2 Political Parties Flashcards
Right-wing principles
stronger policies on law and order
support of free market ideals
protection of individual rights
Left-wing principles
greater state intervention
protection of collective rights
greater industry regulation
Key left-wing policies
supporting higher minimum wage
support for trade unions
supporting higher tax for wealthier people and bigger role for government in wealth redistribution
belief that welfare support is too low
greater support for nationalisation of industries
Key right-wing policies
support capitalism and limited government intervention in business
support tighter immigration controls
believe in greater private sector involvement including the NHS
believe that welfare support is too high
believe in less government involvement in redistribution of wealth
Functions of political parties
to fight elections
to form government
to recruit and select leaders
to represent the electorate
to educate
to form policies
Parties help democracy
help to ensure those who take office have sufficient experience
encourage the electorate to participate through party membership
a way in which government is organised and able to function coherently
adversary politics means parties scrutinise each other’s policies
ensure representation of the public
Parties hinder democracy
adversary politics means scrutiny can be for poor reasons, e.g. to humiliate a competitor
too much agreement between the 2 main parties in the centre limiting voter choice
falling party membership suggests they don’t help engagement
factions make it difficult to create manifestos the whole party agrees on
parties may educate the public selectively to win support for their view
Party membership fees
Conservative Party increased its fees by 56% in 2022 to £39 per year following a slump in people joining
2020 Labour reported an income of £34.5 million from membership fees
Donations
parties must report donations of over £7,500 to the Electoral Commission but there are no limits
July to September 2022 the Conservative Party reported £3 million in donations, down from £5.4 million in the previous quarter
Public funding
the main source of public funding is ‘short money’ introduced in 1975 - it is given to opposition parties to support them in carrying out their parliamentary duties but not electioneering
Cranborne money introduced in 1996 to support the main and second largest opposition parties in the House of Lords
policy development grants from the Electoral Commission were introduced in 2000 given to parties to develop the policies in their manifestos
increase state funding for political parties
give smaller parties a greater chance to be competitive in elections, reducing 2 party dominance and increasing voter choice
reduce excessive influence of an elite few wealthy donors
allow parties to focus on governing rather than fundraising
Don’t increase state funding for political parties
if it was based off electoral success it would reinforce the 2 party system
fundraising ensures that they have to listen to their supporters
spending public money is not popular, even capping level of donations a party should receive is controversial
Conservative Party general beliefs
slow evolutionary change (to conserve) rather than radical change
individual rights which results in preference for lower tax
the right to own private property
general support for free markets and capitalism with limited state intervention
safeguard traditional institutions in the UK
greater stress on security including law and order, rule of law and crime and punishment
One Nation conservatives
focus on the idea of paternalism
believe in the need for a welfare state to ensure a level of social equality based on a belief in noblesse oblige - the rich have an obligation to the poor
belief the state has a key role in ensuring economic growth
New Right conservatives
greater focus on the individual, reducing individual tax
believe in a free market economy and private property with limited government intervention resulting in privatisation and deregulation
stronger stance on law and order including immigration