Labour Women in Power

This book examines the political lives and contributions of Margaret Bondfield, Ellen Wilkinson, Barbara Castle, Judith Hart and Shirley Williams, the only five women to achieve Cabinet rank in a Labour Government from the party’s creation until Blair became Prime Minister. Paula Bartley brings together newly discovered archival material and published work to provide a survey of these women, all of whom managed to make a mark out of all proportion to their numbers. Charting their ideas, characters, and formative influences, Bartley provides an account of their rise to power, analysing their contribution to policy making, and assessing their significance and reputation. She shows that these women were not a homogeneous group, but came from diverse family backgrounds, entered politics in their own discrete way, and rose to power at different times. Some were more successful than others, but despite their diversity these women shared one thing in common: they all functioned in a male world.

• gender
• politics
• parliament
• equality
• political parties
• Margaret Bondfield
• Ellen Wilkinson
• Barbara Castle
• Judith Hart
• Shirley Williams

“This new account, therefore, which considers the five Labour women cabinet ministers appointed before 1997 … is to be welcomed as an important contribution to the field. … The book is very welcome for the level of detail and new insights it provides. It will serve as an important text on the topic and its accessible style means that it will have appeal to academic readers, to students at all levels and to a wider readership.” (Helen Glew, Journal of Contemporary History, Vol. 58 (1), 2023)

“This book is a welcome addition to histories of women within the labour movement. … It is hoped it will inspire readers to seek answers as to why, after a 100 years of serving as MPs, there has still never been a female leader of the Labour Party.” (June Hannam, Women's History Review, March 3, 2021)

“While Labour Women in Power draws on a rich array of historical sources, there is little reference to feminist institutionalism or the more systematic accounts now available of the gendered mediation of women politicians. … Nonetheless, there is good material to draw on, making it a worthy addition to the bookshelf.” (Marian Sawer, Labour History, Vol. 119, November, 2020)

“Bartley’s work makes an invaluable contribution to writing the achievements of these phenomenal women back into the history books. … Bartley’s account of these formidable women and their achievements is a treasure trove of facts and stories.” (Rachel Reeves, FABIAN REVIEW, fabian.org.uk, Vol. 131 (4), 2019)

“It is really shocking that the earliest women Cabinet Ministers have almost been forgotten.  Most haven’t heard of Margaret Bondfield - the first.  Many have heard of Ellen Wilkinson, but few know she was a Cabinet Minister. Judith Hart is almost lost.  Not so Barbara Castle and Shirley Williams.  These are the total sum of Labour Cabinet Ministers up to 1997.  Paula Bartley has produced a highly readable and informative history.  It is really important that these women’s achievements are remembered and celebrated.” (Clare Short, Former MP, 1983-2010, and Secretary of State for International Development 1997-2003, UK)

• Stratford-upon-Avon, UK

  Paula Bartley

Paula Bartley is a feminist historian who has written widely on, and promoted, women’s history. She is the author of The Changing Role of Women (1996), Prostitution (1999), Votes for Women (2007), and also biographies of Emmeline Pankhurst (2002), Ellen Wilkinson (2014), and Queen Victoria (2016).

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