Politial parties 2 Flashcards
History, policies and leadership of: 1. Conservative party 2. Labour Party 3. Liberal Democratic Party 4. 2 small parties
When was the Conservative Party formed?
1834 (oldest political party in the UK)
Who were the Whigs?
Supporters of parliamentary authority and democracy
Who were the Tories?
Supporters of royal authority
What did the Whigs transform into?
Liberal Party
What did the Tories transform into?
Conservative Party
Who was the founder of the Conservative Party?
Sir Robert Peel (first Conservative PM)
Who did the Whigs represent?
Middle class
Who did the Tories represent?
Upper class
When was the Labour party formed?
1900
How was the Labour party formed?
Trade Union Congress, Fabians (left-wing think tank), Social Democratic Federation, and Independent Labour Party formed alliance known as Labour Representation Committee (not yet a party)
How is the Labour party affiliated with trade unions? (funding and membership examples)
1900s, over 90% of members of LRC were members of trade unions
1980s, over 80% of votes at party conferences and funding from trade unions
When was the Lib Dem party formed?
1988
How was the Lib Dem party formed?
Merger between Liberal Party and Social Democratic Party (after a failed alliance in which they won less than 30 seats between them)
How was the Social Democratic Party formed?
Split from Labour party in 1981 (hard left-wingers)
What are the two strands of Conservatism?
- Traditional Conservatism (One-Nation Tory)
2. New Right (Thatcherism)
What are the values of traditional conservatism? (10)
- Human nature: pessimistic (selfish; likes to achieve goals individually)
- Security and order: protection of state > individual freedoms
- Tradition: preserve tradition (ie. institutions, monarch, marriage, religion)
- Organic society: change should not be artificial or changed radically by government
- Pragmatic: flexible approach to politics for best outcome in the interests of the people (reactive rather than proactive)
- Opposed to ideology: leaders who impose their views onto society are undemocratic
- Social cohesion: reduce conflict between middle and upper class
- Common sense of being: those who are well of should contribute to society to aid the needy
- Equality: oppose excessive inequalities
- Property ownership: all should aspire to own their own piece of land (used to represent the landed gentries)
What are the values of Thatcherism? (4 + 4)
Neo-liberal economics:
- Laissez-fare approach: little government intervention
+ regulation
- Anti-trade unions: trade unions artificially drove up wages, reducing profits, and dampening investment and economic activity
- Low taxes: high taxation are a disincentive to enterprise and hard work
- Dependency culture: felt that excessive welfare benefits are disincentive to employment
Neo-conservative social policy:
- Tradition: loose morality leads to breakdown of social order
- Nationalism: strong patriotism and united nation
- Eurosceptic: foreign policy should concern nations’ interests
- Law and order: authoritarian approach to crime
What are the policies of the current Conservative party? (Economics: TU, taxes, government budget, government intervention)
(Law and order)
(Welfare: strength of system)
(Foreign policy: Trident, intervention in world conflicts, US and NATO alliance, foreign aid)
Economics:
- curb power of trade unions
- opposed to high taxes on wealthy to redistribute income
- income and corporation tax should not be too high (disincentive to work) however income taxes on poor should not be too low either
- austerity
- free markets and free trade
Law and order:
- authoritarian approach to crime (prison, sentences)
- individual freedoms may need to be sacrificed to ensure security of state
- protection of civil liberties
Welfare:
- welfare benefits should not be too generous (cap on maximum welfare benefits) to prevent abuse of system
- funding to NHS and education whilst having private sectors in these areas
Foreign policy:
- retain UK nuclear deterrent
- US and NATO alliance
- foreign aid
- intervene in world conflicts if in UK’s interest
What are the two strands of Labour?
- Old Labour
2. New Labour (also known as the Third Way)
What are the values of Old Labour? (9)
- pro-trade unions: trade unions essential to protect workers rights and ensure balance of power between employer and employee
- class conflict: interests of disadvantaged working class must be favoured by government
- equality: strong redistribution of income to prevent worst inequalities
- equality of opportunity: all have equal life chances despite background
- social justice: all are equal before the law
- welfarism: every member of society is protected by a welfare system, which every member is expected to contribute to
- statism: government controls economic activity to ensure equality
- common ownership: nationalisation of key industries
- collectivism: goals are best achieved when working collectively and not indivudually
What are the values of New Labour? (6)
- reject notion of class conflict: interests of working class should not be favoured over the interests of rest of society
- accepting capitalism: recognise capitalism as best way of generating wealth
- equality of opportunity: equal life chances despite background
- individualism + communitarianism: people prefer achieving goals individually, but should all contribute to a better society
- enabling state: government intervention limited
- political and constitutional reforms: UK is deeply undemocratic and rights inadequately protected
What are some policies of Old Labour? (6)
- creation of welfare system, including NHS, in 1940s
- equal pay for women establish + discrimination against women and ethnic minorities outlawed in 1960s
- trade unions given power to take industrial action to protect interests of workers
- comprehensive education introduced in 1960s
- nationalisation of key industries (coal, steel, energy)
- tax raises on wealthiest to fund welfare for poorest
What are some policies of New Labour?
- constitutional reforms: devolution, HRA 1998, FoI 2000, electoral reform to devolved bodies, local governments and mayors, etc.
- ‘welfare to work’ schemes to encourage unemployment
- policies to reduce poverty
- lowered corporation tax to encourage enterprise
DID NOT:
- nationalise previously privatised industries
- increase powers of trade unions (that were largely reduced under Thatcher)
- increase taxes on wealthy
What are centre-left policies?
(Economics: TU, taxes, government budget, government intervention)
(Law and order)
(Welfare: strength of system)
(Foreign policy: Trident, US and NATO alliance)
Economics:
- pragmatic approach to government spending
- limited government intervention into economy
- progressive taxes to promote mild redistribution of income
Law and order:
- mix of rehabilitative and authoritarian approach to crime
Welfare:
- strong welfare state
- funding of healthcare and education
- minimise excessive benefits
Foreign policy:
- retain UK independent nuclear deterrent
- US and NATO alliance
