Evaluate the view that the Labour Party is still a New Labour Party [30 marks]

1. Economy
- Remains united around the idea of economic justice.

Old Labour influences:

- Party’s commitment to increasing income tax for the top 5% of earners,
reversing the Tories’ cuts in corporation tax from the Cameron years and
clamping down on tax avoidance particularly of large corporations as
well as tackling insecure work and low pay.
- Belief that kep public services should be in public hands, not making
profits for shareholders. The Party supports the common ownership of
rail, mail and energy and water and it opposes and wishes to end
outsourcing in the NHS, local government and the justice system.

New Labour influences:

- Tying together of climate justice with economic justice has its roots in
New Labour. Labour wishes to put a green new deal at the heart of its
policy and pass a Clean Air Act to tackle pollution locally.
- Recognises the importance of the market and the individual in
generating wealth. The proposed top rate of tax falls below the
progressive tax rates of the 1970s when it stood at 86%, while the Party
wishes to return corporation tax to the levels under New Labour. In 2021,
the party opposed any immediate tax hikes on businesses due to a fear it
would restrict economic recovery.
 2. Welfare
- Comes together around the principle of social justice.

Old Labour influences:

- Desire of the Party to abolish Universal Credit and replace it with an
alternative that is designed to end poverty by delivering a minimum
standard of living. The Party is committed to the idea that equality of
opportunity relies on certain level of social justice.
- Supports the abolition of tuition fees, first introduced under New Labour,
and supports investment in lifelong learning.

New Labour influences:

- Remains emphasis on social inclusion by delivering a minimum standard
of living rather than an emphasis on the redistribution of wealth.
 3. Foreign policy
- Should be based on a more internationalist, rather than nationalist,
approach, with the aim of making foreign policy about
international peace and justice.
- The Party has settled on a position of implementing an
immigration system that it says will be based on compassion and
dignity.

Old Labour influences:

- Pledges no more illegal wars, seeking to introduce a Prevention of
Military Act that will make war only possible when certain legal steps
have been achieved and it has been approved by a vote in Parliament.
- Historically more anti-EU due to what is perceived to be the lack of
democracy and accountability within EU institutions, Jeremy Corbyn fell
into the camp, making him a very reluctant Remainer.

New Labour influences:

- Sir Keir Starmer, has argued that the UK should continue to accept the
freedom of movement of people with the EU after Brexit.
- Party under Starmer has adopted a more open commitment at home to a
sense of patriotism, with a more wholehearted support for investment in
defense, the nuclear deterrent and NATO.