TRADE UNIONS AND THE LABOUR PARTY: TIME FOR AN OPEN MARRIAGE

This chapter argues that it is impossible to understand the Kenneys’ politics without understanding their home life. It suggests that we need to see the Kenneys as a product of two related cultures: the tradition of autodidactism and the ‘religion of socialism’. Reading, Christianity, and socialism underpinned these cultures and help explain the sisters’ political trajectory. Though many women were drawn to feminist activism from particular strands of the labour movement, particularly the Independent Labour Party and the trade unions, these were not the only currents of thought which influenced women’s politics. The Kenneys’ childhoods not only give us access to working-class women’s political development outside the workplace but also begin to connect feminist militancy with a different political tradition.

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Neoliberalism and trade unions in Britain

Tempo Social ◽

10.11606/0103-2070.ts.2020.165088 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 32 (1) ◽

pp. 11-28

Author(s):

Steve Cushion

Keyword(s):

European Union ◽

Trade Unions ◽

Conservative Party ◽

Labour Party ◽

The European Union ◽

Ruling Class ◽

Social Democratic ◽

The Past ◽

The Social ◽

Parliamentary Politics

For the past 30 years, Britain’s ruling class has been deeply split over membership of the European Union. This came to a head over the referendum on so-called “Brexit”. The Conservative Party (Tories) was split into “Remain” and “Leave” wings, both neoliberal, but with a different interpretation of the best way to make profits for the section of British capitalism each represents. Meanwhile the Labour Party is divided between the pro-business, neoliberal wing and the social democratic, reformist wing. The trade unions, with one or two notable exceptions, have conducted their activities within the parameters of parliamentary politics and desperately hoped for a Labour victory. The recent general election gave complete victory to the “Leave” Tories, which is potentially disastrous for the trade unions and their members.

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