Political parties Flashcards
Functions of political parties
Representing beliefs, encouraging participation (eg Labour allowing membership for £3), recruitment for government positions, formulating policy (often on battleground issues like Brexit, immigration, or the NHS), providing government if they win an election.
MPs salary and expenses
Basic annual salary £86 500 plus expenses for a second residence in London and travel between them. Positions in government receive supplementary extra eg PM can claim another £80 000, leader of the opposition another £50 000.
How are parties funded
Not state funded, through membership fees, fundraising, donations etc.
Controversies around party funding
Worries that large donations could influence party policy (eg Blair and Eccleston, rumoured donation linked to delay on tobacco advertising ban for F1) or that donations may be unduly rewarded (eg Lord Cruddas)
What did the Blair government pass to combat party funding controversy
2000 Political Parties, Elections, and Referendums act. Established an independent electoral commission, meant large donations had to be declared, capped spending in a constituency, and limited who could donate to the electoral roll.
Arguments for state funding
Parties are key to representative democracy so deserve it, would remove disparity for different sized parties, if funding matched membership it may encourage political participation of the public, curb the influence of private donors on policy.
Arguments against state funding
Greater state regulation could reduce parties’ independence, difficult to determine how much support a party should qualify for, could isolate the voters from the parties, taxpayers would resent having to contribute to parties which they disapprove of.
Origins of the Conservative party
Aristocratic grouping from the late 17th century to defend historic privileges, later developed in defence of private property and traditional authority.
Key themes of Thatcherism
Control of public spending as well as tax cuts to stimulate private economic growth, privatisation of industries, limits on the power of trade unions, strong law and order, assertion of British interests abroad, protection of national sovereignty against the growth of the EEC.
Conservatives in opposition
Hague, Duncan-Smith, Howard 1997-2005, broadly Thatcherite but gradually accepted New Labour policy.
Cameron’s approach to reforming his party
Aimed to win support beyond traditional core vote by being a ‘liberal conservative’ caring about minority rights and the environment, pushed the ‘big society’ agenda claiming to stand on the side of ordinary people.
Origins of the Labour party
Founded 1900 by groups of socialist societies and trade unions, however first majority government was not until 1945 under Atlee, made large changes such as introducing the NHS and nationalising industries.
Labour party reform in the 1980/90s
Aiming to broaden support after crushing defeat of old labour principles under Michael Foot and again in 1992. Dropped unpopular policy and revised Clause 4 in 1995, became ‘new labour’ under Blair using Giddens’ middle ground ideology.
New Labour in power
Supporters argued ‘traditional values in a modern setting’, introduce minimum wage but less generous than expected, brought in Anti-Social Behaviour Orders being ‘tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime’, invested less than previous social democratic governments, liberal strand in devolution and human rights.
Brown and Miliband’s leadership of Labour
Brown forced to partly nationalise and raise income tax in response to financial crash, seemed like move away from New Labour, Miliband remain more left but try to advocate for ‘responsible’ not ‘predatory’ capitalism.
Labour under Corbyn and Starmer
Split the party forced to be re-elected, large swing to left, favoured by party membership but reluctant to address antisemitism allegations, Starmer continuity policy ad stability but reinvolve Blairites and suspended Corbyn.
Origins of the Liberal Democrats party
Descended from 17th century ‘Whigs’, aristocratic opposition to the Tories, 1800s join with middle and working class to form ‘Liberal’ party committed to individual freedom, widening of education, civil liberties, etc. Gladstone significant PM, New Liberal reforms in early 1900s like National Insurance, decline after splits in the party and two party dominance, however 1988 merged with SDP which had split from Labour to form Liberal Democrats.
Rise of Lib Dems
Disillusionment with Conservatives and tactical voting translate to 46 in 1997 election, rose again in 2005, but held back by no change in voting system, divisions in party between social liberals and the ‘orange book’ liberals who emphasises traditional free market stance, Nick Clegg (partly wrote Orange book) put party centre, and into coalition in 2010.
Lib Dems in coalition
Won 57 seats, envisioned moderating policies of Conservatives, however financial crash mean have to go along with government cuts, led to unpopularity of association, AV referendum a disaster, heavy losses in 2015 GE seats down to 8.
The Scottish National Party
Centre-left with main aim to secure independence, strength of party triggered devolution which kept Labour power until Alex Salmond form majority 2011, although indyref unsuccessful, issue around Brexit as Scotland voted remain, also controversy over influence over English legislation, generally stay out of but not gone eg 2016 help defeat Cameron over Sunday trading laws in Eng and Wales, maybe losing influence after Sturgeon resignation and financial scandals.
The United Kingdom Independence Party
UKIP originally a fringe nationalist group, associated with Nigel Farage, based on anti-European integration, won most UK seats in 2014 EU parliament elections, high votes in 2015 but only one seat, radical right-wing populist party seen as more respectable than BNP, want to take back control from EU, scrap ‘green taxes’, restrict immigration, Farage also lead Brexit party and Reform UK, anti-lockdown.
The Green Party
Won its first seat in 2015 in Caroline Lucas, centre left party for environmental and social issues, very pro-European as see EU as environmental safeguard.
Different party systems under liberal democracy
One-party dominant, like Japan, two-party system, like the US, two-and-a-half-party system, arguably the UK with the rise of SNP, multi-party system where coalitions the norm, like many European countries.
Party system prevalent in Westminster
Strong two-party in post war period, Lab and Cons won on average 91% of the votes and 98% of seats, despite decline the system (76% share of vote in 2019) survives due to FPTP, coalition saw two and a half party system but it was short lived, SNP is not a contender for power as a regional party.
Party systems in devolved bodies
Partly proportional systems in Scotland and Wales increase smaller party representation, however dominance of SNP in Scotland, in Wales, often periods of minority Labour government, N Ireland have proportional system and are more multi-party, always coalition.
Party system essay plan
- Two-party as only two have chance to form government due to FPTP
- Seat share remains above 85% due to winners bonus
- Despite decline vote share is also considerably higher than any other parties, no other would be able to form an independent government - However smaller party significance in recent years and collective strength of two parties in decline
- Minor party success in PR elections, in 2019 EU election Con and Lab won under 24% of the vote
- Smaller parties’ key role in forming hung parliaments, 2010 coalition and supply and demand agreement 2017, is this possibility for next election?
J: Unless electoral system changed only two-parties can viably win an election. - Only two parties still have a permanent presence that can offer a complete and cohesive manifesto
- Minor parties often have one policy eg green or UKIP, cannot provide a political vision - Smaller parties important in guiding policy
- UKIP won no seats but forced a referendum as they were electorally threatening to the Conservatives after 2014 success in EU elections
- Indyref due to success of SNP in Scotland
J: Smaller parties can influence but has to be picked up by major parties to have an impact, green politics in decline despite success of Greens in 2024 council elections. - Funding and media support two-party system
- Broadcasting rules means focus on major parties, almost all papers endorse one of the two
- Official ‘short money’ and role of the opposition encourages a two party system - Regional systems and governments have very different systems
- SNP won all but one of Scottish constituencies in 2015
- No seats in NI held by parties that run candidates outside of NI
- Devolved governments
J: Regional differences undermined by national picture which remains structurally two-party.
Judgement: Despite changing nature of UK parties due to less partisan alignment and rise in ‘and a half’ parties, realistically multiparty system not possible currently, 2010 an anomaly, normality restored with 2019 Conservative landslide.
