The era of New Labour
1997-2007.
,1997 election
Labour success Conservative loss
• The Labour party’s pledge card was easy to • Accusations of Tory sleaze was damaging.
understand. • Martin Bell and Neil Hamilton sleaze.
• No longer a fear of Labour’s ‘socialist extremism’. • Splits over Europe remained a concern.
• Things can only get better- campaign song seemed • ERM crisis highlighted failures- now out of to
to resonate with the electorate.
• Alistair Campbell used his experience to change • Conservative weapon with the media had be
Labour’s relationship with the press. demobilised.
,Realignment of Labour under Blair-
details
• Right-wing economy- low income tax, Social Chapter.
• Left-wing social policy- changes in work, better workers rights, gend
race, LGBT, better pay, better conditions.
• Working class are quite socially conservative.
, What did Tony Blair recognise?
• Establishes the necessity for Labour to be more revoluti
• Labour Party Pledge:
Windfall tax: taxed a
lot more if you earn
Cut class sizes to 30 for under 5, 6, and 7 year olds.
a substantial amount Cut NHS waiting list- treating an extra 100,000 patients
of money.
releasing £100 million saved on the NHS red tapes (adm
and health and safety).
Get 250,000 under 25’s off benefits into work- use mon
from windfall tax.
Left No rise in income tax rates.
Keep inflation and interest rates as low as possible.
1997-2007.
,1997 election
Labour success Conservative loss
• The Labour party’s pledge card was easy to • Accusations of Tory sleaze was damaging.
understand. • Martin Bell and Neil Hamilton sleaze.
• No longer a fear of Labour’s ‘socialist extremism’. • Splits over Europe remained a concern.
• Things can only get better- campaign song seemed • ERM crisis highlighted failures- now out of to
to resonate with the electorate.
• Alistair Campbell used his experience to change • Conservative weapon with the media had be
Labour’s relationship with the press. demobilised.
,Realignment of Labour under Blair-
details
• Right-wing economy- low income tax, Social Chapter.
• Left-wing social policy- changes in work, better workers rights, gend
race, LGBT, better pay, better conditions.
• Working class are quite socially conservative.
, What did Tony Blair recognise?
• Establishes the necessity for Labour to be more revoluti
• Labour Party Pledge:
Windfall tax: taxed a
lot more if you earn
Cut class sizes to 30 for under 5, 6, and 7 year olds.
a substantial amount Cut NHS waiting list- treating an extra 100,000 patients
of money.
releasing £100 million saved on the NHS red tapes (adm
and health and safety).
Get 250,000 under 25’s off benefits into work- use mon
from windfall tax.
Left No rise in income tax rates.
Keep inflation and interest rates as low as possible.
