ABSTRACT
This chapter offers a reappraisal of Labour in the South West. It focuses on the extent of Labour's weakness, explains the reasons for it, and identifies the effects that this weakness had on the outlook of party and its activists down to, and arguably beyond, 1945. In order to understand the nature of Labour politics in the South West, it is necessary first to appreciate very difficult conditions in which the region's Labourites had to operate in the period. The party conference reports of early 1920s made frequent references to 'difficult circumstances' that faced J. H. Edwards, Annie Townley and Clem Jones in their 'arduous work' in what was variously described as 'one of the most difficult areas of the country' or 'one of the most backward areas of the country'. The National Union of Railwaymen played a significant role, not least at Exeter, where it had a substantial membership and where it sponsored the Labour candidate at 1945 general election.
