It’s 100 years since the Labour party took office for the first time, back then with a minority government. Now, in 2024, it looks set to win an election with what will possibly the largest majority in history.
Labour has been out of power for 14 years, so the majority of its shadow cabinet has never held a ministerial post. Is this lack of experience a problem?
Labour had a total of 202 MPs after the 2019 election – its worst result since 1935. By the eve of the election in 2024, it had a core legacy of 170. Byelection wins had added 13 MPs to the party over the course of the parliament but seven MPs also resigned, two were sitting as independents (including former leader Jeremy Corbyn) and 36 MPs had decided to stand down.
The “core legacy” is the group of Labour MPs who are seeking to remain in the House of Commons by standing as candidates in the election. This is the starting base for the new parliamentary Labour party (PLP) – 170 MPs. There are also 12 former Labour MPs who are putting themselves forward in the election. Although not part of the core legacy base, these “retreads” will also bring important experience.
The latest polls........