Parties Flashcards
What are 4 features of UK parties
Comprised of members who share similar ideas
Contest general elections
Have a leader
Have policies
what are the 6 functions of UK parties
Selecting candidates for parliament Providing governments Electing leaders Formulating manifestos Campaigning in elections Representing society
give an example of party deselection
Roger Godsiff deselected Labour MP for Birmingham (2010-2019)
Voted with conservatives on key Brexit votes + opposed LGBT + inclusive education in Birmingham schools
what must you be in order to contest a general election on behalf of a party
A member of the party and go through a national selecting process to become an approved candidate
how does a local party affect the election of electoral candidates
Deselecting a candidate if their views oppose those of local activists
How do parties contribute the personnel for govt
By providing candidates for election to public office - this can be in a local, devolved or national exec
How is a leader elected by the Conservative party
the parliamentary party agrees on two MP’s whose names then go forward to party members to decide between
how is a leader elected by the lab party
The lab party has a one member one vote system must pay monthly subscription to be eligible
if an MP can secure the backing of 10% of the parliamentary lab party their name will go forward for the party to vote on
How do political parties campaign in elections
Delivering leaflets
Canvassing voters on doorsteps
Arranging political hustlings - so voters understand the choice between candidates
Why are parties important to representative democracy
Because without them the govt would be unstable, weak and effective
Guaranteed to represent the opinions of a % of the electorate
___ . _ % of the electorate in 2017 that felt their opinions were represented by conservatives + lab
82.4%
In some countries political parties are ______ funded but in the UK parties rely on _______ funding
State funded
Private funding - but do have limited access to public funds
give two examples of countries that are state funded
Germany , Austria
how does the state fund UK political parties
Short money
Cranbourne money
Policy development grants
what is short money
Allocated opposition parties for their work in HOC
Is based on the number of seats they have used to cover salaries of researchers in central offices
What is cranbourne money
Subsides opposition parties in the HOL for the work of scrutiny
What are policy development grants
Allocate £2 million to all the main parties so that they can employ policy advisers
what do parties depend on to cover the cost of campaigning and election expenses
Parties depend on subscriptions from party members + donations from benefactors
what do parties depend on to cover the cost of campaigning and election expenses
Parties depend on subscriptions from party members + donations from benefactors
conserv party traditionally relies on ______ _____ donations from ____ ________
Large scale donations
Large businesses
Give an example of the conserv party receiving a large donation from large businesses
2/3 of £19 million came from large businesses in 2019
labour has a ____ relationship with _____ ______ and receives financial support from these
Close
Trade unions
What was the union act of 2016 and how did it affect lab’s relationship with trade unions
New union members must ‘opt’ in if they want their membership fees to go to lab - limits their financial funds (disadvantage to conservs)
How did the govt attempt to reform how much political parties are funded/ spend
Political parties , elections + referendums act 2000
What did the political parties , elections + referendums act 2000 do
Independent electoral commission established to monitor how much parties spend on campaigns
Spending on a constituency limited to £30,000
Large scale donations over £5000 must be declared to the electoral commission
Parties must not accept donations from non uk citizens (could lead to foreign influence)
give arguments as to why parties should be state funded
Urgent need to diminish the influence of ‘big money donations - eliminate the undemocratic influence of wealthy and corporate donors
Mechanisms for state funding that already exist could be expanded
Huge discrepancy in the amount of money parties have - the party funding imbalance is growing
Loosen Labours ties to the trade unions - funding means party is beholden to them
what is the effect of big money donors
Undermine trust that the electoral process works in - supports the democratic interest of the few not the many
give an example of the huge discrepancy in the amount of money parties receive
Overall donations are rising in 2019 - parties received the largest ever amount in financial donations (£113 million) but conserv received the most during the election campaign just under 2/3 of all donations
give an example of how private funding can sway the outcome of an election
In 2019 the fear of a Jeremy Corbyn led govt persuaded many existing Tory donors to give even larger sums
Give arguments as to why parties shouldn’t be state funded
People will object to their taxes going to parties they do not support especially extremist parties (can devise scheme whereby people choose party to fund)
Donations are already heavily regulated
State funding will entrench existing party strengths as money given is based upon historic electoral appeal - then established parties continued to enjoy the ‘lions share’
State funded parties will be less independent
Freedom of expression - democratic right for electorate to support who they wish to
How are donations heavily regulated already
Through the electoral administration act (2006) + the political parties and elections act (2009)
Introduced a raft of measures to ensure that individual donations are declared and transparent
Why might state funded parties be less independent
They could be seen as a part of the larger apparatus of state
removal of private donations will highly affect some parties give an example of one
E.g. a vast majority of the conservs party donations come from individuals , 68% during the 2019 election campaign
Give two examples of parties electing a leader and describe them
May 2016 - announced her candidacy for leadership of conserv party - rivals Andrea Leadsom + Michael Gove , May came first place in the 2nd ballot with majority 199MP’s - Leadsom then announced her withdrawal from the leadership contest (due to lack of support)
Keir Starmer 2020 - five candidates , Starmer had the most nominations from MP’s + MEP’s at 88 followed by Long-Bailey and Nandy , all proceeded to final ballot - Starmer received most nominations 374 CLP’s + 15 affiliates , KS 56.2% of the vote
who were May’s rivals in her 2016 candidacy for conserv leadership
Michael Gove
Andrea Leadsom
May came first place in the 2nd ballot for conserv leadership with the support of ____ MP’s
199
Who withdrew from the leadership contest for the conserv party against May in 2016
Andrea Leadsom
who were the two candidates that proceeded with Starmer to the final ballot for labour leadership (2020)
Rebecca Long-Bailey
Lisa Nandy
How many nominations did Starmer receive from MP’s and MEP’s
88
In the final ballot Starmer received nominations from ____ CLP’s and ___ affiliates
374
15
Starmer won the election for lab leadership with what % of the vote
56.2%
who were three key individuals in the origin of the conserv party
Thomas Hobbes + English civil war
Edmund Burke + the French Revolution
Robert Peel + formation of the conserv party in 1830’s
The origins of conservatism began in the ______ _____ ___
English civil war
Thomas Hobbes wrote _______ during ____
Leviathan
1651 - written before interregnum 1653 - 1660
TH’s leviathan was generally seen as the first work of __________
Conservatism
give an example of an argument from the Leviathan
Humans are by their nature greedy and selfish
The French Revolution operated upon what 3 principles
Liberty
Egality
Fraternity
Edmund Burke was a _____ MP
Whig
Edmund Burke wrote reflections on the revolution in ______ during _____
France
1970
why did Burke write during the French revolution
To warn people of the dangers of rapid change and making a break from the past
he stated that the best course was to respect authority and tradition
In _____ Peel set about assembling a new _____ of MP’s
1831
Coalition
Peel issued the _________ manifesto in ____
Tamworth
1834
what did the Tamworth manifesto establish
The basic principles of conservatism
After issuing the Tamworth manifesto Peel then formed a ____ ______ government
Short lived
name three pledges made in the Tamworth manifesto
The timely reform of abuses
The necessity of law and order
An orderly system of taxation
What was Burke known as
The father of conservatism
The conservatives were properly established by _______ ____ who governed for a short while until there was….
Robert Peel
A backbench uprising over corn tariffs
After the backbench uprising that put Peel out of government conservatives were out of office for ___ years
28
The conservatives were out of office for 28 years until ________ who put forward ____ _____ conservatism
Disraeli
One nation conservatism - in the 1940’s
What is one nation conservatism
Disraeli was inclusive
argued that prosperity could only be achieved in Britain through all classes + individuals not putting selfish interests above the well being of the community
Warned about Britain becoming two nations the rich + poor
Disraeli later became PM in the 18__’s to 18__’s
60’s
70’s
What did one nation conservatism do
Reformed the electoral system so more people were enfranchised
By one nation conservatism reforming the electoral system conservatives were able to ….
Reach out to working class voters - consequently became most successful modern vote - winning party + main governing party for most of the 20th century
Give examples of conserv PM’s after Disraeli that followed this ‘one nation’ tradition
Baldwin
MacMillan
Heath
one nation conservatism is the opposite to ________
Marxism
What is the new right
A combination of neo-liberalism and neo-conservatism
By the ____’s the effectiveness of ‘one nation’ conservatism was being undermined by large - scale _______ _____ as _____ _____ became increasingly demanding
1970’s
Industrial unrest
Trade unions
In ____ Thatcher defeated _____ for leadership of the Conservative party and ____ ____ principles became the dominant creed within the party
1975
Heath
New right
What is neo liberalism
The belief that the economy best regulates itself with little intervention from the govt
operates upon the concept of laissez-faire + rooted in the ideas of liberals
Give an example of neo liberalism
Keeping taxes as low as possible reducing inflation + interest rates to encourage investment
what is neo-conservatism
The belief that the state needs to be powerful to stop people from becoming disorderly
Give examples of neo-conservatism
Extending police powers
Pursuing a strong defence policy
Relying on national rather than supernational institutions like the EU
Why have PM’s since Thatcher tried to change the image of the conserv party
They were criticised for focusing too much on free-market principles allowing society to become divided
2002 May admitted the conservs had become the ‘nasty party’ so she along with others like Major + Cameron tried to reposition the party to be more socially inclusive
The conservatives are still committed to neo-liberalism how can we see this give examples
Remain committed to low taxation in 2012 the chancellor of the exchequer George Osbourne cut the top rate of taxation from 50p to 45p
2017 gen election conservs pledged not to increase VAT and by 2020 they aim to have cut corporation to 17%
The conservatives are still committed to neo-conservatism how can we see this give examples
In its 2017 manifesto conservs committed to cutting immigration to 100,000 a year - a neo-conserv emphasis on maintaining the nation state as a shared community
Investigative powers act 2016 expands the intelligence community’s electronic surveillance powers - demonstrates May’s govts commitment to a strong national defence
Opposed further reform to the HOL seen as unnecessary after the 1911 & 1949 HOL acts - conservs value constitutional decisions
the conservatives are still committed to one nation principles how can we see this give examples
Cameron’s emphasis on a ‘big society’ had close similarities with Blair’s commitment to a ‘stackholder society’ - he introduced a national citizenship qualification - acknowledges importance of shared membership
Cameron committed the conserv party to supporting gay marriage, new dedication to inclusivity
2016 chancellor Osbourne introduced national living wage which by 2020 should have risen to 60% of the median earnings - protects the interests of the poorest in society
The Labour Party was originally developed in the late __th century to represent the interests and needs of the urban _______ ______
19th century
Working class
what is democratic socialism
Emerged in the late 19th century with the ideas of Beatrice Webb - argued that the capitalist state would inevitably be replaced by a socialist state as the WC achieve political power
what is revolutionary socialism
Originated in the mid 19th century with the ideas of Karl Marx & Friedrich Engels - it believed in the complete overthrow of capitalism
How did members of the trade unions contribute to the development of the Labour Party
Members of the trade unions became interested in politics so after further extensions of the voting franchise in 1867 & 1885 the lib party endorsed trade - union sponsored candidates
after the lib party endorsing trade - union sponsored candidates small socialists groups formed looking to get into politics name 4 of them
Independent Labour Party (ILP)
Fabian society - largely middle class
The social democratic federation
Scottish Labour Party
What happened at the 1895 election
ILP put up 28 candidates won 44,325 votes leader Keir Hardie stated to obtain scores necessary to join other left wing groups
who was the leader of the ILP
Keir Hardie
what happened in 1899 that contributed to the development of Labour
Trade union congress called a special conference to bring together all left - wing organisations and form them into a single body - after debate 129 delegates passed Hardie’s motion to establish a ‘distinct lab group in parliament’
what did the 1899 trade union congress special conference lead to
Created Labour presentation committee ( LRC ) - no single leader so Ramsay McDonald ILP nominee was elected as secretary
who was elected as secretary of the LRC
Ramsay McDonald
How many seats did the LRC win in the 1906 gen election and what were they helped by
29 seats
Helped by the 1903 pact between McDonald & liberal chief Whip Herbert Gladstone
What happened in the first meeting after the 1906 election
Members decided to adopt the name ‘the lab party’
After the 1906 election who was elected as chairman of the parliamentary lab party
Keir Hardie
What did ILP provide to the lab party in its early years
ILP provided much activist base as party got individual membership in 1918
when did ILP get individual membership
1918
what did the Fabian society provide the lab party in its early years
Much intellectual stimulus
When was the first lab govt
January 1924
who was the first ever lab prime minister
Ramsay MacDonald
What was a significant achievement of the first lab govt
Wheatley Housing Act - began building programme of 50,000 municipal houses for rental to low paid workers
Due to reliance on _____ support the first lab govt was unable to implement many contentious policies such as …..
Liberal
Nationalisation of the coal industry & capital levy
give two examples of lab PM’s with old lab principles
Clement Attlee & Harold Wilson
what is at the core of Old Lab
The principle of collectivism
The lab govt traditionally sought to create a more fairer society through …..
Nationalisation of key industries
Taxation to redistribute wealth
An extensive welfare state
Fostering close links with trade unions
Give an example of something Attlee did during his time as PM that mirrored old lab principles
Health secretary Aneurin Bevan introduced the NHS : providing free healthcare for the nation
Give an example of something Wilson did during his time as PM that mirrored old lab principles
1965 deputy PM George Brown announced a national plan for economic growth which would expand the economy by 25% by 1970
Why did labour abandon its most socialist policies after 1983
Due to a massive defeat in the gen election as Lab’s share of the vote collapsed from 36.9% in 1979 to 27.6% in 1983 gen election - Thatcher won by a landslide
Who developed the ‘third way’
The political philosopher Anthony Giddens
What is the ‘third way’
According to Giddens it represents a compromise between the extremes of socialism & neo-liberalism - believes instead of a social commitment to collectivism + equality lab should focus on establishing a ‘stakeholder society’
What is a ‘stakeholder society’
Based on the principles of inclusion and communitarianism rather than trying to create a more equal society
What was a key moment in the development of new lab (1995)
In 1995 clause IV of the lab party constitution was modified so that the party abandoned its commitment to nationalisation & accepted the economic benefits of a free market economy
New Labour was clearly defined by ____ _____ in 19__
Tony Blair in 1997
What were some key new labour policies put into place by Tony Blair
Greater emphasis put on the state as an ‘enabler’ rather than provider - state schools given greater independence from local authorities + introduction of tuition fees
Thatchers chancellor of the exchequer Lawson lowered top rate of taxation to 40% in 1988 Blair kept it at 40% on the basis that the wealthiest in society are wealth creators
What did the landslide election of Corbyn in 2015 as a labour candidate do for the lab party
Party became aligned with ‘old labour’ once again & he moved party to the left of British politics
After his landslide election in 2015 Corbyn encouraged ….
The spread of democratic socialist principles within the party seen in his 2017 slogan ‘for the many not the few’
what new group was formed within lab soon after Corbyn’s election
Momentum was established to sustain Corbyn’s leadership
What were Corbyn’s policies as leader
Increasing the top rate of taxation
Renationalising key industries
Ending zero - hour contracts
Provide free school meals for all primary school children
What was the 2017 election result and what does this suggest
9.6% swing to lab
Suggests there was considerable support for ‘old lab’ policies amongst the electorate however still did not win seats
What did lab’s seats decrease to after the 2017 election
262 to 203
What was the 2019 election result and what did it lead to
Landslide defeat led to removal of Corbyn 365 seats to 203 seats Conserv win
What was a policy put in place under Starmer for the lab party
Changed lab electoral system - paid membership
What was a policy put in place under Starmer for the lab party
Changed lab electoral system - paid membership
what are they key concepts of classical liberalism
- freedom of the individual
- govt based on consent from below
- both rulers and ruled must be subject to law (rule of law)
- limited govt
- social contract theory
what is the social contract theory
Govt must not abuse or jeopardise people’s natural rights, e.g. their property, their religion , their conscience
Classical liberalism is based upon the ideas of who
John Locke
What were John Locke’s beliefs
Believed in the seperation of powers
Believed in the monarchs having restraints on their power + people knowing their rights
John Locke is a ____ MP and _______
Whig
Philosopher
What were 4 aims of 19th century liberalism
Adoption of free trade (to better the empire)
Widening of franchise (right to vote)
Extension of civil liberties to people outside Church of England
Widening of educational opportunity - to educate public on their rights
who were the main two political parties in the 19th century
Liberal’s and Conservatives - until liberal dispute which left them in the political wilderness
19th century __________ massively helped to create the liberal party
Liberalism
which liberal leader was PM four times
W.E. Gladstone (1868 - 1894)
When was the liberal’s last successful election
1916
What began to develop in the early 20th century (liberal)
Modern liberalism
Who was the liberal party’s driving force behind social reforms in the Edwardian era
Chancellor David Lloyd George
give two examples of the liberal party’s social reforms of Edwardian era (1900 - 1914)
Old age pensions
National insurance - aided the development of the welfare state
What report is an example of liberalist beliefs
The beveridge report - detailed the 5 giants that created poverty
When was the beveridge report and what was it
1941
A report into the conditions of the WC in an attempt to eradicate poverty
What did 20th century liberalism attempt to do
To discourage working class people from voting labour (lab very similar to lib)
Modern liberalism believes the ______ must be more active in order for people to be free
State
When did the failure of the liberal party begin
After WW1
What happened to the liberal party after WW1
The lib party declined rapidly as they were unable to define their identity clearly in an age of growing polarisation between lab & conserv
what did liberal voters do after WW1
Partisan dealignment - the lib party was unable to relate to the electorate
What else contributed to the lib party’s failure in the 20th century elections
The two party system perpetuated by FPTP
In 1981 what party was formed
Social Democratic Party - a group of lab MP’s broke off from their party to form the SDP
in what years did the SDP form an electoral pact with the Liberals
1983 + 1987
In what year did the SDP and the Liberal’s join to form the Liberal Democrats
1988
Who was elected the first leader
Paddy Ashdown
When did the success for LIb Dem’s begin
1997 got 47 seats
How many seats did the Lib Dem’s win in 2005 & 2010
2005 - won 62 seats 22% of the vote
2010 - won 57 seats
What did the Lib Dem’s receive out of the 2010 coalition
5 seats in the cabinet out of 22
Nick Clegg deputy PM
Forced a ref on AV
Fixed term parliament act - can’t call election unless consent from parliament
Prior to the 2010 election there was a popular wave of support for Nick Clegg known as ….
Cleggmania
What scandal further damaged the Liberal Democrats image after the coalition in 2010
2012 Chris Hughe charged with perverting the justice system and Clegg faced accusations
Who is the current Lib Dem leader (2022)
Ed Davey
What is the conflict of the current Lib Dem party
been conflict between those on the social democratic left of the party such e.g. Tim Farron who outline the importance of social justice & those like Nick Clegg who support a more neo-lib approach to the economy
Why were the social democratic wing of the lib party frustrated by the 2010 coalition with conservs
They viewed the conservs to be a bigger threat than Lab
Who was the Lib Dem leader from 2015 - 2017
Tim Farron
Who was the Lib Dem leader from 2017 - 2019 and what does this mean
Vince Cable
Means party moved back to more social democratic traditions under cable emphasis on social justice was strong
What are 4 key principles that underpin Lib Dem policies
A principled life support for limited govt
Constitutional reform
Rejoining the EU
A multinational approach to global politics
The policies of the Lib Dem’s include
Increasing taxes to improve public services to achieve social justice
Comprehensive education
Free school meals for all primary school children
What are current 2022 Lib Dem policies
Contesting seats in ‘Blue wall’ over unpopular housing policy (SOE)
‘Green investment’
Opposed to vaccine passports
Oppose ID at polling stations
How many seats do the currently Lib Dem’s have
12 seats - low visibility shadow of the coalition
