Political parties Flashcards
Define manifesto
-pledges of a party used in a campaign to help the party gain votes and inform the public on what the party will do if it gains office
Define mandate
-right to govern and implement their policies because their win is taken to mean people support their manifesto
3 main political ideologies
Conservatism- the support of national traditions and institutions in order to retain stability and continuity
Liberalism- protecting the rights of the individual from interferences of an overbearing state
Socialism- organising the economy and society to benefit as many people as possible
Right wing ideologies
-Conservatism= (traditionally middle class) individualism, traditional gender roles, free trade and enterprise, accumulation of personal wealth, strong law + order
-Fascism= rule by an unelected leader, cult of individual i.e Mussolini
Left wing ideologies
-Socialism= (traditionally representing working class) collectivism, nationalised industry, social welfare, negotiable social roles, distribution of wealth
-social democrats: improve capitalism so it benefits workers, practical
-Communism= replace capitalism with common ownership, rule by the people in committees in collectivism i.e China
How did left and right wing politics come about?
-originated from the French Revolution(late 1700s) when members of the National Assembly who wanted King to have right to an absolute veto sat on the right and the ones who didn’t sat on the left
5 functions of political parties
-provide representation(Burkean model)
-Facilitating political participation(online ads +marketing, membership)
-Formulate policy(carrying out mandate)
-Engage in political recruitment(party conferences, control quality for those wishing to seek office)
-Provide stable govt(Commons would be disorganised without party divisions, opposition)
Origins of the Conservative party
-first formed by Sir Robert Peel in the Tamworth manifesto 1834(2 years after great reform act)–} addressed necessity of law +order and abuse reform
-Tories split over Peel’s support of the corn laws in 1846(block import of cheap corn) and left office until ‘68 with Disraeli
-Gladstone v Disraeli= D opposed G’s Home Rule Bill which promised the right of self governance to Ireland
-In 1868, the Tories allied with the Liberal Unionists becoming the Conservative and Unionist Party(still is)
One Nation Conservatism
(pre-1900s)
-Pragmatic and paternalistic form of conservatism
-fear that Britain was divided by class–} suffrage extending to working class and introduction of Labour party(Tories may lose votes due to enfranchised workers)
-‘the palace is not safe when the cottage is not happy’-Disraeli
-Call for social reforms to narrow inequality i.e public services without ‘penalising’
the rich/dismantling free market capitalism
-felt that lack of social reform to prevent socialist uprisings
-influenced Cameron(the Big society) and Johnson(‘one nation govt’ mentioned in 2019 victory speech)
Buskellite- pragmatism and post WW2 consensus
-shifted further to the centre following 1945 Labour landslide and social reform(welfare state +NHS)
-consensus: accepted bulk of Labour’s social reforms, pro-European(keen to join EEC, now the EU)–} Tory MP Edward Heath led them into EEC later in 1973
Thatcherism
-represented conviction over compromise i.e Falklands war
-promotes individualism and strong but minimal state
-free market economy and promoting self reliance(neo liberalism)
-‘roll back the frontiers of the state’, privatising govt owned industries and encourage council tenants
-1984-85 miners’ strike broke down the NUM(one of Britain’s most formidable unions)
Conservatives under Cameron
-period of modernisation
-internal divisions of Europe and Euroscepticism
-subtle continuation of Thatcherism with liberal positions on environment and social welfare
-divisions over legalising same sex marriage in 2013
-Parallels with New Labour’ revamp and one nation conservatism
-arrival of 2008 financial crash caused 2010 coalition to propose age of austerity–} end of “excessive govt spending” and introduce budget cuts
-narrow Leave victory deepened party divisions
Conservatives under May
-A promise to serve the interests of ordinary people and move away from austerity+ subtle Thatcherism
-Vision of a shared society
-criticised private ownership and big businesses
-Euroscepticism remained which led to a flawed Brexit negotiation process–} record number of ministerial resignations, rejected deals
-focus on hard Brexit deal (no deal better than bad one)
Conservatives under Johnson
-2019 manifesto: Get Brexit done-Unleash Britain’s potential’ incorporated several strands of conservatism:
-Extra funding for NHS, (50,000 more nurses & 50 million more GP surgery appointments).(Butskellite)
-Promise not to raise income tax, VAT, or national insurance(Thatcherism)
-Independent office for Environmental protection(one-nation conservatism)
Origins of the Labour Party
-founded in 1900, growing out of Trade Union movement and formalised by Keir Hardie
-initial aim was independent representation of the working man
-overtook liberal party as main opposition in the 20s and emerged as largest party in 1929 but formed coalition with Liberals to gain a majority
-out of office until post war consensus
Socialism and the Labour Party
-formally assumed socialist position in 1918 when they adopted Clause VI into constitution–} aspiration to redistribute wealth to reward workers and pushed for common ownership
-used words of Karl Marx
- reworded in 1995 under Blair with hints of capitalism and the “rigour of competition” alongside serving public interest
-New Labour were “relaxed about people getting filthy rich as long as they pay their taxes”
-influenced by Thatcher and Major years
Post-war social democracy under Attlee
-the first majority Labour govt
-set up the Welfare state which attacked the 5 giants: disease, ignorance, want, idleness and squalor
-‘revisionist’ form of socialism, social democracy
-taking coal mining, iron and steel companies into state ownership(mixed economy= private AND state owned)
Labour factions- 1970s and 80s
-more nationalisation i.e aerospace industries in 1977
-influence of trade unions declined in the 80s partly through deindustrialisation and economy moving away from the unionised service sector
-‘winter of discontent’ rooted from public + private sector strikes
-80s, 4 major MPs created the SDP alliance which topped polls until after Thatcher’s Falklands defeat
New Labour under Blair
Blair wanted to modernise Labour & move it to the centre.
-wanted triangulation: repositioning labour, accepting Thatcherite policies but retaining labours values of social justice & fairness.
-emphasis on use of profits for justice.
-“Education, education, education.”
-eliminating child poverty.
-Blair won 3 consecutive general elections.
-won vote to change Clause IV
-some saw Third way as a betrayal & sell out, ie. Corbyn.
Globalist internationalism
-peace & disarmament.
-Ramsey Macdonald, labours first PM was a pacifist during WW1.
-strong body in grassroots movement opposed to nuclear weapons & advocating nuclear disarmament.
- weakened under Blair due to support for ‘war of terror’ on Iraq + Afghanistan
Labour under Brown 2007-10
-continued New Labour campaign
-financial crash in 2008 meant that austerity became a reality
-govt forced to bail out banks + renationalise some significant institutions i.e RBS
Labour under Milliband
-announced ‘New Labour is dead’
-criticised coalition on its ability to promote economic growth
-Milliband and shadow chancellors Ed Balls were clear about the need to reduce borrowing levels
-increased party membership, appealed to youth, changed leadership to one member, one vote which led to Corbyn’s success
Labour under Corbyn
-critic of Third way + New Labour
-represented ‘hard labour’ who had essentially been in exile
-only candidate to adopt anti-austerity stance
-not ‘tainted’ by morally compromised New Labour or ‘rudderless’ Milliband
-promoted nationalisation, increase in income + corporation tax
Policy pledges of 2019
-bring forward the net zero target on carbon emissions putting UK on track for net zero carbon energy in 2030s.
-strengthen trade unions right of entry to workplaces to organise, meet & represent members to recruit.
-asylum seekers have the right to work, access public services & always treated humanely.
Labour party under Kier Starmer
-since becoming leader in 2020, he has promoted nationalisation, higher tax for the rich and major investments into public services
-close interest in constitutional reform and promised HOL reform
-5 missions: economy, green energy, ‘build an NHS fit for the future, ‘make Britain’s streets safe’(similar to tough on crime from Blair) , and childcare + education
Origins of the Lib Dems
-until 1920s they were the conservatives main rival.
-their leader Gladstone stood for free trade, religious toleration, self help & more ethical foreign policy.
-Gladstone was a Whig which meant he had a commitment to constitutional monarchy
-party suffered a split over Irish home rule 1885/6, Gladstone in favour of Ireland self govt
-more divisions during wartime coalitions.
-received third party status by 1930s.
-after merge of Libs & SDP, they gained their name (1988).
-progressively centrist party with committment to Europe & the EU.
Liberalism
-individualism(society in which individuals can flourish and develop) is the core principle
-Classical liberalism: belief in minimal state(like capitalism) and individual liberty
-Modern liberalism: social and economic intervention, capitalism promoted inequality so govt should help freedom become accessible
Lib Dem manifesto values & principles
-very pro-EU & remain defenders.
-civil liberties - pforecting civil liverties & didn’t want a security state, e.g. Labour proposing compulsory ID cards was scrapped by 2010 govt.
-political reform- succeeded in coalition of proposing AV referendum. want fair & representative government.
-education- abolition of tuition fees, party has done well in student cities (Oxford/Cambridge).
Paddy Ashdown + Charles Kennedy
-party developed its own grassroots organisation to deal with local issues
-used nimbyism(not in my backyard, protesting) to overturn tory majority in Chesham and Amersham by-election by protesting HS2
