topic2- labour policies Flashcards

(40 cards)

1
Q

what is the difference between left wing and right wing political ideas?

A

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

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2
Q

what are the origins of the old labour party?

A

formed by trade unions and socilaist organisations in 1900s and formed to present more working class representation in parliament.

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3
Q

what are traditional old labour views?

A

pro trade union nationalisation and euroskeptic views

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4
Q

lab timeline

A

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

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5
Q

welfare state (clement atlee)

what were 5 new welfare state reforms?

A

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

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6
Q

who funded the welfare state?

A

tax from richer in society and redistributed in poorer to ease disparities. middle class also benefited from education and health welfare state

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7
Q

old labour economic policies?

A
  • gov sought to regulate capitalism in the form of keynesian policy to stop unemployment from rising too high
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8
Q

what was the keynesian policy

A

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

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9
Q

1945 old labour nationalisation?

A

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

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10
Q

1945 old labour foreign policy?

A

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

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11
Q

1951-94 labour gov overview of changing policies

A

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.

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12
Q

1951-94 labour nationalisation

A

197os gov faced bankruptcy of key industries and nationalised

british car industry
aerospace
some engineering sectors

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13
Q

1983 manifesto for labour?

A

dubbed the longest suicide note in history reflecting prominently strong left wing policies

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14
Q

Blair’s new labour project 2 key ideologies were?

A

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)

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15
Q

what were blair’s major reforms?

A

-improved public services and constitutional reforms HRA

-devolution of power to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

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16
Q

what ruined blair’s image ?

A

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.

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17
Q

what was the financial crisis of 2007-8?

A

-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

18
Q

who was lab leader in 2000-2024

A

1997-2008 blair
2008-10 - gordon brown
2010-15- ed milliband
2015-20 corbyn
20-25 keir starmer

19
Q

corbyns policies he wanted to pursue?

A

-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

20
Q

labour 2017 election?

A

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%

21
Q

keir starmer policies?

A

‘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

22
Q

keir starmers policies on

economic
social
climate
promote peace, hra
common ownership
equality
strengthen worker trade union rights

A

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

23
Q

has keir starmers delivered his policies on

economic
social
climate
promote peace, hra
common ownership
equality
strengthen worker trade union rights

A

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?

24
Q

what labour govs were social democrats or third way?

A

SD- 1945-1979 and corbyn
Third way/ new labour - tony blair, gordon brown and perhaps keir starmer

25
what is socialism definition?
an ideology that desires to create greater equality of outcome in society, so everyone has an equal share of society's wealth and resources. fundamentalist- complete equality of outcome moderate socialists- strive for greater equality within existing systems
26
socialist policies/principles?
anti-capitalist- fundamentalist want to replace capitalism (which is about private ownership) while moderate seek to incorporate collective ownership collective ownership- taking economic resources into public ownership like banks, transport, energy companies. moderate socialist would focus on nationalising specific sectors not the entire economy collectivism: more collective provisions on housing transport and basic necessities. some may strive for collective childcare . moderate socialist believe private services can meet people's specific needs, alongside public services social equality- since it is based off working class and poorer socio economic backgrounds, they strive to achieve strong equality of outcome through redistributive taxation to fund public services and prevent poverty.
27
what does redistributive taxation do?
this is a socialist policy where taxing higher earners to fund public sector and redistribute resources equality creates a strong equality of outcome.
28
was old labour, third way, and corbyn socialist?
old labour yes social democratic third way no as it sought capitalist growth to benefit all society groups but not equally corbyn- yes same as 1945-79 yes social democratic
29
Difference between socialism and social democratic?
both believe in fairer and more equal society SD- this can be done while maintaining largely capitalist economy. they can do this through taxation and welfare policies, redistributive wealth socialist- sought more humane capitalism that incorporated some elements of socialist thinking
30
Social democratic ideology?
greater social equality, but not complete equality just abolishing worst poverty so everyone can live somewhat comfortably equality of opportunity - believed in giving equal opportunities to working class, bame, women which were discriminated against, leading to first anti-discrimination laws in 60-70s welfare state- strong commitment to welfare state ex atlees NHS, council housing economic regulation: keynesian economics do not believe in free market capitalism but do not believe in abolishing capitalism either.
31
third way/new right policies ? economic inequality poverty community welfare state
accepted free-market capitalism, accepting thatcherite policies like laissez faire economics. they believed thatchers economy was prosperous and this would continue to generate wealth to spend on welfare services, instead of tax cuts inequality relaxation- wealth is justified if it raises general wealth in society which improves conditions of the worst off. goal is to make poor less poor not eradicate rich to reduce gap. poverty- caused by social exclusion and blair emphasised education 'education x3' which would lead to social inclusion which would lessen the disparities of rich vs poor. ex: 'sure start' programme provided extra support for pre-schools in deprived areas emphasised importance of community to develop individuals sense of duty to others and fostering social inclusion. communities combined with low crime, decent housing, pride and mutual obligation would lead to a prosperous society welfare state- would help people get back into work not aim to make those out of work well off. did not view it as a means to achieve greater equality unlike old labour.
32
economic regulation new labour corbyn starmer
blair- didnt agree with keynesian and agreed with new right free market to allow for prosperous economy and redistribution to welfare state. 20007 crisis led to QUANTITATIVE EASING to stop unemployment crisis. corbyn- wanted to borrow money to invest and grow economy/keynesian and wanted to set up a national investment bank to invest into new businesses starmer- wants to get rid of gov debt and use money on public services not through tax cuts. willing to invest in closing businesses
33
state owned industry new labour corbyn starmer
blair liked private sector businesses or public-private partnerships. corbyn wanted to nationalise all privatised industries so everyone could have the choice of using one starmer opposes nationalising energy companies. wants to nationalise rail, mail and water. supports use of private sector
34
economic intervention new labour corbyn starmer
blair- stuck to cons economic policy of laissez fair approach and not interfering in businesses until 2007 crisis. emphasised education to lead to a better workforce and paid jobs corbyn- wants national investment bank which would lend 250B to private sector businesses in hopes it'd be paid back to generate great growth in business starmer- focused on less intervention like Blair
35
taxation new labour corbyn starmer
blai- low tax, basic income tax cut to 20%, high earners income tax kept at 40%. increased other taxes for redistribution of wealth corbyn- raised taxes for high earners to 45% and highest earners 50% from 45% starmer- kept inc tax 40% for high increased private school VAT, and council tax
36
NHS and social care new labour corbyn starmer
blair- increased NHS spending and spending doubled during crisis. if you could afford care homes then you did under private sector or youd sell your house to corbyn- wanted to increase spending and abolish fees for prescriptions and dentirsty. wanted to introduce National care service to ease NHS pressure for old people but it was unclear where funding would come starmer- unsure, knows home selling is unpopular amongst taxpayers but recognises issue of old people taking up NHS beds. also abolished winter fuel
37
benefits new labour corbyn starmer
blair- tax credit introduced for working poor Corbyn- wanted to abolish UC but nothing to replace, benefits not increased starmer- promised and failed to abolish UC, abolished Winter fuel payments and didn't lift two child cap
38
pensions new labour corbyn starmer
blair- state pensions rose, winter fuel introduced and triple lock ensured corbyn- keeping triple lock and other pensioner benefits starmer- abolished winter fuel, kept triple lock
39
policing new labour corbyn starmer
Blair- tough on crime tough on causes introduced ASBOS and tackled terrorism by taking them without trial, stephen case deemed institutional racism corbyn- increase police numbers which were cut under conservative coalition, more youth services starner- made timpsons prison minister to reduce reoffending rates, long sentences for anti-asylum rioters, looked into rehabilitation
40
nato and eu policies new labour corbyn starmer
blair- committed to NATO and nuclear arnment and international support in afghan and iraq war. supporter of eu but not currency corbyn- opposed nato and nuclear weapons but no policies imposed as his cabinet were pro nato. he was euroskeptic but his party remained neutral overall though he was forced to agree to the referendum in 2019 starmer- supports us alliance pro ukraine for being nato member. increased military spending by 1%. supports israel to some extent but neutral. accepts brexit and promises closer eu alliance but not joining a single market.