POL PARTIES: Lab & lib dem factions Flashcards
1
Q
when was old labour prominent?
A
- 1900s-1980s, 2015-2020
2
Q
what is old labour in general?
A
- associated w left wing principles of extensive welfare and positive state intervention in the economy in order to enhance equality in society, achievd through redistrubitive taxation, nationalisation and close links w trade unions; has trad foucs on protecting and improving the lives of the lower classes
3
Q
what are highly important policies and achievements of the old labour govs?
A
- 1945-50—> introducing the NHS and nationalising abt 20% of the economy, including industrie ssuch as energy and transport
- 1976-79–> increased top rate of tax to 83% to pay for extensive welfare system
4
Q
what extreme left-wing manifesto was deemed the’ longest suicide note in history’?
A
- 1983 manifesto, michael foot- party then moves towards centre
5
Q
what was the Third Way principle?
A
- Blair infl by
- middle grounf between socialism and capitalism0 between the neolib economics of thatcher’s cons and the socialist ec of old labour
- so privatisation encouraged over nationalisation
6
Q
how did blair reform the labour party?
A
- removed Clause 4 of the lab party’s 1918 constitution, which committed the party to nationalisation, and instead accepted the benefits of free markets
- promoted wealth creation rather than redistrubitive taxation, kept top rate at 40%
- would protect the interests of all citizens rather than just links w TUs
- kept some socialist sympathies; supp poorest in soc by introducing NMW & increasing spending on public services
7
Q
what were key policies from Corbyn’s 2019 manifesto?
A
- increase health budget by 4.3%, scrap prescription charges, cut private provision in the NHS- OLD- health service ran for interests ofpublic, not profit
- Hold a 2nd referendum on Br- most party atm was ‘pro-EU’ but old lab incl JC opp it as promoted free markets
- Raise NMW to £10, provide further protections for workers eg longer maternity/paternity pay- first intro by TB
- introduce a ‘National Care Service’ (incl free personal care for older ppl)
- nationalise key industries- energy firms, royal mail, railways, broadband
- scrap uni tuition fees, which TB’s new lab had introduced
8
Q
what did Starmer claim in 2022 abt lab’s ideological position?
A
- lab is ‘the party of the centre ground’
- signalling to move towards NL from JC’s OL policies
9
Q
what OLD LAB infl pledges were in lab’s 2024 manifesto?
A
- make the NMW a genuine living wage
- abolish no fault evictions; usually w/c who are renters- a reason required to evict someone- provides protection & stability to those poorest who can’t afford to own a house
- deliver largest increase in social & affordable housing- for poor ppl
- re-nationalise most railway services
- create Great British Energy- a state owned energy firm to nationalise the service & partner w industry TUs to deliver clean power
- introduce free breakfast clubs in all primary schls
10
Q
what new lab infl pledges were in lab’s 2024 manifesto?
A
- use spare capacity in the indep sector to ensure patients are diagnosed and treate dmore quickly
11
Q
how are the areas of the labour party differed in new vs old labour?
A
- maybe media team & front benchers= NL (wins votes) , but membership are OL- (explains how JC was elected leader- initially campaigned to raise top rate to 50% and maybe reintro clause 4)
12
Q
what old labour alignment has KS briefly shown?
A
- against grammar schl system in some localities- argues academic selection is a furtehr barrier to limited oppurtunities of the disadvantaged
13
Q
is labour more old or new atm?
A
- a middway between the two- eg intro a new state energy firm, GBE, yet not nationalising the entire industry
- NL move could be more of a vote strategy- emulates TB after party lost 3 GEs in a row
- no single answer as there’s internal struggle between existing factions who often clash on policy within the party
14
Q
why is it likely that lab will lean more NL when giverning in 2024 onwards?
A
- financial mess inherited from Ts- going to have to be more restrained in its spending on welfare & public services & focus on promoting growth
15
Q
what is classical liberalism?
A
- during 1800s
- LIMITED GOVERNMENT - limited power, checks in place
- MINIMAL GOVERNMENT- little role in intervening in ec & soc- free markets favoured, little to no welfare provision
- NEGATIVE FREEDOM- to be free is to have no constraints or laws in place limiting what u can do
16
Q
how did modern liberalism come about?
A
- during 1900s, liberals adapted the stet or goc as possessing a responsibility to intervene in soc & ec to help out the poorest- interventionist gov & positive freedom
17
Q
what is an interventionist government by modern liberalism standards?
A
- gov intervening in the ec & soc to redistribute wealth from the richest to the poorest in soc via taxation, providing a safety net for the poorest through provision of extensive welfare
18
Q
what is positive freedom?
A
- to not only have no laws or constraints in place limiting what u can do, but to have oppurtunities and resourcesavailable to achieve your potential- justifies gov intervention to provide th disadvantaged poor w oppurtunities & resources
19
Q
what youth-related policies were in libdems’ 2024 manifesto?
A
- appoint a cabinet minister for children and young ppk-ML- aditional role of governamce + pos freedom
- incorporate the UNCRC into UK law- ML- further leg to protect a vulnerable group
20
Q
what financial policies were in libdem’s 2024 manifesto?
A
- increase the digital services tax on social media firms and other tech giants from 2% to 6%- redistrubitive sentiment/ higher taxes for investment; ML
- set a 20% higher NMW for those on zero hour contracts- ML- supps poorest at expense of employers
- tackle personal tax avoidance, raise funds & ‘close loops’- funds for further welfare- more invlvement/ investment of gov (ML)
21
Q
what social policies were in libdem’s 2024 manifesto?
A
- increase building of homes to 380,000 a year, incl 150,000 social homes a year, through new garden citie sand community-led development of cities and towns- equal oppurtunities & resources- ML (pos free)
- reform the gender recognition process to remove the requirement for medical reports, recognise non-binary identities in law- CLASSICA- less laws/ constraints
- create a codified const- CLASSICAL as limits power of gov, but is technically a new legal framework- are gov incl in freedom from restraint?- ML
22
Q
what law and order policies were in libdems’ 2024 maifesto?
A
- create a new online crime agency to tackle illegal content & activity online eg personal fraud, revenge porn, threats, incitement to violence on soc med- ML law and order
- scrap PCCs & replace them w local police boards made up of councillors & representatives from relevant local groups, whilst investing the savings in frontline policing–> minimal gov- CL, but not giving the money back to the ppl- ML
23
Q
what post 2024 GE policies have lab brought in showing new/old labour ideas?
A
- winter payment fuel allowance become means tested rather than for all pensioners- new lab as witghdrwaing supp for a vulnerable group but old as still supps workingclass and those on lowest incomes
- new set of workers’ rights bills incl universal entitlement to sick pay from first day of absense, maternity or paternity pay from the first day of work, removing (mostly) zero hour contracts; old lab as committment to protecting working class from exploitation, providing job security
- firm committment retained to renationalising railways- ol as ran as public service rather than profit; nationalisation
24
Q
what happened with Louise Hague in 2024?
A
- transport sec- publically encouraged ppl to boycott P&O Ferries due to their poor record on human rights (old lab sentiment), but publically reprimanded by Kier Starmer, who wished to keep on good terms w the company to attract them to privately invest in the UK ports- new as acceptance of privatisation & support for businesses- public stance against old lab ideal
