Labour Party

Question 1

Origins

Answer 1

• Founded in 1900 by a group os socialists and trade unions to get working class MPs into Parliament
• Traditionally, out supported the liberal party
• ## The 1918 constitution, Clause IV committed to campaign for the common ownership of the means of production

Question 2

Old labour

Answer 2

The last ‘Old Labour’ PM James Callaghan was drafted in 79 GE which led to a division between social democrats and the left wing elements
- Labour lost the 83 election for further nationalisation, increased tax & spending, abolition of nuclear weapons and withdrawal from capitalism
- this manifesto is often referred to as “the longest suicide note in history”

Question 3

New Labour

Answer 3

The party was rebranded New Labour and aimed to find a third way between free-market capitalism and old-style socialism ( & equality), under the influence of Anthony Giddens
- The party revised Clause IV of its constitution so it was not committed to nationalism - the power of trade unions was downgraded
- Labour emphasised modernisation and democratisation (key parts of liberalism), introducing devolution and reforms on HoL.
- This was known as TRIANGULATION by Micheal Foot which was adopting Thatcherite policies but retaining social values and fairness.
- Blair won landslide victory in 97 and got re-elected, though he got unpopular due to the Iraq war & stood down in 07

Question 4

How New Labour movement was divisive

Answer 4

• Many traditional socialists rejected New Labour modernising effort as betrayal of their heritage and felt Blair was too connected w/ business leaders and too positive about free market values
• His close links w/ the US govt, leading to the 2003 Iraq war, further damaged his figure

Question 5

Difference between Democratic socialism and social democracy for labour party

Answer 5

Democratic socialists wanted to abolish capitalism and have more state ownership -MICHAEL FOOT
Social democrats accepted capitalism but wanted it tamed through govt intervention and welfare (mixed economy) - JAMES CALLAGHAN

Question 6

Labours 2024 Law and Order policy

Answer 6

• Pledged to recruit 13,00 extra neighbourhood police
• Pledged to tackle the prisons overcrowding crisis by building more prisons
• Halve violence against women by fact tracking rape cases

Question 7

Labours 2024 Economic Policy:

Answer 7

• Move the party to the centre ground, away from high taxes, high spending.
• Pledged not to increase taxes on working ppl & firms
• Moved away from Corbyn’s six big nationalisations in 2019 manifesto
  Pledged to nationalise railways & create energy company great British energy

Question 8

Labours 2024 Welfare policy:

Answer 8

• Increase NHS funding ensuring it has resources needed
• Cut waiting times by offering 40,000 apt each week & mores nurses
• Pledged to make MW a genuine living wage
  -Increasing schools to reduce class sizes
• Improve teachers salaries

Question 9

Current Labour Party factions

Answer 9

• The CENTRISTS - under Keir Stanmer. Includes groups ‘Progress’ and ‘Labour First’- which are strongly opposed to the influence of the far left and supportive of new Labour policies - capitalism, less radical approach to taxation & spending
• The more LEFT WING - under Jeremy Corbyn. Includes socialist campaign groups and Momentum, strong supporters of Corbyn’s policies, they’re support of high taxes, strong trade unionism