"Speak for Britain! charts labour's rise to power by re-examining the impact of the First World War, the General Strike of 1926, labour's breakthrough at the 1945 general election, the influence of post-war affluence and consumerism on the fortunes and character of the party. and its revival after the defeats of the Thatcher era. It argues that the party's long-term indifference - and even hostility - towards constitutional reform smoothed the party's transition to the role of a governing party and compounded the common ground with Conservatism."--BOOK JACKET.