Political Parties Flashcards
1
Q
What is an ideology?
A
A coherent set of beliefs that guide actions.
2
Q
What is a policy?
A
A strategy aimed at addressing a particular issue a country faces.
3
Q
What is an ideological spectrum?
A
A scale of beliefs from left to right.
4
Q
What do the left believe?
A
Interests of the masses, more government intervention, more equal society, more social change.
5
Q
What do the right believe?
A
A belief in individualism, and personal responsibility opposed to change, don’t agree with state intervention.
6
Q
What is communism?
A
All property owned by the state. Classless, so there is no private property.
7
Q
What is socialism?
A
The means of production, distribution and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community.
8
Q
What is liberalism?
A
A doctrine putting emphasis on protection of individual rights, against state intervention.
9
Q
What is conservatism?
A
Free enterprise, private ownership, traditional ideas to maintain the foundations of society.
10
Q
What are the views of the centre ground?
A
Run an economy from the marketplace, government should protect vulnerable members of society, tolerance of others, constitutional change.
11
Q
What are Big tent policies?
A
Policies which appeal to one side of one party, and another side of a different party. Flexibility of ideas.
12
Q
What has happened to main parties recently?
A
They have moved to the centre ground, as data shows that parties who move to the extremes of their ideologies don’t win elections.
13
Q
What is traditional conservatism?
A
Conservatives who want to maintain the status quo, suspicious of change, but recognise the need to branch out.
14
Q
What are Thatcherites?
A
Conservatives who are anti trade unions, pro privatisation, want radical change, against the welfare state.
15
Q
What were Thatcher’s quotes, which supported her beliefs?
A
‘No such thing as society’ ‘Without the strong, who would provide for the weak?’
16
Q
What does classical liberalism place importance on?
A
Freedom, Self reliance, self improvement, little state intervention.
17
Q
What is one nation conservatism?
A
Focuses on duty of those with power, and the privilege to use it wisely. ‘The palace isn’t safe if the cottage isn’t happy’
18
Q
Which prime ministers were one nation conservatives?
A
David Cameron and Boris Johnson.
19
Q
What did one nation prime ministers focus on?
A
Encouragement of state intervention, regulation of the economy, pragmatic, welfare state if necessary, protection of public services.
20
Q
Why is traditional conservatism different to one nation conservatism?
A
One nation conservatives support government intervention, traditionalists don’t.
21
Q
Which candidates did Margaret Thatcher believe would take the party in the same direction she did?
A
John Major, William Hague, Iain Duncan Smith, Michael Howard.
22
Q
Why did conservatives struggle during the period of 1990s-2000s?
A
They didn’t have many policies, just complaints about the party in power.
23
Q
What did David Cameron call himself while running for leadership?
A
A modern compassionate conservative, saying he’s not a deeply ideological person.
24
Q
What did David Cameron want to do to his party?
A
Move it back to the centre ground, detoxifying the conservative brand, gaining electoral advantage.
25
Which policies showed him detoxifying the conservative brand?
Liberal on homosexuality, Concern for minorities, Causes of crime focus, Environmental concern.
26
How did David Cameron adhere to incremental change?
3 million more apprenticeships, gay marriage.
27
How did David Cameron adhere to a pragmatic approach?
More help with childcare, cutting taxes, employment rate rose.
28
How did David Cameron adhere to a paternalistic approach?
Persistent poverty rate dropped, 'hug a hoodie' campaign, concern for minorities.
29
What were Theresa May's policies?
Law and order, identify and reduce racism, transphobia, new grammar schools banned, more climate change legislation, improved obesity rates.
30
What does Theresa May identify as?
A mix between a one nation conservative, because of her concern for racism and transphobia, and a traditional conservative, because of her belief in law and order.
31
What were Boris Johnson's Policies?
Populism, Brexit, Climate change, raised taxes, pledged to spend more on public services.
32
What does Boris Johnson identify as?
One nation conservative, with elements of traditional/ Thatcherite.
33
What were Liz Truss' Policies?
Fracking, Energy support scheme, lower taxes, Rwanda policy, diminish workers' rights.
34
What does Liz Truss identify as?
Thatcherite, but had to use some one nation policies for the times.
35
What are Rishi Sunak's policies?
Cut taxes when responsible, Brexit, weaker climate change policies, more grammar schools, Rwanda, Get rid of some degrees.
36
What does Rishi Sunak identify as?
A Thatcherite, but had to use some one nation policies for his time in government.
37
What were the origins of the labour party?
Formed out of labour representation committee, radicals recognised that they needed to work with parliament, LRC became labour party in 1906.
38
What happened to Labour in 1918?
They wrote up the labour party constitution, and committed itself to socialism.
39
What did clause four of the constitution state?
'To secure for the workers by hand or by brain, the full fruits of their industry, and the most equitable distribution that may be possible, upon the basis of common ownership.
40
Why does clause four reflect socialist ideology?
References people working together, receiving their fair share.
41
What did old labour believe about class?
Society and common class interest.
42
What did Old labour believe about equality?
Equal rights for women, ethnic minorities, and economically deprived. Didn't believe in total equality for all.
43
What did old labour believe about social justice?
Windfall wealth should be redistributed, wealth through hard work should be kept.
44
What did Old labour believe about equality of opportunity?
State intervention should be in place, to stop some from being more privileged than others, creating better opportunity.
45
What did Old labour believe about collectivism?
People prefer to achieve goals collectively rather than apart.
46
What did old labour believe about common ownership?
A key form of collectivism, and means ownership of the means of production and distribution.
47
Which ideological factions of old labour were there?
Right, Centre, Left.
48
How did Tony Blair change the labour party?
Made the party more about society, changing the core ideology of the party.
49
How did Tony Blair change clause four?
Instead of being centred around workers, and workers' rights, it was centred around enterprise and the private sector, signifying a change to being business minded.
50
What are the beliefs of Old labour?
Support of working class, Business interests aren't a priority, universal benefits, nationalisation of key industries, don't want constitutional change, commitment to welfare spending.
51
What are the beliefs of new labour?
Strengthening social responsibility, Pro USA, pro EU, increase university uptake, tough on causes of crime, targets for public services, lower income tax, constitutional reform.
52
How has Blairism been interpreted?
'Thatcherism with a human face' 'made over old labour' 'third way'
53
How was Gordon Brown seen within his party?
More committed to social justice, and made billions of spending promises within months of coming into office.
54
What were Brown's policy changes, compared to Blair?
1-1 Tuition, Free school meals for all, paternity leave, surestart.
55
What were Brown's policy continuations?
Halve budget deficit, Banks sold off, no increase to income tax, backing offer of private sector in NHS.
56
What did Ed Miliband say when he became leader?
New labour was too silent about responsibilities of those at the top, said he knew why people were disillusioned with politics.
57
What were Ed Miliband's policies?
Raising Minimum wage, Freezing rail fares, National primary childcare service, freeze energy bills, more access to childcare, constitutional reform.
58
How much of the vote did Jeremy Corbyn win, in the leadership election?
60%.
59
Why did Jeremy Corbyn win?
Labour had moved to the left under Ed Miliband, anyone could vote for £3. Bigger new labour names had stepped back. Enthusiasm from young people.
60
What were Jeremy Corbyn's policies?
Higher taxes for the rich, investment in public services, minimum and maximum wage, scrap tuition fees, nationalisation of key industries, stay in the EU, didn't believe in austerity.
61
Which policies represent a leftward shift from New Labour?
A maximum wage, Higher taxes for the rich.
62
What did Keir Starmer say when he became leader?
Labour deserved to lose the election in 2019, because their policies weren't responsible.
63
What are the origins of the Liberal Democrat’s?
Formed in 1988, from the liberals and the SDP, believing in liberalism, and sometimes moderate socialism, They wanted to break the mould of british politics.
64
What do Orange Book Liberals believe in?
Classical liberals, influenced by neoliberalism, endorse Thatcherite economic policies. Nick clegg, Ed davey.
65
What do social liberals believe in?
Progressive liberalism, influenced by Keynes, reject thatcherism, believe in welfare state. Tim Farron, Paddy Ashdown.
66
What are the core liberal values?
Individual liberty, state shouldn’t restrict individual freedoms, all forms of religion and lifestyle should be accepted. Hard work should take you far in life, stop extreme inequality, state organised welfare.
67
What is the difference between liberals on welfare?
Social liberals - Widespread.
Orange Book - Only to those who need it.
68
What were the liberal democrat’s like from 1997-2010?
Liberal democrat’s had moved to the left under paddy Ashdown - was left of labour on some issues. Charles kennedy moved the party further to the right - imcressed vote share in every election from 1997-2010.
69
What happened to the liberal democrat’s in 2010?
They entered government for the first time in coalition with the conservatives. They had to abandon some of their promises on tuition fees and constitutional reform. They lost most of their seats in the 2015 election.
70
What is the structure of the labour party?
Branch labour party, Constituency labour party, local campaign forum, national executive committee.
71
What does the branch labour party do?
Discuss political issues, send motions to CLP meetings.
72
What does the constituency labour party do?
Mixes with affiliated union branches, co op party, socialist societies.
73
What does the local campaign forum do?
Shortlist potential candidates.
74
What does the national executive committee do?
Recommend policy to party leadership.
75
What is the structure of the conservative party?
Conservative associations, CCHQ, Parliamentary party.
76
What is the role of conservative associations?
Local organisations, representative of the national party.
77
What is the role of CCHQ?
Responsible for all campaigning of the conservative party, having overall responsibility.
78
What is the role of the parliamentary party?
Conservative MP’s who have the most power in the structure of the party.
79
What is the structure of the liberal democrat’s?
They run on separate divisions in England, Wales and Scotland, as politics is often dominated by England. Autonomy can be granted for devolved nations, so issues are relevant.
80
What is a single party system?
Position of the ruling party is in the constitution, and political opposition isn’t allowed. China, North Korea.
81
What is a two party system?
A system where two parties dominate, other parties may exist, but without importance. Rotation of power happens between parties. USA.
82
What is a multi party system?
More than two parties have a say in political life, and a coalition may be needed, if one party doesn’t win a majority. Germany, Italy, France.
83
How could the UK be seen as a two party system?
Only two parties have formed majority governments in the last 100 years.
84
How could the UK be seen as a multi party system?
There have been coalition governments, as well as devolved governments having parties which aren’t found UK wide.
85
How could the UK be seen as having a dominant party system?
The conservatives were in government for 64/100 years of the 20th century.
86
What were the fundraising figures for 1 quarter in the 2017 election?
Labour - £9.5 million. Conservatives - £25 million. Lib Dem’s - £4.4 million. SNP - £600,000. Greens - £175,000.
87
What do the fundraising figures show?
A greater level of donations doesn’t necessarily lead to more votes, as the conservatives raised nearly 3x as much as labour, but only received 2% more votes.
88
Where does labour’s funding traditionally come from?
Trade unions, who used to provide most of the funding for the party in the past. Now, lots of funding is provided by membership fees.
89
Where does conservative funding traditionally come from?
Big donors, and powerful individuals.
90
What is Cranbourne money?
Money given to opposition parties in the lords, so support the work of their party in the house.
91
What is short money?
Given to opposition parties in the commons, to support their work, as they don’t have full access to the civil service.
92
How much short money were labour given in 2021?
£6.5 million.
93
What is the misconduct question?
Significant donations may encourage ministers to act in a certain way with policy, which may be a conflict of interests.
94
What is the fairness question?
The fact that some have more to spend than others makes it unfair, and gives an electoral advantage.
95
What is the overspending question?
The amount of money spent by parties may alienate voters, as people may feel that this is not in line with normal levels of spending, as well as the way donations are received.
96
What is the overspending question?
The amount of money spent by parties may alienate voters, as people may feel that this is not in line with normal levels of spending, as well as the way donations are received.
97
What is the civic engagement question?
If a political party had no money, it wouldn't be able to engage with the public as well, as they may have less ways to communicate.
98
What is the party effectiveness question?
Strong funds mean a political party can carry out its' core duties effectively.
99
What is the freedom question?
Some say that it doesn't matter how much parties spend or make, as people still have the freedom to support whatever they want anyway.
100
What are the arguments for state funding of political parties?
Purification of political process, all parties would have equal opportunity.
101
What are the arguments against state funding?
Parties may decrease engagement with the public, taxpayers will have to fund parties.
102
What does the Political parties and referendums act 2000 state?
Spending limit of £30000 per constituency, spending limits for devolved elections, all donations over £5000 have to be declared.
103
What did the political parties and elections act 2009 state?
Included tighter restrictions on spending, lower threshold for donations to be declared.
104
In what way were these acts successful?
They helped to bring transparency into donations within politics, following finance scandals in both major parties.
105
In what way were these acts unsuccessful?
Some MP's were still able to work the system, and were accused of failing to give enough transparency with donations.
106
What were the beliefs of UKIP?
Zero net migration, lower taxes for middle earners, leave the EU.
107
What was the typical demographic of a UKIP voter?
Older, working class, white men.
108
What happened to UKIP electorally between 2010-2015?
They won 2 by elections, and won 12% of the vote in the 2015 election.
109
What did the growth of UKIP lead to?
David cameron promised an in-out referendum on the EU, leading to the decision of Brexit.
110
What does the action of David Cameron show?
That minor parties can still guide policies.
