Topic 6: Politics (1997-2007) Flashcards
1
Q
5
Describe the Third Way
A
- In 1988 pamphlet, Blair defined 4 values for just society
- equal worth, opportunity for all, responsibility and community
- based on ideas of sociologist Anthony Giddens
- Sir Christopher Meyer, British Ambassador in Washinhton, dismissed ideology as electoral tactic
- largely dropped after first Labour term
2
Q
3
Describe Blair as a leader
A
- Appeared youthful, charismatic and a break from the usual run of politicans
- Held 89% approval post-Diana
- Largely unshaken by Ecclestone Affair in 1997 - subjected himself to TV interviewer by BBC’s John Humphrey to defend himself
3
Q
3
Describe Blair’s placation of Gordon Brown
A
- Constant speculation over when Brown would succeed Blair after secret 1994 meeting in Granita restaurant, Islington
- Given almost sole control of economic policy (BoE independence, euro adoption, etc)
- Therefore Brown had huge influence on domestic policy
4
Q
3
Describe the reality of the 1997 election victory
A
- Had only achieved 43% of popular vote
- Voter participation had dropped from 78% (1992) to 71% (1997)
- 1997 landslide a result of ‘shy tories’ abstaining, tactical voting for LD candidates and winner’s bonus
5
Q
5
Describe Blair’s position by 1997
A
- Significant parliamentary majority
- Demoralised and weak conservative opposition
- Favourable economic position
- Popular appeal and favourable press
- Loyalist and prepared cabinet
6
Q
5
Describe Blair’s first cabinet in 1997
A
- Had spent 3 years preparing for power to carry through centrist ‘Blair project’
- Included loyalists like Robin Cook (FS), Jack Straw (HS), David Blunkett (Edu)
- Brown placed at Treasury
- Prescott, a former union official, given DPM role to placate left-wing members and wc voters
- Yet none of cabinet had previously served in cabinet
7
Q
6
Describe the constitutional aims of the New Labour manifesto in 1997
A
- Referendums on Scottish and Welsh devolution and English regional government
- Election of mayors for London and other major cities
- Hereditary peers would lose their right to vote in HoL
- ECHR entrenched into UK law
- Referendum on electoral reform
- Legislation to ensure FOI
8
Q
4
Describe devolution in Scotland under Blair
A
- Unpopularity and centralisation of Tory governments
- Voted in 1997 to devolve powers to Scottish Parliament and in favour of it holding tax-raising powers
- Scottish Assembly based on system of AMS
- Led to rise of SNP, who had gained power by 2007
9
Q
2
Describe devolution in Wales under Blair
A
- 0.6% majority for assembly on low 50% turnout
- limited powers compared to Scotland (lacked primary legislative powers)
10
Q
3
Describe devolution in Northern Ireland under Blair
A
- Power-sharing assembly set up following GFA 1998
- Based on STV
- UUP/SDLP alliance - followed by DUP/SF
11
Q
3
Describe devolution to England under Blair
A
- Elections for elected mayor and assembly in London from 2000
- London Mayoral Election 2000
- Plans for regional assemblies derailed after NE 2004 referendum defeat
12
Q
3
Describe the London Mayoral election 2000
A
- Independent Ken Livingstone (former hard left GLC leader) became London mayor despite Blair’s spin doctor attempts to criticse him
- Ken Livingstone defeated in labour mayoral selection - votes weighed in favour of Labour MPs rather than rank-and-file party members
- Frank Dobson, Labour candidate, came 3rd
13
Q
3
Describe Parliamentary Reform under Blair
A
- HoL reform reached compromise - hereditary peers slimmed down to fixed 92 rather than removing voting rights altogether
- rebalanced composition towards life peers
- Jenkins Report 1998
14
Q
4
Describe the Jenkins Report 1998
A
- Commission set up by Labour government with support of LD to invetsigate alternatives to FPTP
- Recommended AV+ (majoritarian system with proportion top up)
- Would have changed status quo from Tory majorities to Lab-LD coalitions
- Government support for electoral reform wained after successive landslide victories
15
Q
2
Describe the components of reform to citizens’ rights under New Labour
A
- HRA 1998
- FOI 2000
16
Q
3
Describe the Human Rights Act 1998
A
- ECHR entrenched into UK law
- Led to issues regarding judicial review
- 2004, Government forced to amend legislation that enabled indefintite detention if terrorist suspects after Law Lords ruled it incompatible
17
Q
4
Describe the Freedom of Information Act 2000
A
- Gave people right to request significant amounts of information from public bodies
- By 2006, over 1m requests being made yearly
- Blair later regreted decision as it impeded politicians from making difficult decisions fearing that it could become public knowledge
- 2005, Blair refused FOI to release official advice on legality of Iraq War
18
Q
3
Describe the situation in Northern Ireland in 1997
A
- Major’s ‘backdoor channel’ had built confidence between unionists and nationalists
- Talks (though irregular) between different parties in NI since 1996
- John Hulme (SDLP leader) had convinced Gerry Adams and Martin McGuiness (SF) that negotiated settlement was possuble
19
Q
2
Who was George Mitchell?
A
- Former US Senator
- Served as Clinton’s special envoy for Northern Ireland
20
Q
4
Describe talks to achieve the GFA 1998
A
- Chairman of talks George Mitchell was trusted by both sides
- Blair had developed close working relationship with Bertie Aherm, Irish Taoiseach - helped support of republicans
- Mo Mowlam (Sec of State for NI) visited Maze prison to win over paramilitaries
- Blair’s personal committment vital to reassuring David Trimble (UUP leader) that SF could be trusted
21
Q
3
Describe the final negotiations of the GFA 1998
A
- April 1998
- Final negotiations extended by 17 hours past Mitchell’s deadline
- Jeffrey Donaldson, a UUP negotiator, walked out of talks in protest of lack of progress in ensuring IRA decommissioned its arms
22
Q
3
Describe the disagreements over the negotiations of the GFA 1998
A
- Whether paramilitary groups would actually decommission
- Early release of convicted terrorists
- Right of Protestant Orange Order to march its traditional route
23
Q
6
Describe the terms of the GFA 1998
A
- Both UK and ROI would rescind claim on NI - the people of NI would decide
- Devolved assembly and power-sharing executive set up
- Links between NI/ROI and UK/ROI to be strengthened
- Parties would use influence to ensure decommissioning of arms
- Independent commission to oversee reform of policing
- Release of prisoners where paramilitary organisations committed to peace
24
Q
4
Describe the role of Tony Blair in the GFA 1998
A
- Was closely involved in moving two sides closer to agreement
- Forged close relationship with Ahern and expressed less-ardent unionist sentiment
- Reassured Trimble to allow UUP to continue negotations
- Arguably Blair’s greatest achievement behind gaining US backing in Kosovo
25
Q
3
Describe other figures who led to the GFA 1998
A
- John Hume (SDLP) had already persuaded Gerry Adams to peace plan
- Mo Mowlam had success at bringing paramilitary groups together
- Mitchell was an effective mediator
26
Q
2
Describe the GFA 1998 referendums
A
- 71% in NI voted for agreement (81% turnout)
- 94% in ROI voted for agreement
27
Q
3
Describe oppostion to the GFA 1998
A
- McGuiness and Adams concerned by potential Republican backlash
- Dr Ian Paisley and DUP opposed agreement
- Omagh Bombing 1998
28
Q
5
Describe the Omagh Bombing 1998
A
- Aug 1998
- Car bombing that killed 30
- Carried out by Real IRA - splinter group that opposed IRA ceasefire and GFA
- Condemned by unionist and nationalist leaders - sign of significant progress
- Group alleged it did not intend to cause casualties - announced ceasefire shortly thereafter
29
Q
4
Describe the first NI Assembly
A
- UUP largest party, but SDLP won largest share of first preference votes
- First Minister - Trimble; Deputy First Minister - Seamus Mallon (SDLP)
- Power-sharing executive included UUP, SDLP, SF and DUP
- DUP refused to attend Executive Committee meetings in protest at SF involvement
30
Q
3
Describe the significance of the 2003 Northern Ireland Assembly elections
A
- DUP largest party, overtaking UUP
- SF came 3rd, overtaking SDLP
- Became central unionist and republican party respectively
31
Q
3
Describe the suspension of the NI Parliament
A
- Powers devolved to Executive 1999
- Yet was suspended 4 times from 1999-2007
- Stormontgate most prominent
32
Q
4
Describe Stormongate
A
- A controversial alleged IRA spy ring based in Stormont
- Dennis Donaldson, SF group administrator in NI Assembly, arrested
- Stormont Executive/Assembly suspended 2002-07
- Ended by St Andrews Agreement 2006 between UK and ROI
33
Q
3
Describe the St Andrews Agreement 2006
A
- SF accepted PSNI (Police Service of Northern Ireland), which had incorporated the RUC
- Largely reitirated sentiment of GFA 1998
- New election held in 2007
34
Q
5
Describe prominent resignations during Blair’s premiership
A
- 1998 - Peter Mandelson (Trade and Industry Sec) resigned after failing to register interest-free loan for Notting Hill house
- 2001 - Mandelson (NI Sec) reisgned again after using position to influence passport application
- 2003 - Robin Cook (Leader of HoC) and Clare Short (International Development Sec) resigned after Iraq War
- 2004 - Blunkett (HS) resigned in sleaze scandal after allegations he helped fast-track work permit renewal for ex-lover’s nanny
- 2006 - Charles Clarke (HS) resigned due to embarrassment when prisoners awaiting detention escaped and could not be traced
35
Q
4
Describe Iraq WMD claim scandals
A
- Sept 2002, intellegience dossier published to show urgent danger from Iraq’s WMDs, incluidng nuclear and biological weapons
- May 2003, public sensation following claims by journalist Andrew Gilligan that WMD dossier has been ‘sexed up’ by Alastair Campbell (chemical weapons deployable within 45 mins claim)
- Death of David Kelly
- July 2003, govt reputation irreparably damaged after suicide of weapons expert David Kelly, leaker of dossier exagurrations to Gilligan, only 2 days after
36
Q
5
Describe the death of David Kelly
A
- Weapons expert David Kelly had leaked dossier exagurrations to Gilligan in an off-the-record conversation
- Gave evidence to Foreign Affairs Select Committee in July 2003
- Committed suicide 2 days later
- Lord Hutton enquiry absolved govt of blame and criticised BBC
- Yet enquiry did little to alter public mood of condemnation
37
Q
3
Describe the Blair 2004 ‘wobble’
A
- Jan 2004, Hutton enquiry publsihed findings
- Jan 2004, backbench revolt against introduction of top up fees for university students - Blair only won vote by slim 5-vote margin despite 165-seat majority
- Blair defied speculation he would resign before next election
