Lancaster, Bill (1982) Radicalism to socialism : the Leicester working class, 1860-1906. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.

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Abstract

This study surveys the social, economic and political development
of the Leicester working class between 1860 and 1906. Special attention
is given to hosiery and footwear workers who collectively represented
over 60% of the industrial workforce in 1891. It is argued that as these
two trades were still based on an outwork system well into the last
quarter of the century, working practices and cultural activities of the
workforce still manifested many aspects of an artisanal milieu. Furthermore, the inefficiency of capitalist control endemic to the outwork system
assisted in retaining a strong element of independence in working class
political activity. Thus Leicester working class Liberalism was always
staunchly radical.
Centralisation and mechanisation in hosiery and footwear challenged
existing working practices and led to widespread discontent. This
unrest also had fundamental political implications. It is argued that
Liberalism began to weaken in Leicester when it became identified with a
group of employers active in imposing factory production. It is further
argued that the process of political change amongst the working class was
also partly the product of Leicester's indigenous popular radical
tradition.
The eventual victory of the factory system brought further political
change. Local Socialism abandoned its early interest in cooperative
production as the developments in the world of work rendered the ending
of artisanal methods. Problems of poverty caused largely by displaced
footwear workers became the prime concern of the infant Labour Party. It
is argued that Labour consolidated its position in local politics and
Liberalism ceased to be an effective force in working class areas because
the new party was able to harness the problem of unemployment to its
cause. Yet ambiguities remained. Old radicalism, Socialism and
reformism were the major elements in working class politics in the years
prior to the 1906 general election. These-apparently contradictory
aspects were ideally suited to the personality and political philosophy.
of J. Ramsay MacDonald, who skillfully utilised them in his successful
parliamentary campaign.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Subjects:	D History General and Old World > DA Great Britain
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Leicester (England) -- Social conditions -- 19th century, Leicester (England) -- Politics and government -- 19th century, Working class -- Political activity -- England -- Leicester -- History -- 19th century, Clothing workers -- England -- Leicester -- History -- 19th century
Official Date:	November 1982
Dates:	Date Event November 1982 Submitted
Institution:	University of Warwick
Theses Department:	Department of Social History
Thesis Type:	PhD
Publication Status:	Unpublished
Supervisor(s)/Advisor:	Reid, Fred
Extent:	xvi, 397 leaves
Language:	eng

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