Alevel Politics - Edexcel - Political Parties (COMPLETED)

What type of Democracy is the UK?

Representative democracy

What is the political spectrum of the uk?

Left wing and right wing

What are the ideas of the left wing

- Positive view of the state

- Goverement should reduce inequality and improve social cohesion through an extensive welfare state

- The wealthier should pay more through redistributive taxation

- Normally close relations with Trade Union

- Embraces Multiculturalism

What are the ideas of the Right Wing?

- Limited state intervention

- An undisturbed free-market

- Low taxation + Limited trade union influence

- privitisation > Nationalisation

- Traditional lifestyle + Shared National identity

Where is the right wing derived from

Liberal and conservatve ideology

Where is the left wing derived from

The idea to create a fair and equal society through positive state intervention.

What is adversary politics?

There are many fundemental and philosophical differences between the main 2 political parties and their policies

What is concensus politics?

There arent many fundemental philosophical or policy differences between the 2 main political parties.

What is a manifesto?

Lays out what the party wishes to achieve if they form a govermnet.

What is a mandate?

A mandate is the right to enact your manifesto if you win a general election - Right to govern

How are UK political parties mainly funded?

Through Private donations

How much is given to political parties to hire policy advisors?

2 million pounds

In the 2019 General election what percentage of donations were given to the conservatives?

61%

In the 2019 General election what percentage of donations were given to Labour?

17.5%

What percentage of the doations in the 2019 election for labour was from trade unions?

93%

In the 2019 General election how much in donations did the conservatives recieve?

19.3 million pounds

In the 2019 General election how much in donations did Labour recieve?

5.4 million pounds

What was old labour established to represent?

Old labour was established in 1900 to represent the intrests of the working class

What has labour traditionally been?

Labour has traditionally been a comprimise between democratic socialism and social deomcracy

When and who sent the NHS up

1948 - the health secretary Aneurin Bevan introduced the National Health Service.

In 1948 how much of the economy was nationalised?

In 1948 about 20% of the economy was nationalised.

What measures were introdued to make it easier for Young people in education by old labour?

- Maintanence grants

- Open university was established

- expansion of comprehensive education at the expense of grammer schools to encourage a more inclusive and less elitist society

What meaures did old labour pass to improve equality?

- Race relations act of 1968

- Sex discrimination act 1975

- Generous welfare state so high taxes for the wealthy reached a high of 83% under James Callaghan

What did Old Labour stand for?

- Nationalisation

- Welfare state

- Redistributive taxation

- collectivist ideas

What did the party do in 1980 under Michael Foot

They moved decisively left

What was labours 1983 mainfesto famously reffered to as by?

'Longest suicide note in history' - Labour Mp Gerald Kaufman

What did the scale of the defeat in the 1983 lead labour to do?

The scale of the defeat led them to abandoing most of their socialist policies and moving more central

What does new labour stand for?

- labour should encourage policies that are focused on wealth creation rather than wealth redistribution.

-abandoned nationalisation and accepted the benefits of the free-market

- still commited to social justice e.g. in 1997 introduced the minimum wage

What did Tony Blairs more centrist policies put him at odds with?

Tony Blairs more centrist policies put him at odds with more left wing members such as Tony Benn and Jeremy Corbyn who beleived that new labour was abandoing real socialism.

What did the election of Jermey Corbyn as Labours new leader do?

Moved the party signifiantly more left

a new group was estabkished called momentum which aimed to spread democratic socialist principles around the party

What has Kiers Starmer done with the party?

Moved it away from the democratic socialism represented by Jeremy Corbyn and Momentum.

What has Labour made clear that Labour still believed in?

Redistributive taxation - 'Trickle down economics doesnt work. Britian wont be better off just because we make the rich richer'

Who was Jeremy corbyns successor?

Keirs Starmer

What does modern Labour stand for in economic terms?

- remains commited to social justice through a mixed economy rather than embracing capitalism

- centerist social democratic aproch to the economy so no longer commited to the nationalisation of energy firms - GB energy left wing faith in gov enterprise

- " The broader shoulders should pay their fair share" - Starmer - Commitment to redistributive taxation

What does Modern Labour stand for in social terms

- remains commited to social justice through a mixed economy rather than embracing capitalism

What does Modern Labour Stand for in terms of Welfare?

Traditonal left wing commitment to the health service

- Commited to Abolishing Universal Credit as they claim it traps people in poverty

What does Modern Labour Stand for in terms of Law and order?

Harder on criminals - Strengthen laws on crime specifically directed against women and increase the number of police on the street.

Where did Classical liberalism stem from? (In the form of the Liberal democratic party)

Established in 1988 but takes roots from early on as 1850s with whigs, radicals (who supported reform in parliament and limmitation on roayal authority)and supporters of the former PM robert peel

Under whose leadership did Liberalism thrive?

Under the Leadership of William Gladstone

What did Classical liberalism advocate for?

- Free trade

- Lower Taxes

- Balanced Budgets

- Parlimentary and administrative reform

- Moral aproach to foreign policy

At the begining of the 20th centurty what did Modern Liberalism become influenced by?

Modern Liberalism became influenced by the works of John Hobsdon etc that advocated for welfare provision for the most vunerable in society

What did the rise of the labour party provide modern liberalism?

Rise of the Labour party provided a powerful alternative to the liberal party among the working class and as such the liberal party gradually declined being overtaken by labour

Who did the Liberals form a pact with in 1988 that made tgem the liberal democrats?

The liberals formed a pact with former labour MPS who left and created the social democratic party.

As a united party what did the liberal democrats enjoy?

The liberal democrats enjoyed growing success - won 62 seats in the 2005 general election

Since the liberal democrats combine both liberal and socialist values what does this create?

An uneasy relationship between the social democratic left - emohasising an more active role of the government - and the more neo-liberal approach of less government intervention.

What is modern Labours stance on Foreign Policy?

- no alteration in the level of the UK government’s support for Ukraine

- Defence Secretary John Healey travelled to Odessa within 48 hours of his appointment, announcing an additional package of military equipment for Ukraine

- desire to ‘reset’ the relationship with the EU, with the idea of a ‘security pact’ as a core proposition

- Re-emphasised the partys traditional commitment to NATO and indepedent nuclear dettrence.

- defence policy is more interventionalist and assertive than it was under corybin.

- on the path to spending 2.5% of the UKs gross domestic product on defence- Not set a specific date

What are modern Liberal democrats stance on the economy?

- raising income tax by 1p

- the 7 billion thats raised used towards the NHS

- Invest 150 Billion into green infastructure

What are modern Liberal democrats stance on Law and order?

- Community policing to reduce crime,

- improve rehabilitation. (Influenced heavily by John Stuart Mill.)

What are modern Liberal democrats stance on welfare?

Fair access to good Public services and a stronger social net - extened opporturnity for education, NHS efficiency.

What election system do the liberal democrats support?

The liberal democrats support the introduction of proportional representation

What do liberal democrats support that would encourage making the government more accountable to the public?

Further devoloution

What are modern Liberal democrats stance on Foreign Policy?

Stongest possible relation with the european Union

commited to the european convention of human rights as a core way of protecting civil liiberties

Where did Traditional conservatism stem from?

Traditional conservatism stemmed from a reaction to the english civil war

- Hobbes saw through this that if there was not a strong government to contol its citizens and resist dangerous innovation anarchy would ensue

Wat other event developed traditional conservatism?

- The french revoloution based on liberty, fraternity, and equality were in conflict with traditional conservative values

What book was writen to counter the enthusiasm of the french revoloution?

Reflections on the french revoloution - Edmund Burke

What was traditional conservatism closley associated with?

Traditional conservatism was closley related with the the curch and the monarchy

What did Traditional conservatives stand for?

- property

- pragmarism

- authoritatianism

- tradition

- stability

What did Disraeli say the conservatives must unite the nation in?

The conservatives must unite the nation in a collective reverance for the traditions and instiutuins that make Britian Great

What did Disraeli warn against britian becoming?

Disraeli warned against Britian becoming two nations 'The rich and the poor'

What did Disraelis one nation setiments help the conservatives reach out to?

Disraelis one nation sentiments helped the conservatives reach out to the working class

What did One Nation conservatism stand for?

- moderate state intervention

- rationality of human beings

- primary purpose of the state was to preserve

- prefered privitisation

What brought forth New right conservatism?

By the 1970s the effectivness on one nation conservatism was being challenged

- When Margret Thatcher defeated Edward heath for leader of the conservatism New right ptinciples became the dominant creed withhin thatchers conservatism.

What is New right conservatism an combination of?

Neo conervatism - Connected to the authoritarian fear of dissorder and a sense of community more traditionally associated with trditional conservatism

Neo Liberalism - Based on the idea that the economy regulates itself with little government intervention as possible

What did new right conservatives stand for?

- minimal taxation

- reducing inflation rates

- preventing a dependant culture

- limited state interention

What are Modern conservatives stance on the economy?

- high public spending reflective of one nation (public spending on the economy was 42%)

- The sunak government responded to the recession with dramtic public spending cuts amd higher taxes (reflective of the good house keeping policies of Margret Thatcher)

What are Modern conservatives stance on Law and order?

- Strict enforcment of Law and Order

- Johnson government was committed to increasing police powers over public protests (Thatcherite approach)

What are Modern conservatives stance on the Foreign Policy ?

- New Right commitment to soveriegn boarders - Johnson governements negotions for the UK to leave the EU

- Johnsons 16.5 billlion increase in defence spending

What are Modern conservatives stance on welfare?

- Blair govrnment introduced a minimum wage in 1997

- 2015 George Osborne introduced a living wage

- established commitment to NHS

- universal credit system has fewer benefits emphasising the anti dependancy aproach (Thatcherite)

What is the green partys stance on law and order?

Legalisation of Canabis

promote community policing

deprioritise stop and search

What is the green partys stance on economy?

Nationalisation of water, transport and energy

40 Billion per year spent on the Green economy

Carbon tax - help drive fossil fuels out of the economy and rise money for the green transition

What is the green partys stance on welfare?

Introduce a universal basic income - long term

Abolish the 2 child benefit cap - lifting 250,000 out of poverty

Increase Ubiversal Credit and legacy benefits by 40 pounds per week - short term

What is the SNPs stance on welfare?

substabtial pay rise of 4% for Health service workers

154,000 additional NHS staff members

Whats the green partys stance on Foreign Policy?

Take the lead in upholding the right to self-determination and the enforcement of international law.

Continue to support Ukraine as it resists Russian invasion.

Re-join the EU as soon as the political conditions are right

What is the SNPs stance on law and order?

End Vat on the police and fire services

tackle violence against women

work together to stop terrorism

What is the SNPs stance on foriegn policy ?

- EU membership for Scotland

- against the demonsiation of imagrants - wants devoloution powers on imigration

- scotlands international devlopment fund doubled to 10 milllion

What is the SNPs stance on the economy?

' the tax burden should be proportionate to ability to pay'

372 million in scottish freeport and investment zone programmes.

Whats reform uks stance on welfare?

Reducing illegal migration will put less pressure on the welfare system

Whats reform uks stance on law and order?

increase police funding and technology

against illegal migration - a points system for migrants

Whats reform uks stance on the Economy?

- cut corperation tax from 25% to 20% then to 15% in the third year

- 17 billion per year for NHS (not enough to meet their goal of cutting waiting lists in 2 years)

- cost saving measures would save less than set out

Whats reform uks stance on foreign policy ?

- State soverengty

- Cut foreign aid by 50%

How much are each of the main political parties given as a grant to employ policy advisors?

Each of the main political parties are given a grant of 2 million so they can employ policy advisors

What is short money?

Short money - Money is allocated yearly to the opposition parties for their work in the house of commons. Its based off of how many MPs they have. (2024 -2028 - The conservatives would be given short money)

How much short money were labour given 2023 - 2024?

Short money Labour Party - £6,602,347

How much short money were SNP given 2023 - 2024?

Short money SNP - £1,117,489

How much short money were the DUP given 2023 - 2024?

Short Money DUP - £195,870

How much short money were The Liberal Democrats given 2023 - 2024?

Short money Liberal Democrats - £903,753

How much short money were the Green Party given 2023 - 2024?

Short Money Green Party - 181, 971

What was implemented in 2020 in attempt to reform the party donation and funding system?

In 2020 there was an attempt to reform the system - The political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act was passed.

What was implemented by the political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act to keep track of how parties are funded?

- An independent Electoral Commission was established to record and make public how parties are funded

What does The political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2020 say about registration of party donations?

- Political Parties must register any donation over £7,500 with the Electoral Commission

What does The political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2020 say about how much political parties can spend in a constituency?

- The amount a political party can spend in a constituency during an election is limited to £30,000

What does The political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2020 say about types of party donations that can be accepted?

- No party can accept donations from non-UK citizens

What about the way the conservatives and labour are funded would be broken if political parties were state funded? 2028

The relationship between the conservatives and corperations

The relationship between labour and reade unions

Both of these would be broken meaning that they'd end up being more responsive to public intrests

How would state funded political parties helps smaller parties?

State funded political parties would endsure that the playing feild is more even and that smaller parties arent as disadvantaged

What would state funded political parties hep restore the publics trust in?

State funded political parties would help restore the publics trust in politicians

Example of a corrupt situation brought forth through the private funding of political parties?

Peter Ceuddas a former conservative co-treasurer who has doanated three million to the conservative party was recommended for a peerage by Borris Johnson

What negates the concerns about the cost of state funded political parties?

The cost of state funding political parties would be comparitively small - The phillips report reccomended 25 million as such the tax increase would be relatively small

What would state funding of political parties encourage?

State funding of political parties would encourage greater transparency and trust within politics

What controvercy could state funded political parties create?

Contoversy about how much each political party could claim

For example if it ws based off of current electoral success then this could just reinforce conservative and labout dominance

What were the results of the 2019 spending of the Brexit party and the SNP?

In the 2019 election the brexit party spent 4.3 million pounds on their campaign and won no seats

SNP received only 24,929 in donations and won 48 seats