The Labour Party today

Question 1

When did Blair step down as Labour Party leader?

Answer 1

2007

Question 2

Since Blair stepped down from the Labour Party, what has happended to the party’s ideology?

Answer 2

Moved left

Question 3

When was Gordon Brown Labour Party leader?

Answer 3

2007-2010

Question 4

Gordon Brown as Labour Party leader

Answer 4

Attempted to recreate the party in his own image
Committed to social justice
Involved in dispute with his party over abolishing the 10p tax rate, which would’ve affected the poorest in society
Failed to form coalition gov with Lib Dems after 2010 election and resigned as PM

Question 5

What two things will Gordon Brown’s premiership be known for?

Answer 5

Presiding over and handling the banking collapse of 2008

Unpopularity with the public and constant threats of coups and leadership challenges from within his party

Question 6

When was Ed Miliband Labour Party leader?

Answer 6

2010-2015

Question 7

Ed Miliband as Labour Party leader

Answer 7

Won Labour leadership in 2010
Labour had reputation for being involved in unnecessary war and economic incompetence after the recession in 2008
Never fully won over the electorate
Seen as crucial to appeal to both middle and working class to win a majority, but he struggled to balance his more left-wing views

Question 8

Labour Party under Jeremy Corbyn

Answer 8

Sharp turn to the left
Supported left-wing policies including:
Re-nationalisation of water, railways and Royal Mail and regulation of the energy market
Reintroduction of 50p tax rate
Increase in corporation tax
Establishment of a National Investment Bank with £250bn for infrastructure
Re-introduction of maintenance grants for univeristy studnets and the abolition of tuition fees
Support for Trident’s renewal
Commitment to spend 2% of GDP on defence in line with NATO
Moderate and Blairite MPs found themselves out of place, some quit (Tristram Hunt, Jamie Reed), some went to chair select committees (Hilary Benn, Angela Eagle), some retired (Gisela Stuart)

Question 9

What is Momentum?

Answer 9

Organisation credited with mobilising supporters online and on the doorstep during the 2017 election campaign

Question 10

Who founded Momentum and why?

Answer 10

John Lansman and Adam Klug to support the pro-Corbyn wing of Labour local branches and made links with the unions to provide funding and infrastructure

Question 11

Ctiricisms of Momentum

Answer 11

Claims its activists have taken over constituency Labour parties and stirred up trouble against sitting MPs who are critical of Corbyn

Question 12

How many activists and staff did Momentum have Jan 2018?

Answer 12

35,000 activists and 15 members of staff