The Labour Party

Question 1

Where did Marxism originate?

Answer 1

Developed in the 19th century by Karl Marx.

Question 2

Give some Marxist beliefs.

Answer 2

• Absolute equality
• ‘Dictatorship of the proletariat’.
• Critiques capitalism.
• Socialism cannot be brought about peacefully.

Question 3

Give some Democratic Socialism beliefs.

Answer 3

• Modify capitalism to near abolition.
• State ownership.
• State planning (controlling market competition).
• Redistribution of wealth.

Question 4

Give some Social Democracy beliefs.

Answer 4

• ‘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.

Question 5

What position is Democratic socialism?

Answer 5

Centre left.

Question 6

What position is Social democracy?

Answer 6

Right left.

Question 7

What position is Marxism?

Answer 7

Far left.

Question 8

Give a social policy of Clement Atlee that was Old Labour.

Answer 8

• Creation of the NHS/ Welfare state.

- 1 million council houses.

Question 9

Give an economic policy that reflects Atlee’s Old Labour roots.

Answer 9

Nationalisation of; rail, coal, gas, electricity and steel.

Question 10

What was the militant tendency group?

Answer 10

A Trotskyist entryist group of Labour MPs formed in 1964.

Question 11

Define Trotskyist entryism.

Answer 11

A tranche of Marxism but sceptical of Stalinism.

Question 12

In what ways was the militant tendency group old labour?

Answer 12

• Pledged to nationalist top 250 industries.

- ‘Better to break the law than to break the poor’.

Question 13

Which regional council did the militant tendency group take over? In what decade.

Answer 13

Liverpool Council in the 1980s.

Question 14

Give some of Michael Foot’s policies that were undoubtedly old labour.

Answer 14

• 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.

Question 15

Give some Michael Foot policies that reflected new labour thinking.

Answer 15

• National investment bank.
• Ban fox hunting - later done by Blair’s gov.
• A minimum wage.

Question 16

Give some Old Labour policies imposed by Blair.

Answer 16

• 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.

Question 17

Give some New Labour policies of Blair.

Answer 17

• 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.

Question 18

Give an old Labour policy of Gordon Brown’s.

Answer 18

• Nationalised a number of high street banks - Against his will.
• ‘Tax and spend’ approach.

Question 19

Give some new labour policies of Gordon Brown’s.

Answer 19

• Limited constitutional reform e.g. Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 - lay treaties down before parliament before signing.
• ‘Light touch’ to economic management.

Question 20

What section of the Labour party did Ed Miliband endorse that made him slightly new Labour?

Answer 20

‘Blue Labour’ - supporting Conservative social and international issues whilst a socialist view towards economic policy.

Question 21

Give a policy of Ed Miliband’s that resembles Old Labour.

Answer 21

• ‘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.

Question 22

Give a policy of Jeremy Corbyn’s that makes him Old Labour.

Answer 22

• £10 minimum wage.
• Renationalise railways.
• £500 billion extra public funding!
• Scrap all tuition fees.
• Remain in the EU.

Question 23

Give a new labour policy of Corbyn’s.

Answer 23

• Against Scottish independence.