Core values and ideas of the labour party

Question 1

What two sections can labour party history be split into?

Answer 1

The lod labour period, running from the early days until the 1990s; and the new labour period, running from the 1990s until today

Question 2

Why is the idea that labour was ever a socialist party an illusion?

Answer 2

It has never proposed a woker’s state or attempted to abolish capitalism. It is therefore better understood as a social democratic party

Question 3

What is the best way to understand old labour?

Answer 3

By looking at its general values rather than its actual policy, focusing on the period between 1945-1983

Question 4

Describe the old labour value of equality

Answer 4

Supports the redistribution of income to educe the worst inequalities. A better characterisation of equality for the labour party would be social justice. Labour has always supported formal equality (meaning equality under the law)

Question 5

Describe the old labour value of class conflict

Answer 5

Old labour tended to see society in terms of class conflict. arguing that the interests of the working class and the middle class can never be reconciled, so governments must favour the interests of the disadvanteaged working class

Question 6

Describe the old labour value of equality of opportunity

Answer 6

They did this upon recognising that total equality was not feasible. This is the idea that all should have equal life chances no matter what their background

Question 7

Describe the old labour value of collectivism

Answer 7

This is a general idea held by socialists of all kinds. Its the idea that the majority of our goals are achieved better collectively than individually. Practical applications include the welfare state, trade unions and worker cooperatives

Question 8

Describe the old labour value of common ownership

Answer 8

This is public ownership of the major, strategic industries, run by the state on behalf of the people

Question 9

Describe the old labour value of trade unionism

Answer 9

Old labour recognised that workers were weak compared to their employers. Support for trade unions was therefore vital in redressing the power inbalance between employers and employees

Question 9

Describe the old labour value of trade unionism

Answer 9

Old labour recognised that workers were weak compared to their employers. Support for trade unions was therefore vital in redressing the power inbalance between employers and employees

Question 10

Describe the old labour value of statism

Answer 10

This was the idea that the cental state could play a key role in the economy to secure social goals. If such responsibilities are in the hands of the state, it should ensure equal treatment for all

Question 11

Describe the old labour value of welfarism

Answer 11

Associated with collectivism, this is the idea that every member of society should be protected by a welfare system to which all should contribute

Question 12

What were the two main periods where old labour could turn its ideas into political reform?

Answer 12

1945-51 and 1964-79

Question 13

List the main ways that old labour managed to convert their values into political action during their periods in government

Answer 13

• The welfare state and NHS were created in the 1940s
• Trade unions were granted wide powers to take industrial action in the interests of their members
• Major industries were nationalised in the interest of the community and the workers in those industries. Among these industries were coal, steel, rail, energy and shipbuilding
• Taxes were raised on high incomes in order to pay for welfare and redistribute income to the poor
• Comprehensive education was introduced in the 1960s to improve equality of opportunity
• Discrimination against women and ethnic minorities was outlawed in the 1960s and 70s
• Equal pay for women was introduced

Question 14

Which two ideologies did new labour propose to be a ‘third way’ between?

Answer 14

Socialism and the free-market, neoliberal ideas of the conservatives under Thatcher

Question 15

Explain new labour’s rejection of class conflict

Answer 15

They believed all citizens were entitled to assistance from the state

Question 16

Explain New Labour’s acceptance of capitalism

Answer 16

They accepted that it was the best way of creating wealth, so markets should remain largley free from state control

Question 17

Explain the New Labour idea of the ‘enabling state’

Answer 17

They recognised that capitalism could operate against the interests of consumers, so it should be regulated, but not controlled. They believed the state should allow the economy to generate wealth by giving it help where it was necessary, but they thought the state should not engage in production itself

Question 18

Explain the New Labour idea of ‘individualism’

Answer 18

They removed the emphasis on collectivism after recognising that people prefer to achieve their goals individually. They saw this as a fundamental aspect of human nature

Question 19

Explain the New Labour idea of equality of opportunity

Answer 19

It was thought that welfare and education would create opportunities for people to better themselves

Question 20

Explain the New Labour idea of communitarianism

Answer 20

This is the concept that although people are individuals with individual goals, they are also part of an organic community and have duties and obligations in return for our individual life chances. This is a weaker form of collectivism

Question 21

Why was New Labour committed to constitutional and political reform?

Answer 21

They recognised that the UK was deeply undemocratic and rights were unprotected

Question 22

What did Blair and Brown resist the temptation of doing?

Answer 22

Raising taxes on high incomes to pay for improved welfare, preferring to use government borrowing to do this instead. This was made viable by the economic boom experienced by the UK in the late 90s and early 00’s

Question 23

Give some examples of the policies in the New Labour political programme

Answer 23

• Reduced corporation tax to encourge enterprise
• Increased NHS expenditure
• Large investment in education, especially early years education#
• An extensive programme of constitutional reform including the HRA, devolution, FOI and electoral reform in devolved administrations
• Various policies designed to tackle poverty were introduced through the tax and welfare system, with a major emphasis on child and prisoner poverty
• Introduced ‘welfare to work’ schemed to encorage employment

Question 24

What two wings largely constitute the Labour Party today?

Answer 24

The left and centre left

Question 25

Describe the centre left tendency on economic management

Answer 25

A pragmatic view that inculded targets to reduce public sector debt

Question 26

Describe the left tendency on economic management

Answer 26

Expansionist: High public expenditure should be used to promote investment, improve public services and create jobs

Question 27

Describe the centre left tendency on social justice

Answer 27

Some adjustments to taxation to promote mild redistribution of income from high- to low-income groups

Question 28

Describe the left tendency on social justice

Answer 28

Radical tax reforms to promote significant wealth redistribution from the rich to the poor

Question 29

Describe the centre left tendency on industry

Answer 29

industry to remain in private hands while being regulated by the state

Question 30

Describe the left tendency on industry

Answer 30

• Large infrastructure industries to be nationalised
• Strong regulation of private industries and finance

Question 31

Describe the centre left tendency on welfare

Answer 31

• Support for a strong welfare state and well funded healthcare and eduaction
• ## Welfare benefits should be capped to ensure that work pays and to prevent abuse of the system

Question 32

Describe the left tendency on welfare

Answer 32

• Strong support for the NHS and state education
• Advocate for the abolition of university tuition fees
• More generous welfare benefits to help redistribute real income

Question 33

Describe the centre left tendency on law and order

Answer 33

A mixture of authoritarian measures and ‘social’ remedies to crime

Question 34

Describe the left tendency on law and order

Answer 34

Emphasis on social remedies to crime

Question 35

Describe the centre left tendency on foreign policy

Answer 35

• Retention of the UK’s independent nuclear deterrant
• Strong support for NATO and alliance with the USA

Question 36

Describe the left tendency on foreign policy

Answer 36

• Largely ‘isolationist’ so favour non-intervention in world conflicts
• Abolition of the independent nuclear deterrent

Question 37

Describe the centre left tendency on the environment

Answer 37

Strong support for environmental protection and emissions control

Question 38

Describe the left tendency on the environment

Answer 38

Strong support for environmental protection and emissions control

Question 39

Describe the centre left tendency on constitutional reform

Answer 39

Some reforms, like an elected second chamber, are supported, as well as a proportional electoral system

Question 40

Describe the left tendency on constitutional reform

Answer 40

More radical reforms, possibly including the abolition of the second chamber and more independence for local government