Policies and ideas of New Labour

Question 1

Economic Policy

Answer 1

-New Labour aimed to separate themselves from earlier administrations by not increasing taxes and conserving resources before investing more in public services
-New Labour’s aimed to reduce poverty, but not to wipe out inequality e.g. introduced a national minimum wage but less than what trade unions wanted
-New Labour supported capitalism and the use of the private secttor in provision of public services

Question 2

Law and Order Polciy

Answer 2

-Blair said Labour must be ‘tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime’
-Blair imposed conditions on the receipt of welfare benefits and brought in Anti-social behavior orders
-Measures to fight terrorism prioritized national security over human rights
-Broadly encouraged and facilitated immigration

Question 3

Welfare

Answer 3

-Consistently increased spending on NHS and education
-Under New Labour, shortest waiting times in NHS history
-Introduced minimum wage

Question 4

Foreign policy

Answer 4

supported George Bush’s invasion of Iraq in 2003

Question 5

Constitutional reform

Answer 5

Introduced devolution, reformed the House of Lords, introduced the Supreme Court