[Preliminary entry]. The Labour Party was formed on 27th February
1900 by representatives of the major British socialist groups in
Britain (the Independent Labour Party, the Social Democratic
Federation and the Fabian Society) and trade union leaders who
agreed to form a “Labour Representation Committee” which would
engage “in promoting legislation in the direct interests of
labour.” The party sought to foster alliances between the working
class and progressive elements of the middle class. Ramsay
MacDonald, a leading figure of the Independent Labour Party, was
chosen as the secretary of the LRC which put up fifteen candidates
in the 1900 General Election, two of whom, Keir Hardie and Richard
Bell won seats in the …
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