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8 UK Politics Parties essay plans
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POLITICAL PARTIES:Evaluate the view that the Conservative Party has abandoned its One Nation principles:
Evaluate the view that the modern Conservative Party has abandoned Thatcherism:
- There has certainly been movement away from Thatcherism and the emphasis on
individualism and whilst Johnson identifies as a one-nation tory whether this is the case
in reality is a different concern.
- Although it must be recognised the conservative party can be deemed a one-nation party
as in 2019 they accumulated votes from both the wealthiest and the most deprived areas.
- A return to these principles has been ignited due to Brexit.
- Ultimately, it is used as a political phrase in order to win votes and is devoid of any
connection with Disraeli’s goal to bridge the gap between the elite and the masses.
- Extensive breaking of laws - beyond institutional norms, e.g. prorogation of parliament,
owen paterson scandal, priti patel bullying, partygate - hasn’t led to resignations
Economics:
- With respect to economic policy it has been evident in recent times there has been a clear
return to such principles. There is not the same dogmatic drive under the current
conservatives as there was under Thatcher.
- This is underpinned by a growth in support from working class individuals (breaking of
the red wall, e.g. Hartlepool). Thus in response to this the conservatives have seeked to
appeal to a greater electorate and policies which aim to reduce inequality do just that.
- This has been clear under Johnson and the pandemic in that Johsnon implemented
extensive expansionary fiscal policies in an attempt to return the economy to its
flourishing state. For example, the furlough scheme involved extensive borrowing and
government spending and at the heart of it was the working class (those worse affected
by the pandemic and those with little savings).
- Johnson also revealed his plans to increase the minimum wage in his most recent budget -
aims to incentivise work and encourage equality of opportunity.
- In order to reduce labour immobility in the North - Johnson has introduced extensive
infrastructure spending such as the HS2 in order to lessen the affects of
deindustrialisation - close the inequality gap between the North and London.
- Role of levelling up scheme in attempting to create equality of opportunity and remove
disparities across the UK.
- In many ways Thatcher continues to underpin much of the conservatives economic
policies and there are many Thatcherite conservatives who wield influence over the
current policies.
- It can be argued the current one-nation like policies are merely a knee jerk reaction to the
unexpected support from working class voters and the effects of the pandemic.
, - At the heart of policies to improve equality is the importance of property ownership
which is innately Thatcherite. For example, the right to buy scheme still exists and aims
to give individuals a stake within society.
- Many policies proposed in the 2019 manifesto which appear One-Nation have not been
fulfilled - signalling they were merely a means to win votes. For example, the levelling
up scheme and HS2.
- In many ways such policies were implemented merely to win support of the electorate so
Brexit could be passed and dampen Corbyn support
- Policies such as austerity (monetarism) aim to reduce the budget and public spending -
first introduced by Cameron and despite Johnson running an extensive budget deficit it
can be conceived that much of his party do not wish to continue in this fashion, e.g.
Sunak.
- Cuts to 50p income tax - cuts to tax of the rich.
- Although at the same time as spending has increased there have been numerous cuts to
universal credit and rising national insurance which will likely increase inequality.
- Privatisation remains at the core of the conservative party. E.g. tendering out within the
NHS and recent plans to privatise channel 4.
- It can be said that within the current cost of living crisis the Conservative’s decision to
cut universal credit has been widely unpopular and in many ways reflects Thatcher’s
ideas regarding the welfare state (did not seek to create a dependency culture).
Social policies:
- Cameron aimed to detoxify the ‘nasty party’ into compassionate conservatives, Promoted
a ‘big society’ and consensus politics.
- Cameron has decisively moved away from socially authoritarian policies which can be
shown through his liberal approach to many social issues. For example, it was under
Cameron that gay marriage was legalised.
- As society has changed and liberalised the policies of the party have reflected this.
- Theresa May later echoed announced a consultation on gender recognition laws for
transgender people and Boris Johnson followed in 2021 when he announced his plans to
ban conversion therapy in the Queens Speech.
- Levelling up programmes and Johnson’s pledge to increase investment into the NHS the
bedrock of the nation - £127 billion given to the NHS
- More recently the conservative party can be seen to have broken down the so-called ‘red
wall’ and many working class voters have begun to vote conservative.
- Emphasis on equality of opportunity.
- Keynesian economics and a return to the welfare state that acts paternalistically, very
different from the Thatcher era which saw a drop in public spending from 44.6% to
38.9%.
- Emphasis on improving social mobility.
-
, - Whilst the social basis of the party has changed Conservatives are still viewed in the
neoconservative Thatcher respect as a socially authoritarian party.
- This can be shown by a desire to protect traditions in order to maintain stability -
represents the accumulated wisdom of the past. This can be shown in their attitudes
towards the taking down of statues.
- Many conservatives are also opposed the the legalisation of gay marriage, e.g Jacob
Rees-Mogg.
- Conservatives still prefer a lack of state intervention and encourage atomistic
individualism - individuals should be responsible for their own wellbeing, encouraging
self-sufficiency and self-reliance.
- Socially there is an emphasis on strict law and order - e.g. May introduced tougher knife
crime policies, rather than seeking the cause of this.
International affairs:
- One-nation conservatives preface the importance of tolerance towards one another so
likely favour more relaxed immigration policies and want to create an interconnected
world.
- Can be said that there has been an increased sense of tolerance amongst conservatives
with regard to refugees - e.g. Afghanistan and Ukraine.
- There has been a further shift towards the right and away from one-nation with regard to
international affairs. This can be most commonly shown through the attitudes towards a
hard Brexit and views regarding immigration - e.g. EU Withdrawal 2020.
- Brexit is viewed as an opportunity to reboot the British economy and some have argued
this would help drive a Thatcher revolution - e.g. deregulation.
- The conservative party has been able to fuel a sense of tribalism and mobilise support
from the public with their anti-immigration policies.
- Deep class divide over immigration, high hostility amongst the working class.
- Ultimately, the handling of Brexit is a far stretch from One Nation principles. Johnson
cannot be said to be one-nation in this regard which can be emphasised through the
make-up of his Parliament, e.g. Jacob Rees-Mogg and Cummings (known for his
controversial views - libertarian nationalist).
- Johnson threatens the state of the union which was prefaced by Disraeli - movement
towards scottish independence emphasised through the aftermath of Brexit
- Johnson is a popular nationalist - rather than a true conservative. This is what has enabled
him to mobilise acorss the country.
Politically:
- Conservatives have moved away from individualistic Thatcherism.
- Thatcher was known for her atomistic individualism and the idea that there was ‘no such
thing as society’.
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