The Labour Party Flashcards
Where did Marxism originate?
Developed in the 19th century by Karl Marx.
Give some Marxist beliefs.
- Absolute equality
- ‘Dictatorship of the proletariat’.
- Critiques capitalism.
- Socialism cannot be brought about peacefully.
Give some Democratic Socialism beliefs.
- Modify capitalism to near abolition.
- State ownership.
- State planning (controlling market competition).
- Redistribution of wealth.
Give some Social Democracy beliefs.
- ‘Capitalism with a face’
- Mixed economy
- Some state intervention
- Competition in the marketplace - benefits the consumer.
- Downplay the importance of wealth/social class.
- Minor distribution of wealth.
What position is Democratic socialism?
Centre left.
What position is Social democracy?
Right left.
What position is Marxism?
Far left.
Give a social policy of Clement Atlee that was Old Labour.
- Creation of the NHS/ Welfare state.
- 1 million council houses.
Give an economic policy that reflects Atlee’s Old Labour roots.
Nationalisation of; rail, coal, gas, electricity and steel.
What was the militant tendency group?
A Trotskyist entryist group of Labour MPs formed in 1964.
Define Trotskyist entryism.
A tranche of Marxism but sceptical of Stalinism.
In what ways was the militant tendency group old labour?
- Pledged to nationalist top 250 industries.
- ‘Better to break the law than to break the poor’.
Which regional council did the militant tendency group take over? In what decade.
Liverpool Council in the 1980s.
Give some of Michael Foot’s policies that were undoubtedly old labour.
- 1983 manifesto - ‘longest suicide not in history’.
- Nationalise British Aerospace and BT.
- Abolish HoL
- Unilateral nuclear disarmament.
- End sale of council houses.
- Withdrawal from the EEC.
Give some Michael Foot policies that reflected new labour thinking.
- National investment bank.
- Ban fox hunting - later done by Blair’s gov.
- A minimum wage.
Give some Old Labour policies imposed by Blair.
- European Social Charter (later ECHR)
- FOI Act 2000
- Record NHS spending (x3) and education (x2).
- 600,000 out of poverty.
- Child tax & working tax credits.
Give some New Labour policies of Blair.
- Abandoned old Clause IV - ‘a thriving private sector’.
- Private Finance Initiative in schools and hospitals.
- Authoritarian law and order (ID cards, 90 terrorist suspension, DNA)
- Meritocracy rather then egality.
- Reduce reliance upon the state.
Give an old Labour policy of Gordon Brown’s.
- Nationalised a number of high street banks - Against his will.
- ‘Tax and spend’ approach.
Give some new labour policies of Gordon Brown’s.
- Limited constitutional reform e.g. Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 - lay treaties down before parliament before signing.
- ‘Light touch’ to economic management.
What section of the Labour party did Ed Miliband endorse that made him slightly new Labour?
‘Blue Labour’ - supporting Conservative social and international issues whilst a socialist view towards economic policy.
Give a policy of Ed Miliband’s that resembles Old Labour.
- ‘Red Ed’ - relied on the backing of trade unions.
- He claimed that New Labour was ‘dead’/
- Supported the 50% upper tax band.
- Supported the change to AV - radical constitutional reform.
- Didn’t support air strikes in Syria.
Give a policy of Jeremy Corbyn’s that makes him Old Labour.
- £10 minimum wage.
- Renationalise railways.
- £500 billion extra public funding!
- Scrap all tuition fees.
- Remain in the EU.
Give a new labour policy of Corbyn’s.
- Against Scottish independence.
