The Labour Party -(2.2) established political parties - Political parties - UK Politics Flashcards
When and by who was Labour Party founded
1900 by a group of socialist societies & trade unions
Original purpose of Labour party
Get more working class MPs into Parliament to push for improved working and living conditions
Clause 4 (outlined in party’s 1918 constitution)
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
First labour government
1924 under Ramsay MacDonald
First labour government with a majority
Clement Attlee 1945
Clement Attlee changes
Nationalisation of coal, railways, power, steel and civil aviation. NHS, comprehensive system of social security inspired by Beveridge Report
1945-1979 attitudes to capitalism
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
Example of social democratic approach
Creation of comprehensive schools, intended to promote greater equality of opportunity
Old Labour (social democracy)
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.
Last ‘old labour’ PM
James Callaghan PM 1976-1979
Division of party under Michael Foot
Between moderate social democrats and more left-wing elements
Labour’s manifesto policies in 1983 (they lost)
Hardline socialist programme
Increased nationalisation, increased taxation & spending, abolition of Britain’s nuclear defences, withdrawal from the EEC (viewed as capitalist)
Who became new leader 1983 & what did he start to do
Neil Kinnock. rebuild the party
What did the Labour party realise they had to do post 1983 to get support
broaden their support. Introduce policies that didn’t just appeal to traditionally working class people
1995 clause 4
Revised - labour party no longer committed to nationalism
What happened to the role of the trade unions post 1994
downgraded (in the party)
Who became leader of labour party 1994
Tony Blair
New Labour / Third way
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.
Labour’s attitude to Europe post 1994
Became more pro-European as EU adopted policies that protected workers’ rights such as the social chapter
Social Chapter
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
Influence of Anthony Giddens
Aimed to find a ‘third way’ between old-style socialism and free-market capitalism
Why was a strong influence placed on managing the media (New labour)
to project a modern image
Great efforts were made to ensure labour demonstrated (New labour)
unity & discipline
When did Blair win a landslide majority
1997
Key features of New Labour (x5)
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
Emphasis on wealth creation rather than distribution (key feature of New Labour)
Wanted to reduce poverty
Introduced minimum wage but at less than what trade unions wanted
What did Blair regard as entirely natural
individual aspiration to a better standard of life (i.e. people should want a better life and work for it)
People need to be aware of their responsibilities to the community as well as their rights (key feature of New Labour government)
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.’
Responsibility in handling the national finances (key feature of New Labour government)
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
Enlisting the public sector to deliver public services (key feature of New Labour government)
E.g. Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contracts were awarded to private firms to build new schools and hospitals
Influence of Liberal Ideology on Labour Thinking (key feature of New Labour government)
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
Shift in policy under Brown due to financial crisis & recession of 2008-9
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
Reaction to Brown’s shift in policy following financial crisis
Claims that new labour ideology had been abandoned. However was in a time of emergency
Labour under Miliband
Called for restoration of 50% income tax (reduced to 45% by coalition)
Needed to re-establish Labour as a competent manager of the economy
What did Miliband and Ed Balls (shadow chancellor) need to do
Re-establish Labour as a competent manager of the economy
How did Miliband and Balls try to re-establish Labour as a competent manager of the economy
Attacked the coalition’s ‘austerity’ program. such as the bedroom tax. didn’t attack whole economic strategy
Bedroom tax / spare room subsidy
Those on benefits would receive less if their house had a spare room
Miliband’s 2 distinctions of capitalism
Predatory and responsible
What did Miliband try to combine by distinguishing 2 types of capitalism
Party’s support for business & working-class core
What was Miliband dubbed
Red Ed
Why was Miliband dubbed Red Ed
Because he was (unfairly) viewed as left-wing. He was hostile to private sector and wanted to return to ‘tax and spend’ policies
2015 pressure in the labour party for what
To be more left wing
Who won leadership election September 2015
Jeremy Corbyn
Economic policy under Corbyn
(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
How did Corbyn view austerity
As a political choice that harmed the most vulnerable members of society rather than an economic necessity
Welfare policy under Corbyn
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
Law and order policy under Corbyn
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
Foreign policy under Corbyn
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
