Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1860660738 ISBN 13: 9781860660733

Publisher: Richard Cohen Books, 1996

Hugh Gaitskell was the grandfather of Tony Blair's revolution, the original Labour moderniser. He was also the political mentor of the founders of the SDP. The New Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats are Gaitskellite parties. However, while the 'revisionist' approach might be the same, the policy agenda is very different. Gaitskell's central political idea was the need for equality; he did not believe in markets. Who then has the right to claim 'Gaitskell's legacy'?
This new life, building on the scholarship of Philip Williams, tries to solve the paradox of this passionate rationalist. It connects Gaitskell's pedantic, grey, public persona with the charming, loving and funny man people knew in private life. It is also a critical reassessment of Gaitskell's political legacy, based on interviews by the author, memoirs, private paper collections, government papers, some of which have only recently been released and new secondary material published in the last two decades.

Synopsis:

This biography of Hugh Gaitskell (1906-1963) explores the man, as well as the politician. It draws on material from Cabinet papers released recently, interviews by the author, memoirs and secondary works published in the last decade. It sets out to provide a fresh perspective on a crucial figure in the history of the Labour Party.

About the Author:

Dr. Brian Brivati is now a Senior Lecturer in Modern British History at Kingston University.