The Labour Party
- Created by: tinkereleanor
- Created on: 21-08-22 13:51
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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
- 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.
- Foreign Policy
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