1.2: Political parties Flashcards
1
Q
What are ‘Left-Wing’ Political ideas?
A
LEFT-WING POLITICAL IDEAS
- Have a positive view of the state and a collectivist view of society.
- They believe that the Government should reduce inequality and encourage social cohesion by providing an extensive welfare state.
- The wealthier in society should pay a higher share of the cost of this through redistributive taxation (progressive taxation). The government should also play a major role in the economy through the nationalisation of key industries.
- Left-wing politicians have enjoyed close relations with the trade union movement since the unions also represent the economic interests of the working class.
- Socially, the left embraces multiculturalism. It is also socially libertarian and so supports giving alternative lifestyles equal status with more traditional ones.
- It is socially progressive and favours an internationalist approach to global problems.
- Focus on reforming the criminal and their behaviour - reinvention instead of retribution
- Revolutionists rather than evolutionists.
2
Q
What are ‘Right-Wing’ Political ideas?
A
RIGHT-WING POLITICAL IDEAS
- Focuses more on the importance of giving the individual as much control over their own life as possible.
- They reject left-wing attempts to encourage greater equality and believe that the free market operates best when there is as little government interference as possible.
- Governments should aim to keep taxation as low as possible and trade union influence needs to be limited in order to encourage the smooth operation of the market (Trickle-down economics).
- Companies operate most effectively when there is competition, so nationalised firms are best privatised.
- Although economically libertarian, the right-wing is socially conservative and so emphasises the importance of a shared national identity and encourages traditional lifestyle.
- Tough stance on crime, with longer sentences and police holding more power.
- Supporting the status quo - for little or no change.
3
Q
What is the difference between Consensus and Adversary Politics?
A
CONSENSUS POLITICS
- Means that there are many philosophical and policy similarities between the main political parties. The opposition may, therefore, may be able to support some government policies.
- EXAMPLE. In the 1950s, the shared commitment of the Labour Chancellor of the Exchequer, Hugh Gaitskell, and the Conservative Chancellor of the Exchequer, R.A Butler, to full employment and a mixed economy led to the invention of the term ‘Butskellism’.
- EXAMPLE. Tony Blair’s embracing of traditionally Conservative principles such as free market and low taxation made his time as Labour leader (1994 - 2007) a period of ‘Butskellite’ consensus.
ADVERSARY POLITICS
- This means that the main parties are divided by fundamental philosophical and policy differences.
- The opposition will routinely oppose the policies of the government since they are so ideologically and practically opposed to them.
- EXAMPLE. The early 1980s provides a good example of adversary politics since the socialism of Labour leader Michael Foot (1980 - 1983) was so fundamentally at odds with the free-market reforms of Margaret Thatcher.
a) The leadership of Jeremy Corbyn has again made British politics adversary since, as a committed socialist, he is radically opposed to the policies of the Conservative party.
4
Q
What is the difference between Manifesto and Mandate?
A
MANIFESTO
- A political party will publish its manifesto during a general election campaign. This sets out what it will seek to achieve if it is able to form a government.
- If a party wins a parliamentary majority in a general election it can then claim legitimacy to carry out its manifesto commitments.
- These manifesto promises form the core of the Queen’s Speech, which will be delivered by the monarch at the beginning of the new parliament.
MANDATE
- If a political party has won a general election it can be said to have the mandate to govern the country. This means that it has the authority to try and enact its manifesto commitments.
a) EXAMPLE. Having won a majority in the 2015 general election, David Cameron’s government could legitimately seek to fulfil its manifesto commitments such as offering a referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU. - If no party has achieved a parliamentary majority then a coalition (2010) or a minority government (2017) will be established.
a) In these circumstances the principle of the mandate does not operate smoothly since. the government cannot rely on unequivocal electoral mandate from the public. - A government can also claim a ‘doctor’s mandate’, which means that it can propose measures not included in its manifesto in response to changing political circumstances.
5
Q
What are the functions of Political Parties within a Democratic system?
A
FUNCTION OF POLITICAL PARTIES
- Selecting Candidates
a) The party membership holds the potential for the recruitment of candidates for public office.
- The Parties maintain the right to reject or ‘deselect’ candidates who fail to live up to expectation (can’t stand for that party in an upcoming election).
b) Once a candidate wins a seat, they claim to have an electoral mandate to represent that seat, yet there may be a conflict with the local party if it is a safe seat.
- EXAMPLE. In 2015, Tim Yeo Tory MP for South Suffolk did not fight the seat, having been denied the nomination by his local party for his pro-European Union views.
- EXAMPLE. Momentum is in favour of using the prospect of deselection to ensure that Labour MPs at Westminister represent the interests of local party activists. - Providing the personnel of government
a) By providing candidates for election to public office, political parties contribute the personnel for the government (local, devolved or national executive).
- EXAMPLE. In 2010, the membership of the parliamentary Conservative and Lib Dem parties provided the membership of the coalition government. - Electing a leader
a) The membership of a political party also play an important role in the election of the party leader.
b) In the Conservative party, this is between 2 candidates. - EXAMPLE. In 2005, this was between David Cameron or David Davis.
- EXAMPLE. In 2019, this was between Boris Johnson or Jeremy Hunt.
- EXAMPLE. In 2017, Theresa May won by default after Andrea Leadsom withdrew from the contest.
c) In the Labour Party, Ed Milliband adopted one member, one vote, as well as having to secure the backing of 10% of the Parliamentary Labour party and backing from trade unions.
- EXAMPLE. In 2015, Jeremy Corbyn defeated his rivals with 59.5% of the vote as the ‘token’ left-winger. - Policy formulation
a) They generate policies that embody the ideologies of which they stand for in a manifesto (their programme for government).
b) In the Labour Party, a National Policy Forum consults with party members over the development of policy.
- EXAMPLE. In the 2017 general election, the National Policy Forum and the elected National Executive Council worked closely with the leadership and senior members of the parliamentary party to ‘aggregate’ a manifesto that fairly represented the opinions of the Labour movement.
c) In the Conservative Party, its manifesto is drawn up by senior members of the party.
- EXAMPLE. In 2017, Theresa May’s joint chiefs of staff, Fiona Hill and Nick Timothy, played the key role in drawing up the party’s controversial manifesto.
d) More decentralised parties (Lib Dems, Greens…) give party membership the final decisions over what appears in the party manifesto.
e) EXAMPLE. In 2015, the NHS was a key battleground.
- Conservatives promised to provide people access to their GP 7 days a week.
- Labour pledged an appointment within 48 hours.
f) There is an educative function.
- By communicating and explaining their ideas to the public (popular support, with the likelihood of distorting opponents policies in their interests). - Campaigning and Participation
a) They encourage people to participate in politics (vote, support a party, support through funding) to win influence and maintain its message.
- EXAMPLE. The grassroots Labour movement, Momentum has appreciated the importance of mobilising the Labour party to share their political message.
b) They vary in how far they allow members to shape party policy, yet they have procedures for selecting candidates.
- EXAMPLE. The labour party massively decreased its membership by allowing supporters to join an annual subscription of £3 which played to Jeremy Corbyn’s success as leader in September 2015.
c) Political parties are increasingly using the internet and social media to spread their cause. - Representation
a) Represent the views of the people with a particular set of beliefs (ideology).
b) The value of parties is that they bring order to the political system rather than representation performed by a plethora of pressure groups or individuals.
- EXAMPLE. In the 2017 election, 82.4% of those who voted felt that their political opinions were represented y the Conservative Party (42.4%) or the Labour Party (40%). - Mobilising consent for government
a) The winning party at a general election has the opportunity to form a government, intending to passing its manifesto into law.
- Without the existence of political parties, it would be difficult to form effective governments.
b) The people do not directly elect Prime Minister.
c) A Prime Minister who loses the confidence of their party is vulnerable.
- EXAMPLE. In November 1990, Margaret Thatcher lost the support of a large number of Conservative MPs, failing to win a leadership contest outright and later being replaced by John Major (who was regarded in a better place to unite the party and led to renewed electoral success).
6
Q
Do Political Parties help of hinder Representative Democracy?
A
POLITICAL PARTIES ON REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY
- Help
a) Representative democracy could not function without political parties. If politicians simply represented their own individual views then it would be very difficult to establish a government since its members would not be united by one political ideology.
b) Political parties develop/aggregate coherent political programmes through discussion. The way in which political parties then issue manifestos enables voters across the whole country to make the same rational choices about whom they will vote for.
c) Without political parties, voting in elections would be more complicated because voters would no longer be able to associate a candidate with a particular party manifesto.
d) Opposition political parties can hold the government accountable for its policies in a way that would be impossible for individual representatives.
e) Political parties are vital in organising parliamentary business. If they did not exist representative bodies would become confused and disorganised.
f) Political parties select suitable candidates to stand for election and to select their leader from. Without such mechanisms, a representative democracy would be able to function properly. - Hinder
a) Political parties reduce voter choice by requiring voters to associate themselves with the manifesto of a political party even though that manifesto may not fully represent their political views.
- EXAMPLE. In 2019, the election was known as the ‘Brexit Election’ as it was more on the merit of the parties Brexit position than their plans on taxation or nationalisation.
- A political party often only partially succeeds in being able to represent one’s political views, so limiting the individual’s choice.
b) The freedom of action of MPs is reduced because, although they could argue that they have their own personal mandate, the party whips expect them to support the programme of their political party.
c) The ‘Spirit of Faction’ which political parties create has also been criticised for creating a confrontational and negative approach to government, in which political parties too often focus on their differences and fail to work together for the good of the nation.
- This can create a dangerously polarised society, as seen between the Republicans and Democrats in the US.
- Yet the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition was able to last the full term of Parliament, demonstrating what can be achieved when party differences are kept to a minimum.
d) Political parties give excessive power to the party membership. By selecting the party leader, the membership effectively determines the choice of who will be PM in the general election.
e) The way in which the main political parties benefit from disproportionate funding also ensures that they are able to monopolise political decision making.
7
Q
How are Political Parties funded?
A
THE FUNDING OF POLITICAL PARTIES
- General Taxation
a) Pays for MPs salaries (the basic salary in April 2016 was £74,692).
b) MPs are allowed to claim expenses to cover the cost of running an office, living in Westminster and their constituency, as well as travelling. - Party membership and donations
a) Voluntary subscriptions of their members.
b) Fundraising events in constituencies.
c) Donations from benefactors.
- EXAMPLE. The Conservative party has traditionally received donations from big business. In the 2nd quarter of 2017, they received £25 million.
- EXAMPLE. The Labour Party receives donations from trade unions. In the 2nd quarter of 2017, they received £10 million. - Policy development grants
a) Allocate £2 million to all the main parties so that they can employ policy advisers. - Short money
a) Money is allocated to the opposition parties for their work in the House of Commons on the basis of the number of seats they have.
- EXAMPLE. In 2018, Labour received £6.2 million, SNP received £0.6 million.
b) The leader of the opposition is also funded almost £800,000 for the running of their office.
c) Cranborne money subsidised the work of scrutiny carried out by the opposition parties in the House of Lords.
Parties must meet most of their election costs from voluntary subscriptions of their members as well as fundraising events in constituencies
Short Money - Special state provision to support the activities of the opposition in Parliament.
8
Q
What acts have changed the system of Party Funding?
A
ACTS THAT HAVE CHANGED PARTY FUNDING
- 2000 Political Parties, Election and Referendums Act.
a) An independent electoral commission was set up to supervise party spending on election spending.
b) Spending amount was capped at £30,000 in a constituency
c) Donations of more than £5,000 (nationally) or £1,000 (constituency) had to be declared.
d) Donations from individuals not on the UK electoral roll were banned. - Trade Union Act 2016
a) Changed laws regarding trade union membership so that a new union member must now ‘opt-in’ if they wish their membership fee to go to the Labour Party.
9
Q
What has been the controversy with the funding of UK Political Parties?
A
UK POLITICAL PARTIES FUNDING CONTROVERSY
- Powerful Interests offer financial support for Political Influence.
a) The Conservative Party has traditionally been the party of big business.
b) Labour has traditionally been funded by the Trade Unions, which shaped its policy.
c) Liberal Democrats criticise its opponents for being bankrolled by the wealthy. - Political Honours.
a) Honours in the House of Lords, to their most generous benefactors, runs counter to the principles of democracy and openness.
b) EXAMPLE. Cash for Peerages Scandal 2006.
- Several wealthy individuals loaned money to the Labour Party and were nominated for honours.
- The party was exploiting a loophole in the law.
- Blair and two aides faced Police questioning with no charges pressed.
- It was later decided that loans would be subject to the same rules as donations. - Tony Blair and Bernie Ecclestone 1997.
a) The revelation that Bernie (motor racing boss) had donated £1 million to Labour in the 1990s.
b) This was connected with a delay in implementing a ban on tobacco advertising in Formula One racing.
c) Blair was forced to apologise in a TV interview with the money subsequently returned.
10
Q
Should the state fund Political Parties?
A
STATE FUNDED POLITICAL PARTIES
- Arguments for the state funding of parties.
a) EXAMPLE. The 2007 Phillips report by the former civil servant, Sir Hayden Phillips, proposed to address the problem of private donations by funds through taxpayers money.
- In 2015, Labour and the Liberal Democrats looked to impose limits on individual donations to parties. Yet the Conservatives, who would lose out the most from this move, wanted corresponding restrictions on Labour’s trade-union backers.
b) Parties play an essential role in a representative democracy, so deserve public funding.
c) Public funding would remove the vast disparity in resources available to different-sized parties.
d) If the state matched donations by party members, it may encourage participation by the public and recruitment to parties.
e) It could curb the possibly corrupt influence of private backers on party policy. - Arguments against the state funding of parties.
a) Increased state funding could lead to calls for greater state regulation, possibly reducing parties independence.
- Could make parties subservient to the state.
b) It is hard to decide how much support a party should have to qualify for funding.
c) Taxpayers would resent compulsory contributions to parties of which they disapprove.
- The funding of extremist political parties such as the BNP would be contentious.
d) With the pressure to make public spending cuts, it is unsuitable as an additional burden on the taxpayer.
e) In a free democracy, people should be able to financially support whatever they wish.
11
Q
How has the identity of the Conservative Party progressed through time?
A
CONSERVATIVE PARTY
- Traditional Conservatism.
a) Origins can be traced back to the English Civil War.
- Royalist supported the Crown and the Church of England (status quo).
- They feared violence reflected in Thomas Hobbes’ Leviathan (1651) which views human nature as negative as if there was not a strong government to control citizens and resist dangerous innovation then anarchy would ensue.
b) Other origins from the Tory Party of the late 17th Century (aristocratic grouping representing the defence of the Monarchy, Church of England - as powerful landowning institutions).
c) The new egalitarian principles of the French Revolution (1789) based on ‘liberty, fraternity, equality’ were in conflict of Conservative principles.
- Edmund Burke (1729 - 1797) wrote ‘Reflections on the Revolution in France’ (1790) in which he warned about the consequences of too-rapid change.
- Desire to change was dangerous and you should always approach problems pragmatically.
d) Sir Robert Peel (PM in 1834-1835 & 1841-1846) was dedicated to the defence of property and authority against the threat of revolution (gradual reform to protect/conserve established institutions).
- Popular in the late 19th and 20th centuries as it broadened its support by appealing to the middle class. - One-Nation Conservatism -
a) Benjamin Disraeli (PM in 1868 & 1874-1880) wrote ‘Sybil’ (1845), where he focuses on the growing disparity between rich and poor produced by the development of industrial capitalism.
- Disraeli saw society as an organic body in which stability and prosperity could only be achieved through all classes and individuals appreciating their debt to each other and not putting their selfish interests above the wellbeing of the community.
- In Sybil, he warns of Britain becoming ‘Two Nations: THE RICH AND THE POOR’.
b) He sought to bridge the gap between classes through a paternalistic social policy.
- ‘Natural Leaders’ of society would accept an obligation to act benevolently towards the disadvantaged, for acceptance of their right to rule.
c) Sought to win popular support utilising social reform and a ‘patriotic’ foreign policy (British Empire).
- To strengthen national unity by uniting all social classes under the patriotic banner.
d) This remained the dominant ideology until Magaret Thatcher in 1979, peaking after the Second World War after broadly accepting the changes under the Labour Administration (1945-1951), a welfare state, the mixed economy… rarely undoing few of their opponent’s policies.
- This includes Stanley Baldwin (1924 - 1929), Harold Macmillan (1957 - 1963) and Edward Heath (1970 - 1974).
- The balance of free enterprise with state intervention in economic and social policy - Thatcherism and the New Right.
a) The effectiveness of one-nation conservatism was being undermined by large-scale industrial unrest
b) New Right combines neo-liberalism and neo-conservatism on the principle that the economy best regulates itself with as little government intervention as possible.
c) Neo-liberalism
- Based on classical economist Adam Smith (1723 - 1790) with the ‘invisible hand of the market’ by making conditions as favourable as possible for the successful operation of the free market by: keeping taxation to a minimum, reducing inflation and interest rates in order to encourage investment, discouraging a ‘dependency culture’ based on too extensive a welfare state, limiting the influence of trade unions as they disrupt the operation of the free market by demanding excessive pay claims.
d) Neo-conservatism
- See the positive role of the state in encouraging social security by:
- Discouraging permissive and alternative lifestyles which threaten the traditional family uni as the basis for social harmony.
- Giving the government extensive powers to fight crime and disorder.
- Protecting the national interest by pursuing a strong defence policy.
- Emphasising the nation-state as the ultimate source of the citizen’s security. - Current Conservative ideas and policies
a) EXAMPLE. David Cameron’s One Nationism
- Emphasised ‘Big Society’ similar to Blair’s ‘Stakeholder Society’.
- Introduction of a National Citizenship Qualification was a way of acknowledging the importance of our shared membership of society.
- Cameron committed to supporting gay marriage, demonstrating tolerance and inclusivity.
- George Osbourne introduced a national living wage which by 2020 should have risen to 60% of median earnings
- Remained committed to low taxation, with Osbourne cutting the top rate of tax from 50p to 45p.
- Austerity measures were self-inflicted as a means of reducing the deficit, which was £100 billion in 2010.
b) EXAMPLE. Theresa May’s ‘Nasty Party’
- Commitment to cutting immigration to under 100,000 a year.
- A strong national security policy with the trident nuclear deterrent as a cornerstone of Conservative defence policy.
- Investigatory Powers Act 2016 expands the intelligence community’s electronic surveillance powers (snoopers charter).
- Values constitutional traditions and so opposes further reform of the House of Lords.
- May cites one of her political heroes as Joseph Chamberlain, a self-made businessman who was one of the great social reformers of the late 19th century.
- In 2017, she established the Department for business, energy and industrial strategy to give the government an enhanced role in allocating funds in the most effective way to stimulate industrial growth.
12
Q
How has the identity of the Labour Party progressed through time?
A
LABOUR PARTY
- Old Labour
a) Labour was established in 1900 to represent the interests of the working class and trade unions.
b) Traditionally been a compromise between democratic socialism and social democracy.
- Democratic socialists believe that the capitalist state will inevitably be replaced by a socialist state (Beatrice Webb and the ‘inevitability of gradualism’.
- Social democrats argued that a more socially just and equal society can be achieved by reforming existing capitalist structures (Anthony Crosland).
c) The core principle of collectivism as they have sought to create a more just and inclusive society by:
- Nationalisation, whereby government runs key industries in the interests of workers and the nation.
- Redistributive taxation so that the weather in society pay a greater share of taxation.
- Supporting an extensive welfare state.
- Fostering close links with the trade unions.
d) EXAMPLE. The Clement Atlee first majority Labour government (1945 - 1951).
- In 1948, the health secretary, Aneurin Bevan, introduced the National Health Service, providing free healthcare for the nation.
- Approximately 20% of the economy was nationalised (steel, electricity, coal and the Bank of England).
- This was all inspired by the wartime Beveridge Report.
e) EXAMPLE. The Harold Wilson governments (1964 - 1970) and (1974 - 1976) created an equal society based on government-led economic expansion.
- In 1965, the deputy PM, George Brown, announced a National Plan for economic growth which would expand the economy by 25% by 1970.
- The maintenance grant was introduced to make it easier for young people from poorer backgrounds to attend university.
- The Open University was established to further open up higher education to those from poorer backgrounds.
- Wilson was committed to the expansion of comprehensive education at the expense of grammar schools as a way of encouraging a more inclusive and less elite society.
- Inclusivity through the Race Relations Act 1968 and the Sex Discrimination Act 1975.
- Taxes increased significantly under James Callaghan (1976 - 1979) with the top rate of 83%. - New Labour (Third Way)
a) Following. the failure of Micheal Foot and Neil Kinnock with radical left policies in 1983 including the commitment to further nationalisation, increased taxation, withdrawal from the EEC and unilateral nuclear disarmament.
- Known as the longest suicide note in history (reducing vote share from 36.9% in 1979 to 27.6% in 1983.
b) Tony Blair was influenced by the principles of the ‘third way’ (Anthony Giddens) as a compromise between the extremes of socialism and capitalism.
- Removed the socialist commitment to principles such as collectivism, instead citing a ‘stakeholder society’.
- Labour would enact policies which would encourage wealth creation rather than wealth redistribution.
c) Clause 4 of the Labour Constitution (1918) was modified so that the party abandoned its commitment to nationalisation in 1995
d) EXAMPLE. Blair retained many Thatcherite policies and ignited modernising policies.
- Nigel Lawson, the Chancellor, had lowered the top rate of taxation to 40% in 1988. Blair kept it at 40% on the basis that the wealthiest in society are wealth creators and that the economy would grow faster if taxes were lower.
- There was a greater emphasis on the state as an ‘enabler’ rather than a provider. State schools were given greater independence from local authorities and tuition fees were introduced so students would contribute to the cost of higher education.
- Introduction of tougher law such as anti-social behaviour orders (ASBO’s) to combat crime.
- Blair enlisted the public sector to deliver public services such as the Private Finance Initiatives (PFI) contracts awarded to private firms to build new schools and hospitals.
- Most hereditary peers were removed from the House of Lords, the ECHR was incorporated into British Law, an independent Supreme Court was established and devolved assemblies were established.
- Introduced the minimum wage in order to help the lowest paid in 1997.
e) Gordon Brown attempted to stabilise public finances by introducing a 50p top rate of taxation on incomes over £150,000 as well as a partial bank nationalisation programme in response to the global economic crisis. - Current Labour ideas and policies
a) Ed Milliband distanced himself from the Blairite past whilst still maintaining a commitment to a 50p top rate of taxation.
- He also demanded an energy price freeze and drew the distinction between ‘predatory’ finance capitalism and the ‘producers’ in industry.
- He directed attacks on the ‘austerity’ programme and the unpopular ‘bedroom tax’.
b) Jeremy Corbyn and Momentum.
- Elected following a change in the rules that meant the leader would be elected on a one-member-one-vote system.
- Momentum was committed to the socialist principles drawn from Karl Marx wit a dramatically increased role for the government.
- The top rate of taxation would be set at 50p for incomes over £123,000.
- Those over £80,000 would be expected to pay a 45% rate of taxation.
- Corporation tax would be increased to 26%.
- Extensive internationalisation programme included railways, broadband and the Royal Mail.
- Committed to repealing the Trade Union Act 2016, which requires 50% of the workforce to vote in a ballot if strike action is legal.
- Zero hour contracts should be ended so all workers have a guaranteed number of hours that they work each week.
- The minimum wage would be £10 by 2020.
- The maintenance grant, which the Wilson government introduced would be reintroduced with tuition fees abolished.
- School meals would be provided for all primary school children, which would be paid for by the removal of the VAT exemption on private school fees.
- The introduction of a National Education Service would provide the government with a greater role in coordinating a more uniform approach to education.
- A National Investment Bank would be established to provide a fund of £250 billion to invest in the UK’s infrastructure, stimulating economic activity.
13
Q
How has the identity of the Liberal Democrat Party progressed through time?
A
LIBERAL DEMOCRATS
- Classical Liberalism
a) Whigs and radicals, who supported reform for Parliament and limits on royal authority.
- Robert Peel split for the Conservative Party by repealing the protectionist Corn Laws.
b) Under the leadership of William Ewart Gladstone (1809 - 1898), the Liberal Party became the dominant force in British politics.
- He advocating not only free trade but lower taxes, balanced budgets, parliamentary and administrative reform and a more moral approach to foreign policy. - Modern Liberalism
a) The party became influenced by the work of T.H Green, John Hobson and William Beveridge.
- They argued that the government must provide adequate welfare provisions for the most vulnerable in society.
- Known as ‘New Liberalism’, with individual freedom and self-fulfilment needing a basic standard of living.
- Under H.H. Asquith (1908 - 1916), old-age pensioners and sickness and unemployment insurance were introduced, which were part paid for by higher taxes in the wealthy.
b) The rise of the Labour Party among the working class as an alternative. - SDP Alliance
a) In the 1980s, the Liberal Party entered an electoral pact with former Labour MPs who had established the Social Democrat Party as an alliance in the 1983 and 1987 elections before merging in 1988. - Modern Liberal Democrats
a) As a united party, they enjoyed growing success under Paddy Ashdown and Charles Kennedy’s opposition to the Iraq War.
- EXAMPLE. They won 22% of the vote in the 2005 election with 62 seats.
b) The Orange Book (2004) argued that the Liberal Democrats should reconnect to their 19th-century commitment to free trade and free markets.
c) The Coalition agreement gave the Liberal Democrats 5 seats in the Cabinet.
- Nick Clegg had the most influence since David Lloyd George in 1922. - Current Liberal Democrat Ideas and Policies
a) Tim Farron
- Emphasised the importance of social justice yet lost support due to his Christian beliefs.
- Committed to increasing all levels of income tax by 1p and increasing corporation tax to 20%.
- Committed to taking 50,000 Syrian refugees.
- Supportive of constitutional reform such as an elected House of Lords, further devolution and proportional representation at Westminister.
b) Vince Cable
- In favour of increasing capital gains tax and inheritance tax on the wealthier.
- Opposed the opening of grammar schools as a threat to social cohesion since they give some students opportunities that others lack.
- Committed to providing free school meals for all primary school children.
c) Jo Swinson
- Pro-European demanding a second referendum on the terms of a Brexit deal and even suggesting to ‘cancel Brexit’ in the 2019 election.
14
Q
How has the identity of the Scottish National Party (SNP) progressed through time?
A
SCOTTISH NATIONAL PARTY (SNP)
- Origins
a) Founded in 1934, winning its first seat at the Hamilton by-election in 1967.
b) Their primary purpose is to secure independence for Scotland from the UK. - History
a) The first Devolution Referendum in 1979 was a narrow majority in favour of devolution (52% to 48%), but a condition of the referendum was that 40% of the total electorate should vote in favour to make it valid.
- As turnout was only 63.6%, only 32.9% of the electorate voted “Yes”.
b) Growing strength of SNP led to devolution from the Labour Government in the 1997 election (which Tony Blair believed would retain Labours dominance in Scotland).
c) Devolution worked for Labour until 2007 when Alex Salmond formed a minority SNP government when ex-labour voters switched after being dissatisfied, then later a small majority in 2011.
d) 2012 Scotland Act made amendments to the Scotland Act 1998, with the aim of devolving further powers to Scotland after the Calman Commission for greater devolved powers.
e) A referendum on Scottish Independence was held in September 2014.
- All three major parties leaders agreed to abandon the Prime Minister’s questions, to go to Scotland and present a united front for staying in the Union. - Influence
a) SNP capacity to influence legislation at Westminster is limited.
- Although un 2015 it won 56 out of Scotland’s 59 seats.
- The SNP rejects nuclear weapons despite trident being based at HMNB Clyde, Scotland.
b) English Votes for English Laws (EVEL) 2015 measure placed limits on all Scottish MPs at Westminster.
- EXAMPLE. Yet in March 2016, SNP MPs helped defeat the Cameron government’s proposal for an extension of Sunday trading laws in England and Wales.
- This is as it would affect Scottish workers because UK-wide employers would use it to set new, less advantageous rates of pay on both sides of the border.
c) Scottish Parliament
- EXAMPLE. Scotland has maintained free university tuition by not adopting tuition fees that existed elsewhere in the UK.
- EXAMPLE. Prescription charges have been abolished in 2011.
- EXAMPLE. 16- and 17-year-olds are allowed to vote in local council election as well as being able to vote in the Scottish independence referendum.
d) Brexit
- Brexit in June 2016, led to an argument from Nicola Sturgeon that Scotland would be taken out the EU against its will, hence entitlement to another vote on independence (Indyref2).
- They subsequently lost 21 seats (down to 35 seats) at the 2017 General Election.
- EXAMPLE. In the Gina Miller case (2017), the Supreme Court established that the Scottish Parliament need not be consulted over legislation withdrawing the UK from the EU, despite Scotland voting decisively to remain in the EU.
15
Q
How has the identity of the Plaid Cymru progressed through time?
A
PLAID CYMRU
- Origins
a) Founded in 1925.
b) Won its first seat in the 1966 Carmarthen by-election. - History
a) Unlike the SNP, their supports main basis has been in the Welsh-speaking parts of North Wales and has failed to achieve an electoral breakthrough in Labour-dominated South-Wales.
- EXAMPLE. In 2019, it won 4 out of the 40 Welsh Parliamentary seats (most seats ever won). - Influence
a) In the Welsh Parliament it bears greater influence.
- EXAMPLE. From 2007 to 2011 it formed a coalition with Labour on the agreement that there would be a referendum giving the Welsh assembly further devolved powers.
b) Labour’s dominant influence in Wales has ensured the Plaid Cymru’s influence has been limited.
