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UK Politics and Government > Political Parties > Flashcards

Political Parties Flashcards

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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

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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 threee 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

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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.

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.

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.

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.

25
Q

Choosing a parliamentary candidate

A

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
Q

Conservative approach to party policy

A

Top down approach- the leaders team effectively decides what goes into the manifesto. Delegates at eh party conference do not vote on policy.

27
Q

Labour approach to party policy

A

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
Q

Liberal Democrat party policy approach

A

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
Q

List of funding options available to party’s

A

Membership fees
Small donations from members
Large donations from wealthy donors
Trade unions
State Funding

30
Q

Short Money

A

State funds paid to opposition parties in HOC to cover administrative costs and enable effective scrutiny of the Government.

31
Q

Cranborne Money

A

State funs paid to opposition parties in the HOL to cover administration costs and allow for effective scrutiny of the Govt.

32
Q

Policy development grants

A

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
Q

Support for election campaigns.

A

Royal Mail will freely deliver one piece of campaign mail to each elector in the UK. Parties receive free airtime for election boradcasts.

34
Q

Political parties and election act 2009

A

Allows the elcectoral commission to investigate and impose fines
Increase the requirements for establishing the source of political donations.

35
Q

The medias political relation

A

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
Q

Social media spending in the 2019 election

A

£1.4 million on SM Labour
£0.9 Million by Tories.

37
Q

Leadership as a factor inflecting the result of a general elction

A

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
Q

Party Funding as a factor inflecting the result of a general election

A

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
Q

Party record as a factor inflecting the result of a general election

A

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
Q

Media as a factor inflecting the result of a general election

A

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
Q

Election Campaigning as a factor inflecting the result of a general election

A

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
Q

Electoral system, as a factor inflecting the result of a general election

A

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
Q

SNP- Policies and impact on debates

A

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
Q

UKIP Polices and impact on Debates

A

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
Q

Reform Uk Policies and impacts of debates

A

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
Q

Plaid Cymru

A

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
Q

Green Party

A

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
Q

Two party system

A

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
Q

Two party system evidence

A

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
Q

Multi Party system evidence and definition

A

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.

UK Politics and Government (10 decks)

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