Voices of the UK Left

Rhetoric, Ideology and the Performance of Politics

Judi Atkins, John Gaffney, Judi Atkins, John Gaffney

• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
• Year: 2017
• Print ISBN:
  9783319519012
• eBook ISBN:
  9783319519029
• Topic: Politics & International Relations
• Subtopic: Democracy
• Index: Politics & International Relations

This book brings together a team of specialists to explore why some left-wing politicians are able to communicate their message effectively, whereas others struggle to connect with the public. To address this question, it analyses the rhetoric and narratives employed by figures from British and Welsh Labour, the Green Party, the Scottish National Party and the radical left, as well as the anti-austerity movement. In doing so, the collection offers insights into why the performances of political actors such as Carwyn Jones and Nicola Sturgeon resonate with a wide audience, whereas some - like Jeremy Corbyn - have limited appeal beyond the party faithful. The volume provides an accessible examination of the language and ideas of the UK left, while offering a novel perspective on the challenges currently facing the Labour Party. It will therefore appeal to a wide readership, including scholars and students of rhetoric, ideology, political leadership, and British politics.  

Table of contents

• Voices of the UK Left
• Chapter 1 Rhetoric and the Left: Theoretical Considerations
• Part I The Rhetoric of the British Labour Party
• Chapter 2 ‘I’m Telling You, and You’ll Listen’: Ethos in the Rhetoric of Neil Kinnock
• Chapter 3 Recapturing Our Traditions? The Rhetorical Shift from New to One Nation Labour (and Beyond)
• Chapter 4 The Rise and Fall of the One Nation Narrative
• Chapter 5 One Nation Labour and the Case for Social Security Reform
• Chapter 6 Jeremy Corbyn and the Limits of Authentic Rhetoric
• Chapter 7 Red Dragon FM: Carwyn Jones’s ‘Welsh Labour Rhetoric’
• Part II Voices from Beyond the Labour Mainstream
• Chapter 8 The Advantages of Opposition: Fracking and the Greens
• Chapter 9 Rhetoric and the Rise of the Scottish National Party
• Chapter 10 The Rhetorical Personas of George Galloway and Tommy Sheridan
• Chapter 11 Demanding the Alternative: The Rhetoric of the UK Anti-austerity Movement
• Chapter 12 Reflections on the UK Left: Narrative, Leadership Performance, and Imagined Audiences
• Index