Party Politics;

Today's lecture outlined the significant rises and fall of the Labour Party and Conservative Party, conflicts between the two and reforms and bills which changed British politics from the 19th century to the present day.

 

The 19^th century bought with it harsh living and working conditions with poverty at extreme levels because of the growth of the population. The industrial revolution was in full swing and demand for production was at its peak. These conditions caused the people to become conscious and began to realise what they wanted and to get that a revolution was need. The French revolution is a significant reflection of politics this century, but the UK by passed such revolution because their politics was considered to be more ‘sophisticated’ and willing to compromise. This is show through the Reform Act of 1832, which shifted representation towards towns and the north.  From here the Corn Laws were repealed and the tory vs Whig system ended with influences from John Stuart Mill.

J.S.Mill, outlined what was later named ‘positive’ and ‘negative’ freedom (by Isaiah Berlin) and believed that freedom should enrich the lives of the individual not curtail it. He accepted members of the working class needed help and this came in form of positive liberty, using the state as a tool to give means for true freedom (welfare).

Voting reforms began and women and the working class were entitled to the vote and franchise acts were increased.  But the improving conditions of the working class meant they began to demand greater things from the government up until the First World War, which began the rise of the Labour party influenced by the German social democrats. In 1926 there were national strikes and bought with the unrest was a resurgence of conservative politic in the years of the depression.

The Second World War made way for the first labour government which had a secure majority and bought with it may social reforms which included the formation of the NHS, Keynesian economics*, trade unions etc. as well as the dismantling of the British empire. But this was of great shock to the War time conservative leader, Churchill, who was sure to become Prime Minister. The Attlee Government was most famous for the implication of the Beveridge report. Even though Beveridge was a modern liberal, he wished for social justice and in the report wished for compulsory public funded system of education, healthcare, pensions and social security.

In the 1970’s disaster struck for the labour party; the people demand industrial power to be reduced and companies to be privatised in a general strike because of Callaghan’s attempt to limit pay rises to curb inflation. The answer to the peoples demands was Margaret Thatcher; a new right conservative combining neo liberal economics with traditional conservative values, who had a motive to attack the minors to prove that she was not the woman to mess with and send a warning to other smaller unions. The privatisation of companies and de-regulation of the markets caused a boom in economics and people began spending and borrowing more than ever before, but her drive to keep unions at bay cause uproar. Her ideal society was a meritocracy and demanded that people work to achieve rewards.  There was a major clash between left and right wing politics in the 80’s with Kinnocks manifesto being described as the ‘longest suicide note in history’, campaigning against Thatcher. He wanted to get rid of nuclear weapons, nationalise companies and higher taxes.

Thatcher’s days as prime minister were bought to an end by John Majors ‘back to basics’ campaign which stood for family values, honesty and traditional British values. But his cabinet was made up of sleazy MP’s, which meant a boom for tabloid press and the use of public interest libel defence because of the contraction between MP’s behaviour and Majors Manifesto.

Jonathan Aitken, a guardian journalist was jailed for Perjury because he lied on oath about his dealings; he claimed he would use a "sword of truth" to end the lies spread by the media at this time.

In 1997 the people of the UK chose a new government in the form of New Labour, with Blair winning by a major landslide. New labour changed what the labour party stood for, amending clause four to what Blair considered fit for modern society, and becoming part of ‘third way’ politics. It is identifiable that there are barely any socialist intentions left with the New Labour Party, they have changed views of social justice to emphasize ‘equality of opportunity’ rather than other socialist views of ‘equality of outcome’ or ‘absolute equality’, but have retained the welfare state.