Emerging and Minor UK Political Parties Flashcards
The growth of other parties in the UK…
From the creation and administration of devolved institutions, to Brexit and the co-option of environmental ideas by the more established parties, alternative parties have shaped and developed the political debate in the UK, alongside providing the electorate with more choice during elections.
The Scottish National Party (SNP)…
Since 2007, the SNP has formed the government of Scotland. The party made little headway until the 2015 General Election, in which the SNP won 56/59 Westminster seats on offer in Scotland. Scottish voters had been disillusioned with the main British parties.
Perhaps the greatest achievement of the SNP was in persuading David Cameron to allow a referendum on Scottish independence in 2014, and acquiring greater levels of devolved responsibility in the Scotland Act of 2016.
At the 2017 General Election, the SNP lost 21 of its seats, but recaptured them in the 2019 GE, returning to 48 seats and entrenching its position as the third major party in Westminster as well as the dominant party of Scotland.
The UK Independence Party (UKIP)…
UKIP was established in 1993 as a reaction to the development of the European Union. The party made its great electoral breakthrough in the 2015 General Election. UKIP won 12.6% of the popular vote, however, because its support was so dispersed, this was converted into only one parliamentary seat. UKIP made an impact and took many votes away from the other main parties.
The public support and threat to major parties convinced David Cameron to pledge to an in/out referendum in 2016 (Brexit). After UKIP got the referendum (and results) it wanted, party support began to wane as it had lost its purpose.
The Brexit Party…
Launched in 2019 by former UKIP leader Nigel Farage, the party was formed to put pressure on the Conservative govt to achieve Brexit. The Brexit Party served as a warning and a threat to the Conservatives to get Brexit done or risk losing support. This put pressure on Theresa May’s govt and would eventually lead to the Conservative Party shifting further to the right under Boris Johnson.
In May 2019, the party achieved 36% of the vote in the EU elections (29/72 of UK’s seats in the European Parliament).
Since the appointment of Boris Johnson as Conservative leader, the Brexit Party has collapsed. It contested fewer than half the seats of the 2019 GE and achieved only 2% of the vote.
The Green Party…
The Greens’ share of the vote rose from 1% in 2010 to 3.8% in 2015 - the party won just one seat. This seat was won by Greens co-leader, Caroline Lucas, who remains popular in her constituency of Brighton Pavilion. Despite the Greens failing to make an electoral breakthrough, Lucas has been a vocal and popular MP who has given her party a platform in Parliament.
The increase in environmental policies by the major parties can be seen as a reaction to the growing support for the Green Party.
Although Lucas is a visible figure in the Green Party, she is no longer co-leader as the Greens tend to rotate their leadership often.
The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP)…
Northern Ireland has developed its own party system due to its unique situation and history. The vote there is largely split between nationalist parties that want NI to join with the Republic of Ireland and unionist parties that want to remain part of the UK.
On its own, NI does not have enough MPs to make a crucial difference in Westminster votes, however, the fiercely unionist DUP, with 10 seats, was able to have tremendous influence in politics during Theresa May’s time as PM as it made a supply-and-demand agreement that helped her govt to survive.
Policies of the SNP…
The SNP is a centre-left party.
> The overall objective is complete independence as a sovereign state within the European Union.
> For as long as Scotland remains within the UK, the party supports constitutional reforms such as an elected second chamber, proportional representation for general elections, and votes for 16-year-olds.
> The party is social democratic and supports social justice. When Scotland has control over its direct taxes, it intends to redistribute real income from rich to poor. The party also supports the idea of the living wage.
> The party is opposed to the UK retaining independent nuclear weapons and favours the cancellation of Trident.
> The SNP has abolished university tuition fees paid by students within Scotland. It sees education at all levels as a key component of equality of opportunity. It has reintroduced the Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA) for students above the age of 16 - this has been abolished in England.
> Environmental protection is a key policy - SNP policies are almost as strong as those of the Green Party.
> The party supports the welfare state and would protect generous state provision of health, education, and social security benefits.
> The SNP is also staunchly pro-EU and has been vocal in opposition to Brexit.
Policies of the Green Party…
The Greens have environmental concerns at the centre of its politics and have a left-wing stance.
> Large numbers of new, low-cost, environmentally friendly homes should be financed or built by the govt to solve the housing crisis.
> There should be massive new investment in public transport.
> University tuition fees for students should be abolished.
> The party proposes an extensive programme of constitutional reform to make the UK more genuinely democratic.
> It proposes a wealth tax on the top 1% of the income ladder, a living wage, and a special tax on large banks making excessive profits.
> In 2019, it adopted a policy to introduce a universal basic income of £89 per week.
> The party is opposed to the maintenance of Trident and the use of all nuclear power.
> It supports the legalisation of cannabis.
