Andrew Murray 
The Fall and Rise of the British Left 

The remarkable advance of ‘Corbynism’ did not emerge from nowhere. It is the product of developments in socialist and working-class politics over the past forty years and more. The Thatcher era witnessed a wholesale attack on the post war consensus and welfare state, through a regime of deregulation, attacks on the unions, privatisations, and globalisation. However, at the same time, there has been a persistent resistance to the growing powers of neo-liberalism – yet this side of the story is rarely told as it was considered to be a history of defeat. Yet out of this struggle emerged a thoroughly modern socialism.



This book is essential reading for those who want to know where Corbynism comes from: the policies, personalities and moments of resistance that has produced this new horizon. This includes the story of power struggles within the Labour Party, and the eventual defeat of New Labour. The movements outside it – trade unions, feminists groups, anti-fascists activists, anti-war protestors – that have driven the policies of the movement forward. And the powerful influence of international groups that have shaped the potential for a global progressive politics.

About the author

Andrew Murray is an author and campaigner. He has served as chair of the Stop the War Coalition, chief of staff of Unite the union and as advisor to Jeremy Corbyn when he was leader of the Labour Party. His numerous books include Off the Rails, Stop the War: The Story of Britain’s Biggest Mass Movement (with Lindsey German) and The Fall and Rise of the British Left.