Current Cons Prty Is A Thatcherite Party

Question 1

Economic policy

Answer 1

Most important aspect of Thatcherism was in relation to econmic policy, where thatcher greatly decreased taxes and reduced size of the state in order to promote indivusialsim and economic growth.

E.g. top rate of income tax was reduced from 83% when she came into power to 40%.
Thatcher supported privatisation by intoisuin a series of massive privatisations staring in 1981 w British telecom,

Truss mini budget sought to emulate the hers agenda to cut taxes significantly, abolishing the top rate of income and cut stamp duty.

Sunak cut disability benefits which he said were overly generous and contributed to a ‘sick note’culture

Question 2

However for econmic

Answer 2

It could be argued that the econmic policy of the CP under sunak should be seen in the context of fixing the damage cause by truss

Sunaks gov reveres truss plan to cut taxes significantly and pledged to increase some taxes to bring down inflation

Coprporation tax rose from 19-25% 2023

Overall, yes still very supportive of privatising and retively low taxes and public spending

Question 3

Law and order

Answer 3

Thatchers gov took a very throng approach to law and order and was tough on crime. Despite cuts in budget of other departments she increased funding for police and armed forces.

Sunak= recruiting 20,000 additional police officers and pledging another 8000 more in 2024

Thatcher strongly opposed trade unions calling them enemy from within and successfully reduced ther powers by making striking more difficult

Sunak= public order act 2023 introduced new offences such as interfering w national infrastructure to control protest tactics from extinction rebellion

Question 4

Law and order
However

Answer 4

Though the current con gov has taken a relatively strong approach to striking workers, it has arguably not been harsh or uncompromising as the policies of thatcher.

Gov did negotiate w some striking workers and come to an agreement w both teachers and nurses

Overall although the con stance to unions wasn’t as harsh, they still take a strong stance and law and order

Question 5

Foreign policy and immigration

Answer 5

Thatcher was known as the Iron Lady, adopting a very strong asseive foreign policy. She projected britains interests abroad including the Falkland war

2025, badench supported lab gov policy of increasing defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, reflecting a continued commitment to a strong foreign policy in part to protect against Russia

Question 6

Foreign policy
However

Answer 6

The policies of current con gov in relation to Brexit are a lot more economically reckless and anti free trade than thatcher would’ve supported.
Thatcher was eurosceptic in relation to EU but strongly supported EU’s promotion o free trade and econmic union

Sunak tooo a very strong anti immigration stance. Differs from thatcher who wasn’t strongly opposed to immigration and recognised its benefits

Rwanda asylum act, extrem,y high costs. This major cost that has very little econmic benefit seems like some =thing thatcher would oppose

Though the party strong stance on the international stage and support for a western foreign policy is Thatcherite, its econmic recklessness in supporting anti immigration isn’t