The Canary Down the Coalmine: Dagenham, London and Labour Politics

Abstract The history of Dagenham offers unique insights into both the changing composition of the working class and the forces that have reshaped domestic politics throughout the last 100 years, particularly the politics of the British labour movement. Events in Dagenham during the first decade of the new century, in particular the forces that shaped the rise and fall of the British National Party, foreshadowed the rise of authoritarian populism. Given its economic, political and demographic history, Dagenham offers a unique lens through which to assess the performance of the Labour government in the years ahead.