The Laboour Government Flashcards
How could Blair be described as labour leader
Not become a labour member till after her graduated oxford making it easier for him to move away from traditional policies and belief, which was necessary for labour to remain in the modern world, the change in British society meant they could no longer rely on middle class.
Charismatic leader who was comfortable with the media.
Ordinary person - causal clothes, been in a rock band at uni, watched football and supported Newcastle United. In touch with the electorate.
His tribute to princess Diana referring to her as the people’s princess contrasted starkly with the royal family who faced unprecedented criticism for there lack of empathy.
Internal Labour Party poll Blair soared ninety three percent.
What was the third way
Blair said it didn’t matter if devices were state owned, private or charity’s as long as the service was good.
Describe the Blair brown relationship
Blair made Gordon brown his chancellor of the exchequer. Brown had control over the Economy. Brown was popular in the party so despite the tensions he couldn’t get rid of him.brown believed that Blaine had agreed to step down in the second term so in 2001 the rel deteriorated. Browns supporters increasingly put pressure on Blair to step down so he did in 2007.
How did new labour reshape the British constitution
Devolution
Because of Scotland’s strained relationship with the conservative due to them having no conservative MPs, labour had promised new referendums on devolution.
In nineteen ninety seven the Scottish voted in a favour of developing power to a Scottish parliament and also in this parliament having tax raising powers. This led to a new Scottish assembly based on a system of proportional representation. In Wales they agreed to set up a Welsh assemble. Government in Northern Ireland was also devolved after the good Friday agreement in nineteen ninety eight.
Referendum was he,d in the north east in two thousand and four it was overwhelming rejected plans to extend devolution halted to.
Why did the changed of devolution not have the hope the Labour Party wanted
In Scotland and Wales the Scottish nationalists SNP and the Plaid Cymru (PC) continued to gain support he belief that devolution would take away there momentum.
Why did Blair block livingstone from being the labour candidate of the GLC
To Blair, livingstone reflected everything that was wrong with the looney left, feared he would damage the harm of new labour. Livingstone then left the Labour Party and ran as an independent and won the election, with the original labour mp coming third behind the conservative candidate. Blair was forced to accept livingstone back to the party.
How did the labour government try to reform the House of Lords in 1999
Ended with a messy compromise - hereditary peers were not abolished but cut to 92. This was unsatisfactory
What was passed In 2000 and what did this give the people the right to do
Why was this a mistake
A freedom of information act
- people could request info fro, public bodies.
By 2006 over 100,000 requests were being made each year.
- tony Blair called himself a naive, foolish, irresponsible nincompoop for passing it as he realised that difficult decisions were prevented from being spoken about as politicians feared their actions would become public knowledge.
What was the European convention of human rights.
Was drafted by the European states including the U.K. After ww2 the attempt to prevent the abuse of human rights. It set up the European court of human rights which anyone could appeal to if there human rights were infringed. Incorporated in 1998.
How successful was the pledge card
How did they improve education
In 2001 all five pledges had been met.
- kept the league tables inspections introduced by major. Targets were extended and more specialists schools were encouraged.
What did labour promise in the 2001 election
More investment in health and education
- more doctors, teachers- improving exam results and shorter waiting times for operations.
What crisis had Blair government faced
Rising fuel prices led to a blockage in 2000 by farmers and lorry drivers.
Foot and mouth disease hit farmers of cattle and sheep leading to a cull of 10 million animals.
What was browns initial priority for the economy
To keep inflation low and to keep government spending under control and to prove to middle England that labour was pro business and could be trusted with running the economy. Allowing labour to escape from their previous image of the tax and spend party.
What did brown make independent
What did he also do
What did he believe his economic policy’s were
The Bank of England from the government. This means the government would set targets of inflation but it was set up through the Bank of England.
- set up the greater rules about how much could be borrowed by the government.
- prudence with a purpose. The purpose of a stable economy was to improve public services. For after 2001 there was an injection of money to public services. Pay rises for doctors and nurses and teachers. Exam results went up and waiting lists went down.
How did labour avoid raising taxes
Why was the funding of new projects criticised
Conservatives continued to use private sources of funding for improvements to public services.
- the buildings got completed quickly but debts stored up the future.
