Political parties

Question 1

What are the three labour factions?

Answer 1

Momentum & the “far left”
Blairism (Third Way) & social democracy
Blue Labour

Question 2

Outline policies suggested by ‘Momentum & the ‘far left’’

Answer 2

Contains members of “old labour” democratic socialists to Marxist inspired socialists and campaign for policies such as:

• Large shifts in the distribution of wealth and income through tax reforms LEFT
• Public ownership of many major industries FAR LEFT
• Firm state regulation of the finance industry
• Large increases in the creation of subsidised public-sector housing and control of private rents
• Significant increase in the living wage
• Abandonment of the UK’s independent nuclear deterrent

Question 3

Outline policies suggested by ‘Blairism (third way) & social democracy’

Answer 3

• Can be described as social democrats
• Believe that the policies of “New Labour” (as above) were popular and successful so therefore should be retained
• Their position can be described as “centrist”
• Prominent members are Stephen Kinnock, Hilary Benn and Yvette Cooper
• Oppose the parties shift to the left after 2015 and have fought against the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn

Question 4

Outline policies suggested by ‘Blue Labour’

Answer 4

• Founded by important Labour party policy advisor Maurice Glasman
• Him and his supporters believe that the UK working class do not favour left wing policies on the whole but prefer many ideas associated with conservatism (hence “blue”)
• He believes that the loss of former labour votes to UKIP in the 2015 general election was proof of this
• Tendency is socially conservative = believe in traditional British values, is anti large-scale immigration, campaigned for the UK to leave the EU and also opposes the excess of big business
• Supports free markets but proposes protection for UK industry from foreign competition in order to protect “British jobs for British workers”
• Strongly supports the interests of the working class

Question 5

What does ‘new labour’ stand for in general terms?

Answer 5

• Part Privatised/Public ownership achemes e.g. NHS Trusts and Banks
• Increase types of welfare such as Child Tax Credits
• Broader policies to appeal to all groups
• Encourage equality through legislation and growth
• More power to local councils
• 3rd way Economics in Public Sector

Question 6

Summarise old labour policies and actions

Answer 6

• Welfare state created in the 1940s (incl. NHS)
• Trade unions granted wide powers to take industrial action in the interests of their members
• Major industries nationalised (brought into public ownership) and state control in the interests of the community and workers in those industries
• Among these industries were coal, steel, shipbuilding, rail and energy
• Taxed raised on those with higher income to pay for welfare and redistribute income to the poor
• Comprehensive education introduced (1960s) to improve equality of opportunity
• Discrimination against women and ethnic minorities outlaws (1960s and 70s)
• Equal pay for women introduced

Question 7

Summarise the key features of “New Labour” values

Answer 7

• Rejected the socialist idea of class conflict, arguing that all members of society have an equal right to be supported by the state
• They accepted that capitalism was the best way of creating wealth, so it should remain largely free of state control
• It was recognised that capitalism could operate against the interests of consumers, so it should be regulated but not controlled. The state should be an enabling state. Allowing the economy to create wealth and giving it support were needed but the state should not engage in production itself.
• They de-emphasised collectivism, recognising that people prefer to achieve their goals individually. Individualism, was seen as a fundamental part of human nature.
• They emphasised equality of opportunity. Education and welfare would create opportunities for people to better themselves.
• Communitarianism = although people are individuals with individual goals, we are also part of an organic community and have obligations and duties in return for individual life chances. This a weaker form of collectivism.
• The party recognised that the UK was deeply undemocratic and that rights were inadequately represented,. It therefore was committed to political and constitutional reform.

Question 8

Explain and describe the Labour party split

Answer 8

• SDP merged with the liberals to form an alliance - SDLP now known as the lib dems
• Militant tendency = extreme left in labour, beyond corbyn
• The gang of four - Jenkins thought he could break the mold of UK politics - as in break the two party system
• Falklands war gave thatcher a massive boost - the SDLP got 25% (liberals 17% and 6% for SDP) of the vote nearly overtaking labour - they only got 23 seats and labour got 209 seats

Question 9

What did ‘old labour’ stand for in general terms?

Answer 9

• Nationalised industries such as coal and Steel to minimise unemployment
• Inclusive Welfare System to tackle poverty and improve social justice
• Working-class policies to improve lives of the poor at expense of rich
• improving equality in society through legislation
• Social Housing schemes
• Keynesist Economics - Top Down spending to encourage economic growth