General Flashcards on Political Parties
How many people voted in a general election in 1951 & 2015?
1951- 83.9%
2015-66.1%
What did Iain Duncan Smith do in 2004?
founded the ‘Centre for social justice’
Under the ‘Fresh Future’ programme what 2 new bodies were created ?
- National Conservative Convention
- Conservative political forum
What did the ‘Fresh Future’ campaign sort to do ?
Aimed to make policy making more inclusive to include ordinary members in formulating policy
In the Conservative party who must the leaders take into consideration?
(4)
- 1922 committee
- front bench
- party elders
- grass roots membership
What is the number in which the Conservative party membership fallen from 1951 to 2007?
1951-2.8 million
2007-under 300,000
What is needed to run as the candidate for a lib den party leader?
(3)
- Support from at least 10% of the party
- Nominated by 200 members from 20 different local parties
- STV system transfers votes until one candidate commands support of more than 50% of members voting
What is the 3 stage process in selecting parliamentary candidates ?
- Names on a centrally vetted and approved list of prospective candidates
- Local party draws up a shortlist from the approved list
- Constituency members vote for preferred candidate
What was the features of Cameron’s first initiative ‘A lists’?
(3)
- Requirement that the Conservative Associations included woman & ethnic minorities in shortlists
- Socially diverse shortlist
- Actual selection still included stereotypical white, middle aged man
What were the features of Cameron’s second initiative Hustings?
Hustings allowed local voters and local party activists to attend a meeting and pass verdict on the prospective parliamentary candidates
How many Hustings had been used in contests by August 2009?
100 contests
Give an example of Camerons third innovation of open primaries
In Totnes
What happened in Camerons third innovation of open primaries , in Totnes ?
All registered voters, not just party members could select the candidate who would run in the election proper
In Totnes, how many registered voters were there and how much did the postal ballot cost?
68,000 registered voters
-£38,000
When was the practise of women only shortlists?
1993-1996
why was women only shortlists briefly outlawed in 1996?
Ruling under the ‘Sex Discrimination Act’
In the general election 2005 what happened as a result of women only shortlists?
Independent candidate Peter Law was elected to represent the Constituency Blaenau Gwent as he was prevented from seeking selection as an official Labour Party Candidate
What system from 197 have critics argued has turned labour conferences into a “rubber stamp” for policies?
The 2 year policy making system
What was the system of the 2 year policy making system?
1) National Policy Forum appointed policy commissions to make proposals
2) NEC than passed to party conference for approval
How has the Labour party used deselection in 1986 under Neil Kinnock?
Neil Kinnock deselected MP’s Dave Nellist & Terry Fields for ehign part of the banned Militant Tendency
How is the lib dem party federal in structure?
2
It comprises of English, Scottish and Welsh State parties
-meets twice a year
Why is it more difficult in the modern era for parties to form policy sole from the opinions of their members as opposed to traditionally?
(2)
- Party membership decrease (2% of pop) therefore policies would be unrepresentative
- Mass membership would mean that the opinion of members would provide a fair indication of the broader publics reactions to policy
Give an example when Labour party funding has produced controversy
Bernie Ecclestone donated £1 m donation in 1997 resulting in a subsequent delay in the introduction of the ban on tobacco advertising
What did the PPERA 2000 do ?
2
- limit on party spending in general election campaigns (£30,000 per constituency )
- Declare all donations over £5,000 to the electoral commissions
What did the PPEA 2009 do?
4
- Reduced wait period for those in career in politics to join the Electoral Commissions from 10 years to 5 years
- Electoral Commission could impose civil sanctions (fines)
- Report donations over £7,500
- Only UK citizens can give more than £7,500
What did the Philips Report conclude?
One way forward may be greater state funding for UK political parties with a prospect of “pence er member” funding formula”
who’s chairmanship was the Philips report under?
Sir Hayden Philips
Under what power were Policy Development Grants (PGD’s) established? what is a PGD?
- established under s.12 of PPERA 2000
- short money & Cranbrone money
What is Short money?
3
- Short money is given to opposition parties for covering administrative costs
- Edward short introduced this in 1974
- Any group with 150,000 votes in general election with at least 2 seats
What is Cranborne money?
3
- Lord Cranborne 1996
- HOL
- Payments to opposition parties
At lib dem biannual conferences who influences policy proposals?
(4)
- Federal Party Committee’s
- State
- Regional
- Local Parties
What can parties receive subsidies for during election campaigns? (2)
- Tv Broadcasts
- Postage costs
Which long-term Conservative party backer provoked controversy ?
Deputy chairman Lord Ashcroft
Why did long term Conservative backer Deputy Chairman Lord Ashcroft provoke controversy?
Deputy Chairman Lord Ashcroft’s tax status continued debate after PPEA 2009 addressed the status of donors not registered as tax payers in the UK
Not including public funds how much did -Conservatives -Labour -Lib dems make in donations in 2005?
Conservatives -£9m
Labour- £8m
Lib Dems- £4m
How much did 2 donors donate regardless of the PPERA 2000 which rid of the anonymity of donors?
Lord Sainsbury donated £1m
Nigel Doughty donated £1.01 m
What is ideology?
3
- coherent set of beliefs or values
- Most British mainstream parties are traditionally subscribed to an ideology
- e.g Labour, socialism