grace’s space

A. 1. INTEGRATION INTO EU

Conservative: The Conservative Party, naturally, takes a conservative outlook on Britain’s integration into the EU, feeling that it is unjustified by the people, unfair and ineffective for the wellbeing and progression of the country. Conservatives feel that a position in the EU lowers efficiency, forcing the country to accept and follow common law for example, replacing the euro with the pound (if it were to become an EU law). While Tony Blair believed that involvement in the EU would heal wounds and build bonds, Conservatives feel that it greatly restricts and threatens British independence and individual effectiveness. Their biggest argument is that the people are not given a say while other member countries held referendums and could ratify treaties entering them into the EU, it seems that British government jumped into the union before giving its people a say. Conservatives feel that involvement in a union that affects the people so greatly should be influenced by their desires.

Labour: The Labour Party believes that involvement in the European Union is vital to Britain’s success. They believe that the days of British isolationism need to be buried history and, instead, Britain needs to rise as a world leader. This can only be done, however, if the country ceases to stand on the sidelines of a union as influential and powerful as the EU. Further integration into the EU would not only boost Britain’s presently ineffective economy (as the EU is the most influential unit of European economic policy), but would also restore stability to the country, allow it to further adapt to globalization and aid in its rise as a world power. The Labour Party opposes the Conservative’s policies of isolationism and “sideline” involvement and, instead, believes that involvement in the EU is the sole mode of keeping time with other countries and remaining involved in the global community. However, while they want to maintain a place in the EU, Labours are not willing to give up issues of human rights and judiciary policy for the EU to decide for them.

Policy: Passed December 1, 2009, the Labour Party has supported and ratified the Lisbon Treaty, which grants the EU even more law making abilities, thereby providing it more power. While more power yields more responsibility, the EU claims that it will be even more accountable for its citizens. However, it is the Parliament has the final say on the budget of the EU. EU legislation oversees several categories including agriculture, energy policy, immigration and more. Through the treaty, not only is the EU gaining power, but so too is the European Parliament. In this respect, critics of the Lisbon Treaty claim that European citizens, especially the British with their heavily democratic system, will see a drop in the level of democracy, as the institutions of government gain power while the peoples’ voice remains on the same level. Citizens worry that the ability of the EU to make extremely important and influential laws for the entirety of Europe will undermine their voice and dangerously strengthen central power.

A. 2. WELFARE

Conservative: Conservatives believe that some welfare is necessary to support Britain’s citizens. However, the party feels that the extent of the Labour Party’s social care exceeds the needed amount and has contributed heavily to the enormous national deficit ($67 million spent on welfare for the elderly). In hopes of creating a welfare system in which people are encouraged to get back on their feet but not given the crutches of the government’s money, Conservatives believe that a federal system in which unemployed citizens join federal groups and receive pension but promise to work eventually is the most effective system. Conservatives feel that the people should be given a bridge to employment, a temporary shoulder to lean on before they get back on their feet and are capable of work. A system in which citizens are able to lean completely on the government and use taxpayers’ money for their own living funds creates an ineffective and unfair system.

Labour: The Labour party believes in a much more widespread and universal system of welfare. For example, the party has guaranteed education to every 16 or 17 year old who seeks it. Also, vascular checks for all people ages 40-74 has been implemented by the Labour Party. The party tends to favor and accept higher and more flexible budgets for recipients of social care in hopes of offering them management of their own lifestyles. The Labour Party sees it fit that a huge percentage of federal taxes go toward social care. They lean less towards the bridgeway system that the Conservatives use; they view welfare as something that can support an individual for a long period of time and are more open to the idea of the extended neediness of the impoverished.

Policy: In 1997, the Labour Party developed the NHS, or the National Health Service. Sticking to their policy of wider healthcare coverage and greater social services, the party developed the NHS with the goal of creating more accessible and better quality treatment and healthcare. The NHS has lowered waitlist time for treatment, increased number of doctors, and built over 100 new hospitals schemes. However, while this reform seems perfect, it comes at a great cost to the government and, more importantly, to the taxpayers. Critics of government spending throughout the past decade argue that the Labour Party boasts its reforms but cannot back them up with responsible spending. While widespread healthcare is undeniably beneficial to Britain’s citizens, it does come at a high cost.