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The Decline of Working Class Politics?

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Trade Unions and Politics

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Abstract

In Chapter 3, we examined the organisational and ideological links between unions and parties. This relationship was seen as mutually beneficial but as parties and unions developed they generated separate interests whilst remaining interdependent. The change from ‘outsider’ to ‘insider’ led to changes in party social structure, whilst the decline of blue-collar industries and the rise of the public sector produced a more professional ‘middle class’ ethos. These developments converged to produce an activist stratum in the party whose concerns and attitudes were at variance with those of the traditional working class who became increasingly receptive to a right of centre political appeal. This has been described as ‘the decline of working class politics’ and this chapter examines the reasons for, and the consequences of, first, the declining presence of members of the working class in the elite of ‘their’ party and, second, the drift of working class voters from these parties.

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Notes and References

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  1. Andrew J. Taylor
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© 1989 Andrew Taylor

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Taylor, A.J. (1989). The Decline of Working Class Politics?. In: Trade Unions and Politics. Palgrave, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-20135-8_4

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