In the light of the recent Labour General Election victory this is a particularly interesting read. It is an insightful and comprehensive look at past general elections and how Labour has been able to win. As a Labour Party member this was especially compelling for me but I do believe it will appeal to a wide range of readers interested in politics. It's a well written and accessible study made all the more interesting as the author is someone who has been actively involved in Labour politics. However he is still able to take a balanced view and has researched the topic superbly.
Recommended.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

Douglas Beattie, How Labour Wins (And Why It Loses) From 1900 to 2024, Elliott & Thompson, August 2024.

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with this uncorrected copy for review.

Douglas Beattie’s approach to a topic that could take up so many interesting side issues is a Party Campaign Director’s dream: he unfailingly remains on message. As a result, this book is a focussed, insightful read. In referring to major events that could be tempting to dwell upon Beattie instead refers to them with well crafted, directed comments that tell the reader all that is necessary. The Labour Party, its leaders, ministers and shadow ministers, back benchers, party members are at the forefront, in their praiseworthy and not so praiseworthy, attempt to win government, success in doing so and their reaction to being in government. Outside the Labour Party, but important actors in this narrative, are the alternative governing parties, their leaders and supporters; constituents; and the role of polls and the media. The results of the 2024 election of the Kier Starmer Labour Government are not covered – the election is in the immediate future – but what information is there is an excellent precursor to that Labour win.

The book is well designed, with such a readable and intuitive introduction that it bears rereading after the book is completed. Following is a dot point section on Labour’s history – a fascinating and quick read. A history of Labour’s beginnings, ‘1893 – A Distinct Labour Group, is followed by the results of Labour’s organisation and election of Labour members of Parliament, leading to the topic of Chapter 3 – A New Party in Parliament to Chapter 4 which covers the 1910 election and, like those that follow includes a short summing up of the results. The latter are an excellent addition to the detailed narrative, including figures that show the turn out (voting, unlike in Australia is not compulsory), the number of candidates fielded by Labour, MPs, votes, percentage of the vote, and the results. Comparisons of the tun out over different elections, under different Labour leaders are particularly interesting. There are informative endnotes for each chapter.

Beattie has interviewed Labour leaders, party officials, and party members. He has direct experience of being a national candidate, a councillor and canvassing. While clearly a dedicated Labour member and observer, Beattie shows no factional bias (although he makes clear the problems factionalism has made for Labour strategists), a welcome feature of this narrative. I really loved reading Douglas Beattie’s account with its insight, warmth and understanding of the Labour Party, the challenges and the heights to which it can reach (even if these are perceived differently by different readers) and the lows (again, perceptions are important) it has overcome. For a committed Labour person this is an enlightening read; for a student of British politics, it is a perceptive and valuable interpretation; and for a person who is just interested in the way political parties respond to constituencies How Labour Wins is an accessible account of the way in which your lives are impacted by the political process and how you can respond.

How Labour Wins is a comprehensive account of every election the Labour Party has fought - from the humble beginnings of Keir Hardie to the 2024 election led by Sir Keir Starmer.

Every election is written about in detail, and is absolutely fascinating. Beattie has researched and delivered brilliantly.

Obviously this book is more interesting if you are a Labour supporter, but it goes into detail of the elections themselves, so discusses the Conservatives, Liberal, Liberal Democrats, SDP, Ukip etc.

The book is a fascinating read for anyone interested in UK politics.

Many thanks to Douglas Beattie, NetGalley, and Elliott & Thompson for this advanced copy.

How Labour Wins has all what you can ask for in a book about a political party, its policies and an analysis on what it does well and what it doesn’t.
As far as I remember, this marks the first time that I have read such a political analysis structured as in this book; the analyses of each campaign of the UK Labour party. It is in parts historical and can be read for a chronological overview, if that is what you are interested in, but its major potency is the analysis and what can be done. It is life affirming and hopeful as well as being clearly expressed and proficiently edited.
This book and what is happening right now makes me excited. Yay!

This is a very interesting read about the electoral performance of the British Labour Party since its first election to today. Each chapter is a short summary of the election campaign, important issues, how the Leader presented the Party and the final results. Obviously, the analysis can't go into too much depth considering the number of elections covered, but it also means it doesn't get too bogged down in details and instead gives a manageable summary.

The author is a Labour activist and the book is from a Labour viewpoint, but the author doesn't hesitate to criticise or point out weak performances. The analysis is done in a fair manner without being clouded by the author's personal opinions.

It is interesting to see common themes throughout the history of the Labour Party. There has always been tension between the Left and Centre of the Party that resurfaces with new faces every generation. It's also interesting to see how Labour goes through cycles of being the fresh new face to modernise Britain, before gradually becoming worn out and exhausted.

Overall, I recommend it as an enjoyable read that gives a good oversight of the history of the Labour Party.

At the time of writing (June 2024), the nation stands on the threshold of a seemingly inevitable General Election victory for Labour and Keir Starmer. But how did we get here? This very accessible but also very informative book delves deep into the many General Elections Labour has fought since it was first established as the Labour Representation Committee back in 1900.
We get the highs: the New Labour landslide of 1997 (Blair: "a new dawn has broken, has it not?") The Portillo moment. The Khaki election of 1945: The celebrated Let Us Face The Future Together manifesto written by Michael Young. The uproar over Churchill's outrageous "gestapo speech." A huge influx of new MPs, a tidal wave of young talent: Barbara Castle, James Callaghan, Michael Foot. Harold Wilson, who would pull off his own landslide for Labour in 1966. The excitement of the first Labour government coming to power in 1924.
We also get the lows: The Great Betrayal of 1931. The shock defeats of 1970, 1992 and 2015 (perhaps we should expect another one in about 2037?) Michael Foot's disastrous post-Falklands campaign against Thatcher in 1983. Gordon Brown's Bigotgate in 2010. Neil Kinnock's drunken overexcitement at the Sheffield rally in 1992.. The Zinoviev letter of 1924. The Prescott punch in 2001. Although that last one, in fact, probably boosted Labour in a contest where they ultimately did very well indeed.
Beattie coves this in exhaustive detail. There is plenty I did not know myself. For example, the strange facts surrounding Labour prime ministers called 'James.' Three pf the six so far have had the first name, 'James.' But which three? You'll probably be surprised by the answer.
So comrades! Let us guard against complacency. This book may very well succeed on its own anyway, but with everything so volatile currently. who can say for sure? Ultimately, for a light and accessible but well written book on 20th and 21st political history, vote for How Labour wins today!