Political Parties - The Labour Party

Question 1

Old labour (social democracy) (1945-94) - ideas and principles

Answer 1

• equality (tax and welfare should be used to reduce differences in income)
• collectivism (welfare states should be funded by taxes & all should be equally entitled)
• capitalism (key industries should be nationalised)
• social justice (strong laws to outlaw discrimination)
• class & society (film economic management to control unemployment)

Question 2

New labour (Third way) (1994-2010) - ideas and priciples

Answer 2

• individualism (low income tax to encourage work)
• free market (no more nationalisation and further privatisation)
• welfare states (increased spending on health and education)
• social justice (welfare state to guarantee living standards)
• communitarianism (emphasis on schools and strong social services)

Question 3

Old labour policy platform:

Answer 3

• good a berating wealth, bad at distributing
• mixed economy (commanding heights of the colony would be nationalised and the rest would be privately owned)
• keysian economics - increased spending to generate growth ensuing full employment and continuous economic growth
• progressive taxation and redriutbtion of wealth
• universal welfare

Question 4

New Labour change;

Answer 4

• accepted that Keyesian ecomics was dead & the free market was the best way to liberate individuals and create wealth
• social justice was also redefined; social inclusion - everyone ha equal rights and equality of oppotunities rather than any form of social equality

Question 5

Labour post Blair;

Answer 5

• from 2015-19 labour moved make to left under Jeremy Corbin increasevote share in 2017, then a election loss in 2019
• committed to higher taxes on higher earnings, nationalising rail water, energy and Royal Mail, huge investment in the NHSm social education, tackling poverty and job insecurity

Question 6

Some 2024 policy pledges

Answer 6

• provide economic stability with clear rules on tax&spending, including no increases to existing income tax rates national insurance or VAT
• cut NHS waiting times with 40,000 more appointments a week but paying staff more to work weekends and evenings
• recruit 6.500 more teachers and introduce free breakfast clubs at every primary school on England
• set up great British energy to create jobs cut bills

Question 7

Some 2024 labour budgets

Answer 7

• spending on public services (22bn to NHS & 2.3bn for education)
• affordable homes budget running until 2026, boosted by 500m
• increases in national wage
• increasing benefits by 1.7%