ABSTRACT
The distribution of power in British political parties has been the subject of intense debate amongst practitioners and students of politics. R. T. McKenzie claimed that, contrary to Labour’s self-portrait of internal democracy, its party leaders were as dominant as their Conservative counterparts. In recent years, however, it is the Conservative Party which has proved unruly and Labour which has become more leader-dominated. This contribution explains and analyses how the apparent paradox has come about.
