The Labour Party -(2.2) established political parties - Political parties - UK Politics

Question 1

When and by who was Labour Party founded

Answer 1

1900 by a group of socialist societies & trade unions

Question 2

Original purpose of Labour party

Answer 2

Get more working class MPs into Parliament to push for improved working and living conditions

Question 3

Clause 4 (outlined in party’s 1918 constitution)

Answer 3

Committed to campaign for the ‘common ownership of the means of production, distribution and exchange. i.e. nationalise key industries and services to run them in the interests of the community rather than for profits

Question 4

First labour government

Answer 4

1924 under Ramsay MacDonald

Question 5

First labour government with a majority

Answer 5

Clement Attlee 1945

Question 6

Clement Attlee changes

Answer 6

Nationalisation of coal, railways, power, steel and civil aviation. NHS, comprehensive system of social security inspired by Beveridge Report

Question 7

1945-1979 attitudes to capitalism

Answer 7

Claimed to be socialist but were in fact social democratic. Did not try to abolish capitalism but aimed to manage it so it didn’t exploit the workforce

Question 8

Example of social democratic approach

Answer 8

Creation of comprehensive schools, intended to promote greater equality of opportunity

Question 9

Old Labour (social democracy)

Answer 9

Key Labour principles embodying nationalisation, redistribution of wealth from rich to poor and the provision of continually improving welfare and state services, which largely rejected Thatcherite/ free-market reforms or a Blairite approach.

Question 10

Last ‘old labour’ PM

Answer 10

James Callaghan PM 1976-1979

Question 11

Division of party under Michael Foot

Answer 11

Between moderate social democrats and more left-wing elements

Question 12

Labour’s manifesto policies in 1983 (they lost)

Answer 12

Hardline socialist programme
Increased nationalisation, increased taxation & spending, abolition of Britain’s nuclear defences, withdrawal from the EEC (viewed as capitalist)

Question 13

Who became new leader 1983 & what did he start to do

Answer 13

Neil Kinnock. rebuild the party

Question 14

What did the Labour party realise they had to do post 1983 to get support

Answer 14

broaden their support. Introduce policies that didn’t just appeal to traditionally working class people

Question 15

1995 clause 4

Answer 15

Revised - labour party no longer committed to nationalism

Question 16

What happened to the role of the trade unions post 1994

Answer 16

downgraded (in the party)

Question 17

Who became leader of labour party 1994

Answer 17

Tony Blair

Question 18

New Labour / Third way

Answer 18

A revision of the traditional Labour values and ideals represented by Old Labour. The ‘Third Way’ saw Labour shift in emphasis from a heavy focus on the working class to a wider class base, and a less robust alliance with the trade unions.

Question 19

Labour’s attitude to Europe post 1994

Answer 19

Became more pro-European as EU adopted policies that protected workers’ rights such as the social chapter

Question 20

Social Chapter

Answer 20

Part of the Maastricht Treaty which aimed to regulate working conditions such as maximum hours for the working week and employment rights for part-time workers; the Conservatives opposed it because they favoured deregulation

Question 21

Influence of Anthony Giddens

Answer 21

Aimed to find a ‘third way’ between old-style socialism and free-market capitalism

Question 22

Why was a strong influence placed on managing the media (New labour)

Answer 22

to project a modern image

Question 23

Great efforts were made to ensure labour demonstrated (New labour)

Answer 23

unity & discipline

Question 24

When did Blair win a landslide majority

Answer 24

1997

Question 25

Key features of New Labour (x5)

Answer 25

Emphasis on wealth creation rather than distribution

People need to be aware of their responsibilities to the community as well as their rights

Responsibility in handling the national finances

Enlisting the public sector to deliver public services

Influence of liberal ideology on Labour thinking

Question 26

Emphasis on wealth creation rather than distribution (key feature of New Labour)

Answer 26

Wanted to reduce poverty

Introduced minimum wage but at less than what trade unions wanted

Question 27

What did Blair regard as entirely natural

Answer 27

individual aspiration to a better standard of life (i.e. people should want a better life and work for it)

Question 28

People need to be aware of their responsibilities to the community as well as their rights (key feature of New Labour government)

Answer 28

Blair brought in legal measures to deal with anti-social behaviours (ASBOs - Anti-Social Behaviour Orders)
Government must be ‘tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime.’

Question 29

Responsibility in handling the national finances (key feature of New Labour government)

Answer 29

N-L aimed to differentiate themselves from earlier social democratic parties by conserving resources before investing more in key public services
Increase in National Insurance contributions in 2002 - led to largest ever spending on the NHS

Question 30

Enlisting the public sector to deliver public services (key feature of New Labour government)

Answer 30

E.g. Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contracts were awarded to private firms to build new schools and hospitals

Question 31

Influence of Liberal Ideology on Labour Thinking (key feature of New Labour government)

Answer 31

Showed in devolution.
However, N-L happy to sacrifice civil liberties in campaign against crime and terrorism - extending time suspects could be held before being charged, widening police powers & proposing introduction of identity cards

Question 32

Shift in policy under Brown due to financial crisis & recession of 2008-9

Answer 32

Treasury pumped money into banking system to boost economic activity

Government nationalised / part-nationalised most vulnerable banks to restore confidence

Rose income tax levels creating 50% band for £150,000/year earners - effecting the better-off

Maintained public spending, Brown argued Conservative idea of drastic cuts would starve the economy of resources and prolong the downturn

Question 33

Reaction to Brown’s shift in policy following financial crisis

Answer 33

Claims that new labour ideology had been abandoned. However was in a time of emergency

Question 34

Labour under Miliband

Answer 34

Called for restoration of 50% income tax (reduced to 45% by coalition)
Needed to re-establish Labour as a competent manager of the economy

Question 35

What did Miliband and Ed Balls (shadow chancellor) need to do

Answer 35

Re-establish Labour as a competent manager of the economy

Question 36

How did Miliband and Balls try to re-establish Labour as a competent manager of the economy

Answer 36

Attacked the coalition’s ‘austerity’ program. such as the bedroom tax. didn’t attack whole economic strategy

Question 37

Bedroom tax / spare room subsidy

Answer 37

Those on benefits would receive less if their house had a spare room

Question 38

Miliband’s 2 distinctions of capitalism

Answer 38

Predatory and responsible

Question 39

What did Miliband try to combine by distinguishing 2 types of capitalism

Answer 39

Party’s support for business & working-class core

Question 40

What was Miliband dubbed

Answer 40

Red Ed

Question 41

Why was Miliband dubbed Red Ed

Answer 41

Because he was (unfairly) viewed as left-wing. He was hostile to private sector and wanted to return to ‘tax and spend’ policies

Question 42

2015 pressure in the labour party for what

Answer 42

To be more left wing

Question 43

Who won leadership election September 2015

Answer 43

Jeremy Corbyn

Question 44

Economic policy under Corbyn

Answer 44

(following Miliband & Balls) increased investment in economy
Aimed to reduce regional inequalities
Corbyn called for renationalisation of railways (N-L had refused to adopt)
Favoured restoration of 50% top rate of income tax

Question 45

How did Corbyn view austerity

Answer 45

As a political choice that harmed the most vulnerable members of society rather than an economic necessity

Question 46

Welfare policy under Corbyn

Answer 46

Opposed benefit cuts
Regarded the poor as victims of capitalism who are entitled to public support
Argued for a wholly state-run NHS
Wanted national education service and opposed student tuition fees

Question 47

Law and order policy under Corbyn

Answer 47

Corbyn
Corbyn opposed hard-line policies of N-L such as increased powers to combat terrorism and introduction of identity cards
Opposed government cuts to police numbers which both Corbyn & Blair described as jeopardising public safety

Question 48

Foreign policy under Corbyn

Answer 48

Against the use of force
Favoured withdrawal of UK from NATO’s military structure & abolition of the Trident nuclear weapons system (contradicts N-L )
Labour party was so divided over December 2015 Commons vote on military intervention against Islamic State terrorism Corbyn allowed a free vote.
Corbyn was pro-Europe (remainer) - emphasised EU’s positive role in protectiing workers’ rights