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uk politics > 2. political parties > Flashcards

2. political parties Flashcards

1
Q

what is the function of political parties

A
  • left wing parties have the idea that the government should have control over key industries (eg public transport) and to provide welfare to those in need as the wealthy pay more in taxes than the poor - nationalisation
  • eg the Green Party and Labour Party
  • right wing parties want more privatisation with as little government interference as possible and have socially traditional views in lifestyle/national identity
  • eg Conservative party and DUP
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2
Q

why do we have political parties?

A
  • supposed to offer a broad range of choice (in reality, only two parties will ever be voted in making it quite binary)
  • represent specific beliefs and opinions (eg the green party and the climate)
  • allows people who have similar political views to work together (collaborative)
  • and allows them to get a better shot at running the country; as an mp, parties supports its candidate as they have funding

summarised
1. democratic representation of the people
2. participation in politics
3. to form a government and formulate policy

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3
Q

political parties in the uk are far too broad to represent the public effectively (30 marks)

A
  1. paragraph:
    - for - conservative and labour are broad (2 party system)
    - against - green party/SNP/plaid cymru represent more niche views
  2. paragraph:
    - for - allow membership opportunities
    - against - party membership is too low, most people aren’t seeking election
  3. paragraph:
    - for - policies in the manifesto outlines belief; people vote on them based on that
    - against - very niche/focused manifestos are unpopular with the public (eg Corbyn’s or Truss’)
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4
Q

party system

A

the ways in which political parties are grouped and structured in a political system

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5
Q

one party dominant system

A
  • a number of parties exist but only one has a realistic chance of power
  • tends to happen for periods of time rather than being an entire system
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6
Q

two party system

A

two parties compete for power at elections, other parties have no real chance of power

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7
Q

two and a half party system

A

a two party system but they are challenged by the growth of a smaller third party

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8
Q

a multi-party system

A

a number of parties compete to form a government, coalitions are the norms

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9
Q

in the 1950/60/70s,

A

it was almost 50/50 between conservative and labour

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10
Q

evaluate the extent to which the UK has become a multi-party democracy. (30 marks)

A
  1. paragraph:
    - for - currently 11 different political parties in parliament; the existence of minor parties which have lots of influence in elections (eg ukip, brexit election)
    - against - the prevalence of the conservative and labour parties as they have consistently dominated electoral victory
  2. paragraph:
    - for - 2010 coalition, the lib dems had 50 seats between 2005 and 2010, they had enough power that the conservatives chose them (lib dem deputy pm, nick clegg)
    - against - Lib Dems were bullied by the conservatives as none of their major policies went through (eg wanting to scrap tuition fees), weren’t voted for again and failed at subsequent elections (eg 14 seats 2022)
  3. paragraph:
    - for - multi party system as a result of devolution, the prevalence of the SNP (3rd largest party in parliament, pressured the gov into an independence referendum)
    - against - as a consequence of our electoral system (FPTP), minor parties can not succeed
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11
Q

Conservative party origins

A
  • began in the late 1700s as a party to defend the rights of the aristocracy
  • revolution in France scared many into wanting to protect property and land owners
  • later in the 18th century, the party broadened to appeal to the working class
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12
Q

Conservative party development

A
  • one nation conservatism
  • promoted by Benjamin Disraeli
  • industrial revolution widened the gap between the poor and the rich
  • Disraeli wanted the government to become more paternalistic to help address this
  • balance of the free market principles and the desire to help people
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13
Q

Thatcher’s new right (post war 20th century)

A
  • Thatcher came into power in a time of growing trade union power
  • she sought to reduce the trade union’s power, bring back free market commitment and to emphasize individual responsibility
  • ‘there’s no such thing as society’
  • some of Thatcher’s policies: control of public spending combined with tax cuts to provide incentives and stimulate economic growth; privatisation of state owned industries; legal limits of the powers of trade unions
  • she was anti-eu
  • Thatcher was in power for 11 years
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14
Q

modern day conservative party

A
  • since 2010, there has been a series of conservative governments
  • Cameron rebranded as a ‘compassionate conservative’
  • but despite this, the party is still closer to Thatcherism than it appears (eg with policy)
  • Rishi Sunak claims to be a one nation conservative (untrue)
  • has been becoming increasingly unpopular and has never been as popular as they were under Thatcher
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15
Q

origins of the labour party

A
  • was formed in 1900 by a group of socialists societies and trade unions
  • its purpose was to get more working class MPs into parliament, where they could push for improved conditions for the working class
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16
Q

development of the labour party

A
  • initially struggled to gain support as it was seen as a very niche working class party
  • the first majority labour government was clement atlee in 1945
  • some of his policies included: the nationalisation of coal, rail, power, steel and civil aviation; the introduction of the welfare state and ; the nhs free at the point of need
  • 8% of the economy moved to state control
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17
Q

socialists vs democrats (post war 20th century)

A

post atlee, the party has swung between being socialist (left wing policy of redistribution of wealth and the nationalisation of industry) and social democrats (more moderate and aimed at making the country fairer/more equal)

18
Q

democratic socialist labour leaders

A
  • Clement Atlee
  • Michael Foot
  • Jeremy Corbyn
  • the socialists don’t tend to do well and are relatively unpopular
  • eg Foot’s 1980s manifesto was dubbed as a suicide note
19
Q

new labour
(post war 20th century)

A
  • the 1997 landslide victory for Blair under his new ‘centrist’ new Labour Party
  • he revised clause IV of the constitution in 1995 so that the party was no longer committed to nationalisation
  • labour became more pro Europe/EU
  • the role played by trade unions in the government was down graded
  • in 1997, he promised not to reverse thatcher’s income tax cuts
  • the conservative government was really bad at the time (John major)
20
Q

modern day labour

A
  • since 2010, the party has struggled to find unity and a popular leader
  • Ed Miliband ~ too socialist/red/red Ed, was too pro trade unions
  • corbyn ~ too socialist
  • keir starmer ~ too moderate
21
Q

social democrat labour leaders

A
  • Harold Wilson
  • James Callaghan
  • Tony Blair
  • Gordon Brown
  • Keir Starmer
22
Q

origins of the liberal democrat party

A
  • officially, the lib dems have exist since 1988
  • however, part origins date back to the 19th century liberal party
  • modern liberalism = civil liberties, free market but government involvement in promoting and securing social justice
  • the party’s distant ancestors where the whigs, an aristocratic grouping who opposed the conservatives
  • in the mid 19th century, they joined with a variety of and social/economic change to form the liberal party
  • the most notable liberal prime minster was William Gladstone who wanted the state to play a minimal role in society (classical liberalism); free trade; a widening franchise and; an extension of civil liberties
23
Q

development of the liberal democrats party

A
  • with the growth of the Labour Party, the liberal party declined rapidly and was unable to make a break through under FPTP
  • however, in 1981, the party received a boost from a division in the Labour Party which led to a new break away party, the social democrat party being formed by a group on the right wing of the Labour Party who opposed the left wing policies of foot
  • the SDP formed an electoral pact with the liberals fighting the 1983 and 1987 elections as the Alliance
  • in 1988, the two parties merged to form the lib dems
24
Q

early 2000s liberal democrats

A
  • steady increase in popularity
  • 22% of the vote in 2005
  • 2010, formed a coalition with the Conservative party, with nick clegg as deputy prime minister
  • the coalition was unpopular with many party members
  • Tim farron (leader after clegg) was seen as too left leaning
  • subsequent leaders have changed leading to consistent poor results
25
Q

modern day liberal democrats party

A

their current views:
- free trade
- widening the franchise
- change our voting system
- am extension of civil liberties, including legalising cannabis
- the state to play a minimal role in society (classical liberalism)

26
Q

how democratic are uk political parties? (30 marks)

A

are democratic:
- helps make politics accessible for ordinary people to participate in politics through running for political office
- membership fees are kept low to help be as inclusive as possible
- members of political parties can be called upon to help contribute to a manifesto or allow their members to help select the leader
undemocratic:
- two party system doesn’t allow representation of minor parties in parliament
- not representative of the demographics of the population
- parties with more money can spend more on campaigns
- no limits to how much individuals/organisations can donate to a political party
- party whips force their members to according to party lines rather than conscience

27
Q

evidence for the representative function of political parties

A
  • in the uk especially, parties represent a broad coalition of interests and ideas (should also represent the country’s demographic diversity)
  • parties should bring together like minded people and represent their ideas (eg the Green Party helps unify left wing environmentalists)
  • the votes on party members can be very decisive (corbyn in 2015 was very unpopular with labour MPs but became leader thanks to ordinary members’ support)
28
Q

evidence of the participation function of political parties

A
  • in the uk, party membership has declined (eg Conservative party membership has gone from 750,000 in 1992 to 172,000 in 2022)
  • members of the party can usually help select their leader which allows ordinary people more of a day in will will lead the country (both conservative and labour have ‘one member, one vote’)
  • parties provide membership opportunities for those willing to pay, allowing them to canvas support by distributing leaflets or using social media (eg the grassroots labour movement, momentum)
  • parties allow those who want to participate by standing for political office to do so by giving them support and resources to campaign for a seat in parliament
29
Q

evidence for the forming government policy function of political parties

A
  • parties generate manifestos which go on to become policy for the winning party (in the Labour Party, a national policy forum consults with its party members)
  • by providing candidates for election, parties contribute personnel for government
  • if a political party wins the election, they have the mandate to govern (eg conservatives currently have a working majority and therefore arguably have a mandate to govern)
30
Q

how united are political parties

A
  • in the uk, the dominant two party system cause by FPTP means that the two parties often seek to be inclusive and broad
  • this leads naturally to factions within the parties, especially the major ones
31
Q

Conservative party factions

A
  • Thatcherite/new right
  • liberal/modernisers
  • one nation
  • traditional/social conservative
32
Q

Thatcherite/new right

A
  • conservative way forward
  • founded in 1991 to defend and build upon the achievements of the Conservative party under thatcher
  • the group supports free market, deregulation, individual freedom and choice
  • the largest pressure group within the party
33
Q

liberal/modernisers

A
  • 2020 conservatives
  • a new group of modernising MPs formed to advance a modern, fair and inclusive politics, an open aspirational and liberal economics and a strong/just/pluralist society
  • consists of MPs who wish to balance the influence of more right wing figures in the party
  • Cameron was a self proclaimed liberal conservative and so found it easier to work with the Lib Dems in the coalition, rather traditionalists
  • eg marriage act 2013: for gay marriage, 118 in favour, 129 against
34
Q

one nation

A
  • conservative reform group
  • founded in 1975
  • influenced by Disraeli’s one nation conservatism and Macmillan’s middle way
  • combine economic efficiency with the exercise of compassion and an interventionist attitude towards unjust social conditions
  • in the 1980s, the group often conflicted with thatcher’s government
  • more positive about the eu
35
Q

traditional/social conservative

A
  • cornerstone group founded in 2005
  • motto is faith, flag and family
  • aim to preserve the traditional values which have shaped the British way of life through this country’s history
  • the group supports a strong unitary British state
  • concerned with the impact of immigration and hates gay people
36
Q

factions within the Labour Party

A
  • new labour
  • old labour
  • purple labour
  • momentum
37
Q

new labour

A
  • centre left
  • interventionist, eg claim that nuclear weapons are necessary
  • internationalist, eg believe that cooperation with the eu is important
  • can be socially conservative, eg concerned by current immigration
38
Q

purple labour

A
  • attempting to blend the view of labour with the view of conservatives and create a more middle group
  • it’s brings together the most electable aspects and ideologies from both parties
39
Q

momentum

A
  • formed in 2015, following corbyn’s election as party leader
  • describes itself as a network of people and or organisations that will continue the energy and enthusiasm of corbyn’s campaign
40
Q

examples of when labour has disagreed

A
  • the election of Corbyn as party leader exposed divisions within the party
  • following this, many shadow ministers resigned

uk politics (14 decks)

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