Peter Dorey here presents the most comprehensive, in-depth and original book of the 1964-1970 labour governments published to date.

This unique account examines a wide range of political issues and makes extensive use of primary sources recently released by the Public Records Office, including previously unpublished cabinet papers, ministerial correspondence, ministers' private papers and interviews with former ministers.

Peter Dorey analyzes the policies and intra-party debates of the era and the problems which ministers faced in the context of both external events, and the growing unrest amongst labour backbenchers.

Providing a systematic analysis of this key period in modern British history, contributions span economic policies, foreign affairs, social reform, liberalism, constitutional reform and territorial management, thus ensuring that this text is essential reading for researchers and students of politics and government.