Labour Party (Donovan Moore)

Logo of Blue Labour

The **Labour Party** (informerly Blue Labour) was a political party in the United Kingdom and sat on the centre-right of the political spectrum.

Before rebranding, Blue Labour made up a Majority Government, under the leadership of Sir Donovan Moore. It had 24 seats in the House of Commons, 17 of them being represented by a Member of Parliament. Blue Labour had a majority control of the London City Council and dominated constituencies in England, Scotland, and Wales, but had a minimal presence in Northern Ireland.

On 12 December 2021, it rebranded to the Conservative Party.

## History

### Blue Labour in Opposition (April-May 2021)

In 2021, Blue Labour was born under the leadership of Sir Donovan Moore, as part of his "It's Time For Change" movement that erupted during then-Prime Minister James Isaksen's Government. It gained significant support both at home and internationally, threatening an imminent collapse of the Conservative Government. Isaksen's Government saw numerous backbenchers defect to Blue Labour or turn independent, including then-Chancellor of the Exchequer Harry O'Dell and prominent backbencher Julia Montague.

Moore's Blue Labour actively criticised Isaksen's domestic and foreign policy, calling it "an absolute mess." Moore in particular attacked the inefficiency of the UK's involvement in the United Nations, and the FCDO's slow approach to diplomacy. He also pointed out the flaws in the immigration system, especially the abuses of it, which he often claimed to have been exploited by senior Conservative cabinet ministers in an effort to prevent Labour from coming to power.

#### Legislative Activity

During its time on the Opposition benches, Blue Labour proposed several notable proposals, including the Business & Trademark Registration Act and the Committees Act. Despite Blue Labour's rough relationship with the Conservatives, the proposals always passed with unanimous consent. Some describe this as Moore's way of showing what his party is capable of, even if not in Government.

Even with the general backing of the Conservatives for Labour's proposals, the party did not hesitate to denounce most Tory proposals. Even so, most Government bills passed, but one that received the strongest opposition to was then-Secretary of State for Media, Culture & Sport Ben Leadsom's Media & Information Bill. Moore ridiculed the "divisive and restrictive" special regulations for businesses in the media sector, and believed the bill did not reflect a laissez-faire approach to economics.

#### Controversy

Throughout the party's prominence while on Opposition, it often was suggested that it did not support the home-nations of the United Kingdom. When Blue Labour's major Committees Bill was passing through Parliament, then-Prime Minister James Isaksen called out Moore for associating Union Affairs with those of foreign importance. Moore rebounded by claiming that the FCDO was more capable of confronting matters of diplomacy rather than the Home Office, but agreed to amend the proposal to assign the Home Affairs Committee instead.

#### Dissolution (May 2021)

Blue Labour was dissolved near the end of Isaksen's Government due to the predicted collapse of the country, and what was claimed to be by Blue Labourites "the Tories' failure to put the interests of the people first."

### Blue Labour in Opposition (August 2021)

#### Re-emergence

Blue Labour re-emerged once again under Sir Donovan Moore's leadership, during the premiership of Thomas Davies. Moore began the "Britain Deserves Better" campaign, which easily regained support. Moore took an aggressive approach towards the Government, attempting to expose what he called "a complete farce." As Leader of the Opposition, he challenged numerous irregularities in the decisions of the Government, noting how often they did not meet the boundaries of the law.

### Blue Labour in Government (August-Present 2021)

#### First Labour Government

*Main Article: Second Moore ministry*

Following the resignation of Thomas Davies after only 13 days as Prime Minister, Sir Donovan Moore was appointed as his successor. Labour is fortunate to be one of few Governments to hold a substantial majority in the House of Commons, and to see steady widespread approval.

#### Approval

The Blue Labour Government has appeared to be one of the most popular administrations, following Sir Matthew Johnson's. As reported by the Financial Bloxian, the BBC, and the Gleaner, Blue Labour's Leader and incumbent Prime Minister Moore has seen a growth of support from 73%, 84%, and more recently in a Gleaner poll 100% (amongst British citizens that participated in the opinion poll). Ministers of the Crown have high approval ratings as well, but did not match Moore's personal popularity.

## Ideology

Blue Labour was considered to be a centre-right party. It believed that free markets and individual achievement are the primary factors behind economic prosperity. It initially kept a more isolationist approach to world affairs, but eventually adopted a more flexible and multicultural perspective.

Despite its open stance to international collaboration, Blue Labour identified itself as a strong proponent of the "Stay Out" campaign, during the UN Referendum in October 2021, as it claimed that association with unrecognised nations would disrupt foreign policy. However, in Government it re-introduced the Group of Seven with the presidency being held by the United Kingdom.

## Electoral Performance

### Stance on General-Elections

Blue Labour consistently was vocal about its support for introducing democracy to the United Kingdom and did eventually through its General Elections Act 2021.

### London & Westminster By-election (August 2021)

In the early days of the first Blue Labour Government, Prime Minister Moore requested the Electoral Commission to host a by-election in the London & Westminster constituency to solve the representational dispute between Erika McClaine MP and then-Leader of the Opposition John Bercow MP. Though at first agreeing to the proposal, Bercow inexpelicably stepped down, electing McClaine un-opposed.