POLITICS - UK POLITICS - ORIGINS OF LABOUR PARTY

how did the labour party begin

• trade unions began to support their members in running for parliament

what was the first name of the labour party

• 1900 labour representation committee was formed

• not unified in policy and consisted of multiple left wing factions including revolutionary marxists and social democrats

who were the social democratic federation (SDF) and the Fabian society

SDF - revolutionary marxists

Fabian society - believed in gradual reforms

the disparity between these groups highlight the splits in the party

when did the LRC become the labour party

• 1906 LRC won 29 seats and became labour party

what faction of the LRC gained ideological control over the party

• the Fabian society

• they were democratic socialists who believed in gradual reform

whats clause 4 of the labour constitution

• clause 4 committed the party to securing the common ownership of the means of production

means of production - means of producing goods or services , machinery ,land, energy

common ownership - owned by the collective not private interest

whe was the first labour gov formed

• 1924 (minority)

what was labours role in ww2

• formed a coalition with cons

• clement Atlee deputy pm

• labour focused on mobilizing workforce and industrial production

• in 1945 GE labour won as voters believed they were trustworthy and had the experience now to lead

what are the mean of production

the resources used to produce goods and services in an economy

land, machinery , factories

whats capitalism

an economic system where the means of production are owned by private interests and operate on profit motive

whats socialism

an economic system where the means of production are owned and regulated by the gov , promoting collective welfare

what does nationalisation mean

process of the government taking control of private industries

privatisation opposite

whats social justice

• pursuing a fair and equal society , adressing inequality and ensuring access to oppurunities

what was the ideology of the labour party pre 1960s

democratic socialism

what is the aim of democratic socialism

seeks to transform capitalist society into a socialist one through democratic means rather than a revolution

what labour government is most strongly associated with democratic socialism

• clement Atlees labour 1945

what are the 4 core values of democratic socialism

• collectivism , working for all of society

• economic equality , solving disparities in wealth through redistribution

• public ownership , key industries ownerd and managed by the state

• comprehensive welfare , providing healthcare education n housing to all citizens

what are some democratic socialist policies enacted by Atlees gov

• nationalised over 20% of the economy including mining, railways and steel

• created the nhs

• built over a million new council homes

how did labours ideology change

by the 1960s labour began to shift from democratic socialism to social democracy

what does social democracy aim to do

social democracy aims to reform capaitalise to achieve social justice within a mixed economy (part state owned part private) , balancing a free market with state intervention

what are some core social democracy values

• regulated capitalism , boost economic growth whilst correcting inequality through regulation and intervention

• extensive welfare programmes

• equality of opportunity , removing barriers for success

• mixed economy , combining private enterprises with state owned industries

what labour leader is associated with the shift to social democracy

harold wilson

what were some social democratic policies of wilson

• race relations act , ensuring equal oppurtunity

• equal pay act , men and women

• representation of the people act 1969

what are the wilderness years

18 years in opposition to thatcher

how was the party split in the wilderness years

• leadership contest won by hard left michael foot , wanted democratic socialism

• others in the party wished to move towards more moderate closer to centre policies

• some more centrist members broke away and formed the SDP

how did the labour party transform in 1995

• tony Blair became labour leader

• implememnted a new ideology known as the third way

• emphasises minimal state intervention in the economy (neo lib)

• focused on social justice and equality of opportunity

• embraced privatisation , welfare reform and devolution in order to appeal to a broader electorate

what did Tony Blair do to clause 4

tony Blair removed clause 4 from the labour constitution , which committed the party to securing the common ownership of the means of production

what were the main third way ideals

• abandoning labours class struggle image , broaden electorate base

• markets should have minimal intervention to boost growth

• privatisation of public services

• individualism

• strengthening democracy , reforming constitution

what were Blair's tax and welfare policies - were they thatcher or bennite

• kept the top tax rate at the level set by thatcher (thatcherite)

• increased criteria for claiming benefits , emphasizing individualism (thatcherite)

• introduced working family tax credit which supported low wage worker (bennite)

what was Blair's education policies

• educational reform top priority

• significantly increased education spending

• brought in tuition fees for higher education , shifting some of the cost away from the tax payer

what was new labour law and order policies

• increased prison sentences for more offences

• set up programs to address causes of crime

• following 9/11 Blair passed the terrorism act 2000 which increased the states power in detaining and deporting individuals

what pushed labour to transition to new labour

• labours social democratic policies were heavily defeated by thatcherite cons in 1983 and 1987

• in 1992 when John major was re-elected he said his victory had killed socialism in Britain

why did the labour party switch to more neo-liberal policies

• had to swing the middle class who had voted for thatcher

• to do this had to embrace neo liberalism