How and why did the Liberals help the poor?

Starter• Think of modern day society.• What provisions are made available to you and your family by the state –

free of charge at the point of need.• Arrange it in a spider diagram.• You may find it easy to think of things on a timeline from when you were a

baby to the day you die as an OAP.

State provision.

Lesson objectives:

• To examine why the Liberals helped the poor.

• Examine the idea of self-help versus Welfare state.

Task 1 – • Name the leader and then draw and match the logo ,leader and date

formed to the party.

Conservatives

Labour Party

Liberal Democrats.1671

1988

1900

What politics are you?

Question number Your answer

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10

What politics are you?

Question 1

Civil Liberties are a big issue at the moment in Britain. Do you agree with ID cards?

A - They are a necessity to fight the evils of terrorism

B - I agree with them in principle, but object on the grounds of costs and logistics

C - They go against my belief in free speech and movement of people – and would put us in a Police state

Question 2

Tax cuts help boost the economy, as the ordinary family man is the best judge on how to spend their own money

A - It is better to group everyone’s money together to fund projects like the NHSB - Tax cutting – as long as financially prudent – should be an integral part of economic policy

C - We should concentrate less on cutting taxes, in fact taxes should be raised to fund more state intervention

Question 3

Crime is a major issue at election time. What should be done with criminals found guilty.

A - Prison should be an option, as long as re-integration programmes are available.B - The more prisons the better – in fact build more and throw away the key on prisoners.

C - Prison should be a last resort. It is better to complete community programmes for low level crime.

Question 4

Immigration is always a contentious issue for politicians.

A - Immigration should be controlled, but is does bring benefit to the host nation.B - Less immigration the better, this country is too full as it is.

C - We live in a free world – where people should be able to cross borders at will

Question 5

Education is a political hot potato.

A - Grammar schools perform a great service in the country, as do all types of schools. We shouldn’t build anymoreB - Grammar schools are the bedrock of our education system. We should have at least one in every education district.

C - Grammar schools are elitist and should be forced to close.

Question 6

Big Business makes all kinds of headlines.

A - We welcome big business as their success is essential for a successful economyB - Big Business should be the driver behind a successful country. It doesn’t matter they pay out big salaries to chief executives, they deserve it.

C - Big Business is not as important as the public sector. And fat cat salaries should be capped.

Question 7

A - We want to be at the heart of Europe, working with a colleagues and neighbours. Although we reserve the right to set our own laws and opt out of anything we don’t like from Brussels.B - We are sceptical towards Europe, and believe that as an island Britain’s interests are better served alone.

C - We should embrace the European Union and being in the centre of it will strengthen us as a country. Free – trade between nation states is the way to improving our society, and we welcome European Union Law when it takes precedent over British Law.

Britain and Europe has nearly split all the major political parties.

Question 8

A - We may need to have nuclear power as an alternative energy source in the coming years.B - Nuclear power will become a necessity, and moreover we need it as a deterrent against rogue states and countries such as Russia

C - We should look at other alternative forms of power – such as solar and wind power. There is no need for nuclear weapons.

Nuclear Power was a massive issue in the 1980s – and it is coming back to the fore again in 2007.

Question 9

A - Traditionally we have got on better with the Democrats. Although we are not adverse to working with whoever is in the White House should we be in office.B - Traditionally we have got on better with the Republicans. They stand for free-enterprise, low taxation and deregulation.C - We wouldn’t like any of the two main parties in America.

America and Britain have had a special relationship for ages. Which Political Party should Britain align itself to?

Question 10

A - We would argue that we need to detain people for upto 90 days so that all the evidence can be examined. B - We are not necessarily against detention for 90 days, it is just that we believe that it should be less as this may be a cause of resentment particularly amongst minority communities and fester more hatred. Something like 30 days would be more acceptable.C - We are against any more detention than is currently allowed in the system (7 days) as we believe this goes against freedoms and civil liberties.

Terrorist suspects and how long they can be questioned without charge.

Re-read

P 50-53

Task 3• A party manifesto is a simple list of usually around 10 points that a

political party produces in the lead-up to an election.

• E.g. – We will increase expenditure on education or put another 2000 police on the ‘beat’.

• I would like you to produce one for the Liberals whilst addressing the points raised by the social reformers.

• One point could therefore be – We will introduce a pension for Old Age Pensioners so that once they stop earning an income, because of retirement, they will not drop below the poverty line.