Catalogue Number
NMLH.1995.39.520
Object Name
poster
Title
'Labour at the gate.'
Place
Westminster, London
People
Labour Party, Labour Representation Committee (LRC)
Events
Elections, 1906 Parliamentary Election, formation of the Labour Party
Description
A black and white print - a man labelled 'Labour' is swinging an axe labelled L.R.C., breaking down the gate of Parliament. The gate has the words 'Landlordism, prejudice, low wages, rents and royalties, misgovernment' printed on it. The poster is titled 'Labour at the gate'.
This poster shows an early 20th century cartoon promoting the labour movement and the Labour Representation Committee (L.R.C. mentioned on the axe) as an anti-establishment alternative that people should vote for if they wanted to address the issues of corruption and poverty listed on the poster. The L.R.C. was a coalition of small socialist groups united under Labour politician Keir Hardie, which won 29 seats in the 1906 general election before renaming themselves The Labour Party. Posters like these were made by using printing blocks, which would be sent to local organisers to print their own - and edit to add information about local election issues or meetings.
The Labour Party emerged from the socialist trade union movement at the end of the 19th century, and by the 1920s had become the main opposition party, forming a minority government in 1924, and a majority government in 1929, both under leader Ramsay MacDonald.
