Is Labour Still Socialist Party?

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Niall Ashton

Is the labour party still a socialist party?

The Labour party was created at the the trade union conference in 1886 created Labour electoral committee which changed to labour electoral association in 1887. The party was created for the needs of the working class people. Clause 4 in their constitution is an explicit commitment to socialism. Atlee continues this starting in 1945 with setting up the welfare state. 1974-79 Labour government was very weak so led to a reform in the party in the 80s.Tony Blair continued these in 1994 and changed the name to new labour which suggested move away from socialism.

Labour still have many polices that mean sharing the money giving more to the poor than to the rich. This is a very socialist policy as it concentrates on equality and the government helping its people. They do this by continuing with the welfare with policies such as child benefits and welfare to work programs. In 2008 Brown changed the top rate of income tax so that richer people will be charged more which will go towards more benefits for the poorer people.

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Because the labour party has been formed from trade unions it is good to workers therefore there are many workers rights. There is a minimum wage for workers which has been increased in 2008 to £5.73 an hour for over 22 year olds. This does not have to happen a company could set their own minimum wages but however because we have a socialist government they set them.

John Prescott and Gordon Brown still have many old labour characteristics. Prescott is a trade union man he had an early life as a working class child and was brought up by a ...

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