Political Parties Flashcards
What is a party?
- group of people drawn together by a shared ideology
- want to form a government
- some defined by a single issue (e.g. UKIP)
- most of which try to develop policy on other issues
Why is it preferable to be part of a party?
Easier to draw up policies and pass legislation with size.
How do parties differ from pressure groups?
Pressure groups represent a single sectional interest (e.g. BMA) or range of ideas (e.g. Extinction Rebellion).
Pressure groups don’t enter candidates into election, otherwise they develop into a party (Fabian Society -> Labour)
Features of a party?
- Focus on gaining power or influence
- share values
- seek to form a government
- develop policy, recruit candidates
- some parties have factions (e.g. Conservative)
How does a party make policy?
Mostly made by Ministers
Opposing party constructs policies with general membership of party and put them forward into manifesto
How does a party represent?
Used to represent a section of society (Labour -> working class)
Now represent national interest (in theory)
How does a party select candidates?
- must be in the party to be selected
- must first pass a selection process: done by committees staffed by activists
- can be deselected (e.g. Corbyn 2020)
How does a party identify leaders?
MINISTERS
Leading party -> PM decides
Opposing party -> leaders choose a smaller group of frontbenchers
LEADER
Conservative -> members decide out of 2 MPs
Labour -> MPs who get 10% of vote stand for election
How were leaders picked, as of 2015?
Labour 2015 -> Corbyn only scraped 10% of first round, but won thanks to mass support of Momentum
Conservative 2016 -> Members supported May, so most opposition withdrew
What is a manifesto?
Published during General Election.
Sets out what a party would seek to achieve in its time in government
Party that wins has mandate to carry out manifesto commitments
What is a doctor’s mandate?
Government can propose measures outside of manifesto promises in response to changing political circumstances (2021 national insurance rising)
Problems with party funding?
-large parties offer honours to benefactors
CASH FOR PEERAGES 2006 wealthy people loaning money to Labour nominated for honours. As a consequence, loans were put under same limits as donations
How has the conservative party managed the economy
2010 - austerity
2019 - no VAT/NI rises, 10,000 more nurses
How has the conservative party managed law and order
2010 - ‘Hug a hoodie’, rehabilitation, rewards businesses rehabilitating criminals
2019 - 20,000 more officers, increased stop&search, tough on worst criminals (ended half way release for serious crimes),
How has the conservative party managed welfare
2010 - distinguished between strivers and shirkers; did introduce Universal Credit
2019 - continued Universal Credit (although 2021 cuts), £6m on social housing
How has the conservative party managed foreign policy
2010 - strengthen relationship with USA, air strikes under May against Syria (although Parliament wouldn’t let Cameron)
2019 - exceeded 2% of GDP on defence, maintain Trident, leave EU
How does the conservative party deal with the environment
- net zero 2050
- no more plastic waste to developing countries
How has the conservative party managed social justice
- reduce income tax for low income
- resist high taxes on wealthy
