The Origins of the Independent Labour Party

Authors Avatar

              The Origins of the Independent Labour Party

The origins of the Independent Labour Party (ILP) can be traced from Scotland in the late 1880’s and the industrial areas of Yorkshire and Lancashire in the early 1990’s. It was not the creation of a few leaders with political ambitions, but the result of a range of initiatives taken in various communities by both men and women.

Join now!

 A cotton worker turned journalist, Joseph Burgess, wrote an article on the need for an ILP. He believed this strongly and attempted to make it a reality by pursuing it. Burgess had many sympathisers on this idea and when the Trade Union Congress met in 1892 a conference was organised by an Arrangements committee.

At this meeting in Bradford people were very optimistic of this new idea and it was believed that it was optimistic in itself.

For the ILP to be a success it had to fit into the existing political system which meant fitting into ...

This is a preview of the whole essay