Party Divisions

Question 1

How do Old Labour/Social Democrats and New Labour/Third way disagree on Welfare?

Answer 1

• Old Labour: favour strong welfare state (looks after all citizens) as well as a strong public sector - health, education etc. Taxes are therefore higher. Wealth redistributed from rich to poor
• New Labour: Enabling welfare state delivering equality of opportunity (limited). Stress on individual responsibility. State would help you get a job - that’s it

Question 2

How do Old Labour/Social Democrats and New Labour/Third way disagree on the economy?

Answer 2

• Old Labour: improve working/living conditions for working class. Favour strong trade union movement and high employment. State intervention in economy. Through nationalising industries, corporatism, or Keynesian economics.
• New Labour: Free market economics. Private industry encouraged. Role of the state is limited. Limited regulation for banking and finance

Question 3

How do Old Labour/Social Democrats and New Labour/Third way disagree on Law and Order?

Answer 3

• Old Labour: Social approach to law and order. Crime is reduced by tackling causes – unemployment, poverty, poor education, etc. Prisons/policing less important, needed in the short-term.
• New Labour: Tough on crime (and causes). Prison numbers increased (80,000+). Longer prison sentences. Police powers increased. More Police employed. Much anti-terrorism legislation

Question 4

How do Old Labour/Social Democrats and New Labour/Third way disagree on Foreign Policy?

Answer 4

• Old Labour: Dislike war/international conflict, pacifist approach. Dislike of nuclear weapons. Sceptical of EU – too capitalist – post Thatcher adopted a more pro-EU approach for worker’s rights.
• New Labour: Supported military intervention to further democracy/ human rights.e.g Iraq and Afghanistan. Pro-EU and other international bodies to encourage free trade, human rights and democracy

Question 5

How do New Right/Thatcherism and One Nation Conservatives disagree on Welfare?

Answer 5

• New Right: Dislike welfare. Attempts to reduce ‘benefit culture’. Cuts in disability payments and ‘working benefits’. Introduction of Universal Credit. Neo-liberals - all services should be delivered through private sector, Private schools, housing, prisons, care homes and hospitals. More choice, reduces taxes, improves services.
• One Nation Conservatives: Cameron - high quality public services, e.g inspections, internal markets etc. Ring-fenced spending on health, international aid/education. Scheme for social care (Johnson) suggested but not done. Cameron more socially inclusive - marriage for gay people accepted. ‘A-list’ attempted to put forward women/ethnic minorities as party candidates. May - help for working-class, black, female and mental health individuals.

Question 6

How do New Right/Thatcherism and One Nation Conservatives disagree on the Economy?

Answer 6

• New Right: Neo-liberals believe free market economy is essential as creates wealth/opportunity/choice. Economy more important than environment. Low taxation, free trade, weak trade unions, limited public spending. Austerity to revive economy in 2010s. Low inflation over low unemployment
• One Nation Conservatives: Cameron -macroeconomic stability over lowering taxes (for wealthy). Help employment/improve economic growth. Intervene in economy to help business/workers during Covid. May - No tax cuts for the rich. Help for hard-working working-class families. Return to Keynesian economics was considered.

Question 7

How do New Right/Thatcherism and One Nation Conservatives disagree on Law and Order?

Answer 7

• New Right: tough law and order - more police, tougher laws, more prisons (private) longer sentences. Support arming police. Some death penalty restored. Neo-conservatives support a religious morality. Oppose promiscuity, abortion, divorce, drugs, pornography etc. Dislike immigration + multiculturalism. Strong military, police, church.
• One Nation Conservatives: Tough on crime, Cameron - understand background of young criminals(‘hug a hoodie’ speech). Discussion of rehabilitation in prisons, but not implemented. Police encouraged combat DV and improve rape conviction figures - May & Johnson.

Question 8

How do New Right/Thatcherism and One Nation Conservatives disagree on Foreign Policy?

Answer 8

• New Right: Euro-sceptics, EU powers returned to nation-state. No euro, no ECJ influence, no laws Brussels, hard Brexit. EU undermines nationalism, creates excessive immigration, supports social democracy. Pro-military, nuclear weapons, NATO, alliance with USA.
• One Nation Conservatives: Positive approach towards EU. Vital trading partner, improves economy. UK further international presence working with EU. Problems (environmental, crime, trade) only be solved with EU cooperation. Preferred soft Brexit or Remain