The Labour Party

Question 1

origins of the Labour party

Answer 1

before the labour party, there was the Independent Labour Party, who were purely socialist and were committed to overthrow capitalism

the Labour party was then established in 1900, and were a moderate socialist party

however, by 1970, the ILP, they didn’t exist as a party and began to act as more of a faction within the labour party

Question 2

labour since the second world war (1945, 1980s and 1992)

Answer 2

1945 general election: labour achieved a majority in the Commons and began to compete with conservatives

1980s: they suffered from 2 huge defeats from Thatcher, where the party was split
* some left to form the social democratic party (SDP)
* others wished to return to old labour values to move more towards the left (led by Micheal Foot)
* others saw modern politics moving towards the centre, resulting in New Labour (third way), which was led by John Smith, but after his death, Tony Blair tok over and became the leader in 1992

Question 3

old labour values

Answer 3

• equality
• governments favour should be on the working class
• trade unionism to find a balance between workers and employers
• total equality isnt easy but everyone should have a chance at life no matter what
• welfarism

Question 4

old labour policies and actions

Answer 4

• introduced the welfare state and the NHS in the 1940s
• major industries like coal, rail and energy became publicised
• tax the rich to redistribute to the poor
• comprehensive education introduced in the 1960s
• equal pay for women introduced in the 1970s, discrimination against women and ethnic minorities was outlawed in 1960s

Question 5

new labour values

Answer 5

• rejected class conflict- all members have an equal right to assistance from the state
• capitalism is the best way of creating wealth (markets are free of state control)
• enabling state
• equality of opportunity, welfare and education, like old labour

Question 6

new labour policies and actions

Answer 6

• huge increase in expenditure on the NHS
• investment in education
• reduce corporate tax
• constitutional reform (human rights act, devolution and electoral reform)
• introduce ‘welfare to work’ system
• Minimum wage – aimed to make work pay higher than benefits

Question 7

current labour centre left policies today, on :
1. the economy
2. welfare
3. foreign policy

Answer 7

the economy: targets to reudce public sector debt
welfare: well funded education and health system, but there has to be caps to prevent abuse of the system
foreign policy: strong support for NATO and retention of a UK nuclear detterent

Question 8

current labour left policies today, on :
1. the economy
2. welfare
3. foreign policy

Answer 8

the economy: high expenditure to improve public services and create jobs
welfare: abolition of tuition fees, more generous welfare benefits, strong support for NHS and education
foreign policy: abolish independent nuclear deterrent, no intervention in world conflicts

Question 9

labour party factions

Answer 9

momentum: far left wing, seek wealth distribution through tax, abandonment of nuclear deterrent and public ownership of key industries

blairities:more centre left tendencies

blue labour: focus on working class issues and employment