The Labour Party's success following their election

Blair confirmed the traditional Labour attitude towards nuclear weapons and demanded their elimination. In his opinion about the role of Britain in the European Union, he fell into line with Kinnock and is promising a 'new leadership from Britain to reform Europe'[30]. With regards to the economy he mentioned over-centralisation of government as a former problem and the acceptance of the global economy as a reality and rejected the isolationism. He promised increasing taxes and a cut of VAT on heating.

In terms of the party renewal, I want to mention shortly the one-member-one-vote movement. For the first time this discussion emerged during Kinnock's leadership in 1984. However, he had to face the resistance of the Unions and to agree on a compromise. Smith finally managed it in 1993 to enforce the OMOV. The union vote was cut from 40 percent to one third with regards to future elections for the leadership.

Another point is the change of the party-membership. Seyd and Whiteley see the origin of the shift at the grass roots due to the election defeat of 1983 and Kinnock's modernisation. They mention a re-education-process of 'the grassroots party into changing its views'[31]. After the election defeat of 1992, the leadership saw in a revitalised grassroots party new political electoral advantages. Blair started an extensive mobilisation campaign and the party increased its size by 40 percent and includes about 400,000 members. To get new members, who are closer to the views of the leadership, was one of the primary objects. So, you can not only recognise a change in the type of member but also striking shifts in the party attitudes on crucial topics like redistribution, nationalisation, and class politics. The typical present party member, compared with the old, is described as more conservative and relatively inactive, 'more working class, younger, less female, less affluent and less educated'[32]. Issues like income, health redistribution, and public ownership lose importance and the individual becomes a priority. That means more and more of an agreement with Blair's policy.

Another point has to be taken into consideration in talking about New Labour, the Third Way. Starting with Bill Clinton's New Democrats, the Third Way ideology spread throughout the world. Inspired by Clinton, Tony Blair came back to power with New Labour, and Gerhard Schroeder in Germany with the Social Democrats. And there are many other countries, which are affected by this movement. In his book 'The Third Way', Anthony Giddens gives us some information about critics and reproaches, that the new way of thinking has to fight against. For some it is not more than an empty concept without any real content, where others blame Clinton and his followers and protest that it is a betrayal of left-wing ideals. The Third Way is often described as a

'new balance of economic dynamism and social security, a new social compact based on individual rights and responsibilities, and a new model for governing that equips citizens and communities to solve their own problems'[33]

The Labour Party tried to get a People's Party and involved the economy more in politics. They transformed the call for less government and more governance and abandoned the old belief in Keynesian politics. The International Herald Tribune portrayed the new relation between the government and business the best:

'…during the Labour Party conference the streets of Blackpool were no longer invaded by miners in overalls, but by businessmen, lawyers and management consultants, most of them wearing suits and equipped with mobile phones…'[34]

Old Labour was seen as a party, which redistributes money in a welfare state. New Labour wants to redistribute life chances, employment and lifelong learning. Finally as described in the Schroeder/Blair-speech:

'Social democracy has found new acceptance - but only because, while retaining its traditional values, it has begun in a credible way to renew its ideas and modernise its programmes. It has also found new acceptance because it stands not only for social justice but also for economic dynamism and the unleashing of creativity and innovation.'[35]

In conclusion, I have to point out that New Labour is both 'New' and still a labour Party with social-democratic principles. 'New' in particular with regards to ideology, membership, party structure and the relation to the Trade Unions.