Constitutional Doctrine and Revisionism in the Labour Party

Abstract

It remains a curious paradox in Britain’s political history, that despite being the party which established the basis for a universal democratic way of life through the creation of the Welfare State and the National Health Service, the Labour Party has, until recently, remained relatively unconcerned with constitutional matters. Of course, there have been some exceptions, for example, the Wilson governments of the 1960s and ‘70s were responsible for both the creation of the Parliamentary Ombudsman and the introduction of legislation to confront racial and sexual discrimination. But it remains striking that agendas of constitutional reform which have struck at the heart of British democratic elitism; the ‘Crown in Parliament’ forged through the sovereignty of the executive, have failed to gain the backing of the party leadership, at least when Labour has been in government. This has largely been a function of what Anthony Wright (1990, p. 323) has termed the Labour Party’s ‘history of satisfaction’ with Britain’s constitutional arrangements. This chapter reviews the evidence in support of this characterization of Labour’s constitutional doctrine. It begins with a presentation of the key components of Britain’s constitutional doctrine and proceeds to a discussion of the political ideas of the party’s key constitutional thinkers.

All sorts of enticing proposals will be made from time to time for socialist support. Amendments in electoral laws, amendments in legislative methods — all apparently reasonable, all apparently just — will entice socialists. And yet they will probably not bear examination. They may be but will-o′-the-wisps leading into bogs those who foolishly follow.

Ramsay MacDonald, 1909.