For the Many.: Preparing Labour for Power

This lively anthology explores the pivotal role played by Labour’s manifesto during the extraordinary British election of June 2017, one in which the party, under the radical leadership of Jeremy Corbyn, closed a twenty point opinion poll deficit to come within a whisker of winning. It analyses the policies outlined in a widely-acclaimed programme showing how they can be developed further to become an effective blueprint for a future Labour government.

Mike Phipps’s introduction, based on discussions with key insiders, looks at the way the manifesto was assembled and at the crucial role it played in transforming Labour’s electoral fortunes. It is followed by chapters that expand on each of the manifesto’s sections, written by specialists who are expert in their respective fields. The contributors discuss the strengths and shortcomings of the policies and look at the ways they have been tested by events since the election, including the government’s floundering negotiations on Brexit, the catastrophic Grenfell tower block fire, and the escalating crisis in the National Health Service.

For the Many … provides a vital tool for activists who want to see the policies of Labour’s 2017 election manifesto expanded and radicalised as the party prepares for power.

Contributors: David Beetham, Malia Bouattia, Gregor Gall, Jeremy Gilbert, Stuart Hodkinson, Ewa Jasiewicz, Ruth Lister, Allyson Pollock, Glen Rangwala, Kiri Tunks, Hilary Wainwright and Chris Williamson.