Political Parties Flashcards
mandate
the right of the governing party to pursue the policies set out in their manifesto
manifesto
the set of policies a political party promises to implement if elected to office
Salisbury convention
the convention that the house of lords does not block or try to sabotage legislation that was promised in the party manifesto of the governing party
ideology
the core beliefs and ideas of a political party
butskellite consensus
the postwar consenus between labour and conservative that endured until the 1970s (thatcher).
after 1945 labour landslide and the establishment of the welfare state including the NHS the conservative party shifted towards the centre and accepted the bulk of labours social reforms
areas of consensus included joining the european economic community (EEC)
one nation conservatism
associated with pm benjamin disraeli
focused on the duty to unite the nation by moderate social reform and patriotism\
the state should protect the vunerable through public services without penalising the rich through high income taxes
one nation conservatism policy pledges of the current Conservative Party
maintain the triple lock on pensions
buskellite consensus policy pledges of the current Conservative Party
extra funding for the NHS and 50,000 more nurses - acceptance and expansion of welfare state
traditonal values (key policy of conservatives party) and policy pledges
focus on nuclear family etc
points based system on immigration
20,000 additonal police officer
keep voting age at 18
thatcherism/neolibrealism
dominated the party in the 80s and 90s
promotes individual freedom especially economically
roll back on state support/welfare state
privitisation
Thatcherism/neoliberal policy pledges in current Conservative Party
promise not to raise rate of income tax, VAT or national insurance
belief that everyone who can work should work and to continue rollout of universal credit and crack down on benefit fraud
origin of the Labour Party
an alliance between members of the trade union movement and socialist movements with the inital aim to represent working men in parliament
economic socialism strand of the Labour Party
a historic pledge to redistribute wealth for the many not the few
a commitment to the wealthfare state and nationlisation
corbyns manifestos pledged to renationalise many industries
economic socialism pledges in current Labour Party
increase health budget by 4.3% - increase wealthfare state
renationalise the big six energy companies, royal mail, water industry and more.
scrap univeristy tuition fees (shift from new labour who introduced them)
trade unionism strand of Labour Party
foundation of the Labour Party, to protect the right to strike
trade unions historically where the bulk of their funding however influence of unions decreased since 80s due to conservative anti-union policies by thatcher which new labour did not reverse
corbyn era brought back trade union influence as unite’s (uks biggest trade union) secretary general was close allies with corbyn
trade unionism policy pledges in current Labour Party
repeal anti-union legislation including trade union act 2016 which introduced new restrictions on trade unions and their members as to how and when they could take industrial action, fund political parties, and conduct their duties.
global internationalism strand of Labour Party
strand commited to nuclear disarment and peace aswell as resisting facism and racism worldwide
labours first PM macdonald was a pacifist during WW1
global internationalism policies in current Labour Party
asylum seekers have the right to work
immgigration system built upon human rights
new labour/third way socialism strand of the Labour Party
started by blair who’s intention was to modernise the labour party and shift it towards the centre to make it more electable
adopting thatcherite economics whilst retaining labours social values
new labour/third way socialism policies in current Labour Party
raise minimum wage to £10 - make capitlasim more fair for all
origins of the lib dems
founded in 1988 as a result of the merging of liberal party and social democrat party
two key strand of lib dems
classical and new liberalism
classical liberalism strand
seeks minimal state intervention as state is a barrier to freedom
self reliance and importance plays a bigger role than state
state is a nessecery evil
new liberalism strand
socially compassionate
party structure
the organistation of a political party and both local and national level
local level structure of conservatives
local conservative associations
local level structure of labour
each constituency has a constituency Labour Party (CLP)
local level structure of lib dems
local branches
local level policy making system of conservatives
local conservative association plays a large role in planning local campaining and selecting candidate
local level policy making system of labour
constituency Labour Party takes lead in local and national election campaigns
local level policy making system of lib dems
local branches take main role in running constituency level campaign and can submit motions to conference for debate
national level structure of conservatives
national HQ is conservative campaign hq (CCHQ)
day to day running of party is by board of Conservative Party made up of reps from each section of the party including mps and local members.
national level structure of labour
day to day running by national executive committee (NEC)
NEC enforces party discipline and can expel members for breaking rules
NEC has final say on selection of parliamentary candidates
NEC includes representatives from parliamentary party, trade unions, constituency labour parties, and young labour
national level structure of lib dems
federal board is national governing body which includes party president, leader of party, mps, councillors and young liberals representatives and 15 members elected directly by party members
national level policy making systems of conservatives
conservative policy forum which was set up in 1988 to enable grassroots participation in policy making
role is advisory not binding
national level policy making systems of labour
until 1990s anual conference was sovereign policy making body but role has since diminished
national level policy making systems of lib dems
motions debated and passed at conference become offical party policy
party funding
the methods by which political parties raise money to finance their activities
(campaigning, advertising, policy research) most funding is via private donations and not the state
political parties, elections and referendums act 2000
all political parties must registe with electoral commison and provide info on income and spending
30k only can be spent per constituency
must declare large donations (greater than 7.5k)
also regulates spending for national referendums and can isssue fines to those who break. leave party fined 70k for breaching electoral law
key proposals to deal with party funding
MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTIONS
fairest and most transparent method of funding as large numbers pay small amounts howver not enough money is raised through this to fund national campaigns
INDIVIDUAL DONORS
all parties rely on generous individuals and institutions donating eg. GMB and UNITE trade unions donated over 3 million to labour in 2019
STATE FUNDING
based upon pence-per-vote
