Kinnock's reforms, 1983-92

• The split between Labour and the Social Democrats made it harder for moderates who remained with Labour to tackle the left wing of the party
• Neil Kinnock, who replaced Michael Foot as Party leader in 1983, had to take action against Militant Tendency and unite the party if Lbaour were ever to regain power
• Although he made some impressive speeches against them in 1985, Kinnock was substantially aided in his fight by Thatcher
• By capping local rates, disbanding certain local authorities, the privatisation of state industries and limiting trade union power, she undermined the bases of far-left power within the Labour movement
• Kinnock's modernising reforms consisted of:

  • unilateral nuclear disarmament (was rejected)
  • moved Labour to pro-Europe stance
  • in 1989, the Party dropped its support for union closed-shop practice
• Kinnock stood down after the 1992 Conservative election victory and John Smith followed, who was a favourite with MPs and ordinary Labour members alike
• Smith had little time to build on Kinnock's, reforms before he died in 1994
• Tony Blair succeeded John Smith and would complete the turnaround in Labour policy started by Kinnock