POLITICAL PARTIES Flashcards
List functions of political parties
- Governing/electioneering - elections, campaigning, political education
- Raising money - money collected from membership goes towards elections
- Developing policy - policy making of ruling party is same as policy making of govt
- Representation - represent all classes and races
- Recruitment - candidates are chose to stand for MP elections
- Participation - political education
How are political parties funded?
- membership subscriptions
- fundraising events
- donations from supporters
- loans from wealthy individuals and banks
- self financing
- conferences
- up to £2 million in grants from electoral commission
What is the difference in funding between Conservative and Labour
- labour receives more funding from trade unions whilst Conservative receives their money through large donations made by wealthy individuals and businesses
- trade unions members aren’t given a clear choice if they want the subscription money spent in that away
- funding by large donors is hidden and a form of political influence
- some donors expect honours in return of being a generous donor
How is party funding regulated by the 2000 political parties, elections and referendums act
- people that aren’t on the electoral roll cant make donations
- limits on spending on parliamentary elections
- donations over £500 have to be declared
- donations over £7500 are placed on electoral register
List features of the left wing
Prioritises nationalisation of industries, borrow less, redistribution of income for economic equality, anti EU
List features of the right wing
Completely free markets no state intervention, low levels of taxation, avoidance of excessive borrowing, weak protection for workers in free markets
What is the issue of factions for PM?
- conflict as MPs are involved in multiple factions at a time
- they can group together to vote against him on any issue
What is the founding ideals of Labour?
Represent the working class
What is clause 4?
The devotion of achieving socialism through a framework of democracy
Nationalisation
How did Blair’s ideas differ to old labour?
- appeal to all workers rather than just working class
- social democracy - embracing capitalism with social safety net
- changes the constitution
- reforms - minimum wage, devolution, HRA, civil partnership
- billions pumped into schools and hospitals
After his first term - inflation was low, unemployment at lowest, 3 million children out of poverty
What is the overlap between Old labour and New labour?
- comprehensive education in 1960s
- welfarism - everyone protected by welfare state
- equality of opportunity - education and welfare
List values of Old labour?
- social justice - equality, redistribution of income to reduce worst inequalities
- class conflict - two classes can’t be reconciled so govt should favour working class
- collectivism - goals achieved together rather than individually
- statism - central state
- trade unionism
- nationalisation of major industries
List policies and actions of Old labour?
- NHS creation in 1940s
- increases taxes for those with higher income
- equal pay for women introduced
- nationalisation - state control in interests of workers and community
- trade unions granted powers to take industrial action
- discrimination against women and ethnic minorities outlawed
List values of New labour?
- neoliberal - socialism and free market ideas
- all members of society should have equal right to be supported by the state - no class conflict
- political and constitutional reform - more democratic
- more investments in education
- capitalism best way of generating wealth - regulated but not controlled
List policies and action of New labour?
- no trade union powers restored
- more spending on NHS
- lower corporation taxation
