What can Keir Starmer learn from Ramsay MacDonald’s failures?

A century ago today, the first ever Labour government was formed. Yet even many Labour members will probably be ignorant of the anniversary. To be fair, most historians of the party (this one included) have overlooked the government in favour of the superficially more consequential post-war administrations, especially that of 1945. After all, the 1924 government lasted just nine months and its legislative successes were few.

Formed after the inconclusive December 1923 general election left the Conservatives unable to command a Commons majority, as his was the second largest party and enjoying qualified Liberal support, Labour leader Ramsay MacDonald stepped in. Few believed he would last long in Number 10: Liberals even thought they were offering Labour a poisoned chalice hoping power would expose the party’s incapacity to govern and so encourage a revival in their own fortunes. Given its minority status, Labour’s record was understandably limited. But that MacDonald managed to perform the basics of government at all was the biggest surprise – and his greatest achievement – and one which helped condemn the Liberals to irrelevance.

But while a century separates us from MacDonald’s first stint as prime minister, the dilemmas he faced and the strategy he followed to solve them remain more than historical curiosities.