The Labour Representation League (LRL), organised in November 1869, was a forerunner of the
BritishLabour Party. Its original purpose was to
register the
working class to vote, and get workers into
Parliament.[1] It had limited power, described by
Eugenio Biagini as being "very weak and quite ineffective",[2] and was never intended to become a full
political party. However, it played a role in supporting the election of
Lib-Lab MPs. The first secretary was
Cooperative Society activist and trade unionist,
Lloyd Jones.[3]
In 1874, the League won two parliamentary seats.[4]
In 1886, the
TUC created the
Labour Electoral Association to replace the League; in turn, this led to the creation of the Labour Party.[4]