29.) Political Parties

Question 1

Who is One Nation Conservatism associated with?

Answer 1

Benjamin Disraeli - “The palace is not safe if the cottage is not happy…”

Question 2

What is one nation conservatism?

Answer 2

Where the state protects the vulnerable through public services, but still maintains low taxes. The state allows wealth to exist but recognises a responsibility to people to protect them

Question 3

What election led to the post war consensus?

Answer 3

1945 Election - Landslide victory for Labour over the Tories

Question 4

What was the Butskellite pragmatism?

Answer 4

A portmanteau of Rab Butler and Hugh Gaitskell - the 1950s and 60s where Labour and the Tories agreed on many issues regarding healthcare, social issues etc

Question 5

During the 1950s and 60s, Butskellite Tories viewed Europe how?

Answer 5

They were pro European, joining the EEC under Ted Heath in 1973, whereas Labour was more eurosceptic

Question 6

Name some Tory policies reflected ‘traditional values’?

Answer 6

-Section 28 - 1988, banning the discussion of homosexuality in schools
-Hostile environment immigration policy
-Derailing Sunday Trading relaxation in 2016

Question 7

Why do some people criticise ‘traditional values’ conservatism?

Answer 7

For embracing racism - with Enoch Powell’s ‘Rivers of blood’ speech

Question 8

Who is Thatcherism associated with?

Answer 8

Margaret Thatcher - Tory leader from 1975-1990 and PM from 1979-1990

Question 9

What is Thatcherism?

Answer 9

Promoting smaller government, privatisation, lower taxes and self reliance

Question 10

Name a pivotal event caused by Thatcherism?

Answer 10

1984-1985 Miner’s Strike

Question 11

What was the 1988 Bruges’ Speech about?

Answer 11

Opposition to a centralised European state with large power governments

Question 12

Why did David Cameron call a referendum on the EU in 2016?

Answer 12

To get rid of Europe division in the Tory party

Question 13

What was the name of the conference that led to the origins of the modern Labour Party?

Answer 13

Farringdon Street Conference (1900)

Question 14

What was the name of the clause adopted that specifically upheld socialist principles by the Labour Party?

Answer 14

Clause IV (1918)

Question 15

Name a government which advocated for economic socialism?

Answer 15

Attlee government (1945-1950) - created the welfare state, nationalised industries like coal, iron and steel.

Question 16

Name a recent Labour leader who wanted to nationalise industries again?

Answer 16

Jeremy Corbyn - 2017, 2019 manifesto

Question 17

Name another group who were close to the Labour Party?

Answer 17

Trade unions - as they provide the party with significant funding, 12 are affiliated with Labour as of 2020, including Unite.

Question 18

Why was Blair disliked by many more left-wing Labour supporters?

Answer 18

His support for war in Iraq and close relationship with George W Bush, the former US president - this went against many left-wing people’s internationalist view

Question 19

What was third way socialism?

Answer 19

Advocated by Tony Blair - did not focus on nationalisation or taxing the rich, instead aimed to use the rich to improve society for all, rather than redistributing wealth, they invested the rich’s wealth into the public

Question 20

Why was Clause IV’s revision by the Labour Party in 1995 important?

Answer 20

It showed how New Labour wanted to be different - instead of redistributing wealth, the new Clause IV wanted a “dynamic economy, serving the public interest…”

Question 21

How did the Labour Party’s 2019 manifesto reflect different branches of Labour Party thinking?

Answer 21

-2nd EU ref, with new deal or staying in the EU decided after six months (Blairite - close EU relations)
-Raise minimum wage to £10/ph - (Blairite - capitalism whilst advocating social justice)
-NHS budget increased by 4.3% and less privatisation - (economic socialism, clashed with Blairite acceptance of privatisation)
-Net zero goal brought to 2030s - (global internationalism, caring for the planet is the modern version of worker solidarity)
Renationalise ‘Big Six’ companies - energy, rail, mail etc. (Economic socialism - supported by unions)

Question 22

When did the Liberals become the LibDems?

Answer 22

1988 Liberal - SDP merger

Question 23

Name some 2019 LibDem Manifesto pledges?

Answer 23

-Stopping Brexit (LibDem’s closely aligned to Europe, always opposed Brexit and are very pro-EU)
-Defending HRA(1998), stopping use of facial recognition tech and changing data collection laws to limit it (LibDems always progressive on civil rights - E.G opposing mandatory ID cards for citizens)
-Introducing PR through STV in England, give 16/17 year olds the right to vote (LibDems have always championed making democracy more representative)
-Introduce climate plan and create Department for Climate Change (LibDems backed pro-green policies before they became mainstream)

Question 24

What number of seats did the LibDems get in 2015?

Answer 24

They went from 57 to 8

Question 25

Why were the LibDems punished in 2015?

Answer 25

For being in coalition with the Tory government - and abandoning key pledges to remove tuition fees

Question 26

What is the local party structure of the three main parties?

Answer 26

-Tories: Local Conservative Associations
-Labour: Constituency Labour Parties (CLP) with some areas having Branch Labour Parties (BLP) beneath them
-LibDems: Local branches but also have separate parties for England, Wales and Scotland

Question 27

Who makes policies at a local level for each party?

Answer 27

Tories: Local Conservative Associations organise at a local level, but have less authority to pick candidates than previous years
Labour: CLP takes lead in local and National election campaigns
LibDems: local parties run constituency affairs and can also submit topics to debate a conferences

Question 28

How are candidates selected by each party?

Answer 28

Pass a Parliamentary Assessment Board, get on the party central list, then must be shortlisted as prospective candidate

Question 29

What was Labour’s NEC accused of in 2019?

Answer 29

Fast tracking favoured candidates (Ealing North)

Question 30

How do MPs choose who runs as party leader?

Answer 30

-Tories: MPs vote in ballots to narrow down candidates E.G 2019, 9 started, narrowed down to Jeremy Hunt and Boris Johnson
-Labour: Candidates need 10% of Labour MP votes, and 5% of constituency parties or three affiliate groups (two trade unions), Emily Thornberry failed at the affiliate stage in 2019
-LibDems: 10% of MPs and support of 200 members from local parties

Question 31

How do party members pick the party leader out of the candidates picked by MPs?

Answer 31

Tories: one man, one vote, Johnson won 2/3 of the vote in 2019 after 16 regional hustings
Labour: party members and supporters use AV to make the final choice - as Keir Starmer won over 50% in 2020, there was no need for a second round
LibDem: one man, one vote under AV to make the final choice, Ed Davey won 63.5% of the vote in 2020

Question 32

What would be a risk if party members weren’t involved?

Answer 32

That they’d become disillusioned and not vote for the party at election time.

Question 33

How did Labour historically elect leaders?

Answer 33

Until 2014, Labour’s leader was elected by electoral college - MPs, party members and trade unions each had a third of the vote

Question 34

How was the Tory leader historically chosen?

Answer 34

1965-1998: chosen by MPs
Before 1965: discussed but not voted on by MPs in private