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 original conservative ideology?
- french and Industrial Revolution considered a threat to politics and religion in the UK
- conservatism establishes pragmatic view, skeptical about radical change and ideology
- change should be slow and gradual
List ideas of one nation conservatism
- Benjamin Disraeli
- dangers of division between rich and poor, conditions of working class should be improved
- paternalistic - strived to create social unity by using the state to provide for those less well off
List ideas of Thatcherism
- against state intervention and spread of progressive values
- faith in free markets - sold council houses, privatisation of nationalised industries, deregulation, cuts to public spending and taxation
- neoconservative
- increasing use and length of prison sentences
- defending traditional values
List ideas of modern conservatism?
- economy - power of the market and private property, further tax cuts, increasing NMW, limiting infrastructure spending to 3% on gdp
- welfare - tackle debt and deficit, cuts to public spending, NHS spending (more hospitals and employment of doctors)
- law and order - increase police powers and tackle knife crime
- foreign policy - brexit, work with America instead of Europe
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
