pol parrties + Flashcards by Chloe Robertson

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What were the key principles of 17th-century liberalism, and who were important thinkers?

Emphasized individual rights/liberties (life, liberty, property). Advocated for limited government. Thinkers: John Locke (“Two Treatises of Government”), Thomas Hobbes (“Leviathan”).

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What are the Labour Party’s core ideas and historical policies?

Centre-left. Historically socialist. Focus on social justice, welfare state, workers’ rights. Policies: 1945-1951 (Attlee - NHS, nationalization), 1997-2007 (Blair - “New Labour,” centrist).

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What are the Conservative Party’s core ideas and historical policies?

Centre-right, conservative. Emphasizes tradition, individual responsibility, free markets. Policies: 1979-1990 (Thatcher - privatization, deregulation), 2010-2016 (Cameron - austerity).

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What are some key essay questions about political parties?

Do parties still matter? Do parties help or hinder democracy? Are UK parties all the same?

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What is a two-party system?

Two major parties dominate, have a chance to win power. Example: US (Democrats, Republicans). UK has historically leaned this way.

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What is a multi-party system?

Several parties compete, coalitions are common. Example: Italy.

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What helps smaller parties succeed?

Charismatic leader, focus on one issue, voter dissatisfaction, good use of media.

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What are “voting intention” polls?

Show current party support, help predict elections, can change.

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How does “competence” affect a party?

Competent government = more support. Incompetent government = less support.

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How does a weak opposition help?

Helps the party in power, they look stronger.

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hat is the ideology of the Liberal Democrats?

Centre-left. Formed in 1988 (Liberal Party + SDP). Policies: constitutional reform

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What was early liberalism about?

Individual freedom. Limited government. Thinker: John Locke.

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Why did the Liberal Party decline?

Labour Party rose. Internal divisions. Couldn’t adapt to change.

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What was the SDP-Liberal Alliance?

Formed in 1981. Centrist alternative. Got 25.4% of the vote in 1983.

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Who was Charles Kennedy?

Liberal Democrat leader. Opposed the Iraq War.

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What did Nick Clegg do?

Liberal Democrat leader. Shifted the party towards the centre-right.

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What happened to the Liberal Democrats after the 2010 coalition?

Joined the Conservatives in a coalition. Support dropped heavily in 2015.

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What are some Liberal Democrat policies?

Electoral reform. House of Lords reform. Environmental policies. NHS and education investment.

What does the SNP want?

Scottish independence.

When did the SNP become dominant?

Largest party in Scotland since 2007. Won 56/59 Scottish seats in 2015.

What are some SNP policies?

EU membership for an independent Scotland. Social democratic policies. Anti-nuclear weapons.

What are challenges for smaller parties?

First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) system. Limited media. Less funding. “Wasted vote” perception.

What helps smaller parties?

Charismatic leader. Single-issue focus. Exploiting dissatisfaction. Effective media use.

What do voting intention polls show?

Public support for parties. Predict election outcomes.

How does competence affect a party's chances?

Competent government = more support. Incompetent government = less support.

How does a weak opposition help?

Helps the party in power. They look stronger.

What was the impact of the SDP-Liberal Alliance in the 1980s?

1983 election: 25.4% of vote. Only 23 seats due to FPTP. Leaders: Roy Jenkins (SDP), David Steel (Liberal).

What happened in the 2010 election?

Liberal Democrats (Clegg) won 57 seats. Coalition with Conservatives (Cameron).

What was the result of the coalition for the Liberal Democrats?

Support fell to 7.9% in 2015. Lost most seats (only 8 left).

What are some Liberal Democrat reforms?

Proportional representation (PR). House of Lords reform.

How successful has the SNP been?

Largest party in Scotland since 2007. 56/59 Scottish seats in 2015. 2014 referendum boosted them.

Who are some key SNP figures?

Alex Salmond (former First Minister). Nicola Sturgeon (former First Minister).

How does FPTP affect parties with concentrated support?

Disadvantages smaller parties. Parties with regional strength (SNP, Plaid Cymru) can still win seats.

Give an example of a single-issue party.

Green Party (environment). Won 7 seats in 2019 European elections.

What was the initial primary goal of the Brexit Party, founded by Nigel Farage?

To ensure the UK left the European Union, especially if the government's deal was unsatisfactory.

What was a significant electoral success for the Brexit Party?

Won the most seats (29) in the UK in the 2019 European Parliament elections with 30.5% of the vote.

What is the current name of the Brexit Party, and who is its current leader?

Reform UK. Current leader is Richard Tice.

What are some of the key policy positions of Reform UK beyond Brexit?

Significant tax cuts. Reduced government spending. Stricter immigration controls. NHS reform with market-based principles.

How has Reform UK performed in recent UK general elections?

Did not win any seats in the 2019 UK general election but may have split the right-wing vote in some areas.

In what ways can small political parties matter, even if they don't win many seats in elections?

Influence the agenda. Change the conversation. Win local elections. Form coalition governments.

an you give some UK examples of small parties that have influenced politics despite limited seat numbers?

Green Party (environmental issues), UKIP/Reform UK (Brexit), Liberal Democrats (coalition influence).

What are some of the limitations on the impact of small political parties?

First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) system. Limited funding and media coverage. "Wasted vote" perception.

How can smaller political parties impact local government?

Winning local council seats. Influencing local policies. Championing local issues. Holding larger parties accountable. Providing alternative voices.

What kind of impact can smaller political parties have in devolved assemblies like the Scottish Parliament, the Welsh Parliament (Senedd), and the Northern Ireland Assembly?

Proportional Representation. Forming coalition governments. Championing national identities and specific issues. Holding larger parties to account. Advocating for distinct policies.