Labour Party

• Origins of Labour - Old labour

  founded in 1900 to have a party which solely represents the working class. committed themselves to socialism. Really started to have influence post ww2 under Atlee, their first majority government. They nationalised coal and steel as well as the NHS.
• post 1945 Labour - social democrats

  described themselves as socialist but were more moderate, emphasised the importance of redistributing wealth but not abolishing capitalism. A mixed economy with national and private ownership, focusing on Keynesian economics. e.g. comprehensive school, an attempt to promote greater equality of opportunity
• Breakdown of Old labour - Thatcher years

  there was now a division between old labour M's and social democrats, under leadership of Michael foot who was very radical. they lost the 1983 election on a hardline of nationalisation, increased tax and spending, the abolition of the UK's nuclear weapons and withdrawal from the capitalist EEC. Manifesto, often referred to as the 'longest suicide note in history'
• New Labour - Third way

  began to move away from its hard-line left wing policy so it could get a broader support from the electorate. Moved away from nationalisation, dropped unpopular policies like clause 4 and the significance of trade unions was diminished slightly. Became more pro-EU. Used the media to spread messages. However became unpopular due to the Iraq war. The move to New labour was very divisive, hard-line socialists felt they were being left behind.
• return to old labour - Corbyn years

  marginally lost the 2017 election, had a very large and strong support from the hard-line socialists and membership. a more centrist figure was elected next, starmer!
• New labour economic policy

  • Had to segregate themselves from earlier Social democratic administrations by not increasing tax
  • e.g. increasing national insurance leading to the largest ever rise in spending on the NHS
  • supported capitalism
  • introduced a national minimum wage (3.60) less than unions wanted
• New labour law and order policy

  • immigration quadrupled under them, 200,000 per year
  • measures to fight terrorism protected the community
• New labour Welfare policy

  • spending per pupil rose 43%, 'education, education, education'
  • shortest NHS waiting times in history
• Corbyn: economic policy

  • in 2019 they promised nationalisations, rail, mail, water, energy and broadband