Political Parties

• Paternalism

  Encouraged role of the state and government intervention
• Consumer Price Index fell 4.5% - period of deflation not seen since 1960s
• Pledge to reduce migration (not fulfilled) - 332,000
• Welfare state

  Concern over those vulnerable in society
• Labour's funding has traditionally come from membership fees, however membership has been declining and under New Labour, they began turning to larger donors much like the Conservatives. Ed Miliband accepted donations from big companies
• Branch Labour parties

  Branches discuss political issues, plan local campaigning activities
• Constituency Labour Party

  • Based on the electoral district for each MP
  • Some only allow delegates to attend
  • Some allow all to attend but only delegates can vote
  • Some have general committees
  • Others allow all members
• Local campaign forum

  Based on council boundaries, allowing several Constituency Labour Parties to convene
• National Executive Committee

  • 12 representatives elected by trade unions
  • 2 representatives elected by Labour councillors
  • 3 appointed front bench members
  • Youth representative elected by Young Labour
  • 3 MPs selected by the Parliamentary Labour Party
  • 6 representatives elected by CLPs in an omov vote
  • 2 representatives elected by socialist societies
  • Leader and deputy leader of the party attend the bimonthly meetings
• omov

  One Member One Vote
• Class

  Crucial aspect of society and 'common class interest' implies a common purpose
• Equality

  Equal rights for minority groups and the economically deprived - not absolute economic equality but reduce the disparity between richest and poorest - equality of welfare provision and opportunity
• Equality

  • Sadiq Khan - Free school meals for all in London
• Social justice

  Wealth achieved through windfalls should be redistributed - wealth achieved through hard work should be kept and those who make no effort to lift themselves from poverty only deserve limited state welfare
• Equality of opportunity

  The state can intervene to stop some being so much more privileged and create better opportunities for those who lack them. Certain special forces operate against the interests of some sections of society - some people have more access to provision (connections and networking) and this needs to change to provide equality of opportunity
• Collectivism

  People prefer to achieve goals collectively than apart. Working together is more likely to be successful
• Common ownership

  A key form of collectivism and it means the ownership of the means of production and distribution in the interests of the whole community and therefore against the idea of private property
• Policies of Labour leaders

  • Blair - National Minimum Wage, Employment Act, Police Reform Act, close relationship with trade unions
  • Brown - Opposed to Iraq War, £15bn to improve railways, £8bn to support affordable housing
  • Miliband - Tax increase for higher paid, Forgotten 50% scheme, claimed New Labour was too silent about the responsibility of those at the top
  • Corbyn - Ending austerity, Nationalisation of nearly all public services, Set a maximum wage
  • Starmer - Development of affordable housing, Build an NHS for the future, Break down barriers to opportunity, Ban on zero hour contracts, Make student loan repayment fairer
• Ideology

  A coherent set of beliefs that guides one's actions
• Policy

  A proposed or actual strategy aimed at addressing a particular issue or area of government provision. Often based on deeply held ideological position or to appeal to wavering voters or a possible coalition partner in the event of a hung parliament
• Political left

  • Often identified with the interests of the masses
  • Supports an increase in government intervention to create a more just society through social change and beliefs of greater equality
• Political right

  • Traditionally identified with the preservation of the interests of the established property classes
  • Generally oppose the change favoured by the left
  • Wary of state intervention and seek to limit the role of the government in society
  • Place emphasis on individualism and personal responsibility
• Communism

  A classless system wherein all property is owned by the community and each person contributes and receives in accordance with need and ability
• Socialism

  Public ownership of property and the means of production - all that contribute to the production of a product is entitled a share in it. Society should own/control property for the benefit of all its members
• Liberalism

  Individual rights are of the highest priority - they have the right to make their own choices, independent of the government's input. Equality of opportunity is also important
• Conservatism

  Free enterprise, private ownership and preservation of traditional institutions. Customs and values are promoted
• Fascism

  Authoritarian, ultranationationalist political movement characterised by a dictatorial leader, centralised autocracy, militarian and forcible suppression of opposition
• Parties often change their ideology in order to win an election or if a leader changes so it is unsuitable to place them in a definite position of the ideological spectrum
• The political compass is more suitable to describe the ideology of parties as it generalises political standing through its quadrants and the separate axis also helps define political ideology better than the left-right spectrum
• The centre ground is where parties typically win elections as it appeals to the most voters - a combination of the left and right
• Single party system

  One party dominates and bans other parties and exercises total control over candidacy at elections, where elections occur at all
• Two party system

  Two fairly equally matched parties compete for power at elections and others have little realistic chance of breaking their duopoly
• Two party systems

  • USA - Democrats and Republicans
  • UK - Conservatives and Labour
• Dominant party system

  A number of parties exist but only one holds power in government
• Dominant party systems

  • Japan under Liberal Democratic Party 1955 - 1993
  • UK 1979-1997, 1997-2010
  • Russia
  • Singapore
  • Zimbabwe
  • South Africa
• Cranbourne Money

  Money given to opposition in the Lords
• Short Money

  Money given to opposition in the Commons
• Short Money

  • Labour £6.5 million - £850k given to the Leader of the Opposition
• Large party donations by individuals or groups

  Allows privileged access to ministers, meaning they can influence policy / gain contracts
• Large party donations

  • Bernie Ecclestone donated £1 million to Labour in 1997 after meeting to discuss the exemption of motor racing from the ban of tobacco advertising
  • Michael Ashcroft donated £1 million to the Conservative - a large proportion of his money was earned and banked abroad