Established political

Give an example of the tory party being a broad church?

2019, 21 conservative MPs defied the government three line whip to vote against the party on Brexit- led to them having the party whip withdrawn and being removed from the party. These included father of the house Kenneth Clarke and grandson of Winston Churchill Nicholas Soames.

Give the arguments that the tory party is divided?

Since the early 1990s, the Conservatives became bitterly divided over the issue of Europe.

Under Cameron and May Eurosceptic groups like the ERG were a major thorn and rebellions on the Withdrawal agreement eventually forced May to resign

Under Cameron’s leadership, groups like Cornerstone grew increasingly frustrated at Cameron’s close bond with the Lib Dems and pursuing a reform agenda which included same-sex marriage

Give the arguments that the tory party is undivided?

Johnsons purging of the Europhile wing of the party in the Autumn of 2019 ensured the party became more united behind his plans to leave the EU regardless of a deal

On most issues, due to pragmatic nature of the party as well as the loyalty to the party there are few issues that provoke rebellion- the internal markets bill provoked concern but not rebellion

Usually there is enough common ground on areas of economic policy between the different factions that the party can work out their differences

What were Truss’s key policies?

Cut taxes by scrapping national insurance rise previously announced

Scrapping recent corporation tax rise

Promised to remove green energy levies

Capping energy prices

Thatcherite

What are Rishi Sunak’s key policies?

Immigration policy- reduce legal immigration and stop illegal

Halve inflation and grow the economy

Cut HS2 spending

Opened new licences for oil drilling

Increased living wage and pension benefits

One nation

Give left wing tory groups?

Tory reform group- seeks to promote social cohesion, opposing policies that would divide the nation

Bright blue- represents liberal conservatism which adopts a positive view of human nature, believes in some market control and social justice. Promoting meritocracy

Give right wing tory groups

Cornerstone- motto was faith , flag and family, wishes to restore traditional values to the conservative movement. Supports Uk being a christian country and is intensely nationalist in its outlook

Conservative way forward- influenced by thatcher and seeks to promote neo-liberal ideas. Support retention of free markets and free enterprise through low taxation and deregulation of industry. Opposed to trade union power.

What happened in the 17th Century for the tory party?

Roots of the party lie in the conflict that developed in the 17th century between the monarchy and parliament. Those who supported the authority of the monarch over parliament became known as tories; those who preferred the others side were whigs

What happened after the glorious revolution for the tories?

The whigs won the battle so the tories began to adapt and instead began to seek ways to protect landowners and the influence of the aristocracy from the growing threat to their authority posed by an industrial middle class. They became known as the conservatives because they resisted new political structures and wanted to conserve the dominant position of the upper classes from the growth of industrial capitalism or the threats posed by revolutionary ideas that emerged from the French Revolution

Who was the first Conservative PM

Robert Peele (1830s and 1840s). His aim was to prevent the country from becoming too unequal, to preserve the unity of the UK and preserve order. However it would be under the leadership of Benjamin Disraeli (1870s) that would come too define the modern Conservative Party. He adopted a pragmatic policies that would benefit the whole nation- known as one nation conservatism

When did one nation conservatism reach its peak?

Under the leadership of Harold MacMillan in the 1950s- he promoted a consensus politics that in part mirrored that of labour

When was one nation conservatism ditched?

Under the leadership of Margaret Thatcher it was ditched in favour of a new right conservatism or Thatcherism, which would revolutionise how Britain was run and has dominated the party thinking ever since

List characteristics of one nation conservatism?

Slow gradual change, paternalistic, pragmatic and keynesian economic policy, limited welfare state, human nature, internationalism, national sovereignty, tradition and preservation and organic society

List characteristics of Thatcherism?

Monetarisn, Neo-conservatism, Free market economics, a smaller state, privitisation, order, limited welfare state, human nature, internationalism, national sovereignty, tradition and preservation and organic society

Explain New Labour 1994-2015?

New Labouris really associated with the leadership of Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and Peter Mandelson. During this 20 year period Labour achieved its longest period of electoral success with 13 years in power between 1997-2010

Explain Old Labour 1990-1994; 2015-2019

Old Labour is associated with its historical roots as a democratic socialist party. The atlee government was the peak of old labour. It was considered defeated by New Labour but Corbyn’s suprise victory in 2015 saw Labour taken back to its socialist roots

When did Labour form?

in the early years of the 20th century as a direct response to the growth of trade unions. In 1901, a court rules that a Welsh trade union that organised a strike was responsible for paying damages for the loss of business caused by the strike

How did Labours trade union links form?

Due to the welsh court ruling that fundamentally undermined the viability and purpose of trade unions (which had only been legalised in 1880s) It was recognised that the only way to change law was to send reps to parliament-with the expansion of the franchise throughout the 19th century - working class men could now vote

Give statistics that show Labours affiliation with trade unions?

1900, 94% of Labour representation committees affiliated membership was from the unions and this relationship remained fundamental in 1990 as the unions controlled 80% of the votes at party conferences and provided a similar amount of the party’s income

What type of politics has Labour typically pursued?

In the interest of the Working class, revisionist socialist that sought to promote social democracy within a capitalist system. These principles are best encapsulated in the parties 1918 constitution

When did Labour form their first minority government?

With the extension of the franchise in 1924 and then 1929, they won their first majority in 1945

When was Labour’s peak power?

Post war Britain. 1950s saw Labour descend into a bitter civil war as the right of the party led by figures such as the PM Jim Callaghan and Chancellor Dennis Healer take on the left of the party repped by Tony Benn. JC argues that trade union movement needed to be restrained and that the state had to have less control over the economy in order to bring down inflation. TB argued that trade union power needed to be strengthened, state control had to be expanded and wealth redistribution had to be accelerated

Explain the ‘winter of discontent’

In the run up to 1979 General Election, mass strike action by NUPE led to rubbish being uncollected, school shutting and bodies being left unburied in what was dubbed the winter of discontent which undermined Labour’s credentials as a party of government for a generation

What happened to the Labour party after the 1979 defeat?

Left wing gained control, new leader Michael Foot campaigned a bold left wing manifesto that later Labour MP Gerald Kaufmann would describe as the ‘longest suicide note in history’ for its pledges to renationalise all major industries, strengthen trade union power, support nuclear disarmament and leave NATO

What happened in Liverpool in late 1970s that undermined Labour as a political party?

Local labour parties in places like liverpool were being taken over by a radical fringe group called militant tendency which undermined Labour as party of the people

How many defeats did Labour face before transformation to a broader catch all appeal?

3 (1983,187,1992)

What happened to the Labour party under the leadership of Tony Blair (1994-2007)?

Transformed from a socialist party to a centrist left-heading party. One of the first things that he did was reform of CLAUSE IV

What was Clause IV?

“To secure for the workers by hand or by brain the full fruits of their industry and the most equitable distribution there of that many possible upon the basis of the common ownership of the means of productions

What did tony blair reform clause IV to?

‘ we work for a dynamic economy, serving the public interest, in which the market and the rigour of competition are joined with the forces of cooperation to produce the wealth the nation needs and the opportunity for all to work and prosper, with a thriving private sector and high quality public services’

What did New Labour stand for?

New Labour was more than rebranding a party that had fallen out of favour with the electorate . Changing the direction of the party and adopting what had become known as the third way.

What did New Labour pursue?

re-emphasises the parties historical links with trade unions

But sought to offer policies that appealed to middle class voters

This means adopting the language of mainstream capitalism as promoted by Thatcherism

But promoting greater sense of social justice and creating a fairer society- something termed ‘traingulation’

When did critics turn on blair?

After the decision to go to war in Iraq in 2003. Despite record spending of health and education many accuse Blair of turning his back on the parties core principles in favour of power. They pointed to the following… Introduction of ID cards and stringent anti-terror laws which eroded civil liberties, refusal to reverse Thatcherite trade union laws, favouring private enterprise in public services with creeping privatisation of health and education.

What happened to Labour after the financial crash of 2008?

New leader Gordon Brown had his reputation of ‘iron chancellor’ undid. He was forced to nationalise a number of high street banks and oversaw the UK’s first run on the bank since the Great depression when crowds descended on Northern Rock. Funded using tax payers money a huge bail out of the banking industry the national debt from £41 billion in 2007 to £80 billion by 2010. Oversaw expenses scandal and did little in the field of constitutional reform (something he was passionate about)

How did the public perceive Ed Miliband?

Labour struggled to establish a clear identity to rival the tories. Miliband appeared weak and struggled to establish a broad enough coalition of supporters across the country that allowed the party to topple the tories. For most, Miliband was never taken seriously as a leader

What happened under Miliband’s lead?

2015 was a disaster for Labour. Lost its traditional support to the SNP, failed to reclaim marginals in suburban areas in the West and East Midlands, was all but wiped out in the south of England, lost key marginals in the south and this defeat saw Miliband’s resignation

Who did Corbyn compete against?

Andy Burnham- a popular left of centre MP with links to the unions

Yvetter Cooper- a centrist Labour MP who had developed a strong reputation under Miliband

Liz Cooper- the New Labour candidate

List characteristics of New Labour?

Pro-market, Equal rights, enabling state, individualism, pragmatic, communitarianism, equality, equal opportunity and political and constitutional reform

List characteristics of Old Labour?

Common ownership, Dogmatic, Statism, Class conflict, Trade unionism, Welfarism, collectivism, political and constitutional reform, equal opportunity and equality

Give old labour left groups of Labour

Left futures- online forum for those who were sincere about left wing socialist ideas

Momentum- Pushed clear agenda of old labour values including huge wealth redistribution, abandoning the nuclear deterrent and nationalisation.

Both created by Jon Lansman

Give Centre groups of Labour?

Labour first- supporters of New labour

Progress- supporters of new labour

What two factions can the lib dems be divided into?

Orange book liberals and social liberals

Explain orange book liberals?

Draw on classical liberalism and have been influenced by neo-liberalism of thinkers like Milton Friedman

Endorse the thatcherite consensus

Figures like Nick Clegg and current leader Ed Davey are OBL

Explain social liberals?

Draw on the new progressive liberalism that emerged in the 1930s and 40s

Heavily influenced by Keynesian economics and the work of the liberal reformer- William Beveridge

Oppose site Thatcherite consensus and are more in tune with the new labour third way

Key figures include ex leaders Vince cable and Tim Farron

Why was the coalition for the lib dems disadvantageous?

The coalition government saw the lib dems enter government for the first time since the 1920s- and although this was seen as a success for the Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg the honeymoon was short lived. The public gave the conservatives the credit for all that was popular (raising of the tax threshold) and blamed the liberals for much that went wrong (austerity policies)

The decision to u-turn on their promise to cut tuition fees and support raising them to £9,000 was hugely damaging

They failed to change the voting system in a referendum and failed to follow through on constitutional reform (HoL reform)

What happened in the 2015 election for the Lib Dems?

Lost 49 seats (15% of the vote)

How was the Liberal party formed?

The Liberal party formed in 1877 out of a merging of Whigs and Radicals. It was dominated by the great Victorian PM William Gladstone. It was the election landslide victory of 1906 that helped define the libs as the party of the people. Radically transforming welfare, men like Herbert Asquith, David Lloyd George and Winston Churchill would reshape this country in the early part of the 20th century

What impact did WW1 have on the lib dems?

Divided over direction and feeling pressuring from both conservatives and the growing labour party, began to fracture. The defeat of David Lloyd George gov in 1923 brought down the Liberals as a political force in the UK. Continued to struggle for relevance through 50s, 60s and 70s. However as tories and labour party became unpopular, voters looked for more options. Labour split with the gang of form forming the social democrats- forming a liberal alliance in the 1983 and 1987- polled well but only won a couple of seats

What happened to the liberals in 1987

Joined with the social democrats to become the lib dems. Support for them and the leader Paddy Ashdown grew throughout the 1990s. Opposition to the IRAQ war made them the party of protest and in 2005 they achieved their best election outcome, winning 62 seats. In 2010 both tories and labour struggled and the lib dems had the chance to form a coalition fovernment

List characteristics of classical liberalism

Harm principles, privacy, laissez faire, constitutionalism, individualism, minimal state, pluralists, democratic, human rights, legal equality, liberty

List characteristics of modern liberalism?

Social reformers, welfare, environmentalism, multiculturalism, social justice, pluralists, democratic, human rights, legal equality and liberty