Political Parties Flashcards
Some ideas and principles of Old Labour (social democracy)
- Equality
- Collectivism
- Capitalism must be controlled
- Social justice
Some ideas and principles of New Labour (Third Way)
- Individualism
- Free market - accepted as the best form of wealth creation
- Welfare state
- Social justice
Examples of COLLECTIVISM (Old Labour)?
The welfare state to be funded by taxes and all should be equaly entitled to it
Examples of EQUALITY (Old Labour)?
Tax and welfare should be used to reduce differences in income
Examples of FREE MARKET (New Labour)?
No more nationalism and some further privatisation and reduce corporate taxes to encourage enterprises
Examples of SOCIAL JUSTICE (New Labour)?
Welfare state to gurantee living standards
Traditional One Nation Conservatism, Thatcherism and Cameron compared on WELFARE?
Trad One :Support welfare as part of a ‘one nation’ outlook
Thatch:Sees excessive welfare as a threat to enterprise and work
Cam:Defence of welfare mainly as incentive to work
Traditional One Nation Conservatism, Thatcherism and Cameron compared on the ECONOMY?
Trad One: More likely to ‘manage’ the economy
Thatch:Support Laissez-faire policies with a reluctance to interfere
Cam:A belief in the power and desirability of free markets
Traditional One Nation Conservatism, Thatcherism and Cameron compared on SOCIETY?
Trad One: Believe in organic society and the need to preserve ‘one nation’
Thatch:See society as a collection of unconnected individuals
Cam:’Big Society’: communities to take on roles carried out by the state
What are some of Liberal Democrat values?
- Tolerance
- Liberty and rights
- Equality of opportunity - unfair advantages in society should be removed and all should enjoy equal life chances
- Social justice
What are social liberals (modern liberals)?
Traditionally seens as being the centre-left wing of the party
What are orange book liberals (classical liberals)?
They lean more towards the centre, supporting greater choice and competition
What are some polices of the Green Party?
- To protect our environment
- A green economy that works for everyone
What are the impacts of minor parties on politics? (UKIP)
Policy: UKIP was a major influence on why the EU referendum was called, which led to the triggering of Article 50
Parties:The fall of Cameron and splits in the two main parties can be linked to UKIP’s influence on the Brexit ref
Two-party system: Two major parties dominate the political system but for a multi-party system…
More than two parties competing for power with a realistic chance of gaining power
Two-party system: usually, one of these two parties can secure a majority to govern alone but for a multi-party system
The outcome of an election is most likely ti be a coalition
When could it be said that the UK has had spells of one party dominance?
1950, 1980-90, 2000s
Factors affecting party success?
- Policies
- Leaders - leaders that look ‘strong’ and ‘fresh’, such as Tony Blair in 1997, tend to be successful. Which is the opposite for Ed Miliband
- Media
- Campaign
Westminster system in the UK, for example, has been characterised for much of the 20th century as having a two-party system where as many countries in Europe…
…Have multi-party system-Italy, for example. In the UK, we would look to the devolved assemblies the evidence of multi-party systems that work
Evaluate the view that the only political parties that matter in our political system are the Labour and Conservative parties [30]
Introduction: Criteria for importance and critique
(Power, output, representation?)
- Power in parliament, legislative output, representative function
- They aren’t the only parties that matter
Evaluate the view that the only political parties that matter in our political system of the Labour and Conservative parties [30]
Para 1:Point
(Winning large number of seats consistently?)
- Labour and Conservatives are only parties who consistently win large numbers of seats and are the only ones that can win majorities
- Hasn’t been a non-Labour/Conservative government since 1922, when the now-extinct Liberals won
Evaluate the view that the only political parties that matter in our political system of the Labour and Conservative parties [30]
Para 1: CounterPoint
(Minor parties still play a role?)
Minor parties still play a role – E.G.recent Lib Dem and DUP coalitions with conservatives
Evaluate the view that the only political parties that matter in our political system of the Labour and Conservative parties [30]
Para 1: Overall
(Only chance of winning majorities)
Labour and conservative only parties with a chance of winning of majorities, but minor parties are only increasing influence in elections in parliament
Evaluate the view that the only political parties that matter in our political system of the Labour and Conservative parties [30]
Para 2: Point
(Major parties and legislative agenda?)
Labour and Conservatives have the ability to set legislative agenda and dominate policy, whereas minor parties cannot as they are never in power
E.g. 2017-19 of bills passed, 41 govt bills 15 private member bills, likely to be majority Con/Lab
