Established UK Parties

Question 1

Liberalism as an Ideological Approach?

Answer 1

• Individualism: Each individual is unique and equal. Classical Liberals support egotistical individualism, Modern Liberals favour the idea of self-improvement and greater individuality.
• Freedom: Only in liberty can people realise true potential. Should be free from restrictions (Unless prevent harm). Negative freedom – absence of constraints positive freedom (Modern only) – helping others to be more able.
• Justice, Equality & Rights: all have equal political and legal rights. Equality of opportunity. Modern Liberals support a degree of social justice, possibly through welfare and positive discrimination.

Question 2

What is a brief history of the Liberal Democrats?

Answer 2

• formed in 1988. Performed reasonably well in the 1997-2010 elections, typically gaining around 50-60 MPs and entered the Coalition government of 2010-15. Much less electoral success since, and also lost Brexit referendum.

Question 3

What are the Liberal Democrat Policies?

Answer 3

• Economy: Classical Liberals support free market capitalism. Modern Liberals support Keynesian economics, green capitalism. In the Coalition, supported austerity and sought to reduce the size of the public sector in order to reduce government spending and debt, and in order to boost economic recovery.
• Law and Order: support for greater civil liberties, opposition to ID cards, protest bans etc. People behave better with more freedom and less repression. Support rehabilitation for prisoners.
• Welfare: Modern Liberals support a welfare state, helps deliver positive freedom, Classical Liberals more sceptical and favour a smaller welfare state.
• Foreign Policy – strong support of international cooperation, negotiations over war, support for EU and euro, opposed war in Iraq.

Question 4

Who Support the Liberal Democrats?

Answer 4

• Educated middle-class professionals, city suburbs and large towns, the Celtic fringe – Wales, Scotland, and SW England. Recently, more from Muslims – opposing Iraq War – and from young people – initially opposing tuition fees and ID cards (ended when tuition fees raised to £9000 under Coalition). Failed to find means of electoral recovery from the tuition fees/Coalition unpopularity, currently pursuing Conservative voters disillusioned with Brexit and Tory economic mismanagement.

Question 5

Conservatism as an ideological approach?

Answer 5

• Human Imperfection: pessimistic view of human nature. One Nation Conservatives(ONC)/ neo-conservatives humans are morally imperfect, selfish and greedy, and psychologically limited. Humans incapable of understanding complex world and need security/dependence. Only then are they comfortable. New Right neo-liberals do support a more rational individualism.
• Tradition: ONC believe traditions have passed the test of time and offer security and sense of belonging. Should be protected/preserved where possible. Neo-Liberal New Right will not support this if it prevents free market capitalism.
• Hierarchy & Authority: ONC - humans are naturally hierarchical, inequality natural. Authority is natural. Humans need to know their position. Leadership and law and order are extremely important. Neo-Liberal New Right agree, but this must be done through meritocracy
• Private Property: security, diminishes disorder and lawlessness. Creates respect for law and order. Reflects personality and character of the owner. New Right neo-liberals believe in free market capitalism to support this, ONC support a more interventionist form of capitalism (Keynesian possibly).

Question 6

What is a brief history of the Conservatism?

Answer 6

• In the 1970s many disillusioned with Traditional/One Nation Conservatism and adopted the neo-liberal and neo-conservative ideas of the New Right and Thatcherism. Electoral revival in 2010. Under Cameron and May adopted a more centre-right approach with an element of One-Nation Conservatism. Johnson continued with this, but also Right-wing Populism. Recently presided over the Brexit referendum and departure from the EU.

Question 7

Who support the conservatives?

Answer 7

• Rural constituencies, landowners and farmers, and amongst the upper and middle-classes engaged in business, typically gains 33% of the working-class vote. More popular with women until the 1997 election, but not since; and now much more popular amongst the elderly. Strongest in southern England, East Anglia and parts of the Midlands.

Question 8

What are the conservative ideological traditions?

Answer 8

• One Nation Conservatism: Conservatism for all classes; social stability, tradition (Compassionate Conservatism – a broadly ONC approach).
• New Right (Thatcherism): free market economics and individual freedom (neo-Liberals), but also social conservatism (neo-Conservatives)
• Populism: a ‘non-ideological’ approach based on popular policies and criticism of existing authorities

Question 9

Social Democracy as an ideological tradition?

Answer 9

• Equality: Social equality strengthens community and cooperation. Sense of social justice, provides basis of meeting needs of whole community. Equality of opportunity and equality of outcome. Third Way favours equality of opportunity, largely abandoned equality of outcome.
• Community: Humans essentially social beings. Only within communities we can fulfil potential. Society shapes human behaviour – socialist society enhance human potential. Third Way more individualist, did support communitarianism
• Cooperation: For Social Democrats cooperation comes easier to humans. Cooperation allows greater economic production, develops a sense of community and mutual respect. Third Way also support competition, particularly within free market
• Social Class: Social democrat - social class is most important division in society, shapes political/economic struggles. Actions, ideas and beliefs are primarily result of social class. Classless society is ultimate goal. Third Way believe social class is unimportant and social inclusion of marginalised groups is main focus.

Question 10

What is a brief history of the Labour party?

Answer 10

• Thatcherism hit Labour hard. Abandoned socialism/social democracy and adopted the ‘Third Way’ – ‘free market capitalism and an enabling welfare state’ - creation of New Labour in 1994 by Tony Blair. Took Labour to centre ground of politics. Power from 1997-2010. Labour supporters became disillusioned with the Third Way – war in Iraq, public sector problems, global financial crisis and increasing inequality – and sought a more Social Democratic approach under Corbyn. Might now be closer to New Labour.

Question 11

Who support Labour?

Answer 11

• working-class, urban and industrial areas, former coalfields, the young, women since 1997, ethnic minorities, northern England, South Wales, and Central Scotland.

Question 12

What are Labour’s ideological Traditions?

Answer 12

• Old Labour: statist socialism and/or social democracy to benefit the working class in particular
• New Labour (Third Way): free market economics and an enabling welfare state to promote social inclusion and benefit everyone, especially marginalised groups