Political Parties Flashcards
What is a political party
Group of people that is organised for the purpose of winning power’
Organised around an ideology/belief.
What is the function of a political party
Provides voter choice
Represents public views
Accountability function (opposition parties )
Organise govt
Recruit leaders
Formulate policy
What Influences the Success of Political Parties?
Unity
Leadership
Wider Political Context Media Coverage Electoral System
Party Policy
Evaluate the view that Labour is internally divided - intro
Labour Party emerged based on socialist values and the trade Union movement being seen as the party of the working class
Old Labour- social democratic foundations led by Attlee
New Labour under Blair modernised the party and brought it more centrist
Blue Labour
Labour economic policy and divisions
Left wing vs centrists
-Corbynist hold view that should manage large part of the economy to ensure social equality
Including wealth redistribution, nationalisation and key sim economics
-eg Corbyn nationalise broadband
Blairites - eg Keri starmer new labour in steroids
- didn’t call for energy companies to be nationalised
-more cautious about state intervention of economy after winter of discontent
-accepted free market economics , privatise companies
-Labour can be seen as a coalition party
-division reconciled under starmer- exiled left wing of party eg Corbyn and Rebecca long Bailey
-far left is minority so lacks influence
-starmer called for railways under public control, adopting ideas of the left
-public owned green energy companies
Tensions rooted in history, temporary solution - starmer suppressed not eliminated left wing
Membership is left leaning
Blue Labour divisions
Blue Labour seeks to address real working class problems
-believe Labour has become an elitist party and thus has lost working class support
-adopt socially conservative values eg patriotism religion and supporting the army
-argue need to address these issues to represent working class voter eg adopt policies against large scale immigration as it threatens British work force
-Stark contrast to corbyn , anti war, in favour of eu not anti migration
-believe corbyn needed to be more in touch and did not agree with his policy
- also believe centrist Labour become neo liberal and adopted economic policies that harm the poor
-very small faction so are insignificant
-only few MPs
-starmer attempted to icorporate eg sought to represent patriotism by always having Union Jack behind him and having more reservations about immigration eg Rwanda bill unlikely to be removed if Labour come into power
-starmer needs to win back red wall in next election, working class towns
-blue Labour lost favour when uk left eu
Public services divisions Labour
-debate over commitment to reform public services
-shadow sec Wes Sterling of health has called for more private provision in healthcare to reduce waiting lists
-health reform - more technology more preventive treatment
-Labour has not supported strikers on picket lines and has refused to accept wholesale salary rises
-education, taxation of private schools
-Retain 2 child cap, Repeal Trade Union Act 2016,
-however Andy burnhan Manchester mayor believes new Labour went too far and calls for greater restriction on private schools , has led to inequalities
-most of party accept Labour has to look centrist to win broad coalition of support
-no private models of health care
-party can’t afford to alienate voters - out of power for too long
-policies are reformist not radical
What are some current Labour Party policies
Economic Policy: Taxing Private Schools, Non-Dom Status, Capital Gains Tax
Welfare: Retain 2 child cap, Repeal Trade Union Act 2016,
Foreign Affairs/Defence: Maintain Trident (Corbynism Anti-trident), Israel (Contested)
Law & Order: Increase of 13,000 police and community officers, tougher sentences,
What are some Conservative Party policies
Economic Policy: Trussonomics, Levelling Up, Tax Cuts
Welfare: 2 Child Cap on benefits, Universal Credit.
Foreign Affairs/Defence: Support of Trident, Support for Ukraine, Support for Israel
Law & Order: ‘Stop the boats’, Public Order Act (2023), Rwanda Immigration Scheme, Smoking Ban
Are minor parties becoming more influential
Yes- Able to force Referendums on major constitutional issues e.g. SNP & Indyref, UKIP & Brexit.
Coalition Gov, Confidence & Supply DUP
SNP & Green Control over Devolved Bodies & Power Sharing in NI
No-Referendums are few and far between. Parties usually fade after referendum.
Two Party System reinforces as all governments post 1945 have been lab or con majority.‘Elective Dictatorship’
Devolved powers are very limited. E.g. SNP has demanded 2nd ref but turned down
Are Political Parties aligned on policies/ideas?
Yes-Foreign Policy: Both Support trident, Strong support/aid for Ukraine
Welfare: Two Child Cap supported by both parties.
Economy: Levelling up/Inequality, NHS
Law & Order: Extra police & community officers, tough sentencing
No-Foreign Policy: Brexit & relationship with the EU
Welfare: Difference over Universal Credit.
Economy: Abolish tax free status private schools, Nationalistion (Rail)
Law & Order: Rwanda Flights Scheme, Public Order Act
Contemporary example of conservatives and Labour becoming more aligned
Gaza conflict -
Labour Party increasingly reflecting the governments stance on the conflict
-starmer has said Isreal has the right to self defence
-David Lammy emphasised Labour support of Israel and right to defend itself as long as it’s in line with international law after David Cameron made similar statement
-Kate osamor sacked when likened Gaza to Holocaust
-Why? Labour likely to come into power don’t want a repeat of the past of corbyn , want to maintain strong relationship with us, interdependent in us economy and power who back Israel
-56 Labour MPs voted in line with SNP
-10 frontbenchers resigned
- Lindsay Hoyle and motion of snp
Evaluate the view that state funding of political parties should be introduced
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