The Men of 1924: Britain’s First Labour Govement

by: Peter Clark (Author)

Publisher: Haus Publishing

Publication Date: 2 Oct. 2023

Language: English

Print Length: 320 pages

ISBN-10: 1913368815

ISBN-13: 9781913368814

Book Description

‘highly engaging and illuminating’ – Observer’written with wit and commendable succinctness’ – Guardian’masterful and timely’ – Literary ReviewA compelling account of a major tuing point in Britain’s political history: the election of the first Labour govement.Ramsay MacDonald’s Labour govement of 1924 consisted, as govements had for generations, of twenty white, middle-aged men with a Christian background. But that is where the similarities with previous govements ended, for the election of Britain’s first Labour administration witnessed a radical departure from govement by the ruling class. A majority of the new cabinet had left full time education by the time they were fifteen. Two were illegitimate, one was a foundling, three were from Irish immigrant families, another three had worked in coal mines before they were teenagers. For the first time in Britain’s political history, the govement could truly be said to represent all the social classes.The Men of 1924 is a vivid portrayal of the years preceding, and the arrival of, the first Labour govement and the new breed of politician it heralded – forerunners of all those who, later in the last century and in this one, overcame a system from which they had been excluded for too long.
‘highly engaging and illuminating’ – Observer’written with wit and commendable succinctness’ – Guardian’masterful and timely’ – Literary ReviewA compelling account of a major tuing point in Britain’s political history: the election of the first Labour govement.Ramsay MacDonald’s Labour govement of 1924 consisted, as govements had for generations, of twenty white, middle-aged men with a Christian background. But that is where the similarities with previous govements ended, for the election of Britain’s first Labour administration witnessed a radical departure from govement by the ruling class. A majority of the new cabinet had left full time education by the time they were fifteen. Two were illegitimate, one was a foundling, three were from Irish immigrant families, another three had worked in coal mines before they were teenagers. For the first time in Britain’s political history, the govement could truly be said to represent all the social classes.The Men of 1924 is a vivid portrayal of the years preceding, and the arrival of, the first Labour govement and the new breed of politician it heralded – forerunners of all those who, later in the last century and in this one, overcame a system from which they had been excluded for too long.