America and the British Labour Party
The Special Relationship at Work

Since 1945 some elements in the British Labour Party were ideologically opposed to a "special relationship" with America. This work examines the policies of Labour governments, the points of agreement and difference since 1945 and looks at possible future policies pursued by a Labour government.

Anglo-American relations have long been discussed in terms of there being a "special relationship" between the two countries. Peter Jones examines this relationship since 1945 with regard to the functioning of the Labour Party. Since the end of World War II, some elements in the British Labour Party were ideologically opposed to a special relationship. A leading question now is whether Labour's anti-Americanism of the 1980's will be submerged by New Labour? This work examines the policies of Labour governments, the points of agreement and difference since 1945 between party leaders, activists, workers and supporters, and looks at the future policies the Labour government might pursue in relation to the United States.

Part 1 Introduction: defining the special relationship
the academic debate about the "Special Relationship"
Labour Party attitudes towards the "Special Relationship". Part 2 Labour in power: the election campaign of 1945
Attlee, Bevin and the post-war world
Anglo-American relations, 1945-7
the breakdown of Anglo-Soviet relations
Labour Party reaction to the onset of the Cold War
developing a framework for European security
the atomic bomb
the Labour party and the creation of the Atlantic Pact
Labour and the movement for European unity
the German question
the Korean War
personalities
conclusions. Part 3 The opposition years, 1951-1964: German rearmament
Labour and the Suez crisis
nuclear weapons
the move towards Europe
the Polaris decision
personalities
conclusions. Part 4: Labour dominance and decline, 1964-1979: Labour's victory in 1964
Wilson's priorities and style
nuclear sharing
British nuclear policy under Labour
the war in Vietnam
the non-proliferation treaty negotiations
consequences of economic decline
"East of Suez"
Labour and Europe
co-operation and conflict in Anglo-American relations
personalities
conclusions. Part 5 Labour's eclipse, 1979-1992: the 1979 general election
the Labour left takes over
Labour's 1983 general election defeat
the early Kinnock years
the 1987 general election
Europe and changing trans-Atlantic relations
the end of the Cold War
the 1992 general election
personalities
conclusions. Part 6 Labour's regeneration and victory, 1992-1997: Labour under John Smith
Tony Blair takes over as Labour leader
the "Blair effect" and the 1997 general election
conclusions.