The Labour Party Flashcards
Who represented the working people up until 1900?
Trade Unions
They weren’t a political party as they did not seek power
When was the main LP created?
1900 as an offshoot of the trade union movement
What was the Independent Labour Party? (ILP)
Founded in 1893 and was a socialist party committed to overthrow capitalism with a workers state.
In 1906 what did the ILP and LP agree?
Not to put up parliamentary candidates against each other in the same constituencies.
What is socialism?
A political ideology advocating greater equality and the redistribution of wealth. Socialists are critical of capitalism. They favour greater government intervention, in both economic and social policy.
What is Revisionist (or reformist) socialism?
looks to improve capitalism e.g. social democracy
What is Revolutionary (or fundamentalist) socialism?
Aims to abolish capitalism and bring all property into common ownership e.g. Marxist communism
What is social democracy?
A political ideology that accepts the basic premise of capitalism while advocating a more equitable distribution of wealth along the lines favoured by all socialists
What was the LP largely responsible for?
Post-war consensus
What happened in 1945?
LP had a landslide victory under the leadership of Clement Attlee
What did the LP achieve between 1945 and 1951?
Created the Welfare State, NHS, nationalised strategic industries.
What did LP suffer from in 1980?
2 huge defeats at the hands of MTs CP.
What did their defeat bring?
Split in the party
Some eft to form the SDP, some wished to return to ‘Old Labour’.
What is New Labour?
Centrist political movement led by Tony Blair that aimed to modernise the party’s image and policies to appeal to a broader electorate while maintaining Labour values
Why did the LP have to change?
LP in political wilderness, aware of changes in class structure, WC jobs no longer existed so WC population shrunk and MC grew, core support of LP was getting smaller.
They knew they needed to broaden their appeal by being pragmatic
Which principles was Tony Blair influenced by?
The third way
What is the 3rd way?
somewhere between left socialism and rightist neo-liberalism
What sort of society was TB aiming for?
Inclusive not equal
What was a key moment in the development of NL?
1995 Clause IV of the LP Constitution was modified to abandon its commitment to nationalisation and accepted the economic benefits of a free-market economy
Supported the private sector
What are key old Labour values?
- Equality-social justice/equal opportunities
2.Trade Unionism
3.Collectivism-welfare state, cooperative movement
4.public ownership
5.statism
6.welfarism
What are key OL policies and actions?
1.Discrimination against women and ethnic minorities was outlawed in 1960s
2.Comprehensive education 1960s
3.Nationalised coal, steel, shipbuilding, rail
4. Welfare state
What are key New Labour values?
- reject class conflict
2.capitalism best way of creating wealth - enabling state
4.individualism
5.communitarianism
6.political and constitutional reform
What are key NL policies and actions?
1.Reductions in corporate taxation
2.Reduce poverty-minimum wage
3.NHS funding
4.Tuition fees
5.Constitutional reform-independent Supreme Court, Hereditary peers removed
Sum up OL
.dogmatic
.WC
.interventionist
.public sector provision
.social justice
.universal welfare
Sum up NL
.pragmatic
.not tied to WC
.favours market economy
.social inclusion
.supports targeted welfare
What was LP like under Gordon Brown?
He favoured deregulation (NL) but in response to the economic crisis he had to nationalise several high-street banks which is OL.
What was LP like under Ed Miliband?
His message wasn’t clear and nobody knew what his aims were
sweeping defeat for the party led to a period of introspection where the party had to reflect and find future plans
What was LP like under JC?
His left wing ideologies conflicted with NL
His vision appeared to look back to pre-NL
Momentum was formed to support Corbyn’s leadership
“For the Many, Not the Few”
What did JC campaign for?
- distribution of wealth through tax reforms
- renationalisation of essential services
- state regulation of finance industry
4.end 0-hour contracts and increase minimum wage
5.abolish tuition fees
6.abandoment of UK’s independent nuclear deterrent
Which years manifesto was the most socialist since 1983?
2017
What suggested support for left-wing socialism among the electorate?
There was a 9.6% swing to LP with 2017 manifesto
In 2018, how many members did Momentum have?
40,000
Following EU referendum what happened to JC?
172 L MPs supported a no confidence motion against him and only 40 supported him
In 2017 what happened to LP votes?
Vote share increased from 30.4% IN 2015 to 40% which provided him with a powerful mandate to continue left-wing transformation of the party.
When were divisions in the party apparent?
2019 8 L MPs left and established their own independent grouping
What led to JC resignation?
2019 CP won 43.6% of the popular vote-highest % since 1979
What % of votes did KS win for Labour leader?
56%
What did KS promise former leaders?
Wouldn’t steer too far away from his predecessor’s radical policy programme of nationalisation and fighting austerity
What did Starmer lack?
Corbyn’s ideological clarity
What policies did KS win the 2024 election with?
economic stability
cut NHS waiting times
New Border Security Command
set up Great British Energy
crack down on antisocial behaviour
recruit 6500 new teachers
Arguments for LP remaining true to its traditional principles:
support welfare state-KS wants NHS ‘fit for the future’
JC revived typical OL policies
KS agrees with JC on nationalising railways
JC-nationalisation, abolish tuition fees, benefits
KS free Bfast clubs
Arguments against LP remaining true to its traditional principles:
TB pragmatic moved party centre-left
KS unclear on policies
KS not support workers strikes
KS wants constitutional reform
TB devolution
Recognise benefits of capitalism and the free market
