Internal Party Democracy

Question 1

Labour

Answer 1

OMOV 2015 - Milliband
Used to be 1/3 each union, party members, mps

Now

Question 2

Labour Factions

Answer 2

Momentum
-Left wing
-Local government socialism
-Ban dark money
“Restore faith in politics”

Labour first
-right wing
-“keep safe from the hard left”
-keep Labour in power
-anti nuclear disarmament
-pro NATO, EU, USA

Question 3

Labour Clause IV old vs new

Answer 3

“For the workers”
To
“For a dynamic economy”
Under TB

Question 4

Labour old vs new policy example
(2019 to 2024 manifesto)

Answer 4

100k council houses to 300k homes (40% ‘affordable’)
Abolish private schools charitable status to increase VAT by 20%

Question 5

Labour wider factions names

Answer 5

Old Labour
New Labour

Question 6

Lib Dems key points

Answer 6

Welfare state
Individual freedom
Old age pensions + sickness/unemployment insurance
Higher taxes on the wealthy

Question 7

Lib Dem major faction names

Answer 7

Orange book
Social Liberals

Question 8

Conservative major factions

Answer 8

New right - thatcherites
One nation - center of the party

Question 9

Conservatives major points

Answer 9

Tax relief on self-employed
Anti-immigration (failed Rwanda plan)
Welfare cuts but “The Palace isn’t safe if the cottages are on fire” Disraeli

Question 10

Conservative local structure and local policy-making

Answer 10

LCA - Local Conservative Associations in each constituency
Some constituencies in ward branches

LCA organise grassroots of the party
Plan local campaigns
Less control over candidate selection

Question 11

Labour Local structure and Local policy making

Answer 11

CLP - Constituency Labour Party
Council ward BLP (branch Labour parties)
Clp takes the lead in election campaigns

Question 12

Liberal Democrats local structure and policy making

Answer 12

VERY FEDERAL
Seperate parties for areas (Scotland, Wales, southeast England etc…)
Local branches take the main role
Can submit motions to the party conference (2 per year)
LOCAL AND NATIONAL PARTY CONFERENCES.

Question 13

Conservative National structure and policy making

Answer 13

Conferences are non-binding (advisory)
Ideas are not voted on.
The Board - 18 members, 3 being grassroots.
Party members and local associations.

Advisors write manifesto almost entirely.

Question 14

Labour national structure and policy making

Answer 14

NEC - 40 members, made up of grassroots, affiliated groups, Trade Unions and local councillors

NEC can overrule but elections are highly factionalised.

Conferences used to be Binding, but not anymore

Question 15

Liberal Democrats national structure and policy making

Answer 15

Federal Board - 35 members (15 are directly elected by grassroots.)
Members can also join SAOs with specific focuses (Specific Associated Organisations)

Motions debated and voted on, must be put into manifesto (binding)

Question 16

3 ways to get party funding

Answer 16

Individual/Business/union donations - easily corrupted but ££££££

Party membership - reliable but only 180k members for conservatives NOT ENOUGH
Eg: Eccleston donated £1mn to Labour and F1 tobacco ad

State funding - Tax Reliable but people don’t want tax increase or to fund parties

Question 17

PPEA and PPERA

Answer 17

PPERA - electoral committee must sign up
£30k per constituency limit for parties in elections
£7.5k pp for donations - must log donation if overall more than £7.5k

LeaveEU fined £70k for spending too much

PPERA strengthens this - gives more powers for investigation + scrutinising parties.

Question 18

Conservatives choosing a leader

Answer 18

Vacancy available

Mps apply

Support of 8 mps to get on the ballot paper - 9=guaranteed

5% of votes for first ballot
10% for second ballot

Candidate with least votes removed until final 2

Party members and Mps vote on final 2 (simple majority)

Question 19

Labour new party leader process

Answer 19

Vacancy available

Mps apply

At least 10% of Labour MPs and 5% of constituency parties or 5% of Labour affiliates (2 must be trade unions)

Party member vote

50% required to win - remove lowest and repeat until party leader found

Question 20

Lib dem party leader process

Answer 20

Vacancy available

MPs apply

10% of Lib Dems and 200 members from 20 local parties

Party members vote (AV)

Remove lowest and repeat until 50% goes to one person

Question 21

Conservative removing party leader

Answer 21

15% of MPs write no-confidence letter to Chairman of 1922 committee

Announced to the media

No confidence vote (simple majority)

If PM wins, no confidence votes for a year
If PM loses, must halt activity + cannot run in next leadership election

Question 22

Labour removing a leader

Answer 22

20% of MPs nominate a challenger

Leadership election with current leader on ballot automatically

Question 23

Lib Dem removing a leader

Answer 23

75 local parties request leadership election

Vote of no confidence (simple majority)