Evaluate The Argument That Leadership is the Most Important Factor Determining the Success/Failure of Political Parties in the UK.

Question 1

P1: Agree Charismatic Leadership

Answer 1

1. Leadership key due to TV/social media & presidentialisation of UK politics.
   Charisma = broader appeal, esp. beyond core voters.
2. Boris Johnson (2019): Popularity + distinct style helped Tories win Red Wall Labour seats.Nigel Farage (UKIP 2015 & Reform UK 2024): Outsider appeal → 3.9M UKIP votes (2015), Reform UK rose from 10% to 14% poll share under him.
3. Jeremy Corbyn (2019): Personal unpopularity → Labour’s worst result since 1935.
4. Rishi Sunak (2024): Net favourability: -51%. Partygate legacy + D-Day snub left an event commemorating it early for an ITV interview → further decline. Leadership seen as key in Labour’s win. Seen as smug and out of touch.

Question 2

P1: Disagree Electoral System

Answer 2

1. FPTP (General Elections) = favors parties with concentrated support.
   ➤ Winners: Labour, Conservatives, SNP, DUP, Sinn Féin
   ➤ Losers: UKIP/Brexit Party, Lib Dems, Greens.
2. UKIP (2015): 3.9M votes → 1 seat
   Reform UK (2024): 14% vote share → 5 seats. Proportional systems (Devolved bodies) help smaller parties: ➤ Scottish Greens: 7 MSPs + coalition with SNP.
3. Counterpoint – Influence without seats: Farage & UKIP/Brexit Party had minimal seats but shaped national policy → hard Brexit achieved.

Question 3

P1: Judgement

Answer 3

If success = winning seats:
➤ Electoral system (FPTP) is more decisive – limits minor party gains, regardless of leadership.
🔹 If success = policy influence:
➤ Leadership becomes more important – even minor parties (e.g. UKIP/Brexit Party) can shape national policy through strong leadership.
✅ Conclusion:
While FPTP limits electoral success, leadership is ultimately the most important factor across all measures of success.

Question 4

P2l Agree Leadership v Media

Answer 4

1. Since TV & social media rise, leaders = party figureheads in debates & interviews. Leaders often only familiar faces to public → heavily shape party image.
2. Positive example: Nick Clegg (2010): Strong TV debate performance → Lib Dem poll boost.
3. Liz Truss (2022): Poor local radio interviews + failed economic messaging → public backlash, party decline, resignation

Question 5

P2: Disagree Leadership v Media

Answer 5

1. Tory dominance (2010–2024): Supported by majority right-leaning press
   Tony Blair (1997): Won support of The Sun + strong media image via New Labour spin
2. A significant majority of the press is right-leaning and supporting the Conservative Party. Political dominance of the Conservative Party from 2010-2024 winning 4 GEs.
3. Examples of negative media impact:
   Jeremy Corbyn: Widely seen as unfairly portrayed → damaged Labour’s 2017/2019 prospects
4. Partygate (2022): Media exposure → major scandal → Tories’ worst result (2024)

Question 6

P3: Agree Leadership v Perceived Competence

Answer 6

1. Leaders set the agenda – choose which policies to promote & how to frame them publicly. Influence media focus & how party is perceived.
2. Policy example: Boris Johnson (2019): Focused party on ‘Get Brexit Done’ → key to Tory victory
3. Competence example: Liz Truss (2022): Pushed mini-budget → market chaos + poll crash → party seen as incompetent

Question 7

P3: Disagree Leadership v Perceived Competence

Answer 7

1. Reform UK (2024): Gained support by tapping into public frustration over migration
2. SNP (2010s): Rise linked to support for independence + centre-left policies
   Radical policy = risk of failure:
   Labour (2019): Left-wing manifesto + 2nd referendum → alienated voters → Corbyn resigned.
3. Lib Dems (post-2010): Broken tuition fee promise + austerity link → electoral collapse. Labour (2001, 2005): Won due to economic stability + strong services
   Tories (2024): Viewed as incompetent & scandal-ridden → vote share fell from 43.6% to 23.7%
   ➤ Many Labour voters motivated by anti-Tory sentiment, not policy support.