Abstract
In the five years after the election defeat of June 1970, the Labour Party managed to avoid the fate that had befallen it after its earlier spell of power in the 1940s, of remaining in the wilderness for more than a decade. But it returned to office in March 1974 only as a minority government, and in the second election of October of that year it improved its position no more than marginally, so as to have an overall majority of just three seats — soon to be whittled away by lost by-elections and defections to a minority again.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 1996 Henry Pelling and Alastair J. Reid
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Pelling, H., Reid, A.J. (1996). The Rise of the Left (1970–9). In: A Short History of the Labour Party. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230376106_10
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230376106_10
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-0-333-64449-2
Online ISBN: 978-0-230-37610-6
eBook Packages: Palgrave Political & Intern. Studies CollectionPolitical Science and International Studies (R0)