The Labour Party grew out of the trade union movement and socialist political parties of the 19th century before the First World War. Although after 1825, workers were allowed to form associations, they could not strike for their cause, and unions were not protected by law. However, after 1850, with the entry of mass production techniques, the Industrial Revolution entered a new phase. The number of unions grew, even in towns. New political ideas emerged, due to Socialism, which stressed on equality among men. The 1874 elections saw two workers entering parliament, and slowly, their numbers rose in the coming years.
Initially, though these men supported the Liberal Party, slowly another group emerged within the union with the support of eminent personalities like Bernard Shaw. The Labour Representation Committee was formed in 1893 to select candidates to stand for the polls for the parliament, and in 1900, the Independent Labour Party was formed, heralding a new era in the history of parliament. The party primarily served the poor working class, the aged, and sought the intervention the government to protect the workers in the new industrial society.
The Labour Party grew steadily, and was dedicated to the cause of the workers.
In 1919, the first Labour government under Ramsay Macdonald assumed office, and the Labour Party became a leading political party in Britain.