2.2- labour party Flashcards
what was the ideological starting point of labour?
socialism, large state, welfare, nationalisation, progressive taxation, collectivism
what was a key feature of the initial labour party constitution and what did it say?
clause 4
commited to common ownership of the means of production
when did labour become significant?
- the post war period
- clement atlee 1945 government (labours first majority)
- nationalised coal, railway, power, steel, created the NHS
what was the ideology of the 1945 atlee government? give an example of this in action.
- social democracy (called themselves socialist)
- wanted to emphasise redistrobution but did not persue abolition of capitalism
- aimed to manage the economy to prevent exploitation of workers
example: creation of comprohensive schools
what was proposed in the 1983 labour manifeto? what was the manifesto nicknamed?
- further nationalisation, tax and spending (very high)
- abolition of nuclear weapons
- withdrawl from the ‘capitalist’ EEC
nicknamed: “the longest suicide note in history”
how did tony blair change labour
- engadged in traigulation to increase labours vote share
- wanted to modernise the political system and labour through constitutional reform
- he argued his policies were a modern application of the parties socialist roots
what did clause 4 change to?
“dynamic market economy”
what was the economic policy under new labour?
- national minimum wage: £3.60/hour- a less generous level
- revised clause 4
- supported the use of private finance initiatives
- limited increases in spending
- reduced influence of trade unions
- promise not to increase income tax
what were the law and order polcies under new labour?
- “tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime”
- brought in anti social benhavior orders
- tough on terrorism: e.g increasing the ammount of time they can hold suspects without charge
- liberal on immigration
what was new labours position on welfare?
- “education, education, education”: core spend per pupil rose by 48% in his time in office
- shortest waiting times in NHS history
- means tested benifits
- “welfare to work”
what was new labour foreign policy?
- iraq war
- doubled foreign aid spending while in power
- pro european
explain the downfall of brown.
- in response to the 2008 financial crash the government pushed money into the banking sector
- brown broke his promise not to increase taxes - brown proposed large spending increases and opposed the austerity proposed by conservatives
- lead to claims that he was going back to old labour
what was the effect of ed millerband on labour?
- slight shift to the left- maintained some labour policies
- called for the restoration of the 50% top tax rate and an energy freeze
- “Red ed”- mail article, suggesting a shift back to old labour and socialism
how did labour change under corbyn?
- for the many not the few
- growth of the left e.g momentum (grass roots group)
what was the economic policy under corbyn?
- scrap universal credit system
- raising income and corrperation tax
- pledges 6 big nationalisation: rail, mail, broadband, water, energy
- ending private finance initiatives
- ban zero hour contracts
what was the law and order policy under corbyn?
- opposed cuts to police numbers (same as new labour)
- move away from the tough stance on crime, focus on inequality and poverty
- wanted to end minigration targets
- accusations of crobyn being close to terrorist groups
what was labours welfare policy under corbyn?
- opposed benifit cuts and pledged to replace universal credit
- wanted a wholey state run NHS
- scrap tuition fees
- end the charitable status of private schools
- 30 hours of free child care for 2-4 year olds
what was labours foreign policy under corby?
- while corbyn wanted to leave NATO the labour party decided not to pull out of NATO
- opposed a second referendum on brexit
- party supported the renewal of tridant
what was the labour grassroots group that supported corbyn?
momentum
what was the result of the 2019 election for labour?
- lost 18 seats that labour had held since the post war period
- lead to the resingation of corbyn
labour under kier stamer
- ‘rooting out’ antisemitism: suspended corbyn from the party - distancing from JC
- shift back to the center- attempts to emulate new labour
what are current labours economic policy?
- ABANDONED SOME NATIONALISATION- create a great british enegy and nationalise rail
- Wes streeting said he would not accept the junior doctors pay increases in 2023
- removed plan to increase taxes for the top 5%
- windfall tax on energy
- 15 bn in green investment (rowed back on on 28bn)
what is current labours foreign policy
- divides over gaza- 8 ministers resigned in 2023
- called for a cease fire in gaza
- continued support for Ukraine
- “balanced” approach to china
- ruled out the UK rejoining the EU
what is current labours crime policy?
- introducing ‘respect orders’ to crack down on antisocial behavior
- increases size of the police force
- yvette cooper repeated the rhetoric of tony blairs: “tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime”
- opposed the rawanda policy
- divisions between labour and scottish labour over gener recognition
what is current labours welfare policy?
- keep universal credit
- keep the two child benifit cap
- child health action plan: tackle child poverty and obesity
- in 2021 starmer opposed the £20 cut to universal credit
Give a recent example of labour seperating itself from its trade union affiliation.
sam tarry was removed as the shadow ministers after ignoring warnings not to join the picket line
