The Labour Party Flashcards

1
Q

LABOUR party;

When was it found?

A

1900- a cooperation of the trade union congress and the Independent Labour Party in order to rep. the interests of the working class.

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2
Q

define old labour

A

associated with left wing principles of positive intervention to create a more equal society through higher taxes on the wealthy, nationalisation of public services and generous welfare provision .

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3
Q

Remembered as a high point of democratic socialism for the Labour Party , Clement Atlees governments extensive system of social welfare consisted of what ?

A

The NHS (introduced by dedicated socialist health sec. Aneurin Bevan )
commitment to the pursuit of full employment
20% of econ. nationalised .

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4
Q

When did the party move more towards the centre of the political spectrum?

A

A re-evaluation and modernization of party policies was introduced as ‘New Labour’ - by Neil kinnock, John Smith and passed down to Tony Blair (1997-2007)

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5
Q

Tony Blair’s new labour policies included what?

A

Accepted some of Thatchers policies ( economic benefits of a free market economy) but also carried out several reforms they had promised in their manifesto as well as abolishing the right of most hereditary peers to sit in the HOL
And the minimum wage was introduced to help
The lowest paid

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6
Q

When was it said to spell the “end of new labour” ?

A

When Blair resigned and Brown attempted to stabilize public finances during the global economic crisis 2009 by 50p top rate of taxation on incomes over £150,000.

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7
Q

When was Corbyn elected as leader of the Labour Party?

A

2015

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8
Q

What faction was established along with Corbyns leadership? And why?

A

The momentum was established to sustain corbyns leadership and encourage the spread of democratic socialist principles within the party

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9
Q

What is included in democratic socialist principles ?

A

More government control in finance, nationalization and redistributive taxation

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10
Q

What was the slogan for the 2017 labour campaign ?

A

“for the many not the few”

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11
Q

What was different about the labour party’s manifesto in 2017 since 1983?

A

It was the most socialist

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12
Q

What we’re corbyns economic policies in 2017 ?

A

Top rate of taxation of 45 % (remained in 2019)
Boost wages of 5.7 million ppl earning less than minimum wage to £10 hour by 2020
End to zero hour contract.

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13
Q

2017 labour policies on education?

A

Scrap tuition fees
30 hrs of free childcare to all two year olds
Free school meals for all primary school children

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14
Q

2017 labour manifesto promises on health and social care?

A

End hospital car parking charges
Scrap NHS pay cap
1 million ppl taken off NHS waiting lists by “guaranteeing access to treatment within 18 weeks”

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15
Q

2017 labour manifesto promises on migration?

A

No cap on immigration

International students are not included in immigration numbers

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16
Q

2017 labour promise on BREXIT?

A

Accept EU ref result and guarantee the rights of EU nationals living in the UK and work to “secure reciprocal rights” for UK citizens elsewhere in the EU

17
Q

Problems with 2017 manifesto?

A

Suggests a £50bn increase in tax which would take the tax burden of the country to the highest level it been in about 70 years - also a question of if yu can raise that amount of tax
Failure to prioritize enterprise rather prioritizes state intervention

18
Q

What did Harold Wilson achieve in his attempt to create a fairer and more equal society ?

A

based on govt.-led econ. expansion where the Open uni was established to open up higehr education for youngsters from poorer backgrounds and in order to pay for a generous welafre state, taxes on wealthy were increased under labour - 1979- top rate of taxation reached 83%.

19
Q

Define new labour / the third way

A

combines left wing commitment to social justice with a right wing emphasis on the value of free markets in encouraging economic prosperity.

20
Q

‘the longest suicide note in history’

A

referring to the commitments of the 1983 general elec. manifesto which included futehr nationalisation, increased taxation of wealthy

21
Q

what were the consequences of labours ‘ longest suicide note in history’

A

lab. share of the vote decreased from 36.9 % in 199 to 27.6% in the 1983 gen. elec. and so labour abandoned its most socialist policies and moved towards the centre after leadership of neil kinnock and John Smith.

22
Q

When was Tony blair elected as labour leader?

A

1994- transformed labour

23
Q

according to Anthony Giddens what did the third way represent?

A

a compromise between the extremes of socialism and capitalism

24
Q

new labour- wealth creation not …..

A

wealth redistribution

25
Q

What was a key moment in the development of new labour ?

A

1995 when clause IV of teh Labour party constitution was modified so that it abandoned its commitment to nationalisation and accepted the economic benefits of a free-market economy.

26
Q

What thatcherite feature did Blair adopt during his new labour reign and why ?

A

kept the top rate of taxation at 40% - wealthiest in society are wealth creators and the economy would grow faster if their taxes were kept low.

27
Q

How did blair modernise the UK’s constitution ?

A

modernisation through reforms like:

  • European convention on human rights incorporated in british law in the Human Rights Act 1998
  • Devolution through referendums to devolved assemblies like scot., wales and NI
28
Q

How can it be argued that New labour is still more socialist than it is capitalist?

A

Remained committed to social justice like former labour govts.

  • 1997 introduced the minimum wage in order to help the lowest paid
  • also significantly increased spending on public services
29
Q

give evidence for division between MP’s and the PM in the labour party

A

in 2016 - corbyns enthusiasm to remain in the UK through another EU ref. was challenged by the 172 L MP’s that supported a no-confidence motion against hi with only 40 L MP’s supporting his leadership .
- however members had largely supported his leadership

30
Q

give two factions of the L. party that are in conflict?

A

Momentum and progress - reflects division between old and new labour
progress- blairite members distanced themselves away from corbyns leadership

31
Q

give an example of how the faction’ and ideological differences influence conflict within labour

A
  • new labour- blair adopted prev. introduced by thatcher - 40% rate of taxation - protecting economy- believing that the wealthiest in society are wealth creators and should be supported so that the econ. would grow faster if taces kept low
  • corbyn- tax rate increase to 45% -