Comparison of Political Ideologies in the UK

Comparison of semipolitical Ideologies in the UKDespite their divers(prenominal) roots, the lead main embark onies in Britain atomic number 18 honest off in broad ideologic discernmentIntroductionSince the 1997 option advantage of apprehend commentators and academics cast repeatedly said that there is now little ideological difference amongst the easy democrats, turn everywhere and the button-downs. This is base on the belief that although there are polity differences among the leadsome, there is now a broad consensus in issues much(prenominal) as the thriftiness and commonplace services where previously there were clear ideological divides.1 latterly that as a result of the global financial crisis, the parties make water presented very different policies for sparing recovery which reflect their ideological roots. Is this an reference that all trio parties rescue reverted back to their ideological setations, or does their unagitated remain a broad ideological agreement between the three parties of political science?This essay volition first briefly examine the ships companys historical and ideological roots, aspect at the central principles which fork out defined the parties. We will look at the main ideological differences between the three up to 1997. In our second Chapter we will examine the present indicating that the three parties are in broad ideological agreement, firstly looking at how the three came to be in such agreement, as puff up as pointing out the similarities and common points of the three parties since 1997. In our final Chapter we will advance the argument that the juvenile economic crises has brought an end to the ideological agreement of the three parties, and that by putting forward three very different economic policies the parties have to some extent run offed to their ideological roots.Chapter OneThe wear down party roots go back to the formation of the grok Representation Committee in 190 0, do up primarily of conjugation members and left hand propagation groups like the Fabians Society.2 It was and remained, certainly until 1994, a party that represented the interests of the trade unions, its main financial backers to this day, and the working classes. Although it formed several Governments in the 1920s, it was the churn Government of 1945 which best represents toils political theory in practice.3 The committal to communization, the creation of the NHS and the extension of the welfare evoke defined wear upon ideology till the early 1990s. The idea that the State could and should interject in and symbolize a part in Society for the good of the nation, and scotch the excesses of Capitalism contrasted sharply with the traditional Tory ideology of drop commercialiseplace, laissez faire policies where the State compete a much smaller percentage. Labour ideology and policies gradually became part of the mainstream political world, as today the NHS and other state-controlled institutions are evaluate as necessary and successful by even the most right wing wing politicians.The Conservative Party has its roots in the late 17th Century, traditionally the party of the Aristocracy and the Business Elite of Britain, the Conservatives have neutered their ideology and policies over the years to adapt to changing times and circum positions, however in the Twentieth Century they can be said to have several core principles despite the various factions and different types of Tories that have existed in spite of appearance the party.4 Traditional Conservative ideology believes in law and club, a express Government role in the parsimony and society, low taxes, continuity and family values. The alternative of Margaret Thatcher in 1979 radically win overd Conservative ideology, leading it to promote monetarism and a complete market program of privatisation, leading to rapid growth but change magnitude the gap between rich and poor and shifting the landscape of what was accredited as the mainstream to the right in tender and economic terms. Conservative ideology can perhaps be encapsulated as giving power to individuals to figure in deliverance and society, whilst accepting that there will be variation and claiming that an individuals actions rather than Society determines their opportunities and outcomes. 5Although the on the loose(p) Democrats have only existed since 1988, they can tracing the roots back to the Liberal Party that existed from around 1846.6 The Liberal Democrats do not have as firm an ideology as Labour or the Conservatives, but they can be broadly defined as believing in individual degagedom in social issues, such as drugs and sexuality, socialist policies regarding education and welfare, a pro European stance and a general anti war ideology. One of the pillars of Liberal Democrat ideology has always been higher taxes to pay for increased investment in education and health, although the new leader Nick Clegg has recently made lower taxes for lower income groups a central policy in the re-branding of the Liberal Democrats.Chapter TwoThe turning point for the broad ideological agreement of the three parties came with the election of Tony Blair to the Labour party leadership in 1994. In order to make Labour electable Blair set out to change much of the Labour ideology which voters clearly believed was too left wing, specifically its load to nationalization and its policy of higher taxes and public expenditure.7 He shifted Labour from being a left wing party to being more fondness left. The change worked, and New Labour was elected in a landslide victory in 1997. Since this time there has existed the broad ideological agreement of the three parties on the central issues of Government, most notably the promotion of indigent market policies and a commitment to economic growth over the redistribution of wealth. The Conservatives did shift to the right on issues such i mmigration, crime and social policies, but remained committed to the free market policies that were now being pursued by the Labour Government.8 This ideological convergence is not a solely British event. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union many another(prenominal) left wing parties in the West, and in easterly Europe, have gradually abandoned their Socialist roots and principles, accepting the free market as the only viable way in which a State can achieve sustainable economic growth and early prosperity.It is not just the Labour party which has adjusted its policies and ideology to line up to the new global economic consensus. The Liberal Democrats recently abandoned their commitment to higher taxes, stating that if elected they would reduce taxes for those on low incomes, a earthshaking swing to the centre. On many issues the Liberal Democrats have also shifted to the centre background, although they are certainly left wing on social issues, such as law and order and drug policy, the Liberal Democrats economic policy remains committed to free market policies and a limited role for the State in Society.9 This is not a recent development for the Liberal Democrats, who have grand presented themselves as a moderate, centrist party much in stark contrast to the ideological inflexibility of Labour and the Conservatives.10Although Labour has certainly moved to the right, abandoning its foundational principles regarding nationalisation and the redistribution of wealth, the Conservative Party itself has also been obligate to adjust its policies, moving into the centre ground from its increasingly right wing position under the leadership of Michael Howard.11 Following several election defeats the Conservative Party decided to match Labour spending plans, stating that if elected they would not cut taxes, and would continue to invest intemperately in health and education. Does this commitment indicate that the parties share an increasingly Socialist ideology in regards to public services? No, as the ideological commitment to free market economy remains, as does the commitment to economic growth over equality, however this is matched by higher spending in institutions like the NHS and schools, which are seen as assisting economic growth by training the future workforce and providing for its medical needs.On all the major ideological issues then it would appear that there is a broad consensus. On Law and Order, all parties compete to sound the toughest, declare harsher sentences, more prisons and more police. On the welfare State all three parties have policies to decrease those on unemployment benefit, reform welfare and cut payments to the long term unemployed. Before the economic crisis, privatisation was accepted as necessary, the free market was sacred and any party suggesting a return to the days of the State planning the economy or controlling prices would have been committing political suicide. In summing up then, whilst all thr ee parties had different policies, styles and approaches, their existed a broad ideological agreement between the three that any future Government should downplay its direct role in the economy, should not intervene in the free market or over-regulate but at the same time should be committed to public services . As we will demonstrate in the next chapter however, the recent economic crisis has led to many predicting that the era of ideological agreement has now passed.Chapter ThreeIn 2008 an economic crisis which started in the linked States quickly spread throughout the world. Several large British banks, such as Northern Rock and HBOS, risked going bankrupt, so an unprecedented nationalisation of the banks by the British Government went ahead, similar nationalisations also went ahead in the USA and other European Countries. 12 The Government, in a move which many would have thought impossible months before, gave billions in taxpayers money to the banks in order to keep the econo my moving. The Government now plans to borrow heavily and play a more direct role in the economy, although this is to lose Capitalist institutions the Labour Party is seemingly moving back towards its Socialist roots, propping up failing industries to save jobs, putting taxpayers money into the economy and even considering joining the Euro.13 The Conservatives however have opposed this move, and have worn up radically different, ideologically opposed economic plans which favour a cut in public spending, and a continued commitment to Government not directly putting cash into the economy to prop up failing businesses.14Both parties have been returning to their ideological roots since the crisis began. The Conservatives have claimed that Government spending and high taxes are the problem although they have condemned bankers greed they continue to support de-regulation, the free market and the creation of wealth over policies of regulation and equality. Their recent welfare policies re flect their ideological beginnings, promoting individualism, province and the family and marriage as the primary means to tackle poverty. Labour has found a renewed self confidence in traditional left wing policies, Ministers talk of a renewed effort to tackle social inequality, of distributing wealth and tackling the huge gap between rich and poor that exists in British Society today. The era of Labour tax and spend seems to be re-appearing, and although the old left and the trade unions have not take for grantedn over the party, there has been a definite ideological break from the centre ground and a renewed belief in the power of the State to intervene positively in the economy and society. The Liberal Democrats look set to take their traditional role as the moderate centre party, positioning themselves between the ideologically separated dominant parties.ConclusionThis essay has demonstrated that as far back as 1994 there has existed a broad ideological consensus between the t hree main UK parties. Although there were differences in policy, with the Conservatives venturing to the right in issues of immigration and Europe, there has been agreement about the role that Government should play in the economy and the role of the free market in generating wealth. The recent economic crisis has for the first time in over a decade, peril the long term future of that agreement, as the two main parties return to their ideological roots and the Liberal Democrats position themselves as the party of modestness and social reform.BibliographyBentley, Roy British political relation in think (Causeway Press, Ormskirk, 2006)Elliot, Larry The financial crisis has open(a) the bankruptcy of New Labour economics (The Guardian, 08/10/2008)Jones, Bill governance UK (Harlow, Pearson, Longman, London, 2006)Leonard, Dick A Century of Premiers From Salisbury to Blair (Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke, 2005)McCormick, stool Contemporary Britain (Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke, 2 007)Milne, Seamus today we see what the return of Tory Britain would be like (The Guardian, 30/08/2007)Liberal Democrats UK administration accessed 01/12/2008http//www.solarnavigator.net/embassies/liberal_democrat_party_politics.htmRentoul, John Tony Blair Prime Minister (Time Warner, London, 2001)1Footnotes1 Elliot, Larry The financial crisis has unfastened the bankruptcy of New Labour economics (The Guardian, 08/10/2008, p.35)2 Bentley, Roy British government activity in Focus (Causeway Press, Ormskirk, 2006) p.1523 Leonard, Dick A Century of Premiers From Salisbury to Blair (Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke, 2005) pp30-424 McCormick, John Contemporary Britain (Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke, 2007, p.134)5 Jones, Bill political relation UK (Harlow, Pearson, Longman, London, 2006, pp.21-33)6 Bentley, Roy British Politics in Focus (Causeway Press, Ormskirk, 2006) p.1637 Rentoul, John Tony Blair Prime Minister (Time Warner, London, 2001, p.56)8 McCormick, John Contemporary Brit ain (Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke, 2007, pp.132-134)9Bentley, Roy British Politics in Focus (Causeway Press, Ormskirk, 2006) pp.165-16610 Liberal Democrats UK Politics accessed 01/12/2008 http//www.solarnavigator.net/embassies/liberal_democrat_party_politics.htm11 Bentley, Roy British Politics in Focus (Causeway Press, Ormskirk, 2006) pp.170-17312 Elliot, Larry The financial crisis has exposed the bankruptcy of New Labour economics (The Guardian, 08/10/2008, p.35)13 Leonard, Dick A Century of Premiers From Salisbury to Blair (Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke, 2005, pp.201-213)14 Milne, Seamus outright we see what the return of Tory Britain would be like (The Guardian, 30/08/2007, p.40)