ABSTRACT
This chapter analyses the development of political public relations within the unlikely context of ‘municipal socialism.’ It has been customary to link many of the innovations associated with the professionalisation of political communication with developments during the closing stages of the twentieth century. Foremost among the studies has been Jacquie L’Etang’s comprehensive and groundbreaking study into the origins and development of Public Relations in Britain. If L’Etang’s pioneering historical contribution demonstrates the importance of looking beyond the US and private sector for the source of change she also highlights the significant role played by primarily non-profit-making actors. Labour’s development was comparatively swift following its foundation at the beginning of the twentieth century. In doing so the campaign posed the most important challenge to Labour’s previously dominant educationalist approach and its valorisation of frugal, interpersonal and labour-intense methods. ‘New Britain’ was a phrase originally popularised by Harold Wilson, another Labour leader who succeeded in becoming prime minister.
