Evaluate The View That The Policies Of The Main Are More Similar Than They Are Dissimilar.

Question 1

P1:Agree Econ

Answer 1

1. All of the CP,LP and the Lib Dems are strongly supportive of capitalism and business
2. Prioritises reducing inflations: Halving inflation, growing the economy and reducing the debt were 3 of Rishi Sunakʼs 5 priorities when in power.
3. C Reeves has made clear that the governmentʼs economic policy will focus on fiscal responsibility and providing an environment that can
   promote economic growth, rather than the emphasis on major investment She has called this approach ‘securonomicsʼ.
4. Running a budget deficit and
   implementing a “fiscal lock” to ensure fiscal discipline.
5. Its investment summit in
   October 2024, which attracted over 300 industry leaders and resulted in £63 billion of private investment commitments.
6. All three parties pledged in the 2024 election campaign to freeze the majority of taxes, in particular income tax, corporation tax and VAT. The Labour government delivered on this in
   their first budget in October 2024.

Question 2

P1: Disagree Econ

Answer 2

1. The Cs and the LibDems support privatisation, the Labour
   Party has passed The Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Act to re-nationalise the rail service and has introduce the Great British Energy Bill.
2. The 2024 Spring Budget, the Cs government announced a cut to NI contributions for employees from 10% to 8% and in their 2024 election
   manifesto, they pledged to reduce it to 6% by April 2027. Tax cuts not central to others.
3. LibDems pledged in 2024 to raise the funds through reforming Capital Gains Tax to close loopholes and introducing a new aviation duty, L and C did not do this.
4. The party pledged to spend £27B more per year by 2029, including by spending an extra £9.5B on health and social care. More left wing: remove the 2 child limit.

Question 3

P2: Agree Law and Order

Answer 3

1. Sunakʼs government met 2019 manifesto target of recruiting 20,000 additional police officers and pledging in their 2024 manifesto to recruit 8,000 more.
2. n March 2023, Sunak introduced a comprehensive anti-social behaviour action plan. The plan was to deliver
   swift and visible justice. introduction of immediate justice initiatives, where
   offenders are required to engage in community repair work such as cleaning graffiti or picking up litter within 48 hours of their sentencing.
3. CP banned nitrus oxide.
4. 2024 manifesto, Labour pledged to recruit 13,000 extra neighbourhood police and PCSOs, showing a strong approach to tackling crime. Furthermore, Labour intends to intensify the monitoring of the 1,000 most dangerous sexual predators.
5. The Labour Party under Starmer has also taken a strong stance against low-level antisocial behaviour and recreational drug use, opposing the legalisation of cannabis.
6. All 3 focused on the importance of rehabilitation to stop reoffending.

Question 4

P2: Disagree Law and Order

Answer 4

1. Cs approach to the unions, striking and protests has also been a lot
   stronger than the Labour Party or the Lib Demsʼ approach.
2. Sunak introduced the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023, which requires minimum services levels in key public sectors and therefore limits the power of strikes.
3. The Public Order Act 2023 introduced new offenses such as “locking-on” and interfering with national infrastructure (including the roads around Parliament), which are punishable by imprisonment or unlimited fines.
4. C Reeves announced an above inflation pay rise for public sector workers, including a 22% pay rise for junior doctors and a 5.5% pay
   rise for teachers, demonstrating a greater willingness in the Labour Party to support striking workers.Further, the government has introduced legislation with the intention of repealing the the
   Strikes Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023 in 2025.

Question 5

P3: Agree Foreign Policy and Immigration Policy

Answer 5

1. L,C, LD supported strong foreign policy against foreign policy.
2. In 2024, the Conservative UK government committed £2.5 billion ( in military funding to Ukraine, making the UK one of the largest providers of military
   aid to Ukraine in Europe, only behind Germany.
3. March 2025 (Labour): Gave Ukraine a £2.26B loan.
4. 2024 (Lib Dems): Pledged strong support for Ukraine in manifesto. ‘stand with the people of Ukraine.’
5. 2025 (Labour): Announced increase in defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 (in response to Trump’s stance on Ukraine); funded by cutting foreign aid.
   Conservatives & Lib Dems (2024 manifesto): Also backed 2.5% defence spending goal.
6. 2024 (All main parties): No longer support a second referendum; aim to “make the most of Brexit.” Immigration:
   2025 (Labour): Removed path to British citizenship for refugees entering illegally.
   Labour & Conservatives: Prioritised reform of immigration system; Labour shifted right under Starmer.

Question 6

P3: Disagree Foreign Policy

Answer 6

1. April 2024 (Conservatives): Passed Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Act, allowing deportation of illegal asylum seekers to Rwanda.
   Costs: £290M upfront to Rwanda, £11,000 per flight, ~£151,000 per person for processing/integration over 5 years.
2. 2025 Labour Opposed Rwanda scheme, plan to repeal the Act.
   Proposed “returns-and-enforcement unit” to quickly remove failed asylum seekers and foreign offenders. 2024 (Lib Dems): Opposed Rwanda plan in manifesto; focused on fixing asylum system rather than reducing immigration numbers.