Evaluate the view that the Labour Party remains committed to its traditional values and beliefs.

Question 1

Introduction - Argument

Answer 1

Labour has deviated slightly from its traditional values in order to make the party more electorally favourable, however, they are still committed to traditional beliefs

Question 2

Introduction - Themes

Answer 2

Workers’ Party
Socialistic Economics
Welfare State

Question 3

Workers’ Party - Disagree - Point

Answer 3

The Labour Party is a workers’ party, this means that the trade unionism is an important value to the Labour Party. However, it can be argued that they had recently had their influence curbed

Question 4

Workers’ Party - Disagree - Examples

Answer 4

Ed Miliband replaced the electoral college with a straight forward ‘one member, one vote’ system
Blair wanted to move the party away from the trade unions, so did not reverse any of the anti-union legislation implemented by Thatcher and Major

Question 5

Workers’ Party - Agree - Point

Answer 5

It is not correct to assert that Labour has lost its close ties with the unions, after Ed Miliband, it can be said that the trade unions have regained their influence within the party

Question 6

Workers’ Party - Agree - Examples

Answer 6

Jeremy Corbyn, a left-winger, emerged as the new Labour leader, he was endorsed by many of the unions, and it was clear this played a part in his appointment
Keir Starmer has been vocally supportive of the wave of trade union strikes that have been breaking out recently from groups such as the RMT

Question 7

Socialist Economic - Disagree - Point

Answer 7

When Tony Blair became PM in 1997, one of the first things he did was removed Clause IV from the Labour Party constitution. This meant that Labour lost much of its commitment to traditional socialist economic policy

Question 8

Socialist Economic - Disagree - Examples

Answer 8

Tony Balir furthered private provisions in the NHS with the use of PFIs to build hospitals
Blair also disregarded the socialist principle of redistribution of wealth and cut taxes - both income and corporation

Question 9

Socialist Economics - Agree - Point

Answer 9

Recently, under Corbyn and Starmer there has been much more of a commitment to the socialist economic policies that are traditionally associated with Labour

Question 10

Socialist Economics - Agree - Examples

Answer 10

Both Corbyn and Starmer promised to increase tax for those in the top bands. Starmer has recently proposed the ‘wealthy tax’ to make sure the rich are taxed more - redistribution of wealth
Starmer has also proposed a nationalised Great British Energy Company which uses sustainable energy sources - commitment to nationalisation

Question 11

Welfare State - Disagree - Point

Answer 11

Labour has always traditionally had a strong commitment to a welfare state. Once again under Blair this traditional value was compromised

Question 12

Welfare State - Disagree - Examples

Answer 12

Blair drove to increase the numbers going to university, however, he also had to introduce tuition fees in 1998, which have since risen making university unaffordable for many
Labour also tend to strive for full employment, however, in 2007 at the end of Blair’s premiership there were still 5.4 million people unemployed

Question 13

Welfare State - Agree - Point

Answer 13

It is unfair to discredit all the work Blair did for the welfare state, and since Blair too, Labour have been committed to increasing state provisions in line with its traditional values

Question 14

Welfare State - Agree - Examples

Answer 14

Blair introduced the National Minimum Wage Act in 1998
Labour promised to spend £26 bn on the NHS and Keir Starmer has recently been advocating for its renewal as he fears ‘it will die’ otherwise