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British History > The era of New Labour 1997-2007 > Flashcards

The era of New Labour 1997-2007 Flashcards

1
Q

1997 Pledge Card:

A

Cut class sizes
Quicken justice system
Cut NHS waiting lists
Get youth off benefits
No rise in tax & low interest rates

all promises met by 2001

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2
Q

When was the age of consent equalised?

A

2000

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3
Q

Blair’s background

A

Young upper-middle class lawyer, privately educated

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4
Q

Who were the modernisers in the Labour Party?

A

Blair, Brown and Mandelson

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5
Q

How high did Blair poll after Diana’s death?

A

93% according to internal Labour polls

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6
Q

Third Way

A

Blair’s ideology:
Tried to create a ‘third way’ between Thatcherite capitalism and Old Labour socialism

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7
Q

Constitutional Changes Timeline

A

1998:
-Scotland Act
-Devolution for Wales
-Human Rights Act
-Good Friday Agreement

1999:
-92 hereditary peers

2000:
-Freedom of Information Act
-Mayor of London elected

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8
Q

Regional Devolution

A

1997 referenda in Scotland and Wales created new devolved parliaments (Holyrood and the Senedd), and gave them tax-raising powers

Good Friday Agreement also created a Northern Ireland Assembly

A referendum to devolve the North East of England was rejected

Led to the rise of the SNP and Plaid Cymru

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9
Q

London Devolution

A

London Assembly and position of Mayor of London created in 2000.
Hard-Left Ken Livingstone was elected Mayor of London after being kicked from the party. Blair reluctantly let him back in

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10
Q

House of Lords reform

A

Blair tried to abolish hereditary peers in the House of Lords, but had to compromise to lowering their numbers to 92

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11
Q

Voting Reform

A

Blair promised voting reform in 1997, and the Roy Jenkins Commission recommended replacing FPTP with PR

Despite this no changes were made

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12
Q

Freedom of Information Act

A

FOIA 2000 let citizens request information from public bodies

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13
Q

Human Rights Act

A

HRA 1998 enshrined rights from the European Convension on Human Rights (ECHR), and allowed citizens to take cases to court in protection of their human rights

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14
Q

Blair’s on law & order

A

“Tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime”
Extended prison sentences
Introduced ASBOs and emphasised community

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15
Q

Blair on education

A

Promised “education, education, education” and to cut class sizes to 30 in 1997
Tried to encourage higher education
Introduced tuition fees

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16
Q

Bank of England

A

Brown gave the BoE operational independence from the government, so interest rates would not longer be a political tool

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17
Q

Thatcherite influence on New Labour

A

NL accepted privatisation, low taxation and weak unions
Third Wayism tried to mix Thatcherism with socialism
NL rejected ‘tax and spend’ policies
Brown tried to limit government spending by capping borrowing (monetarism) 1997-2001

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18
Q

Basic Tax Rate cut

A

23% -> 20%

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19
Q

When did Labour ramp up spending?

A

After 2001 election

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20
Q

When did Blair bring in the minimum wage?

A

1999

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21
Q

10p tax

A

Lowest band of income tax (10%) brought in under Blair

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22
Q

What did economists Will Hutton warn about the consumer boom?

A

The consumer boom was based on rising house prices and on high levels credit & person debt, instead of better productivity

This could lead to an overvaluation of house prices and the possibility of a financial crash

(He was correct)

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23
Q

How many workers benefitted from the minimum wage?

A

1.5m

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24
Q

Average inflation level under Blair

A

1.5%

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25
Q

When did Blair lose his first vote?

A

2003

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26
Q

PFIs

A

Private Finance Initiatives
Paying private firms to build infrastructure. Difficult for government to determine quality or cost of project. Private companies couldn’t be held accountable. Debt paid off over 30 years. Saddled UK with large debt to fund public spending without going over borrowing limits

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27
Q

Two factions in the Tory party

A

Mods:
Socially liberal reformers

Rockers:
Traditionalist Thatcherites

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28
Q
A

John Major (97)
William Hague (97-01)
Iain Duncan-Smith (01-03)
Michael Howard (03-05)
David Cameron (05-17)

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29
Q

William Hague

A

Tory Leader 1997-2001
Eurosceptic Rocker on the right of the party
Young (mirror Blair)
Thatcher said “Vote for William Hague if you want the same type of government that I did”
Hard to be taken seriously
Claimed to have drunken 14 beers a day
Failed to unite the party
Lost 2001 election

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30
Q

Jobseekers Allowance

A

Benefit for unemployed people searching for jobs

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31
Q

Blair’s mindset towards benefits

A

“Hand-up not hand-out”
(meant to incentivise getting jobs)

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32
Q

Which elections did Blair win?

A

1997, 2001 and 2005

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33
Q

Which international leaders shared Blair’s Third Wayism?

A

Clinton (USA) and Schroeder (Germany)

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34
Q

Blair and the press

A

Blair and Rupert Murdoch formed a close relationship, with the right-wing Murdoch switching support of his newspapers to support Blair

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35
Q

Tax credits

A

Working Tax Credits:
Benefit for those on low incomes

Child Tax Credits:
Benefit for poor families

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36
Q

PCSO

A

Police Community Support Officers
Police officers with a strong emphasis on community-building

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37
Q

LBGT reform

A

Section 28 repealed
Civil partnership legalised
Age of consent equalised
Those with gender dysphoria allowed to transition

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38
Q

Workers Rights

A

Employment Act enshrined / expanded several workers rights
(maternity & paternity leave, equal pay,

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39
Q

How much did Blair get from selling off mobile phone licenses?

A

£22.5bn

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40
Q

Iain Duncan-Smith

A

Tory Leader 2001-03
Eurosceptic Rocker from the right of the party
Keen on paternalistic social justice
Aggressive Eurosceptic, widened divisions
Backed Blair on Iraq so couldn’t criticise him
Won leadership election due to negative voting against Portillo and Clarke
Ousted by a vote of no confidence

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41
Q

Michael Howard

A

Tory Leader 2003-05
Experienced and able politician
Unifying leader between Mods and Rockers
Promoted mods in his cabinet
Highly unpopular from his stint as Home Sec in 90s
Called on Blair to resign over misleading Parliament over Iraq
Lost 2005 election

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42
Q

David Cameron

A

Tory Leader 2005-2016
Etonian moderniser and socially liberal
Essentially given leadership by Howard
Pro-gay marriage

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43
Q

What were Brown’s early objectives?

A

Keep inflation low
Keep spending under control
Prove to Middle England Labour could be trusted

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44
Q

Average growth under Blair

A

2%

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45
Q

Average unemployment under Blair and Major

A

6% - Blair
9% - Major

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46
Q

NI: NI when Blair came to power

A

Relations had warmed thanks to Major
Multi-party talks started in 1996
Gerry Adams and Martin McGuiness now believed that a settlement was available

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47
Q

NI: Who mediated GFA?

A

Senator George Mitchell

48
Q

NI: Blair’s relationship to the Taoiseach

A

Blair was friends with Bertie Ahern which helped him shore up support with nationalists

49
Q

NI: How did the government get militant unionists on side

A

Mo Mowlam (NI Sec) visited paramilitaries in Maze Prison

50
Q

NI: Who were the major politicians in NI during GFA?

A

David Trimble (UUP)
John Hume (SDLP)
Ian Paisley (DUP)
Gerry Adams (Sinn Fein)
Martin McGuinness (Sinn Fein)

51
Q

NI: Which party didn’t like GFA?

A

DUP

52
Q

NI: Key elements of GFA?

A

-UK and RoI give up claims on NI, it is the NI people that can decide
-Power sharing in devolved assembly
-Ango-Irish links strengthened
-Parties would push for decommissioning of arms
-Release of prisoners if paramilitaries agree on peace

53
Q

NI: How many in NI voted for GFA?

A

71%

54
Q

NI: Post GFA bombing

A

Omagh Bombing 1998

55
Q

NI: When was GFA?

A

1998

56
Q

NI: Fate of IRA

A

PIRA:
Ceasefire in 1998
Dissolved in 2005

Splinter groups would limp on in a diminished way (Omagh Bombing 1998)

57
Q

NI: Post-GFA unionists

A

Unionists became disillusioned with GFA, and DUP eventually overtook UUP

58
Q

Which divisions in Labour started to appear in early 2000s?

A

Blairites v Brownites
Brownites were slightly to the left

59
Q

2001 General Election

A

Blair v Hague

Tories gained a single seat
Tories divided
Blair proved economic ableness
Good Friday Agreement
Turnout down 12%

60
Q

2005 General Election

A

Blair v Howard

Tory manifesto was out of date
Tories gained 30 seats
Blair won despite Iraq

61
Q

2005 Tory Manifesto

A

Restricted immigration
Tax cuts
Stricter law & order

‘Victor Meldrew Manifesto’ - Portillo

62
Q

Workers under New Labour

A

Only 1/4 of workforce unionised by 2007
Anti-union legislation not repealed
Privatisation furthered
Labour disaffiliated with some unions
Opted into EU Social Charter
Mimimum Wage

63
Q

What did Blair privatise?

A

Air Traffic Control
Royal Mail (almost)
London Underground was made a PPP

64
Q

Which unions did Labour disaffiliate with?

A

RMT and Transport Workers Union for donating to socialist parties

65
Q

Female MPs 1997

A

Doubled, 5/6 of which were Labour.
Blair used all-women shortlists.
Nicknamed Blair’s Babes

66
Q

How did Blair promote women in his cabinet?

A

Margaret Beckett as Foreign Sec

67
Q

Pay gap in 2007

A

87p/£

68
Q

Childcare

A

By 2007, all 3 y/os and 4 y/os were entitled to 12.5h of free nursery education per week

69
Q

Percentage of FTSE100 firms with no women on board decrease

A

36% -> 24% under Blair

70
Q

How much housework did women do in 2007?

A

Three time more than men

71
Q

Youth under Blair
(New Deal for Young People)

A

Social Exclusion Units to end social exclusion
Sure Start Centres gave guidance to families
Connexions advised children about careers
ASBOs introduced

72
Q

How many people did New Labour want to go to university

A

50%

73
Q

NEETs by 2007

A

Risen to 20% for youth

74
Q

ASBOs

A

Anti Social Behaviour Orders
Put limits on where vagabonds could go, tried to limit anti-social crimes such as graffiti and valdalism

Half of ASBOs given to under 17y/os by 2005

75
Q

Which years did the EU expand?

A

2004 and 2007

76
Q

First black cabinet minister

A

Paul Boateng

77
Q

Met Police report

A

1998
McPherson Report said that there was a problem with institutional racism in the Met Police.
Drafted after Stephen Lawrence’s murder

78
Q

BBC and multiculturalism

A

BBC Chairman Greg Dyke said the BBC was ‘hideously white’ in 2001

79
Q

7/7

A

Islamist bombing on 7/7/2005
Highlighted tensions within multicultural Britain and raised questions of if immigrants were being assimilated well
Three of the perpetrators seemed to be assimilated and British-born

80
Q

Illiberal counter-terrorism legislation

A

2006 Terrorism Act
Introduction of ID cards

81
Q

How many days could you hold suspected terrorists for without trial?

A

28 days (Blair wanted 90)
2006 Terrorism Act

82
Q

Increase in number of people thinking immigration was an important issue

A

3% in 2001 -> 30% in 2007

83
Q

New Labour’s foreign policy ideology

A

Liberal Interventionism

84
Q

Treaty of Nice

A

EU treaty in 2001 to cope with Eastwards expansion
Blair took a leading role in drafting it

85
Q

How many countries joined the EU in 2004?

A

Ten

86
Q

The Euro debate

A

Blair was in favour of it, Brown was against it.
Blair caved to Brown (Granita)

87
Q

Which EU efforts did Blair spearhead

A

Climate change, aid to Africa, ‘making poverty history’, anti-terrorism

88
Q

What did Blair see Britain’s place in the world as being?

A

Major world player
Bridge between US and Europe

89
Q

New Europe

A

Formerly communist states now in EU

90
Q

Which European politicians did Blair have a good standing with?

A

Sarkozy (France)
Merkel (Germany)
Ahern (Ireland)

91
Q

Why did Blair care so much about the Special Relationship?

A

After he saw how ineffective UN and EU were in Bosnia, he turned to the US and NATO as his weapon

92
Q

Blair’s military interventions

A

Bombing of Yugo (1999)
Sierra Leone (2000)
Afghanistan (2001)
Iraq (2003)

93
Q

Blair and Milosevic

A

Blair convinced Clinton to go after Milosevic
NATO started bombing Yugoslavia in 1999 to stop him going into Kosovo

Success - Shaped Blair’s thinking

94
Q

Sierra Leone

A

When rebel forces threatened to take the capital, Britain intervened to end the war

95
Q

Afghanistan

A

In October 2001, NATO invaded Taliban Afghanistan with UN support in the hope that Afghanistan could develop into a liberal democracy
After 2003, resources were moved to Iraq, allowing the Taliban to regroup

96
Q

Iraq: Two fears of Iraq

A

1) Iraq would ally with Al-Qaeda
2) WMDs

97
Q

Iraq: How had Saddam been contained after the Gulf War?

A

No fly zones and economic sanctions

98
Q

Iraq: UN resolution

A

UNSC 1441 - Nov 2002
Saddam must allow weapons inspectors into Iraq
By 2003 the US didn’t think Saddam was complying with it
US clashed with UN over if this was a valid justification for war

Blair pushed for a second resolution to tide over Europeans, but this never happened

99
Q

Iraq: When did the invasion begin?

A

March 2003

100
Q

Iraq: How long did the invasion take?

A

45 days

101
Q

Iraq: Who resigned over Iraq?

A

4 ministers (inc Foreign Sec Robin Cook)

102
Q

Iraq: Stop the War March

A

1.5m marched in London

103
Q

New Labour’s foreign policy aims

A

-Make UK a leading player in Europe
-Ethical foreign policy
-Liberal interventionism

104
Q

Iraq: Difference between military and humanitarian budget going into war

A

3bn vs 250m

105
Q

Iraq: Saddam Hussein

A

Ba’athist genocidal dictator of Iraq
Went to war with Iran and Kuwait
Massacred Kurds and Shiites

106
Q

Iraq: Saddam’s son-in-law

A

Defected to Jordan in 90s and claimed that Iraq was developing WMDs. Executed on return to Iraq

107
Q

Iraq: Iraq Liberation Act

A

1998 law saying US could invade Iraq for purposes of regime change

108
Q

Iraq: Which report went into the Iraq Dossier

A

2002Butler Report saying that Iraq was probably developing WMDs, but intelligence was iffy.

Britain was criticised for this, but other countries like Russia and Germany found the same thing

109
Q

Iraq: Times Poll

A

67% of Brits against the war

110
Q

Iraq: How many Labour MPs voted against the war?

A

84

111
Q

Iraq: Campbell

A

Alistair Campbell allegedly ‘sexed up’ the Iraq Dossier to fit with the false American claims

112
Q

Iraq: Chilcott

A

Chilcott Inquiry would later find that the decision to go to war was based on faulty evidence

113
Q

Which Tory MP crossed the aisle due to New Labour’s centrism?

A

Peter Temple-Morris

114
Q

Which benefit was introduced to deal with fuel poverty amongst pensioners?

A

Winter Fuel Allowance

115
Q

What was the minimum wage introduced at?

A

£4.85

116
Q

Cash for Honours

A

In 2006, party donors would often receive life peerages. Blair was questioned by the police becoming the first PM to ever have this happen to him. Hurt his popularity.

117
Q
A

British History (6 decks)

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