Blair - Social Issues Flashcards
What did the TUs expect from Labour when they came into power?
Their long-standing connection with the TUs would make them more sympathetic to TU concerns, but the decline of TUs continued. Membership decline was 3%/year under Blair.
What did Labour not do, despite the hopes of the TUs?
Repeal TU legislation passed by Thatcher and Major, instead Blair was openly critical of strike action.
Why did Blair take such a hard stance against the TUs?
The Labour Party’s links with the TUs and memories of WoD were one of the reasons they were unelectable under Thatcher and early 90s.
What were TUs extremely critical of Labour for?
Outsourcing and PFI, which had been introduced previously by Cons.
What did Labour allow to continue?
Contracting out, and protecting the employment rights of workers who moved to the private sector.
Which 2 organisations were sold off?
Air Traffic Control organisation and the London Underground.
What did Blair opt back into?
The European Social Charter, meaning Britain would follow European policies regarding employment and social rights, such as time off work for childcare.
What did Labour welcome as an opportunity for economic growth?
Globalisation, arguing Britain had to develop into a ‘knowledge economy’ that would add value with efficient systems, technology and increased productivity.
What was the New Deal programme?
It targeted particular groups of unemployed - young people, disabled, single parents etc and helped them find work.
What did critics argue about the New Deal?
Support was limited and the sanctions imposed if people didn’t take the support were unfair and counter-productive.
How did Labour try and ‘make work pay’?
1998 National Minimum Wage and a Low Pay Commission to oversee. Brown introduced tax credits, which were means-tested benefits to those with low income.
In 1997 how many women were elected as MPs?
120, 101 of which beeng women.
Who was the prominent female MP in Blair’s cabinet?
Margaret Beckett as Foreign Secretary.
How was childcare provision extended?
All 3 and 4 year olds entitled to 12.5 hours/week of free nursery education.
Women given pension credits when unable to work due to parenting.
By 1999 to 2007, what was the difference in % of FTSE 100 companies with no women on the board?
36% - 24%
What % of male income did women earn in 2007?
87%
What did Critics argue about New Labour’s social policies?
Their emphasis on paid employment undervalued unpaid work in the home and women did 3 times the amount of housework as men.
How did Blair try appeal to the youth immediately after getting into office?
He threw a party and invited Noel Gallagher, Vivienne Westwood and Helen Mirren.
What was the Social Exclusion Unit?
Set up in 1997 they intended to end social exclusion through the establishment of Sure Start centres, helping families with young children by preparing them for school.
What did Blair pledge in 1999?
End child poverty in 20 years.
What was the Connexions service?
To advise teenagers about choices once they left school, aiming for 50% of young people to go to university, believing this would produce a highly skilled workforce.
How many NEETs were there by 2007?
20% of young people
What did an increase in youth crime lead to the establishment of?
ASBO, the Antisocial Behaviour Order. It was a court order which would put limits on defendants actions, such as curfews. Breaching it was a criminal offence and by 2005 46% of ASBOs went to under 17s.
Which events opened the way for Britain to become a multicultural society?
Globalisation, the consequences of famines and regional conflicts and the rapid expansion of the EU.
How did the nature of immigration change under Blair?
It became skilled workers and professionals, the families of immigrants already in Britain, foreign students, asylum seekers from Afghanistan.
Who was Paul Boateng?
The fist black cabinet minister, appointed to Chief Secretary of the Treasury in 2002.
What steps were taken towards a multicultural society?
Mosques were built, and schools celebrated different cultural backgrounds. Notting Hill Carnival attracted millions.
What is some evidence that Britain had become a multicultural society?
In 2005, London bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games on the key selling point of its multiculturalism.
What was the Macpherson report?
Published in 1998 over the murder of Stephen Lawrence, claimed the Metropolitan Police were ‘institutionally racist’.
What were the complaints about immigration policies?
Not enough emphasis was being placed on the responsibility of immigrants to properly integrate into Britain and even some British-born were alienated from British society and culture.
What happened in 2005 that increased racial tensions?
A terrorist attack in July 2005, 52 killed after attacks on buses and trains. The bombers were well-integrated, British born citizens. The leader was Mohamed Sidique Khan, a well-respected community worker.
What event followed the underground attacks that further increased racial tensions?
4 bombers attempted an attack but the bombs failed to explode. Four men convicted, Ethiopians and Somalians living in Britain as full citizens.
What was the sympathetic response to the terrorist attacks?
That it was necessary to find out why Muslims felt alienated and ethnic minorities could be closer with Brits. Br’s foreign policy in Iraq had alienated Muslims and encouraged extremism.
