Political Parties (Context, Origins, Divisions) Flashcards
1
Q
What were the first Conservative Party objectives?
A
- Prevent the country falling too far into inequality.
- Preserve unity of the kingdom.
- Pragmatism.
2
Q
What were the key principles of One Nation conservatism? (6)
A
- Strong law and order
- Faith in property and home ownership
- Tradition
- Pragmatism
- Noblesse oblige
- Organic society
3
Q
What is Noblesse oblige?
A
- Those of higher social standing have a moral duty to help those of a lower social standing who have fallen on hard times. Paternalism
4
Q
What are some neo liberalism ideas?
A
- High taxation prevents productivity.
- Welfare benefits create a dependency culture.
- Trade unions hinder economic development.
- Markets should not be regulated by the state.
5
Q
What are principles of neo conservatism?
A
- Belief in the promotion and advancement of traditional values to ensure stability.
- Strong law and order in an authoritative state to impose social morality.
- Nationalism, believing pride and unification is the best way to maintain stability.
6
Q
What are examples of factions within the Labour Party?
A
- Compass: 2003, in opposition to Blair by Neil Lawson. Critical friends of Corbyn.
- Progress: represents New Labour’s ideas and part of labours right wing.
7
Q
What are examples of factions within the Conservative Party?
A
- Bright Blue: Continue Cameron’s style social liberalism with concern for environment.
- Tory Reform Group: one nation tories who are quite left. Oppose Brexit.
- Cornerstone Traditional values, Christian, nationalist, and reactionary.
- European Research Group: Eurosceptics Hard right
8
Q
What are factions within the Liberal Democrats?
A
- Welfare intervention OR classical liberal free market.
- Clegg and Cable published ‘Orange Book’ in 2004 arguing for a return to economic liberalism.
- This was opposed by Simon hughes who favoured a more tax and spend approach.
9
Q
What is Keynesian economics? (One nation)
A
- welfare state
- high employment
- state intervention
10
Q
What faction of the conservatives support tradition, family values, and nationalism?
A
Cornerstone
Jacob Rees mogg
11
Q
What are old labour values?
A
- Welfarism
- Centralised state
- Social justice
- Collectivism
- Equality of opportunity
12
Q
What are some new labour values?
A
- Individualism > collectivism.
- Capitalism.
- Reject class conflict as all have equality through law.
- ‘Third way’ between socialism and free market.
- Enabling state.
- Constitutional reform.
- Equality of opportunity.
13
Q
What was the primary idea of the Labour Party?
A
Improve conditions for the working class and to control excesses of capitalism.
14
Q
What did labour form out of?
A
The trade union movement
15
Q
What did Blair remove from the Labour constitution?
A
Clause IV- nationalisation / “common ownership”
16
Q
What are the three factions of the Labour Party?
A
- Momentum: Corbyn far left
- Social democrats/blairites: centralist new labour
- Blue labour: socially conservative
17
Q
What are the main values of the Liberal Democrats?
A
- Human rights and democracy
- The environment
- Constitutionalism (suspicious of gov power)
- Social justice and reform
- Multiculturalism
18
Q
What did the liberal party emerge from?
A
A coalition between whigs and radicals
19
Q
How did the Liberal Democrats influence the 2010 coalition?
A
Injected green politics and pupils premium to support school funding.
20
Q
Why did the electorate punish the Liberal Democrat’s?
A
Raised uni tuition fees
21
Q
What leader lost their seat to SNP?
A
Joe Swinson
22
Q
What are the two fractions of the Liberal Democrat’s?
A
- Social liberals: former members of labour. Redistribution of income through tax and welfare.
- Orange book liberals: enhance individual liberties. Neo liberalism, minimal economic interference .
23
Q
What is co-option?
A
When the policies of smaller parties are adopted by major parties.
24
Q
What are SNPs main policies?
A
- Independence as a sovereign state within the EU.
- Supports constitutional reforms (second elected chamber, proportional rep, vote for 16).
- Abolish uni tuition fees.
- Welfare state.
25
What are some Green Party policies?
- Low cost, environmentally friendly homes financed by gov.
- Investment in public transportation
- Uni tuition fees abolished
- Wealth tax to top 1% of income ladder
- Living wage of £10 an hour
- Special tax on large banks
- Universal basic income of £90 a week
26
What are some impacts of minor parties?
- Rise of small parties led to labours loss.
- SNP eclipsed main parties in Scotland. Main parties had to support further devolution.
- UKIP encouraged euroscepticism and reducing immigration.
27
What is the impact of the Green Party?
- Encouraged main parties to adopt radical environmental policies.
- Became a protest vote.
- In a coalition with Scotland’s SNP.
28
What is the influence of the SNP?
- Independence ref 2014.
- Scotland Act 2016 (greater devolved power).
- Future independence ref.
29
What % of Scotland voted remain in 2016 EU ref?
62%
30
What’s the impact of the women’s equality party on other parties?
- Team of campaigners who were survivors of male violence stood as parliamentary candidates against those with SA allegations. 4/5 stood down.
- Liberal Democrat’s said they’ll adopt their key policies for tackling violence.
31
What was on the 2019 conservative manifesto?
- Not raising income tax, national insurance or VAT.
- Recruit 10,000 police officers and boost their funding.
- 10 point plan to unleash green Industrial Revolution.
32
What was in the labour 2019 manifesto?
- Renationalisation of rail ways
- Real living wage of £10
- 5% pay rise for public sector jobs
- Hold a second ref on brexit
33
What was in the Liberal Democrat 2019 manifesto?
- Tax increase to fund NHS
- Prison a place for rehabilitation
- 2000 more prison officers
- Increase number of teachers and £10billion for schools
- Settle 10000 refugees a year
- Stop brexit
- Insulate all low income homes by 2025
34
What did Starmer want to do in his 10 pledges in 2020?
- Increase income tax for top 5%
- Clamp down tax avoidance for large corporations
- Common ownership of rail, mail, energy, water
- Moderate immigration
- Nationalisation
- Strengthen workers rights
- Abolish hofL
35
What were the key policies of May?
- Leg to improve police practice
- Increase NHS spending
- Movement of free school meals and breakfast across primary school
- State pension increase with inflation
- Cut immigration
36
What were Cameron’s policies?
- Increase private sector share of economy
- Banking regulation
- Prevent crime and youth crime
- Welfare reform bill: benefit cap and universal credit
- Foreign trade and intervention
- Greener economy
- Marriage act 2013
37
What factors effect minor party success?
- Use of proportional representation
- Concentrated support
- Media support
- Popular ideas
- Charismatic leaders
- Offers something different
38
What are some failing factors to minor parties?
- Lack of funding
- Discriminatory electoral system
- Limited media exposure
- People feel they are a wasted vote
39
What factors effect a party’s popularity?
- Manifesto
- Leader
- Media
- Wider political context
- Party unity
- Opposition
40
What are the functions of parties in the UK?
- Making policy
- Aggregation: *Recognising a wide range of demands and converting them into programmes of action.*
- Representation: *Often claim to represent a specific section of society (i.e. the Labour Party representing the working class) Now all main parties claim they represent the national interest.*
- Selecting candidates/leaders
- Organising elections
- Political education.
41
What are populist parties?
Typically appear and disappear rapidly and claim to represent sections of society who claim to have been ignored by conventional parties – not represented at all.
42
What are the differences between left populist and right populist parties?
- _Left populist parties_ – typically represent poor people and promote liberal ideas.
- _Right populist parties_ – anti-taxation, anti big business, anti big government.
43
What is the definition of an issue party?
- Represent a particular cause
- e.g. Green Parties
44
What are left wing policies?
- Policies that conform to socialist policies
- Redistribution of wealth from rich to poor through taxation & welfare
- Public ownership & state control of key enterprises
- Elimination of privilege
Equal rights & opportunities
45
What are right wing policies?
- Policies that associate with conservatism
- Promotion of individualism
- State/gov does not interfere with economic & social issues
- Low personal taxation, strict position on law & order
- Stress on patriotism & nationalism
46
What are the definitions of consensus and adversary politics?
Consensus= general agreement
Adversary= period of conflict
47
What is consensus politics?
- No fundamental ideological differences between the parties.
- May disagree on details of a policy but an overall agreement.
- This can lead to there being more differences in political beliefs WITHIN political parties as there are BETWEEN political parties.
- In the UK today there is a general consensus on the importance of the NHS and the welfare state.
48
Where has consensus Politics been seen in political history?
- Post War Consensus (1945-1970)
- Post Thatcher Consensus (1997-2015)
Core values of Tony Blair so popular – Conservatives & Lib Dems had to accept them.
- In the UK today there is a general consensus on the importance of the NHS and the welfare state.
49
What were examples of issues which caused tension during the adversary 1979-90 era?
- Privatising publicly owned industries.
- Legal restrictions on trade unions
- Council houses sold
- Higher level income tax reduced
