The 2001 Election - Labour won the 2001 election for a second consecutive time with 42% of the vote. It was Labour's second consecutive win.

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The 2001 Election

Labour won the 2001 election for a second consecutive time with 42% of the vote. It was Labour’s second consecutive win.

Background:

Much history was made at the 1997 election. Labour won their first election since 1980 and had a 179 seat overall majority and the Conservatives were tossed aside while the Liberal Democrats managed to double their number of MP’s in the house of commons.

Under Tony Blair, New Labour portrays itself as more moderate than its former self, more committed to free enterprise and less committed to unions. Much controversy hit the Conservative party around this time with 12 resignations from office taking place over allegations of personal impropriety, among the most famous Jonathan Aitken and Neil Hamilton.

1997 manifestoes:

        Labour:

  • Cut class sizes for five and six year olds
  • Fast track punishment for young offenders
  • Cut waiting lists by 100,000
  • 250,000 people off benefits and into work
  • No income tax increase.

Conservative:

  • No to Federal Europe Aspiration of 20p income tax rate
  • Privatise London Underground
  • Pension reform
  • Higher married couples allowance

Lib Dem:

  • £2 billion for education
  • Free eye tests
  • Free dental checks
  • Devolution
  • Voting reform

Labour definitely managed to make an improvement on school class sizes and funding and eradicating child poverty, devolution to England, Scotland, Wales, on the minimum wage, gay rights and peace in Northern Ireland. However, there were many things that should not have been done - on asylum seekers, the contents of the Millennium Dome, the Ecclestone deal, jury trial, and prison numbers. There were things that could have been done yet were not - electoral reform stands out, as does playing a more confident role in Europe and a more robust stance on NMD. But it is simply not serious to pretend that Labour has made no difference, let alone no difference worth defending from the possibility of a Hague government at the 2001 elections.

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The 2001 election:

Manifestos:

Labour:

  • More wealth and jobs for everybody
  • Improve NHS
  • Cut class sizes in schools

Conservative:

  • Lower taxes
  • Cut crime
  • Protect countryside
  • Sceptical of Europe

Lib Dem:

  • Higher taxes for better public services
  • Greater freedom for everyone
  • Greater protection for the environment.

There was a huge amount of historical significance of the 2001 elections. After winning for a second time Labour are in a strong position and the 2001 win will provide a likely springboard for a third ...

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