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Political Parties Flashcards

1
Q

Origins of the Conservative Party

A

Dates back to 1834
Traditionaly represented the wealthy
Benjamin Disraeli adopted one nation conservatism which is more centrist.

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2
Q

Ideals of the conservative party

A

One- Nation conservatism dominated before 1979. Regans new right movement included thatcher which saw a further right wing movement. Traditional conservative values were evident in the Johnson government’s so called ‘war on woke’. Home secretary Priti Patel dismissed racist threats.

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3
Q

Development

A

Thatcher was impatient with her party’s tolerance of high taxation, powerful and disruptive unions and economic stagnation. Thatchers successor, John Major continued thatchers policy and struggles of Europe continued.

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4
Q

One Nation conservatism

A

Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak both identify as a one nation conservatism as well as David Cameron and his Big Society approach.

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5
Q

Labour Party origins

A

With origins in the Labour movement, the Labour representation committee formed in 1900 and became the Labour Party in 1906. Its aim was to represent the working class in Parliament. Labour originally focused on Socialism.

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6
Q

ideas of the Labour Party

A

Socialism is an ideology aiming for equality between people through common ownership of the means of production.
Social Democracy is the democratic version of socialism. Socialises win power within a democratic system. Cause 4 is a part of the 1918 constitution. It committed Labour to the ‘common ownership’ if the means of production and mediums of exchange.
Corbinisum was seen as a move to old Labour but New Labour is much more centrist as it has moved that direction after Starmer took over the party.

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7
Q

Liberal democrats

A

Formed from the two main parties the Liberal party and the Social democrats. Formed in 1981. Liberalism is based on freedom which includes free trade.
The Lib Dems have consistently supported the EU and Electoral reform is top priority for the Lib Dems. After breaking one of their core polices in the 2010 coalition they lost a significant part of their voting base.

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8
Q

Main 3 party on Economy

A

Conservatives:
Support small businesses and negotiates with other countries
Labour:
Free broadband for every home and businesses.
Wealth creation.
Liberal Democrats:
Support small businesses, catering, leisure and the arts

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9
Q

Main 3 party health policy

A

Conservatives:
More GP surgeries
Labour:
40,000 GP appointments every week
A new dentistry rescue plan
Liberal Democrats:
add 1p on income tax to fund an extra £7bn investment.

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10
Q

Main 3 Education policy

A

Conservatives:
30,000 starting policy
Labour:
Sure start early years education for all children.
Liberal Democrats:
Free childcare from 9 months for working parents increase school

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11
Q

Main three tax policy

A

Conservatives:
Abolish National insurance
Labour:
Not increase national insurance.
Liberal Democrats:
Increases tax

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12
Q

Main 3 defence policy

A

Conservatives:
Mandate national service
Labour:
Increase spending on UN peacekeeping
Liberal Democrats:
Meet NATO defence spending.
Work towards multilateral nuclear disagreement.

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13
Q

Structure of the Parliamentary party

A

Leader
Govt or shadow ministers
Ordinary MP’s

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14
Q

NEC/ Board of the Conservative Party

A

This is the group of executives who are in charge of running a party. Their role is less policy based and more the organisation of the local parties.

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15
Q

Structure of the Conservative Party

A

Each constituency has a conservative association who help to run election campaigns. There is a welsh and Scottish sub-party within the main party. The NCC (National conservative convention) makes decisions for the policies. Chairs attend as do regional officers and youth officers. The 1922 committee is made up of backbench MP’s. CCHQ (Conservative campaign head quarters) is based in London.
The Board of the party is the governing body of the party.

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16
Q

Tory Membership

A

200,000

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17
Q

Local and National organisation of the Labour Party

A

Each constituency has a CLP with a variety of officers and chairs. Regional branches decided the candidates for local elections.
There is a welsh and Scottish Labour Party within the Main party.
The NEC is part of the governing body of the party.
The PLP consists of Labour MP’s.
The Trade Union and Labour Party Liaison Organisation coordinates the 14 affiliated trade unions.
Many Socialist societies and groups are affiliated to the Labour Party.

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18
Q

Membership of the Labour Party

A

Peaked in 2017 with 552,000 members. In 2020 still 496,000 members.

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19
Q

Local and National Structure

A

Unlike the two main parties the Lib Dems use a federal structure. Members belong to a local party, regional party and national party of one of the Nations. The Federal body is the government body of the Liberal Democrats which brings together the National party. There is a parliamentary party of the HOC Made up Liberal Democrat MP’s.
Members can also join a Specified Associated Organisation groups with a particular identity of focus. They can submit motions to the party conference.

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20
Q

Membership figures.

A

115,000

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21
Q

Labour selecting leader of the party.

A

There are two rounds. one within the parliamentary party and one for the members with each member gaining one vote. PLP nominates candidates and 20% or more of the PLP needs to nominate a candidate before they can proceed to the next round. Candidates also need the support of 5% of Local Parties and 5% of affiliated trade union members. Members vote using the AV vote system.

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22
Q

Conservative Party leader

A

MP’s vote on leadership and are eliminated un voting rounds until only 2 remain. All members vote on the remaining 2 candidates.

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23
Q

Lib Dem leadership selection.

A

A candidate must be an MP and have the support of at least 10% of Lib Dem MP’s, 20 local parties and 200 members.
All members vote using the AV system.

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24
Q

Labour’s use of registered supporters

A

In 2015 ‘Registerd supporters’ who paid £3 were allowed to vote in the leadership election. More than 100,000 signed up and Jeremy Corbin benefitted greatly from this. In 2016 the fee increased to £25 to prevent leadership elections from being hijacked. In 2021 Kier Starmer changed the rules to prevent registered supporters from being able to vote.

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25
Choosing a parliamentary candidate
All three parties use a similar procedure to choose parliamentary candidates. - Candidates are approved. - Local party selects candidates from the central party list - Constituency members vote to select the parliamentary candidate. Parties have historically struggled to select a broad range of candidates which affects the composition of the House of Commons. Labour's 'all women' shortlists allowed for 101 female MP's being elected in 1997. In Sept 2017 the party announced it will use all female lists for all of its top 50 target seats.
26
Conservative approach to party policy
Top down approach- the leaders team effectively decides what goes into the manifesto. Delegates at eh party conference do not vote on policy.
27
Labour approach to party policy
The National Policy forum agrees on policy direction. Policies are then voted on at party conference. The Leader can use personal authority to win support for their polices at conference. The Party's team then write the manefesto which is then agreed by the NEC, shadow cabinet ministers and senior trade union representatives.
28
Liberal Democrat party policy approach
The Federal Policy Committee develops policies to be out to the party conference. Any member can also make a proposal at party conference. The conference votes of all polices and all members can vote.
29
List of funding options available to party's
Membership fees Small donations from members Large donations from wealthy donors Trade unions State Funding
30
Short Money
State funds paid to opposition parties in HOC to cover administrative costs and enable effective scrutiny of the Government.
31
Cranborne Money
State funs paid to opposition parties in the HOL to cover administration costs and allow for effective scrutiny of the Govt.
32
Policy development grants
Any party with two or more sitting MP's is allocated a share of an annual £2,000,000 fund to cover policy development.
33
Support for election campaigns.
Royal Mail will freely deliver one piece of campaign mail to each elector in the UK. Parties receive free airtime for election boradcasts.
34
Political parties and election act 2009
Allows the elcectoral commission to investigate and impose fines Increase the requirements for establishing the source of political donations.
35
The medias political relation
Newspapers may often affect how party leaders are perceived. In 2019 The Sun described Jerry Corbin as 'The Most Dangerous Man ever to Stand for High Office in Britain'. Tony Blair and Rupert Merdoch met several times so that the Sun would support TB. David Cameron met with Merdoch 26 times during his first 18 months in office. Some newspapers like the Telegraph consistently support the conservatives wears the Sun more consistently changes its position. The Times has switched to support the Labour Party in the 2024 general election. The BBC is unbiased.
36
Social media spending in the 2019 election
£1.4 million on SM Labour £0.9 Million by Tories.
37
Leadership as a factor inflecting the result of a general elction
Media coverage is focused on the party leader significantly. Leaders who struggle to connect with voters (Therersa May) or motivate voters (Ed Miliband) are likely to have disappointing election results.
38
Party Funding as a factor inflecting the result of a general election
The Conservatives have an advantage with their wealthy donors. Labour is dependent on union funds. Parties which are seen as frontrunners are also advantaged as donors think that they have a chance and are worth giving to.
39
Party record as a factor inflecting the result of a general election
Governments are Judged on their record, with The Lib Dems the electorate held them to account in 2019 for their role in the coalition.
40
Media as a factor inflecting the result of a general election
Support from key papers such as the Sun and Times is critical but more importantly the emergence of Social Media is seeing widespread funding.
41
Election Campaigning as a factor inflecting the result of a general election
A well crafted election campaign can help to secure a landslide (New Labour in 1997 or GET BREXIT DONE). A poorly run campaign can cause the popularity of a party to fall- Theresa May in 2017.
42
Electoral system, as a factor inflecting the result of a general election
FPTP favours parties with concentrated geographical support. Electoral pacts can help win support- in 2019 the Brexit party didn't stand any candidates in conservative held seats. Labour was criticised not to make a remain alliance.
43
SNP- Policies and impact on debates
Policies: - Independence for Scotland - Increase in Public Spending - End Austerity - Strap Trident Impact on Policies - Won majority in 2011 - Scotland voted remain - SNP membership has increased resulting in the 56/59. - Third largest party in the UK. - Responsible for managing the COVID response in schools. - Tainted by sleaze from the Nicola Sturgeon scandal.
44
UKIP Polices and impact on Debates
Policies: Keep UK totally separate from the EU Anti immigration Free Speech, free markets Impact on policies: Founded in '93 and built support. Won the 2014 European Parliament election. - To try to claw back support from voters lost to UKIP David Cameron. - Won by 3.9 million votes in 2015 but only had one seat in the House of Commons. - Achieved their epipotimous goal in 2016. - UKIP won fewer than 29,000 votes in the 2019 election and won no seats in parliament.
45
Reform Uk Policies and impacts of debates
Policies: - Low Tax economy - reform the public sector and electoral system - opposition to coronavirus restrictions and lockdowns. Impact on politics: - Push for a clean break with the EU. - Far right
46
Plaid Cymru
Polices: - Independence for Wales - increased investment for Wales Impact on Policies - Provides a clear voice for Wales - Struggles for media attention because of its size.
47
Green Party
Policies: -Environmental protections and a green economy - Investment in public services. Impact on politics - Provides an environmental perspective on all policies areas. - Encourages other parties to develop environmental policies.
48
Two party system
Two significant political parties compete for power in a duopoly. A typical product of FPTP electoral systems. Tends to result in single party majority government
49
Two party system evidence
Either Tories or Labour in govt since 1922. Since 1930 only the conservatives and Labour have had a realistic chance of winning a general election. - Coiltion goats are rare. - 2017 election was described as a return to the two party state
50
Multi Party system evidence and definition
Defintion: - Multiple signifiant political parties compete for power. - A typical policy of proportional voting systems - Tends to result in coalition or minority Govt. Evidence: - In recent years smaller parties have played a key role in govt. The Lib dems were important in 2010-15 and UKIP were important in influencing national policy objectives - Multiple parties hold power across the uk.
51
What are political parties?
organisations which seek to form a government by selecting a candidate
52
What were the main voting reform acts of the 1800s and what did they do?
a variety of acts had seen an unprecedented increase in the size of the electorate
53
What has happened to the membership of mass parties over the decades?
this has dramatically decreased reform membership has surged in 2024. Also has become the party with the highest membership
54
How does the history of a party affect its structure? Detail two examples, briefly explaining both the structure and why they have developed this way.
the Labour Party structed around socist societies and trade unions
55
Historically, how did the Conservative party select its leader? How does the party select leaders today?
backbench appoinemtns process MP's through a series of ballots elect 2 candidates put to members leadership can be contested by resignation or 15% of MP's writing to 1922 committee
55
6 functions of a political party
- governing and electioneering - raising money - developing policy - representation - participation - recruitment
56
Why was the 2016 Conservative leadership election controversial?
Adrea leadersom stood down leaving Theresa may leader
57
How did Labour’s electoral college system work? Why was it controversial?
inequality between members and trade unions
58
What did the Collins Review (2014) suggest and how did the changes implemented impact the 2015 leadership election?
one member one vote did establish £3 regestered supporter
59
Why was Labour’s 2016 leadership election controversial?
many registered supporters signed up to vote
60
How does the Liberal Democrat Party select its leader?
candidates need support of 10 MP's and 200 member nomination from 20 local parties
61
Do third parties give members any more or less influence over the selection of party leader than the main parties?
more- except reform
62
What selection stages do candidates generally have to go through?
party headquarters approve local party members select candate
63
How has Labour attempted to increase the number of female MPs over time? Why has this proven controversial?
all female shortlist or one woman shortlist 46% of labour MP's are women (parliament is 40% wimmen and this is the highest ever)
64
What was the Conservative Party’s ‘A-list’ and why was it controversial?
local members did not like the imposed candidates
65
What are open primaries? How have the Conservatives experimented with them?
highly expensive Sarah wollerston was selected through primaries
66
How does the Conservative Party generally decide its policies? Give an example of when has this been questioned by members.
party leader MP's voice points and approvals Boris Johnsons cabinet got no say over 2019 manifesto
67
How has the Labour Party’s policymaking process changed over time? What was it like originally, and how is it structured now? Do members have more or less influence?
now with more power to members rather than Trade Unions
68
How has the block vote changed? What impact has this had?
where trade unions vote through a block this strong inflence saw clear ideological views
69
How do the Liberal Democrats decide policy, and how was this challenged when in government?
manifesto but changed in coalition government
70
What is the ‘iron law of oligarchy’?
large orfnaisatinos need leaders with knowledge and ability to take control
71
Why might recent reforms reduce Labour’s income from affiliated union members?
from 2016 it has become an opt in system
72
Why is the source of donations to the two main parties controversial?
many for labour are unions many from tories come from wealthy indicudial donors. Lord Ali and Cash for Honors scandal
73
What did the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act (2000), do? How was this changed by the Political Parties and Elections Act (2009)?
created the electoral commission placed limits on electoral spending parties must declare all donations and record all above formally above £50
74
What is Short Money & Cranborne Money?
short- given to opposition scrutiny and oppostion cranbrone- money to 2 main opposition parties
75
How was Short Money reformed in 2016 and why was this controversial?
reduced by 19% and was criticised for limiting resources of opposition
76
What other form of state funding is available to opposition parties? How does it work?
policy development goals parties need 2 MP's
77
What are the main arguments for and against increasing state funding for political parties?
if not more reliance on donors trust in politics is already low tay payers might not want to fund some parties
78
Why did economists claim that the UK was experiencing ‘stagflation’ in the 70s?
there was low growth and high inflation
79
Why were the Labour and Conservative governments worried about the power of the unions in the 70s?
union limited coal July and lend shortages they treated power of the government winter of discontent
80
What is ‘Thatcherism’?
neo iberal ideology small state neo conservative state- maintain order and natinoalsiu
81
What is monetarism? How did it differ to Keynesian economics?
cutting inflation should be to prioritise smaller state market neo liberalism more in favour of government intervention
82
Why did Thatcher believe that free market competition was essential?
so the UK economy could transition into a state where it was internatilly competitive again
83
How did Thatcher restrict the power of the trade unions?
demands made governance changing made political motivation for for strike illegal made secondary action illegal
84
How did Thatcher deregulate the banks and financial markets?
curt red tape, supply side economics lifted restrictions on secrvices banks could offer
85
What is privatisation?
the selling of private firms
86
How did Thatcher change income taxes and benefits?
means tested bandits cutting tax reducing basic rate
87
What was the Right to Buy scheme?
selling social housing
88
Thatcherism supports classically liberal economic policies; can the same be said for social policies
very much big state, regulation social policy such as section 28
89
What was Section 28 of the Local Government Act (1988)?
banning LGBTQIA teaching or dusccsion in sochool s
90
What are the main differences between the ‘Wets’ and the ‘Dries’?
Wets- one nation tories Dries- thatcher tories
91
Why did the Labour Party split in the early 80s and what were the consequences?
the left and right became more divided the center left emerged which was opposed by traditionally
92
How did the UK’s post- industrial society and the pressures of globalisation influence New Labour?
infludende by globalisation- open regulation constitutional reform awknologed change in loving standards
93
What was Tony Blair’s ‘Third Way’?
socialist ideology focus on economic efficiency and social justice
94
How did Blair change Clause IV of the Labour Party constitution?
got rid!
95
What did New Labour promise ahead of the ‘97 General Election?
focus on education not have high spending won 418 seats
96
How were New Labour’s economic policies similar to those championed by the Conservatives?
ran low spend government economic policy of the tories pricationsation and low tax public finance initiatives
97
To what extent were New Labour’s welfare policies similar to the previous Conservative government’s?
hand up not hand out academics tuition fees
98
What impact did New Labour have on public spending and public services?
99
What impact did New Labour have on social justice and equality?
offer UP work offers, minimum wage tax credits civil partenships- ban on gay people in military was lifted devolution
100
How traditional was New Labour’s foreign policy?
closer to Europe didn't adopt euro doubled aid funding highly active role 911 and Iraq war
101
Was New Labour’s approach to civil liberties more libertarian or authoritarian?
Third way HRA and freedom of information act laws against terrorists supported ID cards
102
What was New Labour’s attitude towards constitutional reform?
Devolution and power closer to people e
103
What is a recession? How many recessions have there been in the UK since 1940?
when an economy suffers negative growth for 2 consecutive economic quarters
104
What gave Chancellor Gordon Brown the impression that there would be “no return to ‘boom and bust”?
many sectors of positive growth in the economy increase in real wages 3% grwoth
105
Why were house prices increasing so rapidly in the years preceding the crash and why was this a problem?
low IR and high growth led to high house prices to have dept bringing given more dept decreased bank liquidity housing bubble wealth effect - low savings ration
106
What does it mean to say that prior to the crash the banks were ‘over leveraged’? Why was this a problem?
banks have low liquidity
107
How did the sub- prime mortgage crisis in America help to trigger a global recession?
sub prime mortgage which were given to uncreditwrothy customs many given out which led to housing bubble
108
Why did the Labour Government spend billions bailing out the banks? Why were they ‘too big to fail’
for the banks to fail would destabilise the enter world economy leading to any inflation and significant poverty
109
What was the 2008 economic stimulus? Why did Labour argue that it was necessary?
cuts in tax, more investment, more benifits ensure more economic growth so that ether economy wouldn't run out of capital flows
110
What is the difference between the national deficit and debt?
deficit is borrowing above tax rev this is tolerance budget deficit
111
Why did the deficit increase so sharply following the global financial crisis?
huge increase in spending low tax revenue decreasing
112
Why did Conservatives argue that Labour had ‘failed to fix the roof while the sun was shining’?
that no economic reserves were installed borrowing during a boom
113
How did Conservative spending plans change after 2007?
114
How did Labour justify its pre-crash economic polices?
more money was coming in was investing to grow economy further small govt spending in % levels
115
Why did Conservatives & classical economists want to cut the deficit quickly, primarily through spending cuts?
to reduce the national deficit which began to become established after the FC
116
Why did Labour Party & many Keynesian economists favour an economic stimulus, even if it meant increasing the deficit?
poor infrastucteu UK's resiiliance on financial sector poor region poor house building
117
How different were the main parties’ spending plans at the 2010 General Election?
labour- government should borrow money and redistribute conservatives- cuts spending and safeguarnfsign borrowing spending

UK Politics and Government (13 decks)

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