The Labour Party

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  • The Labour Party
    • Foreign Policy
      • always had division over foreign policy (e.g some members supported WWI whilst others opposed it)
      • during cold war leaders tended to be pro-west whilst prominent members preferred to be neutral
      • at times labour had anti-nuclear weapons policy (e.g. in 1980s under Michael Foot) although not when in government
      • controversy over Iraq war (large backbench rebellion in 2003) in 2010+2015 leadership elections candidates' positions on the war seen as significant factor
        • last three labour leaders (Miliband, Corbyn + Starmer) opposed Iraq War
    • Law & Order Policy
      • Traditionally taken more liberal approach to crime "soft on crime"
      • As shadow home secretary blair developed "tough on crime, tough on causes of crime
      • after 9/11 and 7/7 bombings blair gov looked at combating terrorism
      • conflict with judges + civil rights compaigners over issues such as ID cards, house arrest, detention without trial - were seen as authoritarian
        • e.g. 2005 terrorism act sought to increase period terror suspects could be held without charge to 90 days
      • civil rights campaigner Shami Chakrabati made a prominent labour frontbencher under Jeremy Corbyn
    • Key Events
      • 1918 - a new constitution, formally committing to socialism (through famous Clause IV).
      • 1924 - first minority government under Ramsay McDonald (another in 1929).
      • 1945-51 - landslide victory brings in Attlee government; established the WelfareState and the NHS.
      • 1964 - Labour wins the general election and implements a range of socially-progressivepolicies including the abolition of the death penalty and legalisation of abortion andhomosexuality.
      • 1978/9 - "Winter of Discontent" - lots of strikes and Labour lose the election toMargaret Thatcher and are out of power for 18 years.
      • 1995 - Clause IV of party constitution rewritten epitomising shift to the centreground under leadership of Tony Blair.
      • 1997 - Blair elected in landslide. Labour remain in office until 2010.
      • 2015 - in opposition Labour move decisively left with election of Jeremy Corbyn
      • 2019 - split in party as group of MPs leave to form centrist "Independent Group"
      • 2020 - Party moves back towards the centre under new leader Keir Starmer.
    • Welfare Policy
      • Key feature of labour policy from earliest days was support for the poor, such as benefits and old age pensions
      • 1945-1951 - labour intbuilt on national insurance & welfare state introduced by 1906 liberal gov. expanding welfare payments + creating NHS in 1948
      • Key principle was universalism: everyone paid in and everyone could take out
      • New labour advocated welfare reform including more means testing and more use of private funding and private providers
      • Return to more universal principles under Corbyn
    • Economic Policy
      • Clause IV committed party to public ownership /     nationalisation
      • Early labour gov economically othodox
      • 1945-51 gov adopts keynesian approach
      • consensus breaks down in 1970s + labour divides over best approach, left arguing for more state-controlled approach and right backing a more free-market approach
      • New labour gov in 1997 did not reverse privatisations
      • 2008 credit crunch: labour bailed out the banks (nationalising some)
      • since 2008 labour argued for investment to stimulate growth, in opposition to conservative policy of austerity
      • under Corbyn, party supported re-nationalisation of railways and key public utilities such as water
    • Origins
      • 19th century - growth in large, general trade unions, who combined as the Trade union Congress, alongside a range of socialist and radical-liberal organisations including the following
        • Independent Labour party - formed in 1893 specifically to field working-class candidates in UK elections
        • The Fabian Society - association of radical middle-class intellectuals, committed to gradual reform
        • Social Democratic Federation - an avowedly Marxist, revolutionary group
      • In 1900, these groups formed the Labour Representation committee becoming the Labour party in 1906
        • The Fabian Society - association of radical middle-class intellectuals, committed to gradual reform
        • Independent Labour party - formed in 1893 specifically to field working-class candidates in UK elections
        • Social Democratic Federation - an avowedly Marxist, revolutionary group
        • 19th century - growth in large, general trade unions, who combined as the Trade union Congress, alongside a range of socialist and radical-liberal organisations including the following
      • Funding
        • Predominantly funded by trade unions and party members.
        • Debate about whether trade union funding should be seen as different fromcorporate tunding (i.e. are they big donations or lots of small ones?).
        • some large individual and corporate donations (far fewer than theConservative Party). These were more common during the New Labour era(1997-2010).
        • Increased proportion of funding from membership fees in recent yearsbecause of significant increase in party membership since 2015.
        • Reduction in donations from wealthy individuals in same period.
        • Controversy under Tony Blair about individuals giving "loans" to the party and then getting honours.
        • In 1997, the Bernie Ecclestone affair was the first major funding scandalto hit Blair's government and was a catalyst for election campaign reform.

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