ABSTRACT
In the context of this study it is important to try to understand why Britain came to adopt the centralist path. In contrast to many other Western countries, Britain has a long tradition of powerful central government. The legislation emanating from Parliament between the beginning of the 1830s and the end of the 1860s was principally regulatory and controlling in its content and purpose. English socialism is not yet anarchist or collectivist, not yet defined enough in point of policy to be classified. The left, supported by Bevin and the Transport Workers' Union, wanted direct union representation on the boards that would run the industries. The right, led by Morrison, believed this would undermine the case for making appointments to the boards purely on the basis of ability and capacity, and would lead to inefficiency. The platform on which Labour was returned to power in 1945 was more or less pure Fabian socialism.
