New Labour’s Third Way Reforms (1997-2010)

Question 1

What was the result of the 1997 general election?

Answer 1

In May 1997 the British Labour Party swept into power with a majority which exceeded all expectations.
Yet they were elected with more votes and more seats than they had ever won before.

Question 2

What is meant by Third Way politics?

Answer 2

The Third Way is a position similar to centrism that tries to combine varying centre-right, centrist economic and centre-left social policies.
The Third Way supports the pursuit of greater equality in society through increasing the distribution of skills and capacities while rejecting income redistribution as the means to achieve this.
It emphasises; equal opportunity combined with an emphasis on personal responsibility and the promotion of public-private partnerships.

Question 3

What did Blair say about the relation between social democracy and Third Way?

Answer 3

In 1998, Blair, then Labour leader and Prime Minister of the UK said:
“The Third Way stands for a modernised social democracy, passionate in its commitment to social justice and the goals of the centre-left…
But it is a third way because it moves beyond an Old Left preoccupied by state control, high taxation and producer interests; and a New Right treating public investment and collective endeavour, as evils to be undone.”

Question 4

What were Labour governments policy goals during 1997-2010?

Answer 4

From 1997 to 2010 New Labour invested in and reformed the welfare state around Third Way policy goals:
to reduce poverty, to promote employment, to promote social inclusion and to promote responsible citizenship.

Question 5

How did the Labour government (1997-2010) appear to be child-centred?

Answer 5

In 1999 Prime Minister Tony Blair made acommitment to halve child poverty by 2010 and eliminate child poverty by 2020.
After many years of being a neglected issue, child poverty was back on the political agenda.
They wanted to ensure a more equal starting point for all young children.
“An inclusive society, where everyone has an equal chance to achieve their full potential.”

Question 6

What child welfare policies did the Labour government (1997-2010) introduce?

Answer 6

Increases in welfare benefits for parents with children.
Between 1997-2003, the rate of child benefit for the first child increased by 25% and the rate for subsequent children by 3%.

Question 7

What was the 2010 Child Poverty Act introduced by the Labour government (1997-2010)?

Answer 7

1999 to 2004 saw significant reductions in child poverty but 2010 targets were missed and concerning levels remained.
The Child Poverty Act 2010 - established child poverty targets to be met by 2020/21:
1) Requires the UK Government to publish a regular UK child poverty strategy and annual progress reports.
2) Paved the way for a Child Poverty Commission to provide advice
3)Placed new duties on local authorities in England to work together to tackle child poverty.

Question 8

What policies did the Labour government (1997-2010) introduce promoting employment?

Answer 8

Employment duties and targets were introduced. E.g. Welfare Reform Act (2009)
National Childcare Strategy was introduced to improve the ‘availability, affordability and quality’ of childcare. E.g. Childcare Act (2006)

Question 9

What was the Welfare Reform Act introduced by the Labour government (1997-2010)?

Answer 9

Welfare Reform Act (2009)
Proposed to reform the welfare and benefit system to improve support and incentives for people to move from benefits into work.
Contained measures to increase personal responsibility within the welfare system.

Question 10

What was the Childcare Act introduced by the Labour government (1997-2010)?

Answer 10

Childcare Act (2006) - introduced duties to provide childcare for working parents.
The act provided:
Choice and flexibility - gave parents more choice about work/life balance and making changes to parental leave.
Affordability - ensuring families were able to afford childcare that is appropriate to their needs.

Question 11

What were the effects of the Childcare Act (2006) introduced by the Labour government (1997-2010)?

Answer 11

Working parents benefited from enhanced and new family friendly employment rights.
E.g. maternity/paternity leave and pay, parental leave and rights to request flexible working.
Until the economic downturn in 2009 following the 2007 financial crisis there were record high employment rates in the early 2000s.
But low paid, insecure employment still caused critical problems.

Question 12

What policies did the Labour government (1997-2010) introduce promoting education?

Answer 12

Increased teachers and support staff in schools, reducing staff-pupil ratios and invested in their staff training along with increased pay.
Invested in children and youth education e.g. educational maintenance allowance.
Education Maintenance Allowance (1999) was a financial scheme applicable to students, completing further education courses in sixth form and Further Education colleges, aged between 16-19.
- In 2010 the weekly payment for the England scheme were between £10-£30 a week depending on parents level of taxable income.

Question 13

What were the benefits of the Education Maintenance Allowance according to the Labour government (1997-2010)?

Answer 13

The Labour Party claimed the EMA scheme was of great benefit to those teenagers from low-income households, encouraging people to stay in education past the legally required age of 16.
Once in education it encouraged high attendance in return for bonuses.

Question 14

What was a criticism of the Education Maintenance Allowance introduced by the Labour government (1997-2010)?

Answer 14

Conservative Party spokesman Chris Grayling said:
“This is another blatant example of the government trying to fiddle the figures.”
“Bribing young people to sign up for courses they may not complete, might make ministers’ targets look achievable - but they do absolutely nothing to help solve this country’s chronic skills shortage.”

Question 15

What was the Education Act introduced by the Labour government (1997-2010)?

Answer 15

Education Act (2002) - the act intended to raise standards, promote innovation in schools and reform education law:

• It gave schools greater freedom to manage their budget, with 85 % of the school budget directly controlled by the Head Teacher.
• It increased the involvement of the private sector in school provision, enabling private, voluntary, and religious organisations to support the management of successful and failing schools.
• Successful primary schools were allowed to opt out of the National Curriculum to develop innovations.

Question 16

What were the effects of the Education Act (2002) introduced by the Labour government (1997-2010)?

Answer 16

Significant improvements in educational attainment, and reduced educational inequalities.
But those ‘left behind’ required additional support e.g. youth in care.
Many have argued more progress could have been made while New Labour tended to adopt a punitive approach against several ‘excluded groups.’

Question 17

How effective were the social policies introduced by the Labour government (1997-2010) according to Lupton et al?

Answer 17

Lupton et al (2013):
Labour developed an ambitious social justice agenda that delivered improvements in socio-economic outcomes and the cost-effectiveness of public services.
In a more favourable climate than the current one, Labour spent a lot and achieved a lot.
However, there was a long way still to go in relation to its ambitious vision, enduring inequalities, persistent disadvantages remained post-2007 financial crisis.

Question 18

How effective were the social policies introduced by the Labour government (1997-2010) according Henricson?

Answer 18

Henricson (2012):
One of the most radical developments under Labour was the shift in the role of the state and personal relationships.
The parent-child relationship came centre state, family and parenting services developed rapidly, work-life balance provision grew substantially and there were civil partnerships and a range of measures around equality in relations.

Question 19

How effective were the social policies introduced by the Labour government (1997-2010) according to Bradshaw?

Answer 19

Bradshaw (2015):
Children had been the focus of considerable investment by the Labour Government in improved cash benefits and tax credits and in spending on child care, education and health.
There was also an institutional transformation in favour of children resulting in the Child Poverty Act 2010. As a result child poverty fell and, on most indicators, child well-being improved.

Question 20

What was the 2007 financial crisis?

Answer 20

Began in 2007 with a crisis in the subprime mortgage market in the US and developed into a full-blown international banking crisis with the collapse of the investment bank Lehman Brothers in September 2008.
Massive bailouts of financial institutions and fiscal policies were employed to prevent a possible collapse of the world financial system.

Question 21

What we’re the effects of the 2007 financial crisis in the UK?

Answer 21

Large fall in retail sales - business already hit by falling sales/profits were faced with increasing problems securing bank support for continued trading.
Fall in retails sales and rises in unemployment meant falling tax revenues for governments worldwide.
By the end of 2008, UK Gross Domestic Product fell by 1.5% and the country officially entered a period of recession.

Question 22

What was the political fall out of the 2007 economic crisis in the UK?

Answer 22

All major political parties sought emergency economic measures but the Conservatives pledged radical ‘deficit reduction’ plan.