The European Parliamentary Labour Party (EPLP) was the parliamentary party of the British Labour Party in the European Parliament. The EPLP was part of the pan-European Group of Socialists and Democrats (S&D), (with MEPs from sister parties such as the French Socialist Party, the German SPD, the Swedish Social Democrats and Dutch Labour Party), and which is the parliamentary wing of the Party of European Socialists (PES), to which Labour was (and remains) affiliated.
Like other national delegations, the EPLP had its own leadership and spokespeople representing Labour in Brussels and Strasbourg (and the EPLP in the UK).
Several Labour MEPs went on to careers in Westminster, including John Prescott as Deputy Prime Minister, Geoff Hoon as Minister for Europe and subsequently Defence Secretary, Ann Clwyd as Chair of the Parliamentary Labour Party, Joyce Quin and Glenys Kinnock, both as Ministers for Europe, and Richard Caborn as Minister for Sport.
The EPLP ceased to exist after the UK left the European Union in January 2020. At the time of dissolution, Labour had 10 Members of the European Parliament.
The leader of the EPLP had a seat on the Labour Party National Executive Committee and attended shadow cabinet meetings.
| Name | Years as Leader |
|---|---|
| Michael Stewart | 1975–1976 |
| John Prescott | 1976–1979 |
| Barbara Castle | 1979–1985 |
| Alf Lomas | 1985–1987 |
| David Martin | 1987–1988 |
| Barry Seal | 1988–1989 |
| Glyn Ford | 1989–1993 |
| Pauline Green | 1993–1994 |
| Wayne David | 1994–1998 |
| Alan Donnelly | 1998–1999 |
| Simon Murphy | 1999–2002 |
| Gary Titley | 2002–2009 |
| Glenis Willmott | 2009–2017 |
| Richard Corbett | 2017–2020 |
Labour figures held, over the years of UK membership, a number of key positions in the EU, including many held by Labour MEPs in the European Parliament. These included:
EPLP members were frequently elected as the S&D Group's Committee Co-ordinators, acting as spokespeople for the Group in their respective parliamentary committees and on the subjects they covered.
