labour party

Question 1

introduction

Answer 1

The ideology the Labour Party was based on was socialism

Question 2

core principles

Answer 2

Equality: Fight inequalities in wealth, influence and rights
between different groups (social class, gender, etc.)

Common humanity: People naturally prefer to co-operate
rather than compete; a positive view of human nature

Collectivism: Collective action achieves more than
individual effort 🡪 support state run public services

Question 3

phases of the labour party

Answer 3

until 1990s: Social democracy (‘Old Labour’ or Socialist
Labour)

1990s – 2015: ‘New Labour’

2015-2020: Move (back?) to the left Miliband, Corbyn and
Starmer.

Question 4

social democracy

Answer 4

The first Labour government: 1945-1950 Attlee

Introduced:

NHS

State pensions

Unemployment benefit

Child benefit

Sickness benefits

Social housing

Health and safety regulations

Free secondary education for all

This clear left-wing socialist ideology (high taxation,
government-run public services) remained until the 1990s
Fight inequality

Help disadvantaged

Higher taxation to fund social
welfare benefits

Government public services

Question 5

labour income tax

Answer 5

1940s: 99%

1950s-1960s: 90%

1971: 75%

1974: 83%

1980: 60%

1988: 40%

2010: 50%

2013: 45%

Question 6

new labour

Answer 6

New Labour

Combine right-wing
neo-liberal belief in free
market economy with
moderate social welfare
policies

Question 7

clause iv

Answer 7

Clause IV is part of the Labour Party Rule Book, which sets out the aims and values of the (UK) Labour Party. The original clause, adopted in 1918, called for common ownership of industry, In 1995, under the leadership of Tony Blair, a new Clause IV was adopted with a more centrist view

Question 8

new labour quote

Answer 8

from their 1997 manifesto - ‘the old left would have sought state control of the industry. The right is content to leave all to the market. We reject both approaches’

Question 9

new labour examples

Answer 9

Continue privatisation of
government services rather
than re-nationalisation
(airports, Royal Mail)
Introduce minimum wage

Maternity leave

Educational Maintenance
Allowance

Sure Start centres

50% top income tax rate

Question 10

new labour on social issues

Answer 10

Civil partnerships

Repeal Section 28

Equalities Act

Disability Discrimination
Act

Gender Recognition Act

Hunting Act

Question 11

new labout constitutional policies

Answer 11

Human Rights Act

Good Friday Agreement

Devolution

Freedom of Information
Act

Supreme Court

House of Lords

Question 12

clause IV - ideological shift

Answer 12

original clause - ‘to secure for the workers….common ownership of the means of production’
since 1995 - ‘serving the public interest in which the enterprise of the market and the rigour of competition…. with a thriving private sector’

Question 13

corbyn

Answer 13

Corbyn is in every way an example of ‘Socialist Labour’:

Describes himself as a socialist

Renationalise the railways and
energy (gas, electricity)

Against austerity (more
spending, not budget cuts)

Against renewing Trident

Question 14

labour party factions

Answer 14

Socialist
Labour/Hard left

Left-wing, clearly
socialist

Social welfare to reduce
inequality and poverty

Increase government
spending, not budget
cuts

Renationalisation

Pacifist foreign policy

Soft left

Largely with the same
aims as the ‘hard left’,
but more open to
compromise, and
therefore ends up being
more moderate, also
supporting less clearly
socialist policies
New
Labour/Blairite

Centrist, accepting
neo-liberal ideas of free
market

Limited, ‘targeted’ social
welfare

Accept budget cuts
(austerity)

Privatisation

Need to appeal to
moderate voters

Question 15

mp examples

Answer 15

yvette cooper - new labour