2.3a Minority Parties Flashcards
Nationalist Parties: The Scottish National Party
The Scottish National Party (SNP) have campaigned for Scottish Independence and were instrumental in bringing about the Scottish Referendum on Independence in 2014.
Nationalist Parties: What are nationalist parties?
Nationalist parties seek to appeal to the shared identity and language of individuals from a geographical area such as a region or nation.
Nationalist parties have different objectives, with some seeking full independence for their region or nation whilst others promote nationalist policies.
Nationalist Parties: The British National Party
The British National Party (BNP) have campaigned for values they see as being held by indigenous UK people.
The BNP is considered now to be a far-right party with fascist values.
Single-Issue Parties: The Green Party
The Green Party are an example of a party with policies based on one ideological perspective.
The Green Party’s policies are based around the principles of social justice and environmentalism.
Single-Issue Parties: What are single-issue parties?
Single-issue parties may offer a range of policies all of which are based on a particular ideological perspective.
Other single-issue parties have a primary goal, and campaign on a particular issue or policy.
Single-Issue Parties: UKIP
The United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) are an example of a party with policies based on a primary goal.
UKIP campaigned for the UK to leave the EU.
It could also be argued that UKIP also bases their policies around the ideology of British nationalism.
The Impact of Minority Parties: National elections
Minor parties are able to electorally harm other mainstream parties by taking their voters in elections and attracting their membership.
The Conservatives lost 2 MPs to UKIP before 2015.
Minor parties also have a role in reflecting protests and grievances.
People may vote for minority parties to express unhappiness with the major parties.
In minority governments, minority party support can be vital.
The Impact of Minority Parties: Putting issues on the agenda
If successful in gaining seats at a local or national level, minor parties can impact policy and put their main issues and cause at the centre of political debate.
UKIP helped make the EU an issue debated at the national level.
The Impact of Minority Parties: Local and EU elections
Minor parties can have an impact on elections at the local and EU level.
Fewer people vote in local and EU elections, and minor parties can be more successful than in national elections.
UKIP won more seats than Labour and the Conservatives in the 2014 EU parliament election.
By winning these elections, minor parties can make their agenda public and known, and put pressure on major parties.
Minor parties get power to dictate policy at a local and EU level.
