The Crosland Legacy: the future of British social democracy

To mark the 60th anniversary of Anthony Crosland's influential tract The Future of Socialism, the Mile End Institute, Policy Network and FEPS held a half-day symposium on his intellectual and political legacy. The conference was convened by Patrick Diamond and Michael Kenny of the School of Politics at Queen Mary University of London.

Patrick Diamond has recently published The Crosland Legacy: the Future of British Social Democracy. This is an important moment for social democrats, policy thinkers and academics to consider the relevance of Crosland's work to today’s political context. The symposium brought together leading politicians, policymakers, academic experts and political activists to reconsider Crosland’s legacy for contemporary times, and to consider the future politics of centre-left renewal.

The afternoon was divided into three sessions focusing on some personal reflections on Crosland’s career as an intellectual and politician, Crosland’s intellectual legacy in relation to equality and the role of the state, and a roundtable on future centre-left renewal​

Personal reflections

Chair: Professor Jean Seaton, Professor of Media History, University of Westminster
Dick Leonard, former PPS to Anthony Crosland
Lord David Lipsey, former political advisor to Anthony Crosland
Lord Giles Radice, author Friends and Rivals: Crosland, Jenkins and Healey

Intellectual legacy

Chair: Catherine Miller, Executive Manager, Mile End Institute, QMUL
Dr Patrick Diamond, Queen Mary University of London
Dr Simon Griffiths, Senior Lecturer in Politics, Goldsmiths University of London
Sunder Katwala, Director, British Future

The Politics of Centre-Left Renewal

Chair: Professor Michael Kenny, Director of the Mile End Institute, QMUL
Olivia Bailey, Research Director, Fabian Society
Tom Clark, Editor Prospect
Jon Cruddas, MP for Dagenham and Rainham
Professor Steven Fielding, Director of the Centre for British Politics, University of Nottingham
Professor Jean Seaton, Professor of Media History, University of Westminster