- Join over 1.2 million students every month
- Accelerate your learning by 29%
- Unlimited access for just £4.99 per month
Is the Labour party still socialist?
The first 200 words of this essay...
Is the Labour party still socialist?
Clause 4 in the Labour party constitution is a clear commitment to socialism. It states the encouragement of redistribution of wealth and common ownership. However in recent years, the Labour party has seemed to take a new direction and some may suggest that the party has lost its socialist traditions.
One of the major arguments that support this suggestion is the fact that in 1995, the Labour party under Tony Blair rewrote Clause 4 to modernise the party and broaden its appeal to the public. The clause turned into something that describes the party as 'socialist democrats' but it moves away from the nationalisation principals that was deeply unpopular during the Thatcher era.
New Labour seemed to accept the Thatcherite economic policies of free deregulated markets and privatisation of industries. When they were recently in power, the party even welcomed private funds into national institutions such as hospitals and schools. This shows that labour no longer follows the former left wing ideologies on the economy but instead they are taking a more central position of state controlled capitalism.
There is also a change in views
Found what you're looking for?
- Start learning 29% faster today
- Over 150,000 essays available
- Just £4.99 a month
Not the one? We have 100's more
United Kingdom (view all)
- Explain the arguments for and against introducing a codified...
- Assess the Strengths and Weaknesses of the British Constitut...
- To what extent does the prime minister dominate the UK polit...
- Increase in Prime Ministerial power in recent years?
- The relationship between the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
