ABSTRACT
I. Crewe lists four reasons for the decline of the Labour Party and, by implication, left-wing politics. These are social mobility and the expansion of the service class; internal migration; mass unemployment; and falling trade-union membership. As with other writers, Crewe sees the growth of the service class as detrimental to radical politics. This chapter seeks to raise some questions about assumptions. It examines the reasons given for the conservatism of the service class and highlights some of the inadequacies of these assumptions. The chapter suggests that such an assumption downplays some areas of potential conflict. It explores the question on the ‘conservative’ thesis on a number of fronts. The chapter also highlights possible structural divisions within the service class and attacks the notion that the service class enjoys a trust relationship with employers. It argues that elements of the service class may well prove to be radical in the future. The chapter provides some description of professional employment.
