ABSTRACT
There is a definite tendency for media commentators and academic researchers to focus on the flanks of successful democratic parties at the expense of the centre. Even in placid parties this is understandable, since the ‘left’ and the ‘right’ are usually more newsworthy and intellectually interesting. In the case of an institution like the Labour Party, with its much-chronicled susceptibility to ideological disputes, the relative neglect of the centre is even less surprising. Nevertheless, there is good reason to suppose that the ‘centre’ (however defined) must have played a key role in the prolonged struggle for Labour’s soul. Prima facie, one would expect periods of disunity to coincide with a weakness of the centre, while the fact that the party celebrated its centenary in possession of a comfortable parliamentary majority might be seen as a tribute to the centre’s enduring ability to keep the show on the road.
