ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the activities and experiences of the Labour Party and its members in a number of towns, cities, counties and regions throughout Britain between 1918 and 1945. In so doing, it seeks to recognise the role played by party members and supporters in shaping Labour's wider social and political history. The activities and experiences of party members have too often been written out of interwar British political history. The party's association with a particular trade union could deter as well as attract potential support; inter-union rivalry was sometimes evident; and overt union influence could shape party's priorities in a way that failed to complement the wider constituency. Significantly, however, Labour's reorganisation in 1918 necessitated that the party widen its appeal beyond the ranks of the organised labour movement. On a social and cultural level, meanwhile, local and regional research into the Labour Party helps shed light on the broader experiences of Labour members and supporters.
