[G. Adams]

This post, I hope, will be informative rather than outright ranting. But don't expect me to be unbiased.


The 3 Main Contenders.

The Labour Party - Brief history. The Labour Party was born out of the trade unions movement in the late 1800's. It was predominantly socialist, and attracted the largest following of all the left wing parties. It BEGAN with an aim to turn Great Britain into a socialist country. However, this aim was betrayed by the leader Ramsay Macdonald, who turned the party from a democratic socialist party into a social democrat party, from the top down. However, the economic crises of the 1930's meant that government was dissolved into an emergency, all parties national coalition government. At the end of World War II, GB thanked conservative leader Churchill by, correctly, replacing him for labours Clement Attlee. Attlee nationalised the rail, energy, water, communications etc. He also, encouraged by Ernie Bevin, established the NHS. This set the 'old labour' style of the party, dedicated to education, health and housing. Labour faced internal disputes following Churchill's later re-election, and didn't see the light of day till 1964 under Harold Wilson. He continued to improve the lives of British working class, as well as reforming laws covering abortion, homosexuality and ending capital punishment. He then lost to the Conservatives for one term, only to return again. They again won, but very narrowly, meaning the Liberal Party had to form a coalition with them in order to stay in power, but this ruptured, and another election was called. This was won by the Cons. led by the evil, black hearted bitch queen. Err, Thatcher, I mean. Labour again went into an internal crises. The Party was divided into two factions, the DemSoc's (led by great Tony Benn) and the SocDem's by people like Neil Kinnock. Benn's facton won this, but Micheal Foot became leader as a compromise between the factions. They promptly lost the next election. Kinnocks group took dominance and began driving the party to the right. They lost the next two elections, but still kept moving to the right. Briefly John Smith led the party after kinnocks second failure, but died of a heart attack. The New Labour team, led by right winger Blair and Gordon Brown, plus a multitude of devoted lackies won the leadership, and started impressively. They tore down the Conservative Party at every oppurtunity which was then, and still is, plagued by scandal. Labour won the election in 1997.

Analysis- Labour is officially the left wing party of Britain, and holds, at the 1997 election at least, the votes of the working class and support of the trade unions. However, the policies of the Blair government have been heavily right wing, the only notable exceptions have been the introduction of the minimum wage and the Human Rights Act 2001 (the first act protecting our rights since the glorious revolution of the 17th century). This shift has left britain with a left wing vacuum, with nobody properly filling the space yet. There is currently an internal war going on, with the majority wanting a move to the left, but having no leader to take Blairs place. Labour has become fearful of losing Blair, as this may leave them without an electable leader.



The Conservative Party-Brief History-Someone else will have to do this, I have no interest in their party history, but I do know a lot more about their part factions...

Analysis- The Conservative Party can be divided into three main groups-Traditionalists/Tories, One Nationists and Neo-Liberals.

Trads./Tories-The Conservative Party came from the Tory Party that opposed the Whigs in the 1600's. It is conservative in the original meaning of the word, supporting the monarchy, the lords, aristocracy and general plutocracy all round. It is dominated today by ultra-nationalists and America fetishists. Members of this wing include Norman Tebbit and Anne Widdecombe.

One Nationists-This movement came from Benjamin Disraeli. It argues that as we are all 'in the same boat', the rich should be taxed a little more to help out the poor. This group inclues Kenneth Clarke and recently converted Micheal Portillo.

Neo-Liberals-These are the British Reaganites, privatise, privatise, privatise. They favour deregulation, more authoritarian practices and kicking in the faces of the Northerners. This group includes Thatcher.

The Conservative Party is often simply abbreviated to the Tories.

This party is supposedly the opposition party currently, but as Labour is equally right wing and authoritarian as itself currently, it...doesn't. The party is deemed totally unnelectable by the general public after Black Monday, the poll tax and corruption, not to mention its inability to talk to each other. It is currently split over Europe, whether we should stay as we are, go further in or pull out.



The Liberal Democrats- Brief History- The liberal party and social democrat party had become unnelectable, so joined forces to create this party.

Analysis - Although currently the LibDems are the most likeable of the three parties, they are noted political oppurtunists. Oddly though, their leader, Charles Kennedy has missed oppurtunity after oppurtunity to slaughter Labour over the Iraq crises. This may be due to his famed drinking habit. However, the LibDem's, if they play there cards right, are set to become the opposition, and perhaps in 15 years the government.

They are THE best mainstream party just because they are the only when dedicated to bringing back in student grants.

Feel free to add more, I'm about to do the minor parties next.