Blair 1997-2007 Flashcards
(32 cards)
Labour majority in 1997
179
Why Brown handed control of interest rates to Bank of England
Sending a message that the economy would be managed effectively and for the long term. there is no risk that the economy would be mismanaged for political reasons.
Strengths and weaknesses of Blair
Strengths:
- Young, used TV well, sympathised well with Princess Diana’s death, the ‘people’s prime minister’.
- Blair-brown partnership was very successful
Weaknesses:
- Lying about the Ecclestone affair
gossip over Blair-Brown relationship
critics argued that he didn’t stand for anything.
- Internal corruption and debate with Brown.
Why was Labour in favour of devolution?
Unpopularity of the conservatives in Scotland. Northern Ireland was devolved. SNP gained momentum
Labour’s reforms to parliament
House of lord act reduced hereditary peers to 92 (was unsatisfactory to many)
Jenkins commission
Recommendation on electoral reform. to replace first past the post with proportional representation.
Reform to citizens right
- Freedom of Information Act 2000. gave people the right to request information from public bodies. by 2006, over 100,000 requests were made every year.
- European Convention on Human Rights incorporated into British Law in the Human Rights Act. the act often created difficulties, however, if the House of Lords ruled things e.g. the detainment of non-nationals for terrorism to be incompatible with the act.
Labour’s change to education
- New deal programme to provide jobs/ training for 250,000 unemployed.
- Development of academy program and big investment in infrastructure.
- Funding per pupil increased from 48% to 55%
- 18% rise in teachers pay
- More investment in education.
- More accountability to parents
Labour’s change to health
- Sure start centres to improve health, education and welfare of children from low-income families
- Free part-time nursery places for three and four year olds
- Achieved the 1997 pledge to reduce waiting lists by 100,000
- By 2007, no now was waiting longer than 6 months for non-emergency treatment.
- Ban on tobacco advertising
Labour’s change to crime
- New deal programme to provide jobs/training for 250,000 youth were unemployed
- Antisocial behaviour order put lists on what the defendant could do/go
crime survey records a 41% reduction in crime between 1997-2010
Labour’s change to inequality and poverty
- Between 1997-2005, all benefits to children had risen by 72%
- 1998 national minimum wage introduced
- By 2004, the poorest pensioners were 1750 a year better off
- 3.7% overall growth in benefits from 2002-2005.
- Poorest 20% experienced a 12% rise in incomes.
- Brown introduced tax credits in 1999 provided benefits to those on low incomes (esp to parents and the disabled)
- Child poverty reduced by a quarter by 2005.
Appeal of section 28
2003, equal age of consent for homosexuals, civil partnerships in 2005. equality regulations in 2003 banned discrimination in the workplace.
Countryside alliance
In 2002, 500,000 attended a march to keep hunting with dogs.
Economic policy aims
Prevent the UK from joining the Euro, Keep public borrowing under control, use benefits of a growing economy to improve public services, show that labour was pro-business, keep inflation low.
Brown’s economic policies
- Make Britain’s membership of the Eurozone dependent on 5 economic tests.
- No increase in income tax for first 2 years
- Stick to Major’s spending limits during the first 2 years
Bank of England would settle interest rates - Bank of England would surrender regulatory powers over the City to a newly created financial services authority.
- 1998 announced £40 billion extra spending over the next 3 years.
Tax credits good
Tax breaks for people on low-incomes. however, gave employers the opportunity to keep people on minimum incomes because the government would fill this gap.
Negatives of economy
- Continued to use private financing to invest in public sectors. these debts would be carried into the future.
- Some have said that the consumer boom was based on rising house prices and credit-card spending, rather than increasing productivity
- There was the fear that this ‘bubble’ woudln’t last
- Financial tests on jointing the Euro were elastic and would rest on Blair’s own wish.
- Annual deficit accumulated
- Left vulnerable to crisis e.g. 2008.
- Deregulation of the City of London was thought to attract people to bring foreign capital for tax purposes.
What did Labour announce in 1998?
An extra £40 billion of extra spending over the next three years, especially on health and education.
How much did the pound strengthen by?
14%
Foreign policy successes and failures under Blair (Europe)
Successes:
- Active in seeking to develop an EU response to global issues e.g. terrorism and climate change. the G8 summit in 2005 was a personal triumph
- Instructed officials to withdraw their objections to various areas of EU policy
- When Blair left power in 2007, his reputation in Europe was still high.
- Took a leading role in negotiations for the enlargement of the EU and the Treaty of Nice.
- Spoke of a ‘third-way’ between federalism and independent nation-states, calling for an EU of friendly states who retained their sovereignty
- Spoke of a new relationship and a new Europe
Weaknesses:
- Few solid achievement, proposed new constitution didn’t come into fruition.
- Progress on climate change and world poverty was minimal
- After the 2004 enlargement of the EU, anti-immigration sentiment grew because immigration rose
- Didn’t join the Euro in 2002- lack of commitment
- Increased British contributions after EU enlargement- had to give up £7bn rebate
- Lisbon Treaty was adopted in 2007 but was considered a copy of the new EU constitution that had been unpopular. a rise in cynicism about the EU
- Iraq war damaged relationships with France and Germany.
Foreign policy successes and failures under Blair? (World)
Strengths:
- Both Clinton’s and Blair’s governments were influenced by the ‘third way’
- Close links to the US democrats.
- Bush and Blair developed a close working relationship
- Blair was convinced that NATO and the USA must be involved in European affairs.
- Blair devoted diplomatic efforts to persuade Clinton to back military action against Serbia
- 1999 prolonged NATO bombing campaign against Serbia was successful
- In 2000, British forces supported the UN forces in Sierra Leone to end the civil war
- Yugoslavia and Sierra Leone were short, sharp victories
- In 2001, Britain joined the USA to overthrow the Taliban and expel Al-Qaeda from Afghanistan
overthrow of Saddam Hussien in 2003
Weaknesses:
- Accusations that British foreign policy became too dominated by US priorities
- Military interventions in Yugoslavia were unsuccessful
- From 2002 attention draws to Iraq which allows the Taliban to regroup in Afghanistan
- Bogged down in Iraq
- Four minsters resigned over the invasion of Iraq
- ‘Stop the war’ march attended by over 1 million
- By 2007, Britain has achieved only very limited and partial success in Iraq.
Britain’s world position by 2007
Iraq war gravely weakened position in the world. seem to have failed in goal of liberal interventionism and ethical foreign policy.
Special relationship was very strong but some thought the UK was America’s ‘poodle’ yet again. success in Kosovo and Sierra Leone was successful.
Progress for women
- In 1997, there were 101 female labour MPs
- Labour had introduced all-women shortlists to half of its most winnable seats to increase number of women in parliament
- Prominent women promoted e.g. Margaret Beckett as foreign secretary 2006-2007.
- Often the main beneficiaries of New Labour policies.
- Childcare provision was expanded to 12.5 hours of free nurses education for 3-4 year olds.
- Women given pension credits if unable to work due to caring responsibilities.
- Between 1997-2007, the percentage of FTSE 100 companies that had no women on the board fell by 12%.
- Minimum wage helped mothers balance paid work and home life.
Strengths and weaknesses for the youth in Britain
Strengths:
- Government and Blair considered youthful and new
- Main objective of New Labour was to end social exclusion.
- 1997 Social Exclusion Unit coordinated objective.
- Sure Start centres provided information and guidance about looking after chidlren
- By 2005, child poverty reduced by 1/4
‘Connexions’ service advised teenagers about post-school choices.
- New Labour aimed for 50% of young people to go to university to compete better in a globalised world economy.
Weaknesses:
- Number of NEETs had increased to almost 20% by 2007.
- Fears over youth crime called for Anti social behaviour orders
- Increase in graffiti, vandalism and intimidation reports.
- By 2005, 46% of ASBOs went to under 17 year olds.
- Affordable housing became very hard to find. between 1997-2007, the average house price increased by almost 200%. this excluded the young from getting on the housing ladder.
