2.2 - Established Political Parties

Question 1

Origins of the Conservatives?

Answer 1

Originated during the English Civil War in the 17th century - industrialisation saw capitalist classes rise in size and influence

Question 2

Who are the ‘fathers of the Conservatives’ and why?

Answer 2

Robert Peel and Benjamin Disraeli widely considered to be the fathers of the conservative party – traditional thinkers who adopted policy based on pragmatism in order to preserve the unity of the kingdom and order in society

Question 3

What would traditional Conservatism later develop into?

Answer 3

One-nationism

Question 4

Key one-nation policies? (5)

Answer 4

• Strong law and order to control society
• Preservation of tradition
• Pragmatic, rather than ideological, responses to issues
• The theory of noblesse oblige (those of higher social standing having a moral duty to help those of a lower social standing)
• An organic society with rich and poor bound to each other

Question 5

Which form of Conservatism developed in the 1980s and why?

Answer 5

‘New-right’ conservatism or Thatcherism - both a reaction to the growth of socialism in the 20th century and the thought that traditional Con values were too weak to deal with modern problems

Question 6

What can the new right be divided into?

Answer 6

Neo-liberalism and Neo-conservatism though most new right Tories subscribe to both

Question 7

Key neo-liberal ideals? (5)

Answer 7

• The state should disengage from political management
• Markets should not be regulated by the state
• TUs hinder economic development, making everyone poorer
• Welfare benefits are detrimental and create a dependancy culture
• High taxation is a disincentive to work and productivity

Question 8

Key neo-conservative ideals? (4)

Answer 8

• Belief in the promotion and advancement of traditional moral values to ensure a stable society
• A requirement for strong forces of law and order in an authoritarian state to impose social morality
• Nationalism – believing that national pride and unification are the best ways to maintain a stable society
• Distrust of multinational organisations like the EU or UN and believing that the pursuit of national interest should always take priority

Question 9

Conservative policies today? (3)

Answer 9

• Tory economic policy since 2010 based around balanced budgets and reducing the national debt (although national debt in 2010 was 1.13 trillion and now it is 2 trillion)
• Cons want to repeal the HRA and replace it with a British Bill of Rights
• Party policy is committed to protecting the NHS and education system and maintaining the welfare state however they believe these should be subject to market competition to create incentive to produce more efficiently

Question 10

What are the factions in the tory party? (4 + EGs)

Answer 10

• One nation - EG Jeremy Hunt
• Thatcherites - EG Priti Patel, Lizz Truss, Rishi Sunak
• Eurosceptics - EG Steve Baker
• Traditionalists - EG Jacob Reese-Mogg

Question 11

Origins of the Labour Party?

Answer 11

Emergence of TUs in the late 19th century and early 20th century meant there was a need for a party to represent the working classes in Parliament - led to the creation of the Labour Party in 1900 - funded by TUs and members were TU leaders

Question 12

Two factions of the Lab party and their political alignment?

Answer 12

• Old Labour - left wing
• New Labour - centre ground

Question 13

Key Old Labour values? (7)

Answer 13

• Equality - redistribution of income to reduce inequality and formal equality under the law
• Class conflict - differences between working and middle classes could not be reconciled and govs should favour the disadvantages working classes
• Collectivism - The idea that our goals are best achieved collectively rather than individually
• Common ownership - Public ownership/nationalisation of key industries EG coal, steel, rail
• Trade unionism - Workers were weak compared with employers so needed powerful TUs to protect them
• Statism - The idea that the state could play a key role in controlling economic activity and securing social goals
• Welfarism - The idea that every member of society should be protected by a welfare system to which all should contribute

Question 14

Key New Labour values? (7)

Answer 14

• Rejected socialist idea of class conflict arguing that all members of society have an equal right to assistance from the state
• Accepted that capitalism was the best way of creating wealth so markets should remain largely free of state control
• Recognised that capitalism could work against the interests of the consumer so it needed to be regulated by an enabling state
• Less emphasis on collectivism
• Equality of opportunity stressed
• Communitarianism - weaker form of collectivism
• Committed to political and constitutional reform under Blair

Question 15

Labour Party factions? (4 + EGs)

Answer 15

• Corbynites - far left wing - Corbyn, John McDonnell
• Social democrats - centre left - Kier Starmer, Tony Blair
• Blairites - centre - Blair
• Soft left - near left wing - Angela Rayner

Question 16

Origins and development of the LibDems?

Answer 16

• LibDems today are a product of two parties - Social Democratic Party and Liberal Party
• Liberal party known as the Whigs pre WW1
• Social Democratic Party formed in 1981 after Lab politicians felt Lab had gone too left
• Soon began talks with the Liberal Party as they were both competing for the same voters - led to the Liberal Democrats forming in 1988

Question 17

Origins and development of the LibDems?

Answer 17

• LibDems today are a product of two parties - Social Democratic Party and Liberal Party
• Liberal party known as the Whigs pre WW1
• Social Democratic Party formed in 1981 after Lab politicians felt Lab had gone too left
• Soon began talks with the Liberal Party as they were both competing for the same voters - led to the Liberal Democrats forming in 1988

Question 18

Core values of LibDems (8)

Answer 18

• Liberty – This is a core value for the LibDems – complete freedom is not feasible in a modern day society, so liberals believe that the state should interfere as little as possible in people’s private lives – privacy, freedom and individual rights must be protected – key feature of classical liberals in the 19th century – modern liberals expanded this and began to accept a wider role for the state in promoting welfare and social justice
• Social justice – The removal of unjustifiable inequalities in incomes in society, equality of opportunity and the removal of all artificial privileges to which people are born
• Welfare – People cannot be genuinely free if they are enslaved by poverty, unemployment, sickness or old age – state welfare therefore sets people free – positive freedom
• Constitutionalism – The belief that gov power should be firmly controlled through a strong constitution and checks and balances
• Social reformers – Strongly support the rights of women, the disabled, ethnic minorities, the LGBTQ+ community – strong supporters of same-sex marriage
• Liberal democracy – Ensuring effective protections for human rights and democracy
• Multiculturalism – Different cultures and lifestyles should be welcomed and guaranteed special rights
  -The environment – Liberals believe that human life will be enriched by a healthy environment and biodiversity

Question 19

LibDem factions (2)

Answer 19

Classic leaning liberals - Ed Davey
Modern leaning liberals - Jo Swinson