Introduction

Abstract

At a special conference in April 1995, the Labour Party decided to change Clause IV of its constitution, adopted in 1918 and committing the party to the common ownership of the means of production, distribution and exchange, based on the democratic control of indus-try. In its place, a clause was adopted committing the party to a sense of community and to a dynamic market economy, the sort of economy which since its foundation Labour had regarded with at least a profound mistrust. The adoption of the new clause occurs as relations with the trade union movement, from which it had emerged and from which it has always received the greatest share of its finance, have been weakened to the point where the abolition of the union block vote at conference is discussed. It does appear that the Labour Party is being transformed beyond recognition, in danger of cutting all links with its socialist and labourist past.