The Labour Party

What is meant by "old labour"

Associated with left wing principles of positive intervention to create a more equal society through higher taxes on the wealthy, nationalising public sector and welfare provisions.

What has Labour generally been a compromise of?

Democratic Socialism and Social democracy

What do democratic Socialists believe such as Beatrice Webb?

That the capitalist state will inevitably be replaced by a socialist state as the working class achieve political power.

What do social democrats believe such as Anthony Crosland?

A more socially just and equal society can be done through reform of the capitalist system/structures

What have Labour governments traditionally fought for?

1) Nationalisation
2) Re distributive taxation-wealthier pay more
3)Supporting extensive welfare state
4)fostering close links with trade unions since they were established to protect and advance the interests of the workers.

Name old labour policies on welfare:

1) 1948- Health Secretary Aneurin Bevan introduced the NHS
2) The maintenance grant was introduced to allow students from poorer backgrounds to go to university.
3)Acts of parliament were passed to encourage a more equal and fair society such as the Race Relations Act 1968 which made discrimination in the workplace illegal and the Sex Discrimination Act 1975.

Name old labour policies on the economy:

1)In order to pay for generous welfare state, taxes on the more wealthy dramatically increased under labour . At it's height in 1979 under James Callaghan, the top rate of taxation reached 83%.
2) 20% of the economy was nationalised including steel, coal, electricity and the Bank Of England.
3) 1965, Deputy Prime Minister announced plan for economic growth which would expand the economy by 25%

What was the aim of open university under old labour?

Open university was established to further open up higher education.

Define New Labour?

Combines left wing commitment to social justice with right wing emphasis on the value of free markets encouraging economic prosperity.

What does the "longest suicide note ever written" refer to?

in 1979 James Callaghan was defeated by Margaret Thatcher. Whilst this should have prompted a reconsideration of left wing policies since the defeat, under Michael Foot in 1980 the party moved even more to the left and in the 1983 election their manifesto continued to be extremely left wing, implementing nationalisation and tax increases, withdrawal from the European economic community and unilateral nuclear disarmament.

What did the defeat of 1983 trigger for the labour party?

A shift towards the centre, abandoning most socialist policies.

What was the labour vote share in 1979 in comparison to 1983?

1979- 36.9%
1983-27.6%

Who transformed the labour party? and how?

Tony Blair (1994) through the principles of the "third way" which represented a compromise between the extremes of socialism and capitalism.

How did labour policies change after this?

Policies abandoned: nationalism, re distributive taxation, collectivisation and equality

What were these policies replaced with?

A "stakeholder society" to create a more equal society and to enact wealth creation not redistribution. Labour would work for a capitalist economy and social justice.

What amendment to Labours Constitution abandoned nationalisation and accepted consequences of free market capitalist approach.

1995- modification of Clause IV of the Labour Party Convention

Who did Blairs Policies put him at odds with and what did they say?

Corbyn + Tony Benn who argued that New labour had abandoned "real" socialism

Give examples of Blair's commitment to the new labour?

-Kept top rate of taxation 40% on the basis that if the rich are richer the economy would grow faster.
-Introduced tuition fees so that students would have to contribute towards their education.
-Introduced anti social behaviour laws to combat crime.

Give examples of Blair's commitment to social justice

1999- Most hereditery peers in HOL removed
-European Convention on Human Rights was incorporated into British Law
-Established independent Supreme Court
-1997 introduced minimum wage

What was the aim of momentum?

Spread democratic socialist principles

Give examples of labour policies under Corbyn:

-Top rate of taxation increased to 50p for incomes over £123,000
-£80,000= 45% rate
-Corporation tax increase to 26% by 2020
- reverse privatisation of Royal Mail
-repeal trade union act 2016
- Minimum wage increased to £10 an hour+abolish zero hour contracts
-free school meals

What happened in the 2017 GE for labour?

9.6% swing- thought that there was going to be a crushing defeat.

What did the race and relations act 1968 under labour do?

Made discrimination illegal in the workplace

Who introduced the NHS and in what year?

1948- Health secretary Aneurin Bevan

what was Wilsons government committed to in education?

Wilson's government was committed to the expansion of comprehensive schools at the expense of grammar schools as a way of encouraging an inclusive society

What did Keir Starmer not provide an alternative to in September 2021?

The conservatives controversial policies to reform social care

What did Starmer have to distance himself from?

From the failures of Labour under Corbyn

What did Starmer attempt to put an end to?

Factional Rivalry within the Labour Party

How many people were removed from the party membership in 2021?

1,000

who did Starmer work closely with in order to move labour back to the centre?

“Labour to win” group and promoted shadow cabinet MPs with centre-left credentials and the expense of left wing former Corbyn allies

How did Starmer attempt to distance labour from claims of anti-sematism ?

* Held meetings with Jewish groups within days of his election

What did Starmer do after a report by the Equality and Human rights commission gave a verdict that the party had not done enough to prevent anti-semitism and had been seen to accept it ?

* Starmer released a detailed plan for tackling anti-semitism within the labour patty committing again to already established independent complaints process and addressing the “back log” of anti-semitism cases
* High profile suspensions of members including Corbyn

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