Political parties Flashcards
What is organic society?
A living entity where ‘we’ is more important than ‘I’ and where traditional institutions and common culture bind people together
What is paternalistic?
Acting in the interests of others who are unable to make informed moral decisions supposedly as fathers do in relation to children
What is pragmatic?
Belief that action should be shaped by practical circumstances and practical goals that is by ‘what works’ rather than abstract principles
What is One Nation Conservatism?
Aims to heal divisions in society and to ensure that everyone has opportunity to flourish
Who is Frank Hester and what does he have to with parties?
He and his company, TPP, are together the conservatives biggest ever donor for an election campaign, giving 15m.
Who is Richard Harpin and what does he have to do with parties?
Founder of business Homeserve, has given about 2 million since the last election to the conservatives and lent his helicopter to Rishi Sunak.
Who is David Sainsbury and what does he have to do with parties?
A labour peer since 1997, has given 5m to labour under Keir Starmer.
Who is Gary Lubner and what does he have to do with the parties?
Former boss of Autoglass, car repair company, has given almost 6m to the labour party under Starmer.
What kind of funding do Labour typically rely on?
Trade Unions
What kind of funding do Conservatives typically rely on?
Private individual donations, private business donations
What are the main left wing parties in the UK?
- Labour
- Green
- Lib Dems
- Scottish National Party
What are the main right wing parties?
- Conservative
- Reform UK
What are conservatives opinions on free market Capitalism?
Traditionally support a free market economy, believing that private enterprise and competition drive economic growth.
What are the conservatives views on law and order?
Emphasises a tough stance on crime, advocating for robust policing and a strong justice system
What are labour’s views on social justice and equality?
Labour has traditionally believed in reducing social and economic inequalities. Involves policies aimed and wealth distribution, progressive taxation etc.
What are labour’s views on democratic socialism?
Aligned themselves with it, normally.
What are the key features of a political party?
- seek to gain governmental power at local, regional and national levels
- formal organisation - normally a hierarchy including leaders, activists and supporters
- Have a system membership, members share a similar ideologies
What is populism?
Political movement, often represented by a political party, that appeals to people’s emotions.
What ideas and policies are associated with Left Wing Political Parties?
- socialist ideas
- Redistribution of income from rich to poor
- equal rights and opportunity
- public ownership and state control of key enterprises
What ideas and policies are associated with Right Wing Political Parties?
- Anti big government
- Anti - taxation
- Socially conservatism
What are the three main sources of funding for political parties?
- Membership fees
- Donations - these come from individuals, corporations or pressure groups such as trade unions
- Grants - either short money, cranborne money
What is short money?
Money available to the opposition parties to help them with their parliamentary duties but not with campaign or elections expenses
In 2017 how much money did Labour receive in donations and membership fees?
Donations - 17 million
Membership fees - 16 million
In 2017 how much money did conservatives receive in donations and membership fees?
Donations - 35 million
Membership fees - 1.5 million
Donations have to be over ___ to be declared?
£500
Donations have to be over _____ to be placed on the electoral register?
£12000
What was the act that was passed in 2000 which regulated the funding of parties?
Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act
How does new right defend traditional values?
- traditional Christian values
- law and order
- nuclear family
What is deregulation?
Removal of restrictions and controls on the economy in line with free market principles
What is a minimal state?
Only maintains domestic order, enforces legal agreements and protects against external attack leaving other matters in the hands of individuals
What was Thatcher’s three key ideas?
- low taxes
- privatisation
- deregulation
What are neo-conservatives values?
- strong ties to traditional conservative values
- strong stance on law and order
- traditional (christian) family values
- strongly nationalist
What are the conservatives main ideas? (5)
- individualism
- traditional values and patriotism
- small/limited state
- stress on law and order
- stress on the importance of private companies
What is the electoral commission?
independent agency that regulates party activity and election finances
When did the conservative party originate?
late 17th century
One nation ideologies
- accepted labour’s changes
- pragmatic, non ideological
- paternalistic
- those who are privileged should pass on their benefits to the poor
What are the two elements of The New Right?
- neoconservatives - traditional family values
- neoliberals - endorsed free markets and rolling back the state
What was the elections and referendum act 2000?
- People not on the uk electoral roll couldn’t make donations
- donations over £500 must be declared
- Donations over 12000 must be on the electoral register
- parties could only spend 54000 in each constituency that they contest
- electoral commission given power to investigate and impose fines and tighter regulations
When was labour founded?
1900, by socialist groups e.g. trade unions
What was Labours original goal?
Win working class representation in parliament
When was Labours first majority government and who was the leader?
1945, Clement Attlee
What was Blair’s majority in 1997?
179 seats
When did the SNP first come into government?
2007 (minority government)
What is the SNP’s main goal?
Scottish freedom from the UK
When was the SNP’s first majority government?
2011
What is the Scottish Additional Member system?
It prevents parties having a majority government
When was the Scottish referendum for freedom?
2014
What percentage voted to leave the UK in the Scottish referendum?
45%
In the 2015 British election how many of the 59 Scottish seats did the SNP get?
56
What were some of the SNP’s failures?
- losing the referendum was a setback
- Can’t force a referendum
- SNP education has faced criticism and critics argue that there has been a decline in literacy and numeric standards
- criticism over their handling of the NHS
In 2024 how many seats did the SNP get? Why?
9, Labour is becoming popular again in Scotland
Reasons for the SNP losing popularity?
- Youssef wasn’t very popular
- On-going scandals
- Brexit was less of a priority voters (that was one of their main selling points)
- Labour and Conservative now had stronger leadership therefore reduces the support of independence
What was Keir Starmer’s majority in the July 2024?
172
Examples where Reform has shown influence/power
- Gained 14.7% of the vote share in the 2024 election, 12.6% increase from last time
- Gained 98 second places in the 2024 election
Examples where Reform has shown a decline of influence or lack of power
- 2024, only got 5 seats, shows their lack of influence
Examples where SNP has shown influence/power
- In 2011 they got a majority in an additional member system
- Got David Cameron to concede for a referendum in 2014, shows their major influence
- In the 2015 general election they won 56/59 Scottish seats
Examples where the Lib-Dems has shown influence and power
- 2010 they got a coalition government with the Conservatives
- 2024 election they got 72 seats, 10%.
- When in coalition they had influence of policy by stopping a vote on scrapping the Human Rights Act and they increased the tax threshold
Examples where the SNP has shown a decline in influence/power
- Losing the referendum was a major setback and showed a lack of major influence of the public
- In the 2024 election they lost a third of their vote share
- Gone from 39 seats to 9 seats in the 2024 GE
Evidence where the Lib-Dems has shown a decline in influence/power
- In the 2015 election they went from 57 MPs to 8.
- In 2010 they promised to oppose an increase in uni fees, however they still rose. Shows their lack of influence even in a coalition
Examples where the Green party has shown influence and power
- 2024 they got 4 seats, which was good compared to their 1 in 2019
- Pushes the environment and net zero up the agenda and now both Labour and Conservatives have environmental policies
- In councils they have 447 seats
Examples where the DUP has shown influence and power?
- 2017 general election they won 10/18 Northern Ireland constituencies
