Using examples, explain the differences between left-wing and right-wing political ideas.

There are many differences between left-wing and right-wing political ideas. Right-wing political ideas that tend to be pessimistic about human nature and oppose change; right wingers typically favour order, authority and oppose state intervention in the market.

“Right wingers” are typically in favour of “free market economics”. This is where private companies are lightly regulated so they are free to go about their business without minimum interference from the government, which is sometimes referred to as “the state”. The Conservatives are a prime example of a “right-wing” party; the Labour party also adopted “right wing” ideas and began changes ways under the era of “blairism”, from being a “left wing-party” they adopted right wing ideas from the conservatives and were more or less similar to them.

“Left-wingers” on the other hand generally have optimistic ideas about human nature and favour social change, left wingers tend to support liberty, equality and state intervention. The labour party is a “left-wing” party and has swifted back to its original ethos and ideas under the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn who is a far-left wing socialist.
Furthermore left-wingers are keen to reduce the gaps between the rich and poor. They believe that society should work together to help everyone, which is why schemes like the NHS and benefits were introduced, But they argue that the rich should pay taxes thus reducing the gap between the rich and poor.

To what extent are the major parties internally divided over policies and ideas

The major contending parties are the Conservatives and Labour party, although they seem to be strong and stable parties, they have divisions internally over policies and ideas. The conservatives have had ongoing divisions starting from “one nation” conservatism; this was a pragmatic and paternalistic form of conservatism that was prominent during the 1950s and 1960s. Another difference was the “new right” which was known as “Thatcherism”. Thatcher came into power in 1979 holding the view that the “consensus politics” had brought about Britain’s decline from a major imperialism and economic world power to a nation in crisis. Thatcher wanted to “roll back the state” and the “nanny state” culture where people expected everything to be provided by the state and create a “property owning democracy” based on enterprise and hardwork.

The conservative party have current divisions too under the leadership of Cameron, in 2012 the conservatives saw 91 MPs rebel over the House of Lords reform and then 130 conservative Mps voted against gay marriages in 2013. Also in 2014 Baroness Warsi resigned from the government citing concerns as she was no longer able to support Cameron’s Government policy on the escalation of violence in the Israel-Gaza conflict. Many stated that this shows clear divisions within the conservative party as to MPs criticizing Israel for the high levels of civilian deaths in Gaza. Europe is also controversial just as it was under Thatcher and Major, which is why the EU referendum has been proposed and people will be voted to decide whether we should stay in the EU or leave. Half the Mps want to leave and example could be former Mayor of London Boris Johnson. But Cameron wants to renegotiate the terms of Britain’s involvement in the EU, he does not want to exit it completely. Cameron hopes to renegotiate the terms of Britain’s affiliation to the EU and in the process appease his party. If he fails his party will go into the Referendum split and may hinder the chances to annoit Osborne as the next leader.

Labour party also have divisions, the main difference was “Old Labour” and “New Labour”. Old Labour has original ethos and ideas upon which the Labour party were found at the start of the 20th century with commitment to the working class and a distinct approach to capitalism. “Old Labour” is a democratic socialist tendency, the emphasis of Nationalization(state ownership of industries). This use to be in the clause four of the Labour party constitution.

“New Labour” was established by Tony Blair, he abolished clause four of the party’s constitution, which effectively ditched Labour’s commitment to public ownership. To symbolize this ideological swift Blair referred to the party as “New Labour”. Thereby distancing it from its old image, ideas and policies. Blair Historically won 3 consecutive General elections in a row which helped continue the “Blairite” policies. His policies were more or less similar to the conservatives which is why backbench MPs such as Kelvin Hopkins (MP for Luton North) and Jeremy Corbyn didn’t like the new idea of “New Labour”.

In response to Labour’s successes at the ballot box, the conservative party similarly had to change and under David Cameron they regained the trust of the electorate, ditching what Theresa May called their “Nasty Party” reputation, but it wasn’t enough to give them a majority in the 2010 General election, they had to form a coalition government with the Liberal Democrats. But in the 2015 General election they were able to form a single party Government thereby showing that the Conservative party has changed.

However since Labour’s Loss at the 2015 General election under Ed Miliband who had declared that New Labour was dead, he didn’t know whether to continue the “New Labour” policies or to have “One Nation” policies, he was clearly a “confused man”. But now the party has reclaimed “Old Labour” under the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn. He got elected by getting impressive votes which gives him a strong mandate, it is clear that his leadership under over his MPs is very fragile. Although the party agreed on “the Big Picture”, there have been differences between the parties policies, strategies and tactics. Corbyn whom was forced by divisons gave his party MPs a free vote on the “Syria strikes” a few months back, from which 66 MPs backed the government which clearly shows that there are divisions within parties.