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Politics (UK ideas) > Politial parties 2 > Flashcards

Politial parties 2 Flashcards

History, policies and leadership of: 1. Conservative party 2. Labour Party 3. Liberal Democratic Party 4. 2 small parties

1
Q

When was the Conservative Party formed?

A

1834 (oldest political party in the UK)

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2
Q

Who were the Whigs?

A

Supporters of parliamentary authority and democracy

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3
Q

Who were the Tories?

A

Supporters of royal authority

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4
Q

What did the Whigs transform into?

A

Liberal Party

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5
Q

What did the Tories transform into?

A

Conservative Party

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6
Q

Who was the founder of the Conservative Party?

A

Sir Robert Peel (first Conservative PM)

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7
Q

Who did the Whigs represent?

A

Middle class

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8
Q

Who did the Tories represent?

A

Upper class

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9
Q

When was the Labour party formed?

A

1900

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10
Q

How was the Labour party formed?

A

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)

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11
Q

How is the Labour party affiliated with trade unions? (funding and membership examples)

A

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

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12
Q

When was the Lib Dem party formed?

A

1988

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13
Q

How was the Lib Dem party formed?

A

Merger between Liberal Party and Social Democratic Party (after a failed alliance in which they won less than 30 seats between them)

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14
Q

How was the Social Democratic Party formed?

A

Split from Labour party in 1981 (hard left-wingers)

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15
Q

What are the two strands of Conservatism?

A
  1. Traditional Conservatism (One-Nation Tory)

2. New Right (Thatcherism)

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16
Q

What are the values of traditional conservatism? (10)

A
  • 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)
17
Q

What are the values of Thatcherism? (4 + 4)

A

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
18
Q

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)

A

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
19
Q

What are the two strands of Labour?

A
  1. Old Labour

2. New Labour (also known as the Third Way)

20
Q

What are the values of Old Labour? (9)

A
  • 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
21
Q

What are the values of New Labour? (6)

A
  • 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
22
Q

What are some policies of Old Labour? (6)

A
  • 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
23
Q

What are some policies of New Labour?

A
  • 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
24
Q

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)

A

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
25
Q

What are left tendency policies?
(Economics: TU, taxes, government budget, government intervention)
(Law and order)
(Welfare: strength of system)
(Foreign policy: Trident, intervention in world conflicts)

A

Economics:

  • increase power of trade unions
  • radical tax reforms to promote redistribution of income
  • loose attitude to government borrowing
  • strong government intervention into economy
  • privatisation of key industries

Law and order:
- rehabilitative approach to crime

Welfare:

  • comprehensive welfare state
  • increase benefits to reduce inequality
  • funding to healthcare and education

Foreign policy:

  • abolish UK independent nuclear deterrent
  • non-intervention in world conflicts
26
Q

What are the two strands of liberalism?

A
  1. Classical liberalism

2. Modern liberalism

27
Q

What is the core value of classical liberalism?

A

Liberty (government should solely exist to protect freedoms of the public and ensure security of the state)

28
Q

How does modern liberalism differ from classical liberalism?

A

Modern liberalism accepts an expanded role of the government, to include social justice, welfare and equality of opportunity

29
Q

What are the core values of liberalism?

A
  • liberty: government should intervene as little as possible into lives of public
  • social justice: erosion of artificial privileges and unjustifiable income inequalities
  • welfare: one cannot be free in enslaved by poverty
  • equality of opportunity: equal life chances no matter one’s background
  • multiculturalism: differing cultures and lifestyles should be tolerated
  • social reform: support for gender equality, anti-racism, support for LGBTQ+, etc.
  • environmentalism: human life is enriched when natural environment is preserved
  • limited government: power of government must be restricted by rigid constitution
  • liberal democracy: strengthen democracy and human rights through constitutional reforms
30
Q

What are the policies of the current Liberal Democrat 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)

A

Economics:

  • progressive taxation to promote mild redistribution of income
  • government spending should not favour one section over another

Law and order:

  • mix of authoritarian and rehabilitative approach to crime
  • should focus on crime prevention
  • sentences should not be so harsh that they infringe on human rights
  • civil liberties may need to be sacrificed in order to ensure security of the state

Welfare:

  • benefits should help those who cannot support themselves
  • increased spending on healthcare and education
  • benefits should not be a disincentive to work

Foreign policy:

  • supports foreign aid
  • supports NATO
  • non-interventionist in world conflicts (rather resolve through UN)
  • anti-Trident
31
Q

What are the policies of the SNP?

economy - 2, welfare, foreign policy - 2, constitutional

A
  • supports the living wage
  • redistribution of income
  • welfare state
  • anti-Trident
  • Scotland as an independent, sovereign state in the EU
  • lower the voting age to 16
32
Q

What side of the spectrum is the SNP?

A

Left wing

33
Q

What side of the spectrum is UKIP?

A

Right wing

34
Q

What are the policies of UKIP?

economy - 2, welfare - 2, foreign policy - 2

A
  • little government intervention except for regulation of ‘big businesses’ to ensure fairness to consumers
  • protectionist to protect British jobs
  • reduce net immigration to zero and only allow skilled immigrants in
  • build 100,000 council homes
  • £11bn to NHS
  • cut foreign aid spending
35
Q

What regional influence has the SNP had?

A

Government of Scottish Parliament since 2007 -> dominant party

36
Q

What influence has the SNP had in Westminster? (refer to 2015 and 2017 GE)

A

Won 56 our of 59 constituency seats in 2015 GE -> undermined Labour and Conservative influence in Scotland + strengthens Scottish representation in the HoC + may lead to Labour and Conservative making greater effort to appeal to Scottish voters HOWEVER lost 21 seats in 2017 GE -> influence (particularly mandate for a second independence referendum) has been reduced

37
Q

What influence has UKIP had in Westminster? (refer to 2015 and 2017 GE)

A

Won 12.6% of the national vote in 2015 GE but only 1 seat -> insignificant influence in HoC however it took votes away from the major parties + increase in its popularity is a factor leading to Cameron’s decision to call an EU referendum HOWEVER lost its only seat in 2017 -> no direct influence in HoC whatsoever

38
Q

What influence has UKIP had in local councils and the European Parliament?

A

Local councils: lost over 120 seats in 2018 -> support for UKIP has collapsed -> reduced domestic influence
European Parliament: largest vote share amongst MEPs, with over a quarter in 2014 -> as they abstain from European divisions, they qualm the representation of the UK in the EU

Politics (UK ideas) (5 decks)

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