Dan Horne (Northumbria) on the British Left’s response to fascism at home and in Europe

My dissertation examines the way in which the British Left contributed to the anti-fascist cause in 1930s Europe. I will observe how the British Left reacted to the rise of fascism within Germany, Austria and Italy, whilst also exploring their reaction towards Oswald Mosley and the BUF at home. This dissertation will attempt to draw attention to how key campaigners sought to gain wider support … Continue reading Dan Horne (Northumbria) on the British Left’s response to fascism at home and in Europe

Aidan Gibbons delves into the archives to compare Labour’s swings to the left in 1979-1981 and 2015

In March 2017, a bursary from the Society for the Study of Labour History enabled me to visit the Bishopsgate Institute in London and the People’s History Museum in Manchester. This was to conduct research for my Dissertation entitled A Comparison Between the Two Recent Swings to the Left Within the British Labour Party, 1979-1981 and 2015. My visit to London was focussed upon discovering … Continue reading Aidan Gibbons delves into the archives to compare Labour’s swings to the left in 1979-1981 and 2015

SSLH to sponsor radical hero Henry Hunt at People’s History Museum

The Society for the Study of Labour History are set to sponsor a ‘Radical Hero’ in support of the People’s History Museum, Manchester. Opting for the radical orator and hero of the Peterloo Massacre, Henry Hunt, the Society will provide £3,000 towards the continued work of the ‘national museum of democracy’. The museum hopes to attract sponsors for ’100 Radical Heroes’ and lists many unsponsored … Continue reading SSLH to sponsor radical hero Henry Hunt at People’s History Museum

Colm Murphy on researching Labour’s view of the 1980s ‘loony left’

Thanks to the generous support of the Society, I was able to visit the Labour History Archive and Study Centre, located at the People’s History Museum in Manchester. This trip was for my research into the Labour Party in the 1980s. I focus on the Labour leadership’s perceptions of the ‘loony left’ Labour councils, leading up to the 1987 election and Margaret Thatcher’s third victory. … Continue reading Colm Murphy on researching Labour’s view of the 1980s ‘loony left’

Imagining a Communist Britain

Can you imagine what a Communist Britain would look like? An exciting new project between the People’s History Museum and the University of Manchester is uncovering previously inaccessible archive collections on leading figures in the Communist Party of Great Britain. The project, which includes two exhibitions, a day school and an international conference, will be setting out to challenge familiar concepts of communism. The archive collections … Continue reading Imagining a Communist Britain