities exist between the reasons for Labour losing office in 2010 and those behind why previous Labour governments were defeated? This edited volume provides a detailed historical appraisal which considers the importance of themes such as economic performance; political leadership and the condition of the Conservatives in opposition.

An exploration of Labour's 1931 pledge to create a planned socialist economy and the reasons for its failure to do so. In the general election of 1931, the Labour Party campaigned on the slogan "Plan or Perish". The party's pledge to create a planned socialist economy was a novelty, and marked the rejection of the gradualist, evolutionary socialism to which Labour had adhered under the leadership of Ramsay MacDonald. Although heavily defeated in that election, Labour stuck to its commitment. The Attlee government came to power in 1945 determined to plan comprehensively. Yet, the aspiration to create a fully planned economy was not met. This book explores the origins and evolution of the promise, in order to explain why it was not fulfilled. RICHARD TOYE lectures in history at Homerton College, Cambridge.