Politics: Parties- 2.4 In context

Question 1

What is Conservatism?

Answer 1

A loose ideology favouring a pragmatic approach to dealing with problems, while seeking to preserve the status quo.

Question 2

What is Monetarism?

Answer 2

An economic theory which advocates controlling the money supply as a means of keeping inflation in check.

Question 3

What is Neo-liberalism?

Answer 3

A political ideology closely related to classical liberalism, stressing the importance of the free market, individual rights, and limited government.

Question 4

What is Paternalist conservatism?

Answer 4

Where power and authority are held centrally but the state acts benevolently and cares for the neediest.

Question 5

What significant change occurred in UK political parties after the Great Reform Act of 1832?

Answer 5

UK political parties began to emerge as mass membership organisations with formal structures outside of parliament.

Question 6

When did the Conservative Party emerge and under who?

Answer 6

The Conservative Party emerged from the Tory Party in the 1830s, with its birth often dated to Robert Peel’s Tamworth Manifesto in 1834.

Question 7

What were the two extended periods in office for the Conservative Party in the twentieth century?

Answer 7

1951–64 (13years) under Winston Churchill, Anthony Eden, Harold Macmillan, and Alec Douglas-Home; 1979–97 (18 years) under Margaret Thatcher and John Major.

Question 8

What characterizes one-nation conservatism?

Answer 8

It is rooted in pragmatism and gradual improvements, favouring pluralism and social inclusion.

Question 9

What are key commitments of one-nation Tories?

Answer 9

Slow, gradual change; a Keynesian mixed economy; support for a universal welfare state; internationalism.

Question 10

What is Thatcherism?

Answer 10

An ideological approach combining a free-market, montarism, deregulation, neo-liberal economic policy with more orthodox conservative social policy.

Question 11

What is adversarial politics?

Answer 11

The instinctive antagonism between the two main Westminster parties.

Question 12

What was the postwar consensus?

Answer 12

The broad agreement between the Labour and Conservative Parties over domestic and foreign policy after the Second World War.

Question 13

What are some key features of Thatcherism?

Answer 13

Deregulation, privatisation, statutory limits on trade unions, a smaller state, and limited state welfare provision.

Question 14

What are the main factions within the Conservative Party as of 2016?

Answer 14

Pre-Thatcherite, Thatcherite, and Post-Thatcherite factions.

Question 15

What distinguishes one-nation conservatism from Thatcherism?

Answer 15

One-nation conservatism is pragmatic and paternalistic, while Thatcherism is dogmatic and individualistic.

Question 16

What was David Cameron’s aim as party leader?

Answer 16

To detoxify the Conservative brand and lead the party towards areas of policy where it could gain electoral advantage.

Question 17

What was a significant challenge for Cameron’s government?

Answer 17

Reconciling traditionally liberal positions with a Thatcherite agenda while managing coalition dynamics.

Question 18

What was Theresa May’s focus as Prime Minister?

Answer 18

Preparing for Brexit negotiations while attempting to set out a different policy path.

Question 19

What is Social democracy?

Answer 19

A political ideology that accepts capitalism while advocating for a more equitable distribution of wealth.

Question 20

What is Socialism?

Answer 20

A political ideology advocating greater equality and the redistribution of wealth, often suspicious of capitalism.

Question 21

What was the Labour Party’s origin?

Answer 21

Formed at the start of the twentieth century to represent the working classes, heavily influenced by the Trades Union Congress.

Question 22

What significant constitutional change occurred in 1918 for the Labour Party?

Answer 22

The extension of the franchise to all adult men coincided with the adoption of a new Labour Party constitution.

Question 23

What is revisionist socialism?

Answer 23

Revisionist socialism, or reformist socialism, looks to improve capitalism, exemplified by social democracy.

Question 24

What is revolutionary socialism?

Answer 24

Revolutionary socialism, or fundamentalist socialism, aims to abolish capitalism and bring all property into common ownership, as seen in Marxist communism.

Question 25

What significant change occurred in the Labour Party in 1918?

Answer 25

The extension of the franchise to all adult men coincided with the adoption of the new Labour Party constitution, which included Clause IV committing to public ownership of key industries and wealth redistribution.

Question 26

What ideological factions existed within the Labour Party by the 1970s?

Answer 26

-James Callaghan on the right resisting public sector pay demands -left-wing figures like Michael Foot and Tony Benn favored greater wealth redistribution.

Question 27

What was the outcome of Labour's defeat in the 1979 general election (following the winter of discontent)?

Answer 27

Labour's defeat in 1979 led to the left gaining control under Michael Foot, who led the party into the 1983 general election with a very left-wing manifesto ( longest sucide note in history )

Question 28

What characterized the New Labour movement?

Answer 28

New Labour, emerging to fight the 1997 general election, was marked by party modernization under Tony Blair, focusing on appealing to middle-class voters and reducing the trade unions' influence.

Question 29

What is the Third Way in political ideology?

Answer 29

The Third Way is an ideological position between conventional socialism and mainstream capitalism, closely associated with Tony Blair and New Labour.

Question 30

What does triangulation refer to in the context of New Labour?

Answer 30

Triangulation refers to melding Labour Party principles with lessons learned from Thatcherism, a strategy closely associated with New Labour.

Question 31

What was the original text of Clause IV of the Labour Party constitution?

Answer 31

The original 1918 text of Clause IV aimed to secure for workers the **full fruits of their industry** and equitable distribution based on **common ownership**.

Question 32

How was Clause IV reworded in 1995?

Answer 32

The 1995 reworded Clause IV emphasized a **dynamic economy** serving the public interest, combining **market forces** with partnership and cooperation.

Question 33

What was the goal of social justice as defined by the Labour Party?

Answer 33

The goal of greater equality of outcome, as opposed to equality of opportunity alone. It is achieved through progressive taxation and other forms of wealth redistribution. The idea is closely associated with the Labour Party and with other parties of the left and centreleft, such as the Green

Question 34

What challenges did Gordon Brown face as Labour leader?

Answer 34

Gordon Brown's leadership faced challenges such as nationalizing banks and failing to meet expectations for constitutional reform, leading to a loss of New Labour's reputation for economic competence.

Question 35

What was Ed Miliband's approach to Labour after the 2010 election?

Answer 35

Ed Miliband sought to distance the party from New Labour and struggled to establish a coalition of voters, leading to a significant defeat in the 2015 general election.

Question 36

What ideological position did Jeremy Corbyn represent as Labour leader?

Answer 36

Jeremy Corbyn represented a committed socialist position, aiming to return the party to pre-New Labour policies focused on public ownership and wealth redistribution.

Question 37

What factions emerged within the Labour Party under Jeremy Corbyn?

Answer 37

Factions within the Labour Party included Momentum, Saving Labour, Labour for the Common Good, and others, reflecting deep divisions in the party.

Question 38

What was the significance of the 'Gang of Four'?

Answer 38

The 'Gang of Four' refers to four former Labour ministers who left the party in 1981 to form the Social Democratic Party, believing Labour was controlled by a left-wing clique.

Question 39

What led to the formation of the Liberal Democrats?

Answer 39

The Liberal Democrats were formed in 1988 from the merger of the Liberal Party and the Social Democratic Party, following a period of electoral alliance.

Question 40

What are the two main strands of liberalism?

Answer 40

The two main strands of liberalism are classical liberalism, favoring minimal state intervention, and progressive liberalism, advocating for some market regulation and welfare.

Question 41

What was Nick Clegg's role in the Liberal Democrats?

Answer 41

Nick Clegg, leader from 2007 to 2015, developed a government program that included traditional Liberal Democrat policies and significant tax cuts, marking a shift towards classical liberalism.

Question 42

What significant change did the Liberal Democrats make regarding tax?

Answer 42

They offered the prospect of significant tax cuts if elected, marking a shift towards the 'Orange Book' liberals over social liberals.

Question 43

Who are the key individuals associated with the Orange Book liberals?

Answer 43

Nick Clegg, Ed Davey, and David Laws.

Question 44

What do social liberals draw on?

Answer 44

They draw on the 'new' or progressive liberalism of Keynes and Beveridge.

Question 45

What was the prevailing economic climate for the 2015 general election?

Answer 45

All three main UK political parties accepted the need for further spending cuts and tax rises.

Question 46

What was the significant cleavage between the parties after the 2015 general election?

Answer 46

The timing and magnitude of the cuts.

Question 47

What areas showed significant agreement between the parties?

Answer 47

Lowering the voting age to 16 and integrating health and social care.

Question 48

What did Daniel Bell argue in his book 'The End of Ideology'?

Answer 48

He argued that traditional ideological movements had lost their power by the 1950s and that political parties would offer incremental changes.

Question 49

What does the phrase 'end of ideology' refer to in British party politics?

Answer 49

It refers to the moderation of traditional ideological positions by British political parties since the 1990s.

Question 50

How are modern British political parties often perceived?

Answer 50

They are increasingly regarded as election-winning machines rather than ideologically driven entities.

Question 51

Give some examples of One Nation Conservatives?

Answer 51

Thersa May Rory Stewart

Question 52

What is Thatcherism also called?

Answer 52

'The New right"

Question 53

The advent of Thatcherism marked the ______ of the _______ ________ and the rise of a more _________ _________.

Answer 53

The advent of Thatcherism marked the **death** of the **postwar consensus** and the rise of a more **adversarial politics**

Question 55

Thatcher referred to those who were not prepared to sign up to this agenda, in many cases the old ________ Tories, as _____.

Answer 55

Thatcher referred to those who were not prepared to sign up to this agenda, in many cases the old **one-nation** Tories, as **‘wets’**

Question 56

Committed Thatcherites were referred to as ______ with Thatcher’s most loyal acolytes dubbed ___ ____ .

Answer 56

Committed Thatcherites were referred to as **‘dries’,** with Thatcher’s most loyal acolytes dubbed **‘ultra dry’**.

Question 57

Prime Minister’s Question Time, which takes place each _______ in the House of Commons, is often seen as an example of the kind of adversarial, __ ___, politics where politicians constantly deride their opponents and dismiss everything suggested by them.

Answer 57

Prime Minister’s Question Time, which takes place each ** Wednesday** in the House of Commons, is often seen as an example of the kind of adversarial, **‘yah-boo’**, politics where politicians constantly deride their opponents and dismiss everything suggested by them.

Question 58

Whta is Yah-boo politics

Answer 58

Politics where politicians constantly deride their opponents and dismiss everything suggested by them.

Question 60

List some key charteristic of One-nation conservatism

Answer 60

- It takes a pragmatic approach. -It advocates incremental change. - It is paternalistic. - It favours a mixed economy.

Question 61

List some key charteristic of Thatcherism conservatism

Answer 61

-It is dogmatic. -It advocates radical change. - It is individualistic. - It favours a free-market economy.

Question 62

Give some key charteristic of Old Labour.

Answer 62

-It is dogmatic. -It is predominantly the party of the working class. -It is interventionist. -It favours public sector provision. -It advocates social justice. -It supports universal welfare.

Question 63

Give some key charteristics on New Labour

Answer 63

-It takes a pragmatic approach. -It markets itself as a catch-all party, not limited to the working class. -It favours a market economy. -It favours public–private partnerships. -It advocates social inclusion. -It supports targeted welfare.

Question 64

Why did Ed Miliband struggle to get a coalition in 2015

Answer 64

Dubbed ‘Red Ed’ by the media, due in large part to the fact that his narrow victory over his brother in the election to become Labour leader had relied so heavily on the backing of the trade unions, Ed Miliband struggled to establish a coalition

Question 65

When did Gorden Brown become leader?

Answer 65

2007

Question 66

Why did Corbyn struggle to command the support of the back benches?

Answer 66

Corbyn’s ideological positioning and track record as a rebellious backbencher made it difficult for him