Political Parties

Question 1

Name three type of political parties.

Answer 1

1) . Mainstream parties (Con/Lab/LibDems)
2) . Nationalist parties (SDP/Plaid Cymru) - specific to a region.
3) . Single issue parties - (UKIP) - campaign for a certain issue.

Question 2

Give three ways in which the UK is a two-party system.

Answer 2

IS a two party system:
✔ Labour and Conservative are the only parties with a realistic chance of forming government e.g. Con and Lab secured 67.2% of the popular vote - winning 85.6% of the seats.

✔ Greens have failed to add to their 1 seat - UKIP are seen as a spent force in 2019 - winning 0.07% of the vote.

✔ Lib Dems are becoming less populous - e.g. 2015 finished 224 seats behind Labour.

Question 3

Give three ways in which the UK is a multi-party system.

Answer 3

IS a multiparty system:
❌ 2015 - 13.5% backed parties other then the duopoly (61% in Scotland).

❌ Smaller parties have achieved success in second-order elections. e.g. Brexit Party secured 30.5% of the vote in 2019 MEP elections. (biggest party).

❌ Any party that could mobilise non-voters would stand a good chance. e.g. 32.5% of registered voters in 2019 - in 2005, Labour won with 35% of votes.

❌ Scotland’s electoral system (AMS) allows for multiparty competition for office.

Question 4

List three roles of UK political parties.

Answer 4

• Representation
• Political participation
• Political recruitment.
• Policy formation
• Stable government
• Accountability of opposition e.g. UKIP regarding EU referendum.

Question 5

Give an example of how political parties encourage political engagement.

Answer 5

• Memberships - Con - 180,000 - 92,000 voted for BJ as leader.
• Party conferences - members are invited.
• Hustings events - with candidates and voters.

Question 6

Give an example of a stable government produced as a result of political parties.

Answer 6

2019 - 365 seats / 1997 - 418 seats / 1983 - 397

Question 7

Give an example of political recruitment.

Answer 7

The party can recruit and dismiss MPs/Ministers e.g. Theresa May removed 15 cabinet ministers when taking over in 2016.

Question 8

Give an example of the impact of a single issue party.

Answer 8

UKIP won a plurality in the 2014 MEP elections - pressure on Cameron to hold an EU referendum.

Con would have seen a major churn to UKIP if they didn’t hold a referendum.

UKIP had little power but exerted great influence - spooked the Conservatives.