NEW LABOUR THE FIRST GOVERNMENT

The Creation of New Labour BUT FIRST … The culmination of a process of internal party reform triggered by The 1983 Election Result

The Process of Reform Strengthening the position of the party leader against the NEC Moving away from the Union block vote to direct individual membership participation (the notion of OMOV and electoral college) Policy changes: EC membership; unilateral nuclear disarmament; policies on industrial ownership and industrial relations.

Under Blair this process intensified 1.Clause Four Replaced 2. Unions kept at a distance: Reduced reliance of Union funding Ending of Union sponsorship of MPs 3. New National Party Forum 4. New role for Party Conference 5. Establishing distance from ‘Old Labour’

NEW LABOUR The term NEW appeared 107 times In the Road to the Manifesto document

COMPARISON OLD WITH NEW 1983 with 1997

State ownership and state control committed to 5 Year National Plan in consultation with Unions renationalisation withdrawal from EC New partnership between government and industry, workers and management To make the market work in the public interest not to abolish it No commitment to reverse Tory anti-Union legislation: no going back to the days of industrial warfare

Redistribution of wealth and power Provision of extensive welfare services Increase public spending “To put the final nail in the coffin of the old tax and spend agenda” Adopted the spending ceilings of Tories Set about reform of welfare/benefit system (welfare to work)

WHAT DID NEW LABOUR PROMISE? a new economics of the public interest which recognises that a thriving competitive market is essential for individual choice The government should play a full and active part in assisting industry to grow and modernise … in a partnership between private and public sector

And … The crusade against poverty A new settlement between individual and society … not just within our own nation but with Europe and the wider world

BLAIR SAID The growth of social division, inequality and the disintegration of the family and the community have torn us apart. The task of the Left is not to replace the Tories’ crude individualism with old notions of an overbearing paternalistic state. The task is rather of national renewal, rebuilding a strong civic society and basing it on a modern notion of citizenship, where rights and duties go hand in hand, where the purpose of social action is to develop individual potential, not subjugate it Guardian, 25 May 1994

Blair also said The role of government has changed: today it is to give people the education, skills, technical know-how to let their own enterprise and talent flourish in the new market place. Brown said Today, in an economy where skills are the essential means of production, the denial of opportunity has become an unacceptable inefficiency, a barrier to prosperity and the long-term root cause of poverty.

BROWN AGAIN That is why by far the biggest new expenditure commitment by the Government is our welfare-to-work programme … At the heart of the programme is a commitment to equality of opportunity – helping those out of work to realise their potential through fulfilling employment

THE PROBLEM IN MILLION CHILDREN LIVING IN POVERTY HOUSEHOLDS LIVING ON LESS THAN HALF OF AVERAGE INCOMES A THIRD OF ALL POOR CHILDREN IN THE EU WERE BORN IN THE UK SINCE 1979 AVERAGE INCOMES HAD RISEN BY 40% INCOMES OF THE POOREST STAYED STATIC

THE HEALTH OF THE POOR High incidence of premature births and infant mortality Low adult life expectancy High rates of obesity, smoking, bad health Single mothers were among the poorest

NEW LABOUR STRATEGIES THE SOCIAL EXCLUSION UNIT December 1997 THE NEW DEAL SURE START ONE HEALTHIER NATION

THE NEW DEAL AIMED AT THE YOUNG UNEMPLOYED 250, –25 YEAR OLDS Meet with civil service advisers (4 months) for needs assessment & help If that failed Education Directed to an employer Voluntary work

What Labour didn’t do … The government (state) did not create jobs through new public works

WHAT DID THE NEW DEAL ACHIEVE? 75% IN WORK WITHIN THREE MONTHS 160,000 YOUNG PEOPLE FOUND JOBS FASTER THAN THEY WOULD HAVE DONE WITHOUT INTERVENTION

THE SURE START PROGRAMME To supply intensive teaching and support for the poorest families with young children by Children’s day centres, home visits for depressed mothers, mother and toddler groups TO GIVE THE POOREST YOUNG CHILDREN A BETTER FAMILY LIFE

Joined up Government Expansion in Nursery Education Cut Class Sizes in Primary Schools After-School & Holiday Clubs The Connexions Programme & New Deal for 11 – 25 year olds

BENEFIT INCREASES DRIVEN BY “Work is the best welfare” and “A Hand Up Not a Hand Out”

WORK IS THE FIRST OBLIGATION Working Families Tax Credit Minimum Wage Increased Income Support for Children Child Benefit increased by 25% Children’s Tax Credit of £520 p.a. Improved List of Items for Lump Sums

Don’t Forget the Old Folk By m old people were living below half average income Labour introduced a Minimum Income Guarantee then INCREASED IT

FROM APRIL 2001 £92.15 BY 2003 £100 AND THE MONEY LINKED PERMANENTLY TO RATE OF EARNINGS

And Don’t Forget £200 for Winter Fuel, November 2000 Stakeholders Pension

EGALITARIANISM