Thatcher part 4: effect on politics and party development Flashcards
What did Thatcherism lead to?
Thatcherism led to a transformation of the Conservatives and even the Labour Party.
What did her ability to win 3 successive elections demonstrate?
Thatcher’s ability to win three successive general elections demonstrated that she was able to create a style and put forward ideas and policies that struck a chord with a lot of Britain.
What did the electoral successes force the labour party to do?
Electoral success in 1979, 1982 and 1987 forced the Labour Party to go through a series of ideological transformations, most significantly from 1994 onwards under the leadership of Tony Blair who rebranded the Party as “New Labour”.
What are the reasons that Thatcher did not change politics and party development?
The transition and shift in UK Politics was not purely down to Thatcher.
- A shift away from the left-wing politics and economics actually began during the 1970s.
- In terms of the Labour Party, the ideological shift in the Party actually began in 1956 with the publication of Anthony Crosland’s The Future of Socialism.
What were the Divisions between Right and left
-1945-1970
Post War Consensus - centre ground shifted left, socialist policies prevail
What were the Divisions between Right and left
-1970-1979
Centre ground still to the left, but failure of post-war consensus and rise of neoliberalism pushing things to the right, political titans Wilson and Health both centrist, pro-European
What were the Divisions between Right and left
-1979-1990
Centre ground shifts to the right under Thatcher, conservatives support her free market policies and reject the post-war consensus
What were the Divisions between Right and left
-1990-1997
Centre ground to the right, Labour adopt Thatcherite policies, particularly regarding the economy.
How did the type of MP change?
Number of politicians with a university degree rose from 40% in 1918 to 75% in 2010.
Fraction of Labour MPs from a manual worker background was 1/3 in 1945, but 1/10 in 2010.
Number of MP’s from legal background declined since 1979 from 70% in 1974 to 30% in 1997.
Number of MP’s who previously worked for political organisation increased from 3% in 1979 to 14% in 2010.
How did she get a united party?
Gained support from a divided conservative party.
What was she careful not to criticise and ignore?
Careful not to criticise Heath’s U-turn before 1974.
Was careful not to ignore the back-benchers.
Who did she enlist?
Enlisted a ‘wet’ (one-nation tory) Willie Whitelaw, to her side - ‘everyone needs a Willie
What did she rally the conservatives around?
Rallied the Conservatives around her free-marked, patriotic views before the 1979 election.
What did Thatcher end?
- ENDED CONSENSUS POLITICS: introduced new political ideas of individualism, low taxation choice and free market liberalism.
- conservative support for full employment and nationalised industries.
What ideas continued after thatcher?
E.g. privatisation of British Rail 1994-1997.
Extension of trade union legislation – trade union and labour relations consolidation act of 1992.
Commitment to lower direct taxation – basic income tax reduced from 25%to 23% in 1997.
