Politics paper 1- Ideology and parties, and Conservatism and Labour

What are some traditional values of the labour party?

• People should work together and support one another.

• There should be no inequality of opportunity between the classes.

• Trade Unions are vital to ensuring that capitalism can flourish.

What are some traditional values of the Conservative party?

• People should be self reliant, as they are self-interested.

• Order is essential in society. Therefore a string government and police are needed.

• Traditional institutions such as the church should be protected.

What are some traditional values of the Liberal party?

• Individual rights and freedoms must be protected.

• The rights of minority groups need to be protected by the state.

• Tolerance of different beliefs to our own is very important.

Some of Boris Johnson (2019-2022) polices-

• Increase number of nurses by 50,000

• Leave the EU

• Reach Net-Zero by 2050

• Pensions to rise by 2.5% per year

Some of Lizz Truss policies (September 2022- October 2022)

• Workers rights improved

• Approve more oil drilling in the North Sea

• Deport asylum seekers to Rwanda

Some of Rishi Sunak’s policies-

• Halving inflation by the end of 2023.

• Creating better paid jobs.

• Cutting NHS waiting lists.

Some of Theresa May’s policies (2016-2019)-

• EU referendum

• Foreign policy

• Education

Some of David Cameron’s policies (2005-2016)

• Same sex marriage

• Increasing student fees

• UK government Austerity programme

Some of John Major’s policies (1990-1997)

• Removal of the Poll Tax

• Educational reforms

• Tackling the recession

Why have the Tories previously been known as the “Nasty Party”

• Exclusion of women and minorities.

• Reliance on white male MPs.

• Badly behaved politicians.

Give some examples of Boris Johnson’s 2019 policies that have Thatcherite principles…

• He planned to invest in the MET, and pledged to ensure less crime. This was not different to Thatcher as she was very pro police, and anti crime.

• Student fees of £9,250 likely to continue. Not different to Thatcher because rising the University fees/ keeping them at £9,250 is elitist and Thatcher was elitist as she introduced more grammar schools.

Give some Boris Johnson 2019 policies that go against the Thatcherite principle…

• Continue the roll out of Universal credit. Goes against Thatcher because she didn’t want to help people as much and felt as though you should be competitive.

• Several billion a year of extra spending, but not several tens of billions- Boris raised the tax. Thatcher believed in low taxation as she was not funding the welfare state as much.

Why might there have never been a Labour party at all?

Because it is possible that the Labour interests could have been accommodated within the Liberal party.

Why have Trade Unions played such a big part in the Labour party?

They have always provided the bulk of the funds for the party.

Why do unions not always support Labour?

Because sometimes they may feel that their interests are directly threatened. In 1931, they refused to accept the proposals of Ramsay MacDonald to lower unemployment benefits.

Why was WW1 such a turning point for Labour?

The war led to a doubling of trade union membership, and most of these unions would see their interests being met by the Labour party rather than the Liberals.

Who were Margaret Thatcher’s people?

The lower-middle class and the self-employed

How did unemployment change in the 1980s under Thatcher?

There was a raise of unemployment.

What is Party Ideology?

The left to right political spectrum.

What do those on the extreme left favour?

Some form of communal existence.

What do those on the moderate left favour?

Greater government intervention in the economy.

What do those on the right favour?

Private business and less government involvement in the economy

What is consensus politics?

When there is widespread agreement between parties and groups on key political issues.

What is adversary politics?

When there are deep political differences between major parties and within parties.

What is a party system?

The system of government by political parties in a democratic country.

What is a Dominant Party System?

A political occurrence in which a single party continuously dominates election results.

Multi party system meaning?

A political system in which multiple political parties across the political spectrum run for national elections, and all have the capacity to gain the control of the government.

What’s a single party system?

A governance structure where only a single political party controls the ruling system.

What is a two party system?

A political party system where two major parties dominate the political landscape.

What is Cranborne money?

Money paid to opposition parties in the House of Lords to help them cover their administration costs.

What is short money?

Money paid to opposition parties in the House of Commons to help them cover their administration costs.

What is the difference between government and Parliament?

Government formulates policies whereas Parliament debates those policies and passes opinion on them. Government drafts legislation whereas Parliament structures legislation.

What does Authoritarian mean?

It means that the state gets legally involved.

Left wing beliefs?

• Emphasis on people as social beings working together for common good.

• The state should reflect the peoples views.

• The state should provide welfare.

Right wing beliefs?

• Emphasis on the individual and the need to preserve society.

• People need a strong government.

• Slow gradual changes.

What are the origins of the Conservative party?

Those who supported the royal authority were known as royalists, but came to be known as “Tories”.

Example of Conservative support for private property and accumulated wealth -

• Taxes on property and wealth should be minimised as much as possible.

Example of the Conservative’s idea of an organic society-

• Rich people should care for poor people.

• Society should develop naturally.

Example of the Conservative’s fear of too much diversity-

• They have an opposition to multi-culturalism.

• They have a resistance to high levels of immigration.

What idea does one-nation revolve around?

The idea that the rich have an obligation to help the poor.

What did Labour do as Thatcher moved the Conservative’s to the right?

Labour moved to the left (adversarial politics)

What did Thatcherism seek to do?

To reduce state intervention in the economy, while restoring order to society. New right Conservative’s rejected compromise.

Who brought fresh Conservative thinking?

David Cameron from 2005.

List some differences between Thatcherites and Non-Thatcherites-

• Traditional Conservative’s see society as organic, whilst the New Right see society as a collection of individuals.

• Traditional Conservative’s are more supportive of the welfare state than the New Right.

Conservative policies on the dependency of culture-

• Many welfare benefits were reduced or eliminated.

• benefits were targeted to those in most need, and who were un-able to be self-reliant.

Conservative policies on low direct taxation-

• Income tax rates were reduced.

• Taxes on private company profits were reduced.

List some similarities between Thatcherism and One-Nation Conservatism-

• Both take a strict approach on issues of law.

• Both support traditional Christian, family values.

• Both see private property ownership as a key element of society.

What is Party Faction?

An organised group of politicians or supporters who share a political view point, set of ideas or loyal to an individual group.

How did Cameron portray himself as a modern, compassionate Conservative?

By visiting pubs and being seen with puppies, and by saying that he “hates mean things”.

Why was David Cameron elected?

• To unite the party and end factionalism.

• To help the party to loose the image of the “Nasty Party”.

• To encourage younger voters to vote for Conservative.

In early years why did Labour find it difficult to win seats?

Because the electoral system meant that many working class men did not have the right to vote.

What did Labour create (medical related)?

The NHS

What is traditional Labour?

It means it has democratic social origins.

What is New Labour?

The phrase used to describe how Blair and Brown brought the party to the centre.

Give a Labour class and society policy-

• The standard of living of the working class should be paid for through welfare and taxing of higher incomes.

Give a Labour control of capitalism policy-

• Strong trade unions to defend the interests of workers.

Give a New Labour free market policy-

• Not focusing on nationalism but supporting privatisation instead.

Give a New Labour Individualism policy-

• Lower personal taxation, and home ownership to be encouraged and supported.

What does Labour want to do regarding the NHS?

Increase spending in the health sector by an average 4.3% pa.

Free annual NHS dental check-ups. (Corbyn)

Which Labour PM created the NHS?

Clement Attlee

What constitutional changes did the Labour PM make in 1997?

Devolution

Who became Labour party leaders in 1994, 2007, 2010, 2015, and 2019?

1994- Tony Blair

2007- Gordon Brown

2010-Ed Miliband

2015- Jeremy Corbyn

2019- Sir Kier Starmer

Who created New Labour?

Tony Blair

Who has been the most left wing Labour representative leader?

Jeremy Corbyn