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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 27 January 2009
In recent years the discipline of political science has focused much of its attention on political parties. In 1967 Professor L. D. Epstein noted ‘Writing about Political Parties in Western democracies is not a novel enterprise. It is several decades since political scientists, once preoccupied with constitutional forms, ceased to neglect parties’. In Britain, however, there remains much uncharted territory which requires detailed exploration by the political scientist. Much of the research carried out in Britain has concentrated on one of two levels of analysis, either national or local. Basic information about the intermediate branch of party organization, the regional and area structures, is lacking. As Professor J. Blondel has noted: ‘The eleven regions of the Labour Party and the twelve areas of the Conservative Party are rarely examined’. There is, therefore, a gap in our knowledge of political parties in Britain, a gap which Professor R. T. McKenzie readily acknowledged in his own study of British parties.
1 Epstein, L. D., Political Parties in Western Democracies (London: Pall Mall Press, 1967).Google Scholar
2 For example, Beer, S. H., Modern British Politics (London: Faber, 1965)Google Scholar, and Janosik, E. G., Constituency Labour Parties in Britain (London: Pall Mall Press, 1968).Google Scholar
3 The regional and area structures are mentioned, albeit briefly in both Mckenzie, R. T., British Political Parties (London: Heinemann, 1955)Google Scholar, and Blondel, J., Voters, Parties and Leaders (Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1963).Google Scholar
4 Blondel, , Voters, Parties and Leaders, p. 108.Google Scholar
5 Mckenzie, , British Political Parties, p. 231.Google Scholar
6 The Labour Organizer ceased publication in October 1971.
7 Available at the Library, Transport House.
8 In 1971 the eleven Regions of the Labour Party were: Greater London (100 constituencies), Northern (38), North West (79), Yorkshire (51), East Midlands (40), West Midlands (54), Western (43), Eastern (42), Southern (64), Wales (36), Scotland (71).
9 In 1971 these were: Greater London (103), Northern (34), North East (79), Yorkshire (54), East Midlands (42), West Midlands (60), East (40), South East (34), Wessex (37), Western (28), Wales (36).
10 For further information on the Conservative Party's Scottish organization see Urwin, D. W., ‘Scottish Conservatism: A Party Organization in Transition’, Political Studies, XIV (1966), 145–62.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
11 The main literature on field administration has come from the Yale School, notably from Professor Fesler, J. W.. See particularly his Area and Administration (Alabama: Alabam University Press, 1949).Google Scholar
12 1921 Labour Party Annual Conference Report, pp. 33, 34.
13 In 1922 there were 2,400 Divisional and local Labour Parties and Trade Councils in Britain. By 1926 some 3,314 Divisional and Local Labour Parties and Trades Councils were functioning. In part, at least, this increase is a tribute to the work of these national field agents.
14 The first meeting of the Executive Committee was held on Saturday 28 August 1937’ (see 1938 South Wales Regional Council Annual Report, p. 13).
15 See Lancashire and Cheshire Regional Council First Annual Report here.
16 1940 Labour Party Annual Conference Report, p. 14.
17 The remaining Regional Councils were established as follows: 1942 — Northern, Yorkshire, East Midlands, West Midlands, 1947 — Eastern, Southern, 1948 — South Western.
18 Greater London Regional Council of the Labour Party, Rules and Standing Orders 1969, Clause X.
19 SirWinnifrith, J., The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (London: Allen & Unwin, 1962), p. 247.Google Scholar
20 Document circulated by the National Agent. Reference NAD/RO/8/5/71.
21 1968 North West Regional Council Annual Report, p. 7.
22 1968 West Midlands Regional Council Annual Report, p. 4.
23 1968 East Midlands Regional Council Annual Report, p. 5.
24 The Labour Party, Constitution and Rules, Section D, Clause XI, pp. 13,14.
25 Here, see Lowell, A. L., The Government of England (New York: Macmillan, 1908)Google Scholar; also Ostrogorski, M., Democracy and the Organization of Political Parties (London: Macmillan, 1902).Google Scholar
26 Conservative and Unionist Central Office, The Party Organization (London, 08 1964), p. 3.Google Scholar
27 Midlands Union of Conservative Associations, Minute Book, 1886.
28 For a description of the Scottish organization of the Conservative Party, see Urwin, ‘Scottish Conservatism’.
29 Final Report of the Committee on Party Organization (London: The National Union, 1949), p. 20.
30 Final Report, p. 21.
31 West Midlands Conservative Council, Annual Reports, 1965-1970.Google Scholar
32 In 1970 the following numbers of agents were employed by the two parties (full-time): Labour Party 141, Conservative Party 386.
