Origins and development of the Labour Party Flashcards
Who were the working classes represented by before the 20th century?
A collection of MPs and peers from the liberal and conservative parties
When did the majority of the working class gain the right to vote?
1884
What gave the working class a boost towards the end of the 19th century?
The legalisation of trade unions, as they now had organisations to represent their interests
What did unions begin doing after being legalised?
Putting candidates up for election
When was the main labour party created?
In 1900, as an offshoot of the trade union movement
What agreement did the main labour party and the independent labour party come to in 1906?
They agreed not to put parliamentary candidates up against each other in the same constituencies. However, this agreement was short lived and the two parties soon began to go their separate ways
Who were the Independent Labour party (ILP)?
Founded in 1893, they were a genuinely socialist party committed to the overthrow of capitalism and its replacement with a worker’s state; albeit through peaceful, democratic means
How did the main labour party differ from the ILP?
It was a more moderate socialist party that did not propose a worker’s state, but simply wished to improve the living standards of the working class and remove the excesses of capitalism
What did the labour party envisage the state as doing?
Reconciling the conflicting interests of the working class with their employers
What type of socialism was the labour party known for?
Democratic socialism; a type of socialism that worked within a democratic framework
When did the ILP cease to exist?
1970, since then acting as more of a faction within the labour party
What about the labour party today is still incredibly similar about its early years?
The party continues to be largely funded by trade unions, and trade union leaders play an influential role in deciding party direction
Why was the 1945 general election a turning point for labour?
Because it achieved a commons majority fir the frist time
What was the result of two major defeats to margaret Thatcher in the 80s?
Some left to form a new social democratic party (SDP).
When did Blair become labour party leader?
1994; he would go on to lead the party to victory in 1997, 2001 and 2005
When did the differneces between trade unions and the labour party begin to grow?
The 1960s
What caused the split between the labour party and trade unions in the 1960s?
Until then, both had supported full employment and protections for industrial workers. However, during the 1960s a process of deindustrialisation occured as the UK moved away from heavy industry, making full employment much harder for politicians to achieve. Inflation also made it difficult for labour to meet the trade union demands for increased pay
What was the main reason the labour party remained so far left and committed to nationalisation in the 1980s?
Because trade unions would have a block vote and so were able to dominate when it came to decisions about party leaders and policy decisions. This prevented the breakout of any real social democratic ideas within the labour party
What increased the inluence of trade unions in the labour party in 1981?
An electoral college system was introduced to elect the labour party leader
Why did the influence of unions wane over the 1980s?
- The power and reputation of traditional unions declined
- The conservative government introduced tighter controls and restrictions on trade unions, which meant their membership and funds began to decline
What did the labour party do following their humiliating ddefeat in 1983?
New leader Kinnock publicly chastised the worst excesses of union behaviour. Kinnock’s successor, John Smith, removed the block vote to dilute trade union influence
What did Tony Blair persuade the labour party membership to do?
Remove clause IV from the labour party constitution
Where did Blair begin to seek donations from?
Businesses and other non-union sources
What did Miliband replace the electoral college with in 2010?
A simple one person, one vote system
Define old labour
Also referred to as social democracy. Their principles include nationlisation, the redistribution of wealth from the rich to the poor and the provision of continually improving welfare and state services.
Define new labour
Also referred to as the third way. A revision of the traditional values and ideas associated with old labour. Saw the emphasis shift from the working class to a wider base, and a less robust alliance with the trade unions
