Since Ramsay Macdonald formed the National Government in August 1931 and thus excluded himself from the leadership and membership of his own party, eight men have led the labour party: George Lansbury (1980-63), Harold Wilson (1963-76), James Callaghan (1976-80), Michael Foot (1980-83), Neil Kinnock (1983-92) and now John Smith. But of those eight, only two - Attlee and Wilson - have actually won elections and transformed their leadership of a party into Prime Minister of a nation. Why? To help divine the answers Peter Shore, MP and former Labour Cabinet Minister, has studied those who have led the party over the past sixty years to write eight distinctive portraits.