Born in 1906 when Uranus was opposite Neptune and re-born in 1994 when Uranus conjoined Neptune, the party is heading for a period of awkward re-adjustment as Uranus approaches its semi-sextile with Neptune in 2009 and 2010. In addition, the party formed itself as Saturn trined Neptune, and with Saturn now opposite Neptune the party's leader Tony Blair - who was born with Saturn conjunct Neptune - is finally admitting that it's time to go. Meanwhile his foe and clone - David Cameron of the Conservative party - is stepping more prominently into the picture, accompanied by his very own Saturn trine Neptune aspect.
As Saturn has opposed Neptune the party has become extremely divided within itself and from the nation itself. The opposition is the point of furthest separation, and what follows is reconciliation, re-alignment, and moving back towards unity. That is what's next for the Labour party, both within its own ranks, and between the party and the country it purports to serve.
That's the larger context. Now here are the specifics.
Between September 2006 and July 2007 the Labour party's Sun, representing the party leadership, receives a series of oppositions from transiting Saturn, representing testing times and encountering limits to possibility. From February 2007 until January 2010 the party's Sun also receives a series of conjunctions from transiting Neptune. Conclusion - even when Blair's long gone, the party's leadership crises will continue. It will struggle to renew it's vision of itself, finding itself in the doldrums, and it will go through a period of confusion about where it's heading and hence who represents a suitable and appropriately symbolic leader.
In February 2006 transiting Neptune began opposing the party's North Node, remaining within orb until the end of August 2006. It returns next year, and in fact is present all throughout 2007 and 2008. This not only reflects a meltdown in the direction and development of the party, but also a meltdown in the party's relationship to Blair and Brown, because in their charts Pluto is conjunct the party's Node and hence is receiving the same transits at approximately the same time. In September and October 2006 transiting Saturn will conjoin the party's North Node, and so the meltdown of authority is brought into sharp focus at that time.
From July to October 2006 transiting Pluto sextile's the party's Sun, reinforcing the signals that are saying 'change at the top'. This transit has coincided over the last few years with the slide in support for Blair's leadership of the party, talk of the feud between Blair and Gordon Brown, and the party's ensuing crisis about holding a 'coronation' (very Solar!) of Brown. This aspect also represents something of an identity crisis in the party, and the need to revitalise the party from the grass-roots upwards rather than pursuing top-down reform.
Last but by no means least, the party's about to undergo its Saturn half-cycle, meaning that transiting Saturn is opposite natal Saturn, in a kind of half Saturn Return. This will be exact in 2007 and 2008, and is indicative of a great deal of soul-searching where the party will need to examine its foundations, review its goals, and try to put itself on a solid footing.
