Political parties Flashcards
Tory funding 2022
From July to September 2022, Tory funding decreased by 40%
Labour Trade union donations 2022
over £700,000
minor parties 2022 funding
Lib Dems earnt £377,000 in public funds compared to Tories £31,000
Funding for 2019 general election:
Conservatives- £19 million in funds
Labour- £5.4 million
Brexit Party- £4.2 million
Example about transparency with funding 2009
Political Party and Elections Act (2009)- makes it compulsory for parties to report quarterly reports to the Electoral Commission
Funding scandal
Tony Blair faced criticism when he became PM in 1997 over receiving £1 million in funds from Bernie Ecclestone- the money was subsequently returned
Legislation limiting trade union funding:
Trade Union Act (2016) obliged new trade union members to choose whether to ‘opt in’ to making payments towards the political levy.
Legislation controlling party funding
Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, introduced spending and donation limits
Right wing faction of conservative 2023 convention
- National Conservatism Convention: opposed free market liberalism, advocate for a tougher stance on law and order and a nation state
- Supported by the Edmund Burke Foundation
Labour policy pledges 2023 (6)
- Achieve zero-carbon by 2030
- Highest sustained economy in the G7 by 2029
- Build an NHS fit for future
- Improve Police and Justice system
- Childcare and Educational reforms
- Devolve power away from Westminster
Tory policy pledges 2023 (5)
- Halving inflation
- Create better paid jobs
- Ensure national debt falls
- NHS waiting lists to fall
- Pass new laws to ‘stop the boats
Example of two parties agreeing on bill
- Coronavirus Act 2020
- Agreement on the Furlough Scheme
Conservative legislation on law and order
- Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022
- Public Order Act 2023
Conservative legislation on striking
Minimum Services Bill 2023
Conservative legislation on foreign affairs
Illegal migration Bill 2023
Conservative legislation on devolution
Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill 2022
Conservative legislation on the economy
- Austerity programme 2010- public spending cuts in response to the budget deficit
- 2023 Budget promises a £25 billion three-year tax cut for business investment
Example of Conservative welfare legislation
- Health and Care Act 2022
- Universal Credit cut of £20 (2021)
Different Conservative Party factions (4)
- Tory Reform Group- One Nation Tories, seen as on the left of the party.- opposed to Brexit
- The Bruges Group- right wing think tank that strongly supports Brexit
- Free Enterprise Group- keen on financial deregulation, Thatcherites founded by Liz Truss
- Blue Collar Conservatives- aim to represent working-class conservatives
Example of Labour Party being split:
Keir Starmer’s perusal of “New Labour” economy- £10 minimum wage
Momentum faction propose a £15 minimum wage
Different Labour Party factions:
- Momentum- grassroots left-wing of the party.
- Labour First- Strongly in opposition to Corbyn and seen as representing the right of the party.
- Progress-Represents New Labour ideas and is part of Labour’s right wing’
Labour immigration policy
Labour attempted to block the Illegal Migration Bill but ultimately failed
Conservative divides over immigration
Divides over Illegal Migration Bill, with MPs such as Theresa May warning against the bill
Example of Conservatives and Labour poaching policies
- Labour 2019 manifesto- “A green industrial revolution”
- Conservative 2019 manifesto - Net zero by 2050 (but Greens wanted by 2030)
Minor parties in general elections 2019
Green Party received 865,000 votes but just 1 seat in 2019
UKIP’s influence over EU matters
Won 24 seats in the EU parliament in 2014
Example of minor parties having influence over larger parties coalitions
2017-DUP confidence and supply agreement with May’s government
2010-2015- Lib-Dem’s coalition government with David Cameron’s government
Vote share for Conservative and Labour
2019- 76% of the vote
BUT 87% of seats
Example of elections/parties being a form of indirect democracy
In the run up to the 2010 election, Lib Dems pledged not to raise tuition fees. BUT 27 Lib Dems voted in favour of raising tuition fees with the coalition government
Example of a minor party trying to split votes
2023- Reform Uk leader Richard Tice pledges to put 600 MPs in place for 2024 election
Keir Starmer on the economy (3) new labour
- Rachel Reeves meeting with business leaders
- Don’t want to nationalise energy companies or railways
- Against strikes, wants to show ‘responsible’ labour
Keir Starmer on the economy (2) socialist
- Wants a publicly owned green energy company
- More ‘windfall’ taxes on energy companies
Keir Starmer on welfare (2)
- Welfare for the poorest, not universal
- Labour U-turn on abolishing tuition fees
- extend Pupil Premium to the poorest students
Keir Starmer welfare, more socialist
- More government money into childcare, extend statutory maternity leave
Keir Starmer on Law and Order
- Not opposed to government Acts
- Says cannabis ruins lives
- BUT against Rwanda Policy
(wants to combat image of ‘Sir Softie’
