political parties Flashcards
when was a two and a half system demonstrated
when the Lib Dems got 23% of the vote in 2010 = 53 seats.
how is a two party system demonstrated
in 2019 election - 87.2% of seats.
the green party aims and policies
supports social and environmental justice.
the green party stat on unfair representation
2015 - 1 million votes but ONLY GOT 1 SEAT
green party’s impact
their mere presence places pressure on the government and influences agenda - influenced larger parties to incorporate it into agenda.
DUP aims
links with free presbytarian church and social conservatism
confidence and supply agreement 2017
Theresa May didnt get an outright majority so she asked for the DUP’s 10 seats to vote in favour of the conservatives - in key policy such as brexit and budget
in return they promised the DUP 1 bil for funding in NI.
2019 DUP election result
8 seats
UKIP aims and policy
want to cease UK membership to the EU and East European immigration.
impacts of UKIP
success in the 2014 european elections 4 million votes + 24 seats = more than conservatives and labour.
this prompted david cameron to promsie a referendum in his 2015 manifesto to counter electoral threat - which prompted Brexit to happen.
SNP aims and policies
advancing the interests of scottish people, 2nd independence referendum, redistribution concerning land and economic powers.
SNP success in 2015
got 56/59 seats in scotland. they gained 50 seats.
SNP influence at westminster
they are vocal in their criticisms of Theresa May’s decision to bomb president assad’s military instillations. and also influential at brexit debate.
is the UK party system changing? YES x4
-500 parties registered to contest in 2017, showing how there is still competition and the FPTP hasnt dampened spirits.
-coalition 2010, 2017 confidence and supply agreement shows that minor parties can have a large impact on policy depite not winning.
-A minor party can concentrate support eg SNP getting 56/59 Scottish seats.
-UKIP 2014 european election 26.6% shows voters’ willingness to back smaller parties and shows voters’ flexibility is present at other elections than general elections.
is the UK party system changing - NO x5
-the presence of many parties is not new,
-small parties cant register unless they have more than 1000 votes
-nationally in 2017 only 28 parties managed to pass through.
-only Conservatives, Lib Dem and Labour have secured an excess of 1 million votes = two and a half party system
-basic proportional representation is missing from FPTP which constrains minor parties
UKIP not being represented stats
in 2015 UKIp recieved 3.9 million votes but only won 1 seat.
falklands war
1982 when MT ordered torpedos to sink the Belgrano which was where Argentinians were reclaiming the Falklands
MT used this as an opportunity to prove her nationalist sentiment and unite the people
what is neo-liberalism
new right thinking (economically) - committed to low taxation and austerity to reduce the deficit which’d reached £100 billion in 2010
WHAT IS NEO-CONSERVATISM
socially conservative thinking in defence, law & order, foreign policy and Brexit. eg trident, 2017 manifesto cutting immigration to 100,000
what is one-nationism
benevolent paternalism eg gay marriage and national living wage in 2016, rejecting ‘ the cult of selfish individualism’ as theresa may said.
why did the 2010 coalition fail for the lib dems
although they had significant influence, many policy compromises had to be made to make the coalition happen => lib dem voters turned against them in anger at abandonment of some policy pledges like not raising tuition fees
how many seats did the lib dems win in 2015
only 8 seats and the leader nick clegg lost his own sheffield hallam seat.
how are the conservatives economically aligned with thatcher?
-cameron started austerity to relieve the £100 billion deficit + low taxation
-Theresa May promised to slash business rathes £6.7 billiona nd cut corporation tax 3%
how are the conservatives not aligned with thatcher
-boris johnson pledged to end austerity and pour billions into the NHS and infrastructure. he introduced the furlough scheme and tax&NI increase
how are the conservatives’ foreign policy aligned with margaret thatcher
-May launched airstrikes in syria that she didnt clear with parliament = demonstrates the same stubborness like the falklands and thatcher
-truss increased front-line border forces by 20% and doubled maritime staffing levels
-sunak’s top 5 policies include ‘stopping the boats’ and the rwanda policy
what is short money
provision for opposing parties to run and therefore effectively scrutinise govt policy etc.
2015 Labour recieved £6.7 mil
why is short money unfair
it is determined by the number of parliamentary seats held - in 2015 labour got £6.7 mil whereas the SNP only gto £1.2 mil and the Green party got £115,000
what is cranborne money
paid to the opposition in the HOL for administrative costs and scrutiny eg 2020 Labour recieved £656,000
criticisms of short money x3
-larger parties have much more access to funds than smaller parties (2019 Green party £115,000 / Labour £6.7 mil)
-This can lead to a dependence on wealthy donors with political interests (Bernie Ecclestone Blair scandal (1 mil) for exemption of race cars in tobacco advertising ban)
- labour mostly funded by trade unions until 2016 (in 2014 60% of funding but after the Trade Union Act this dropped to 11%)
Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 x4
after the 1997 scandal
-set up the electoral commission to monitor election spending
-cap of £30,000 per constituency
-£500+ donations must be declared
-anyone not on the UK electoral roll is banned from donating -> reducing foreign influence.
=> there was more transparency than limit
Political Parties and Elections Act 2009 x2
following 2009 MPs expenses scandal
-gave the electoral commission power to investigate, impose fines, and ability to tighten restrictions.
HOWEVER this was limited in its efficacy as in 2006 there was the Cash for Honours Scandal where wealthy donors who had loaned the party money were given peerages.
potential funding reform
2015 labour and the lib dems suggested caps on party donations but this wsa rejected byt he conservative government who work closely with big business.
2007 Sir Hayden Phillips suggested taxpaying funding of parties
suggested reform of party funding x4
-restrict size of donations
-tighten on how money is spent
-restrict donations to individuals not groups
-state funding
should parties be state funded YES x3
- if aprties had more money to spend - they could finance the recruitment of a wider range of people to apply for parliamentary selections - making parliament more diverse. (2019 only 66 members were from a minority background, in Ireland, parties have to field 30% of seats to women otherwise their state funding will half)
- would end the dependence of political parties on wealthy donors that use donations to buy influence
(bernie ecclestone scandal 1997) - fewer people feel strongly aligned with a party - so memberships are decreasing, parties cannot fund properly as this is outdates. (1.5% of the electorate being a member of a party in 2022)
should we have state party funding NO- x2
- funding based on existing share of the vote strengthens the larger parties further and makes it harder for smaller parties who may be representing newer ideas to break through. (2019: 87% of vote Lab +Cons =87% of funding???)
- firms and donors are able to easily get access to politicians whether they donate or not.
- would anger the public for them to be paying taxes for a party they dont support. eg the BNP which promotes biologically racist ideas about supremacy.
northern research group
-CONSERVATIVE
-led by former northern powerhouse minister Jake Berry
-aimed at boosting spending and investment in the North of England
-more than 50 members
European Research Group
-CONSERVATIVE
-influential in the Commons revolt that saw May’s limited Brexit compromises then removed her from Downing St
-she was forced to incorporate them into her cabinet and policy.
-annual average of 21 MPs
Labour First
-LABOUR
-Luke Akerhurst and Matt pOund mobilise moderate members
-old right organisation with links to trade unions and local govts. founded in the 80s to combat new centrist labour
-most powerful in the party
Blue Collar Conservatism
CONSERVATIVE
-launched by Esther McVey in parallel with her brief leadership bid to succeed Theresa May.
-policies including redirecting foreign aid to domestic priorities
-159 MPs with even Cabinet members
what clause did tony blair remove in 1997
he dropped clause 4 which was nationalisation
lib dems policy
freedom, human rights, devolution
pro-eu, having strong connections with social democratic parties in europe.
remains divided on issues such as nuclear weapons and extent of socialist policy + the welfare state
