Political parties essay questions
Evaluate the view that the policies and ideas of the established political parties have
now radically changed from their historical origins. (Source) (2.2)
Evaluate the view that the liberal democrat party is a divided party (2.2)
Evaluate the view that the Labour party is no longer a socialist party (2.2)
Intro: labour party was never a fully socialist part, although it was built on
socialist ideas. In recent years, shift towards the centre = no longer can
be described as a socialist party. Key old labour principles =
nationalisation, wealth distribution and improvement of state services.
Now shifted towards a Blairite approach, as seen in the economy, law and
order and foreign policy
- Economy
A02) could be argued that since blair, the labour party has swung back
to the left economically
A02) Miliband maintaining 50p top rate of taxation, whilst Corbyn
pledged in 2019 manifesto to invest £400 billion in green energy alone
– suggestive of the interventionist state of social democracy.
A02) in 2022 starmer pledged a publically owned energy company –
great British energy
A03) demonstrates a left wing faith in gvt led enterprise in contrast
with the faith of private industries in the blair years, showing a swing to
the left
+ economy
A01) although this shows a swing to the left from Blair, it is not a return
to socialism, with many centrist economic policies being implemented
under starmer
A02) no longer fully committed to the nationalisation of energy firms,
as announced by Starmer. This is moving away from the socialist
principles of the labour parties in the 1940s and 60s, when labour PMs
nationalised 20% of the economy, including major industries such as
steel and coal and the bank of England.
A02) starmer has also been keen not to alienate business
A03) both of these fit with the centrist views that gvt can work
alongside the private sector, reiterated by Giddens that the private
sector can produce better results than gvt. Also fits with the centrist
, idea of a mixed economy. Labour has adopted a more centrist approach
to the economy in comparison to the 2019 manifesto.
- Welfare
A01) labour party tends to have a traditionally socialist view on welfare
A02) exemplified by 2024 pledge to abolish universal credit and
remove the charitable status of independent schools, channelling these
funds into the state sector.
A03) this is representative of a traditionally socialist approach to
education by enhancing equality of opportunity.
+ welfare
A01) these pledges have been undermined by Labours policies whilst in
power
A02) Blair took a centrist view on welfare, with cleaning services in the
NHS being contracted out to private companies, fitting with the new
labour preference for private – public partnerships when it comes to
running the welfare state.
A02) this has been continued into 2025, with Reeves announcing £5
billion in welfare cuts, making it harder for people to access benefits
A03) this is in line with the third way principle of means tested benefits,
in contrast with the social democratic principle of universal benefits,
suggesting a centrist position on welfare.
- Foreign policy
A01) foreign policy of the labour party in recent years, particularly
under Miliband and Corbyn
A02) this can be seen with their reaction to war in Syria, with Miliband
urging his party to vote against military action in Syria and called for
greater UN engagement
A03) fits with the socialist ideas of internationalism and diplomacy
rather than military forces
+ Foreign policy
A01) in 2025, after starmer has brought the party away from far - left
and momentum ideals, Labour is more focused on the UK’s national
interest.
Evaluate the view that the policies and ideas of the established political parties have
now radically changed from their historical origins. (Source) (2.2)
Evaluate the view that the liberal democrat party is a divided party (2.2)
Evaluate the view that the Labour party is no longer a socialist party (2.2)
Intro: labour party was never a fully socialist part, although it was built on
socialist ideas. In recent years, shift towards the centre = no longer can
be described as a socialist party. Key old labour principles =
nationalisation, wealth distribution and improvement of state services.
Now shifted towards a Blairite approach, as seen in the economy, law and
order and foreign policy
- Economy
A02) could be argued that since blair, the labour party has swung back
to the left economically
A02) Miliband maintaining 50p top rate of taxation, whilst Corbyn
pledged in 2019 manifesto to invest £400 billion in green energy alone
– suggestive of the interventionist state of social democracy.
A02) in 2022 starmer pledged a publically owned energy company –
great British energy
A03) demonstrates a left wing faith in gvt led enterprise in contrast
with the faith of private industries in the blair years, showing a swing to
the left
+ economy
A01) although this shows a swing to the left from Blair, it is not a return
to socialism, with many centrist economic policies being implemented
under starmer
A02) no longer fully committed to the nationalisation of energy firms,
as announced by Starmer. This is moving away from the socialist
principles of the labour parties in the 1940s and 60s, when labour PMs
nationalised 20% of the economy, including major industries such as
steel and coal and the bank of England.
A02) starmer has also been keen not to alienate business
A03) both of these fit with the centrist views that gvt can work
alongside the private sector, reiterated by Giddens that the private
sector can produce better results than gvt. Also fits with the centrist
, idea of a mixed economy. Labour has adopted a more centrist approach
to the economy in comparison to the 2019 manifesto.
- Welfare
A01) labour party tends to have a traditionally socialist view on welfare
A02) exemplified by 2024 pledge to abolish universal credit and
remove the charitable status of independent schools, channelling these
funds into the state sector.
A03) this is representative of a traditionally socialist approach to
education by enhancing equality of opportunity.
+ welfare
A01) these pledges have been undermined by Labours policies whilst in
power
A02) Blair took a centrist view on welfare, with cleaning services in the
NHS being contracted out to private companies, fitting with the new
labour preference for private – public partnerships when it comes to
running the welfare state.
A02) this has been continued into 2025, with Reeves announcing £5
billion in welfare cuts, making it harder for people to access benefits
A03) this is in line with the third way principle of means tested benefits,
in contrast with the social democratic principle of universal benefits,
suggesting a centrist position on welfare.
- Foreign policy
A01) foreign policy of the labour party in recent years, particularly
under Miliband and Corbyn
A02) this can be seen with their reaction to war in Syria, with Miliband
urging his party to vote against military action in Syria and called for
greater UN engagement
A03) fits with the socialist ideas of internationalism and diplomacy
rather than military forces
+ Foreign policy
A01) in 2025, after starmer has brought the party away from far - left
and momentum ideals, Labour is more focused on the UK’s national
interest.
