In the cause of labour

History of British trade unionism

Rob Sewell, Wellred Publications, 480 pages, £14.99

"This is a book that sets out from the proposition that the interests of capital and labour are incompatible, and takes sides in the war between the classes." Sewell's introduction sets the tone for a partial but exhaustive account of the British labour movement, from the industrial revolution to the current debate over union disaffiliation from the Labour Party.

As scathing about left intellectuals as he is about right-wing union leaders, Sewell regularly reminds the reader of the character of the ruling class, even when their actions often speak quite eloquently for themselves.

Occasionally the assertions are questionable (for instance, linking last year's massive power cut in London to our reliance on foreign gas following the closure of Britain's coal mines), but overall the book's catalogue of past victories and injustices proves an effective rallying cry for what the author hopes will be a period of trade union revitalisation.