Labour Party today

Question 1

What strand of labour is most reflected in Starmer’s pledge to deliver 2 million more NHS appointments a year?

Answer 1

-Retains traditional labour values

Question 2

What strand of labour is most reflected in Starmer’s pledge to set up great British energy, a new publicly owned British energy company?

Answer 2

-Green prosperity plan
-Economic socialism > wanting a fairer society economically
-Global Internationalism > emphasis of green environment > working together for a better future

Question 3

What strand of labour is most reflected in Starmer’s pledge to Close private education tax loopholes to improve schools?

Answer 3

-Economic socialism > Left wing of labour has always wanted this > sees private schools as elitist and perpetuating social and economic inequality

Question 4

What strand of labour is most reflected in Starmer’s pledge to End hotel use for asylum seekers?

Answer 4

-Globalist internationalism > reflects labour’s traditional emphasis on human rights and caring about the rights of immigrants

Question 5

What is the local-level structure of the Labour Party?

Answer 5

-Each constituency has a Constituency Labour Party (CLP)
-Council ward level Branch Labour parties (BLP)

Question 6

What is the local-level policy-making system within the Labour Party?

Answer 6

-CLP takes the lead in local and national election campaigns

Question 7

What is the National level structure of the Labour Party?

Answer 7

-Labour National base > Victoria Street London
-Day-to-day running of the party > National executive committee > NEC enforces party discipline and can expel members from the party > final say over selecting candidates > 40 members of NEC (has reps from parliament, trade unions, CLPs, local councillors and Young Labour members)
-Elections to NEC are highly fictionalised (2020 By-election for 2 CLP reps viewed as a starter victory as two moderates were elected rather than corbynistas)

Question 8

What is the National level policy-making system in the Labour Party?

Answer 8

-Until the 1990s the annual conference was the sovereign policy-making body > now the role as diminished and is more reliant on the leader and ministers of the party

Question 9

How do MPs select the party leader?

Answer 9

-Candidate > must secure the support of at least 10% of Labour MPs and 5% of constituency parties or at least 3 affiliates (must be trade unions)

Question 10

How do party members elect a party leader?

Answer 10

-Party members and registered supporters vote on an OMOV basis using the AV system to make the final choice
-in 202 Keir Starker won over 50% of the vote in the first round > no need for a second round of voting