Ramsay MacDonald
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Ramsay MacDonald (1866-1937) was the first ever Labour Prime Minister of the UK.
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He became the leader of the Labour Party in 1911 and then Prime Minister in 1924.
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MacDonald was a founding member of the Labour Party and played a key role in establishing Labour as a major force in British politics.
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His first government in 1924 was short lived, ending in October of 1924 after being formed in January of 1924. His second term (1929-1931) was marked by the start of the Great Depression.
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In 1931 he formed a National Government with the Conservatives and Liberals to tackle the economic crisis. This led to his expulsion from the Labour Party as many regarded this as a betrayal of Labour principles.
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Despite the controversy surrounding him, he was the first Labour Prime Minister, so to his credit his leadership marked a significant milestone for the party.
