topic2- labour policies Flashcards
(40 cards)
what is the difference between left wing and right wing political ideas?
left- pro-union, pro welfare, big state, less nationalistic(emphasis on humanism and class solidarity over national divisons)
right wing- nationalistic, smaller state, pro private market and privatisation, anti-welfare
what are the origins of the old labour party?
formed by trade unions and socilaist organisations in 1900s and formed to present more working class representation in parliament.
what are traditional old labour views?
pro trade union nationalisation and euroskeptic views
lab timeline
formed minority gov in 1924 and lost election until 1929 governed until 1931 where macdonald tried to cut meagre unemployment benefits
returned in 1940 in coaltiion with cons until 1945-51 clement atlee
1964-70
1974-79
welfare state (clement atlee)
what were 5 new welfare state reforms?
1948 NHS was created and it is a universal system of free healthcare. prior healthcare was private.
welfare benefits made for unemployed, sick and disabled to help tackle inequalities with social democratic policies
family allowance benefits for families with children
council houses/ public sector buildings created
and for the first time free secondary school education was introduced
who funded the welfare state?
tax from richer in society and redistributed in poorer to ease disparities. middle class also benefited from education and health welfare state
old labour economic policies?
- gov sought to regulate capitalism in the form of keynesian policy to stop unemployment from rising too high
what was the keynesian policy
policy included borrowing money when unemployment rose to create new jobs and when to fell back down money was repaid.
lab gov essentially regulated and controlled capitalism not replaced it
1945 old labour nationalisation?
key infrastructures industries like coal mining, iron and steel production, the railways, other transport, production and distribution of energy and water.
this was seen as a one off exercise not the start of nationalising more of the economy
1945 old labour foreign policy?
similar to conservative party and believed Britain should remain a major power.
ex: in the korean ussr war us sent troops and UK followed through similarly
lab gov was also central to nato bringing together us military to western Europe’s
only difference was willingness to end british empire and cons began to adopt a similar idea too
1951-94 labour gov overview of changing policies
in this time, labour gov constantly lost and won in a two party system with cons. keynesian could no longer curb rising unemployment rates and inflation soared peaking at 23% in 1975. keynesian could have exacerbated inflation more through borrowing money.
1951-94 labour nationalisation
197os gov faced bankruptcy of key industries and nationalised
british car industry
aerospace
some engineering sectors
1983 manifesto for labour?
dubbed the longest suicide note in history reflecting prominently strong left wing policies
Blair’s new labour project 2 key ideologies were?
after 18y of labour defeat he adapted
-maintain new right/thatcherite policies on economy promising no return of old labour polices of state regulation and keynesian economics, believing thatchers free-market economy was prosperous.
-increase spending on welfare and public services and reform public services. for example education reforms to push competition between schools. (cons had squeezed tightly on public sector)
what were blair’s major reforms?
-improved public services and constitutional reforms HRA
-devolution of power to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
what ruined blair’s image ?
however his involvement in the iraq war after 9/11 where he became even more closely allied to US tarnished his image
and the financial crisis of 2007-8.
what was the financial crisis of 2007-8?
-lab economy was built of the idea that a lightly regulated economy would deliver growth and tax icnome which would fund public services. this model fell apart in 2007 when the financial crisis hit.
it started in us and severely impacted uk banks which had been borrowing money. lab had to pay out for the baks resulting in gov debt and ruined their ECONOMIC COMPETENCE
who was lab leader in 2000-2024
1997-2008 blair
2008-10 - gordon brown
2010-15- ed milliband
2015-20 corbyn
20-25 keir starmer
corbyns policies he wanted to pursue?
-public ownership of many privatised industries by tories especially gas, electricity, water, railways
- expand role for the state in economic development with a national development bank
-increase NHS funding
-increase higher rate income tax 50% for high earners and 45% for over 80k yearly
-abolish uni tuition fees
labour 2017 election?
policies favourable amongst the people but his inneficy with anti-semitism and his opposition to the second brexit referendum decreased his popularity.
2019- lab had 32% while cons had 44%
keir starmer policies?
‘ten point commandment’
renationalise energy water royal mail and railways
net zero carbon economy, green new deal
- compromised not to increase major taxation and stuck to reducing debt
-pensioners winter fuel cut
-reform NHS not increase spending
keir starmers policies on
economic
social
climate
promote peace, hra
common ownership
equality
strengthen worker trade union rights
economic justice- increase tax for top 5% of earners
social justice- abolish Universal Credit, defend NHS, abolition of tuition fees
climate justice- green new deal at heart of everything, demand internation action on climate rights
peace- no more illegal wars, review uk arms and sales
common ownership- end outsourcing/privatisation of nhs, nationalise rail, mail, energy, water
equality- abolish section 28, create equality for all
strengthen workers- work with trade unions and stand up for working people, tackle insecure work and low pay
abolish HOL
has keir starmers delivered his policies on
economic
social
climate
promote peace, hra
common ownership
equality
strengthen worker trade union rights
economic - increased income tax so no he didnt increase tax for rich but increased corporation tax slightly
social- didnt abolish universal credit or tuition fees
climate- hasnt done anything significant with the green peace deal, but has pledged to move england to 0 emissions and green energy by 2030 which has had adverse effect on economy
promote peace- yes in palestine ukraine war he has decreased outscouring of arms to israel
common ownership- yes he has abolished NHS England but no rail, mail or water yet
equality- yes he was quick to respond to 2024 summer race riots through imprisonment
union rights- unsure?
what labour govs were social democrats or third way?
SD- 1945-1979 and corbyn
Third way/ new labour - tony blair, gordon brown and perhaps keir starmer