Topic 5: Realignment of Labour (1987-97) Flashcards
4
List the Labour leaders in the 1980s and 1990s
- Michael Foot 1980-83
- Neil Kinnock 1983-92
- John Smith 1992-94
- Tony Blair 1994-2007
Margaret Beckett (acting) in 1994
5
List the reasons for Labour’s realignment by 1997
- Leadership
- Shift in policy
- End of internal leftist activism
- Change in Labour party processes/machinery
- Influence of Thatcher/failure of Conservatives
5
Describe the reorganisation of the Labour Party 1987-92
- Party became more professional in presentation
- Move led by Peter Mandelson, Kinnock’s Director of Comms
- John Smith appointed Shadow CX in 1987 to give more reassuring image of modernisation and competence
- Kinnock dominated NEC with ‘soft left’ allies
- New Labour policy arguably began in 1987
4
Describe the demise of the hard left in Labour 1987-92
- Kinnock dominated NEC with ‘soft left’ allies
- 1988 leadership challenges
- 1989, Ken Livingstone lost seat in NEC
- 1991, Militant decided by large majority to abandon entryism in Labour party
3
Describe the 1988 Labour leadership challenges
- Kinocck crushed vain challenge by Benn by 8:1
- Roy Hattersley, Kinnock ally, comfortably held onto Deputy leadership
- Positioned as dream ticket: Kinnock representing left of party, Hattersley representing right
6
Describe change in Labour policy under Kinnock 1987-92
- ‘New realism’
- Advocating mixed economy of modest economic planning as opposed to nationalisation of 1983
- Strengthened committment to Europe
- Law and order to protect WC, who suffered most from crime
- Hattersley published Choose Freedom in 1987 - emphasised equality as the guarantee to pluralism, tolerance and personal freedom
- Abandoned UDI programme in 1983 and 1987
2
Give an example of new realism in Labour policy under Kinnock 1987-92
- trade unions accepting thatcherite employment laws
- more focus on cooperating with managers
1
Give an example of Labour strengthening their committment to Europe under Kinnock 1987-92
- Delors recieved standing ovation at 1988 TUC Conference in Bournemouth
3
Describe the eventual abandonment of UDI policy under Kinnock
- Shadow FS, Gerald Kaufman, a multilateralist who coined phrase ‘the longest suicide note in history’
- October 1989 Conference, Kinnock formally abandoned UDI and opted for MDI
- On this basis, Polaris and Trident could be retained
2
Describe Labour’s support base 1987-92
- Suggestions of wider reaching support base
- Dormant union leaders like John Edmonds (Municipal Workers) more positive in approach
4
Describe Labour electoral success 1987-92
- By-elec victories in Glamorgan, Glasgow Central, Vauxhall
- 1989 European elections: Lab 45, Con 32
- Decline in prominence of Alliance/Lib Dems (collpased by 12.5% in 1989 European elections)
- Lab led every poll from June 1989 until Thatcher resignation
1
Describe the the resignation of Kinnock
- Kinnock resigned 4 days after election (election - 9 April 1992) after personal criticism
3
Describe the image of John Smith
- Edinburgh laywer and former Shadow CX
- Exuded more intellectual self-confidence than Kinnock
- Still largely reflected the values of Old Lab
3
Describe the leadership style of John Smith
- Won over 90% of overall vote in leadership elec against Bryan Gould
- Sought to modernise party to centre ground and expel Militant Tendency extremists
- Presented himself as consensual figure - able to work harmoniously with left of party (Deputy leader Margaret Beckett, Prescott)
4
Describe European policy change under Smith
- Embraced EU membership as platform for economic advancement
- Enthusiasim for social charter after popularity with grassroots and TUC
- Leading colleagues, like Blair and Brown, pro-EU
- Lab had united policy on Europe unlike divided Conservatives
2
Describe the decline of euroscepticism in Labour under Smith
- Byran Gould, a leading eurosceptic, left frontbench in Autumn 1992
- Returned to native NZ in 1994
2
Describe fiscal policy under Smith
- Shadow CX - Brown
- Emphasised that Labpour no longer aimed at high public expenditure, high taxation or state planning
2
Describe business relations under Smith
- Much effort given to improving relations with CBI
- Several influential business people announced support for Labour
3
Describe law and order policy under Smith
- Shadow HS - Blair
- Sought to counter accusations it had been soft and anti-police
- 1993 - ‘tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime’
2
Describe nationalism and mixed economy policy under Smith
- Prominent Jack Straw (Shadow Housing Sec) openly campaigned for abolition of Clause Four
- Few felt nationalisation had role in modern Labour party
2
Describe Trade Union policy under Smith
- Attempted to remove remove union griphold on party decision-making and ‘social contract’
- Introduced OMOV and abolished union block vote for parliamentary candidate selection at 1993 conference
2
Describe the 1993 conference vote to introduce OMOV
- Smith came into conflict with TUC
- Won with very narrow margin of 0.2%
3
Describe the death of John Smith
- May 1994 poll put Lab on avg 23 pts above Con
- Suddenly died of heart attack in May 1994
- Death a catalyst for more dramatic period of change
4
Describe Blair in the leadership election 1994
- Struck agreement with more senior rival Brown (2 4yr terms for Blair, then Brown would take over)
- Ruthless throughout campaign
- Mandelson decision
- Had immense support from all wings of party
4
Describe Mandelson’s decision in the 1994 leadership contest
- Has served as Director of Comms 1985-90, now a Hartlepool MP
- Backed Blair over Brown
- Believed former to be better communicator
- Proved an effective campaign manager
2
Describe the results of the 1994 Labour leadership election
- Blair won 57% electoral college vote, easily seeing off Prescott and Beckett
- Won 60% MP vote, 58% party membership vote, 52% union vote
5
Describe the personal image of Blair
- Had come from affluent background unike wartime technocracy of Wilson or union background of Callaghan
- Father was Tory member
- Influenced by Christian metaphysics and reformist Australian politics
- Attached himself to values rather than specific policies to evade criticism
- Regarded by media, civil service and public PM in waiting - ascendancy unparalleled)
5
Describe how Blair attached Labour to a patriotic image
- Spoke of ‘New Labour’ leading ‘New Britain’ of patriotism and compassion
- Rise coincided with growing self-confidence of ‘Cool Britannia’
- October 1994 conference
- 1996 conference - targeted Mondeo Man
- Praised Thatcher’s patriotism
4
Describe the October 1994 Labour conference
- Declared Britain a young nation with best days ahead
- Language evangelistic and imprecise
- ‘new’ appeared 37 times
- Registered well in Tory heartlands of southern and ‘middle’ England
3
Describe how Blair dealt with Thatcher
- Agreed on promotion of enterprise and curbing overreach of government
- invited her to Downing St weeks after election victory
- little comparative effort made for Callaghan
3
Describe the abolition of Clause IV
- Had committed Labour to common ownership of industry
- 1995, national party ballot overwhelmingly voted for redrafted version
- Called for diluted collectivism - ‘for the many, not the few’
5
Describe Blair’s authority over the Labour Party
- Appealed directly to growing membership rather than lw activists
- cut himself off from trade union association
- Strong personal machine
- Claire Short (shadow minister) ruthlessly shut down after expressing support for cannabis legalisation
- Presidential style extended to NEC and Conference - could not derail leadership unlike predecessors
2
Outline Blair’s personal machine
- Strategist Mandelson
- Combative press officer Alaistair Campbell
2
Describe Blair vs Major at PMQs
- Commanding role of Blair contrasted with weak Major suffering from internal disputes over Europe
- ‘You follow your party, I lead mine’ - contrast with previous Labour leaders
6
Describe the development of Labour Party machinery under Blair
- Shifted HQ location
- Sophistciated use of information technology
- Used to focus groups to track voter opinion rather than through local constituencies
- Heavy use of media (‘The Sun backs Blair’)
- Spin doctors - Cambell and Mandelson
- Processes suited energetic and charismatic Blair
2
Describe the change in location of Labour HQ
- Labour HQ Transport House dubbed ‘a penny farthing in the jet age’ by Wilson
- 1996, Moved to Millbank Tower in City of London
2
Describe Blair’s ideology
- Third Way - Blair spoke of ‘radical centre’
- Welcomed collaboration with Roy Jenkins, now a LD (led voting system reform report)
2
Describe Labour policy development under Blair
- Employed David Milliband (brains) in his Policy Unit - former director of IPPR
- Close connections with centrist Demos think tank
4
Describe Labour policy under Blair
- Traditional policies (high spending, egalitarian educational policies, soft law and order policy) all dropped
- Promised to not exceed Tory government spending or income tax
- Focussed on cutting waiting lists
- Promoted ‘education, education, education’
4
Describe how Blair dropped a public association with trade unions
- Membership had dropped 13m to 6.75m
- Movement remained strictly local after renewed dock troubles in Liverpool
- Played little role in election campaigns
- Blair spoke of closeness to CBI
