Political Parties Flashcards
1
Q
What are the four functions of a political party?
A
Representation
Participation
Formulating policy
Providing government
2
Q
What is meant by representation as a function of political parties?
A
They represent the views of people with a certain set of beliefs. Lots of individuals and pressure groups can perform the use functions but parties bring order to the political system
3
Q
What is meant by participation as a function of political parties?
A
In order to win power/influence parties encourage people to participate, to vote and to join a party. All parties allow members to select candidates
4
Q
What is meant by formulating policy as a function of political parties?
A
Parties generate policies that embody the ideas for which they stand for. They put forward a manifesto in which outlines their ideas.
5
Q
Give an example of the function formulating policy
A
In the 2015 general election the NHS was a key battleground
Conservatives promised to give people access to their GP 7 days a week
Labour promised to give appointment times within 48 hours
6
Q
What is meant by providing government in terms of a function of political parties?
A
The winning party at a general election is invited to form a government. They control parliaments business trying to make their manifesto into law. If a prime minister loses confidence within their party they become vulnerable
7
Q
Give 5 of the 10 costs involved in running a party
A
Conferences £500 registration fee Social media (promote page) Offices in all regional constituencies Employees wages (administrators/researches) Security Campaigning/advertising Travel Think tanks Legal expenses
8
Q
How are MPs paid?
A
They are paid from general taxation with a basic salary of £76,000
9
Q
What are MPs allowed to do in terms of financing?
A
They are allowed to claim expenses for example travel cost and living in Westminster
10
Q
How do parties finance elections?
A
They are allowed to spend volunteer-membership subscription fees and allowed to fundraise in their constituency.
11
Q
How are the opposition allowed to finance elections?
A
With membership subscription fees, fundraising events as well as Short money. Short money is special state provision
12
Q
Why is there controversy to funding political parties?
A
Powerful interests offer financial support for political influence. They offer political honours like peerage to their most generous benefactors
13
Q
What was promised in 1997 in relation to party funding?
A
Blair promised party funding would be whiter than white. Previously funding was sketchy and activities that had taken place hid their funding or not declared spending
14
Q
What happened in 1998 in relation to party funding?
A
1998 - The Ecclestone Affair
15
Q
What was meant by the Ecclestone Affair?
A
Blair introduced a law that banned tobacco companies sponsoring sporting events, previously it was socially acceptable. Blair however gave an exception to formula one, it was revealed chair of formula one Ecclestone had donated a million pounds to Labour in he last election hat helped them to win. They were forced to give back the money and the exception was soon overturned.
16
Q
What act was act introduced in 2000 in response to funding scandals?
A
Political parties, elections and referendums act
17
Q
What were the three things that were triggered by the Political parties, elections and referendums act in 2000?
A
Parties spending during elections was capped at £30,000 per constituency
Donations of £5,000 nationally or £1,000 to a particular party has to be declared
Donations from those not in the electoral roll were banned.
18
Q
What was the problem with the political parties, elections and referendums act?
A
There was a loophole, donations could be given in the form of loans. It became a scandal that people could get loans for peerages.
19
Q
What report followed that suggested improvements to political spending?
A
2007-Phillips report
20
Q
What did the 2007 Phillips report lay out?
A
It was a radical reform suggestion on political spending, however as of yet no policies have been passed
- Cap of 50,0000 on donations from a group/individual
- union members have to sign forms confirming donations, previously in a £10 membership fee, £3 would go to a political party
- Ban on political advertising
20
Q
Which group would be least affected by the Philips report?
A
The Labour Party because trade unions could give donations individually as “gifts”
20
Q
What happened in 2015 in terms of party financing?
A
2015 - Election Expenses Scandal
21
Q
What were the allegations against the Conservatives in the 2015 Election expenses Scandal?
A
- They had undeclared receipts for hotel rooms
- They stayed at Royal Harbour Hotel on account of national spending to stop Farage winning Thanet South
- They put activists in battlebuses and put them up in travel lodges overspending on their capped £30,000 budget
22
Q
What were the laws broken by the Conservatives in 2015 election expenses scandal?
A
Representation of the people act 1983 - Candidates must file there expenses complete with a signed declaration
20 Conservatives were embroiled to have committed fraud
23
What were the allegations against Labour in the 2015 election expenses scandal?
Labour express took activists to marginal seat and they had undeclared expenses part of so called national campaign.
24
What were the name of the buses Labour used?
NUS
Woolas Wagon
West Mid Wheels
25
Why was the election expenses scandal a problem for Theresa May?
It could tilt the balance as the marginal seat could split the Conservative UKIP vote so labour would win. Thanet South was a marginal seat with UKIP
26
What and when was the Trade Union Act?
Trade Union Act - 2016
| Limits labours money from trade unions. Members must accept to funding a political party.
27
Why did labour disapprove of the trade Union Act?
They believed they would lose out on £3,000,000 a year
28
What did critics argue Labour over with the Trade Union Act?
Critics said that increased party membership would offset the amount they were sought to lose
29
Who are the three donators of the Conservatives election campaigns?
Cash Donators 18.6%
Hedge Funds
Bankers 6.5%
30
Who was the most generous hedge fund benefactor of the Conservatives in 2015?
Alexander Fleming, now Peer
| He donated £1.2 million
31
Who was the most generous benefactor of Labour during the 2015 election?
Unite
| The trade union gave £1 million in the first week of the election
32
What are the 6 arguments for parties being state funded?
- Parties play and important representative role in democracy creating parliamentary diversity and stimulating debate so they should be properly funded
- It would remove the disparity in recourses available to different sized parties
- It would curb the possibly corrupt influence of private bankers on party policy
- Parties struggle of membership fees as they’ve dropped since 1950
- Labour would be less reliant on trade Unions
- It makes it easier to limit spending in elections
33
What are the 6 reasons for not allowing parties to be state funded?
- Increased state funding could lead to calls for greater regulation reducing party independence
- It is hard to decide how much support a party should have to qualify for funding
- It could isolate parties from public wishes
- Taxpayers would resent compulsory funding to parties of which they disapprove
- Wealthy individuals are still able to get hold of politicians anyway
34
What are the three factions of Conservative ideology?
Traditional Conservatism
One Nation Conservatism
Neo-Liberalism/New Right
35
Who founded traditional Conservatism?
Edmund Burke
36
What is the ideology of traditional Conservatism?
- Sceptical about human nature, as humans are inherently selfish
- Society needs strong institutions to contain people’s desires such as empire and the monarchy
- Pragmatism over dogmatism
- State should uphold the law but government should be limited
37
Who founded one nation Conservatism?
Benjamin Disraeli
38
Why was One Nation Conservatism formed?
Benjamin Disraeli contemplated the growing divisions between the rich and the poor in the 19th Century
39
What is the ideology of One nation Conservatism?
- The moral duty/ role of the wealthy is to act benevolently and protect those most vulnerable
- Policies should address both classes in society
- Values pragmatism and paternalism
40
Give three policies Brought about I response to One Nation Conservatism?
Better factor/housing regulation
Free primary education
Legalising trade Unions
41
Who introduced NeoLiberalism / New Right?
Margaret Thatcher
42
Why was Neoliberism introduced?
To gain radical reform from left wing challenges like trade unions and create a party that unlike One Nation wasn’t seeking compromise
43
What is the ideology of NeoLiberalists?
Reduce state intervention in the economy
| People should be in charge of themselves
44
What are the 5 key policies of the Thatcher government?
```
Privatisation
Deregulation of financial markets
Closing mines
Cut taxes
Cut welfare
```
45
What was involved with Thatchers policy of privatisation?
Privatisation - selling of shares of business and putting them in private ownership
- Take out monopolies
- Competition would drive down prices and increase standard
- She Privatised Gas, Electricity and BT
- she sold 1 1/4 million council homes generating £18 billion
46
What was involved with Thatchers policy of deregulation of the financial markets?
She made it easier to get credit and mortgages, banks could lend more money
47
What was involved with Thatchers policy of closing mines?
Governments had been subsiding mines because they were no longer making profits, she shut 20 mines losing 20,000 jobs
48
What was involved with Thatchers policy of tax cuts?
Before cutting taxes the top tax payers paid 93% tax
| This would put money in people’s own back pockets so people can look after themselves and are not reliant upon the state
49
What was involved with Thatchers policy of welfare cuts?
It was cut to subsidise the loss of Tax Payment, policy is designed to help everybody including the middle class as they are able to grow, start new businesses and employ more working class people
50
What were the Key features of Majors government?
- Continued with Thatcherite policy
- He privatised coal and steel
- His party were split over Europe
51
Who were the three Conservative Leaders following Major?
William Hague, Iain Duncan Smith and Michael Howard
52
What were the failings of Hague, Duncan Smith and Howard?
They were unable to distinguish themselves from ten discredited Thatcherism, this ideology was no longer appealing to the diverse society.
53
How did Cameron solve the problems in the Conservative Party?
He identified a new brand of Conservatism similar to the style by Blair, he referred to himself as a Liberal Conservative, taking interests in topical issues like the Environment and public services
54
What are the 4 factions of policy?
Economic
Welfare
Law and Order
Foreign
55
What were Cameron’s economic policies?
- Reduce budget deficit
56
What were Cameron’s welfare policies?
- Encourage those receiving benefits to be more self reliant
| - Universal credit to simplify welfare system and encourage low earning people to take up employment
57
What were Cameron’s law and order policies?
- Understanding towards young offenders with a speech called “hug a hoodie”
- Supported tough sentencing for certain crimes
- Payment by results scheme giving rewards to charities and firms that helped rehabilitate young offenders
58
What were Cameron’s foreign policies?
- Strong US links
- Support for Islamic terror strikes in Syria and Iraq
- Pragmatic Euroscepticism
59
What are the 3 arguments Theresa May is a one nation Conservative?
- In 2002 she claimed Conservatives we’d the nasty part and called for rebranding to “compassionate Conservatism” demonstrating this at looking into minority incidents like Hilsborough
- She adopted policies for the poor, giving policies not just for the privileged few but for all those just about managing
- Rejected laissez faire and adoptee a hands on approach developing the department for industrial intervention
60
What are the 4 arguments against Theresa May being a one nation Conservative?
- She’s used Thatcherite economic plan of cutting taxes by 3% and cutting business rates
- Drastically cut public services and added a cap in the welfare system
- Stopped search and rescue mission in the Mediterranean which had rescued 150,000 migrants
- Refused entry of 3,000 child refugees
61
Give three one nation policies in the 2017 Conservative Manifesto?
- Pensioners stop paying for their care once their savings and assets are down to £100,000, it had previously been £23,250
- National funding formula means no schools miss out
- increased NHS spending by a minimum of £8 billion in real terms by next 5 years
62
Give 3 Neoliberal/Thatcherite policies in the 2017 Conservative manifesto
- immigration cut to under 100,000
- Social houses will be built and sold privately after 10-15 years with right to buy for tenants. Sales used for further building projects
- Eradicate deficit
- Pledge to maintain overall size of armed forces
63
Who founded the Labour Party?
Socialist societies and trade Unions in the 1900
64
What was The Labour Party originally known as?
Labour Representative Committee
65
Who was the first successful labour leader?
Clement Attlee
66
What were two policies of Attlee?
- nationalisation of coal, railway, power and steel
| - National Health Service
67
What are he the branches of the Labour Party?
Revolutionary Socialism
Democratic Socialism
New Labour/Third Way
68
Who created Revolutionary socialism?
Karl Marx
69
What is revolutionary socialism?
It is a left wing stance take on socialism bordering on communism
70
What are the 5 key ideologies of revolutionary socialists?
- Demanding Socialist policy coercively through force
- Status Quo abolished for new ideologies
- Western culture is influenced by commodity fetishism
- State should override everything
- Communist people are content because they are not fed false class consciousness of commodity fetishism
71
What is the ideology of Democratic Socialism?
- They do not try to abolish capitalism but manage it
| - To bring socialism slowly through the democratic system
72
What are the four key policies of democratic socialism?
1) Nationalisation - Clause 4 commits them to common ownership
2) Redistribution of wealth for example comprehensive schools promoting equality of opportunity and high taxes
3) Collectivism - Giving the group priority over the individual
4) Keynes economics
73
When was New Labour/Third way crested?
Tony Blair created New Labour in 1994
74
Why was New labour created?
It was to appeal to middle class voters who would never vote Labour
75
What is the Third Way?
It is a new way between Socialism and free market capitalism with developing links to business and downgrading trade Unions.
76
Give 6 Blairite policies
1) Emphasis on wealth creation rather than distribution - creation of £3.60 minimum wage
2) Make people aware of their responsibilities t the community - Active citizenship was a key Blairite policy, where he promised to be tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime, as well as introducing ASBOS
3) Responsibility over finances - Adopted Conservative spending plan and pledged to not raise taxes for first five year government
4) Equality of opportunity - He wanted 50% to go to university as education is biggest asset to social mobility. He wanted to get people working in technology, but he had to triple tuition fees to £3,000
5) The New Deal - To give people the incentive to go back to work, those that were employed for more than 6 months had to go on this plan. Governments would subsidise half the cost, but it provide them with experience and possibly at the end a job.
6) Privatisation - More than any other UK leader, including privatisation of railway
77
What happened in 2008?
The financial crash
78
What were the shifts in policy Brown had to adopt?
- Treasury pumped money into banks to boost activity
- He nationalised/part nationalised most vulnerable banks to restore confidence
- he broke promises and raised income tax levels creating a 50% tax bracket to those earning more than £150,000
- He maintained public spending, claiming to introduce dramatic cuts would starve economy of its resources
79
What was Ed miliband referred to as?
Red Ed
80
Why was Ed Miliband called ‘Red Ed’
He pledged to return to a tax and spend policy and showed hostility towards private sector- seen to be a return to old left socialist ways
81
What is Corbyns policies on the Economy?
- Increased investment in the economy
- Renationalise railway
- Returning to 50% tax rate
- To put an end to austerity
82
What is Corbyns policy on welfare?
- Opposes benefit cuts as the poor are mere victims of capitalism
- Opposes private sector delivering public services
- Argues for a wholly state run NHS
- Calls for national education service and abolishing tuition fees
83
What is Corbyns policy on Law and Order?
- Opposes government cuts to police numbers which jeopardise safety
84
What are Corbyns foreign policies?
- Wants to abolish nuclear weapons such as Trident
| - Lukewarm stance towards the EU
85
What are the three branches of the Liberal Democrat’s?
Classic Liberalism
Social Democrats
Market Liberals
86
Who founded Classic Liberalism?
Gladstone
87
What is the ideology of Classic Liberalism?
- People should be free to do what they want as long as they’re not hurting anyone
- The state should have a minimum role
- We should have an a an extension of civil liberties
- The Widening of educational opportunity
88
Give a policy that is in respect of Classic Liberalism?
Social reform of old age pensions and national insurance
89
Give two examples of Social Democrats?
Tom Farron
| Charles Kennedy
90
What is the ideology of Social Democrats?
- Concentrate on the freedom of individual rights for example if you’re dying then the state has responsibility to provide healthcare
- The state should provide: Healthcare, housing, welfare, education and the environment
- Tax is justified because it is viewed as a means of hurting others
91
What four Social Democratic policies were demonstrate in the 2017 Manifesto?
- Invest 7 billion in education
- Raise taxes
- 1p in the pound on income tax to raise £6 billion for the NHS
- Nationalise southern rail
92
What stance do Social Democrats take on the political spectrum?
Left wing
93
What is the ideology of Market Liberals?
- The state should provide civil and political functions
- State intervention in welfare should be limited
- A focus on economic freedom; greatest possible economic decisions should be made by the family and household rather than collective organisations
94
What stance do Market liberals take in the political spectrum?
Right Wing
95
Give two Market Liberal policies in 2017 manifesto
- Retain city of London’s rights in EU financial markets
| - Protect low earners rights to accrue pensions
96
What was the turnout for the Liberal Democratic in 2010 general election?
20% vote
| 9% of seats
97
What were the 5 Key policies the Liberals wanted in the Coalition agreement?
- Remove tuition fees
- Adopt STV voting system
- Raise threshold of tax, raising group out of taxation
- Remain in the EU
- Pupil Premium
98
Give two examples where the Liberals got what they wanted in the coalition?
Pupil Premium
| To remain in the EU
99
Give an example where the Liberals has to compromise?
AV referendum
100
Give an example where the Liberals got the exact opposite of what they wanted
Raising of tuition fees from £3,000 to £9,000.
101
What was the makeup of the coalition?
Liberals - 57 seats
| Conservatives - - 307
102
How did the coalition form?
The liberals met with the larger of the two parties, Conservatives at a press Conference in the Rose Garden, they blended Market Liberalism with One Nation Conservatism
103
What are the Liberals policy towards the economy?
- Eliminate the budget deficit
- Raise tax band threshold
- Borrow less than labour, cut less than the Tories
- Funding for environmental projects like renewable energy and offshore wind farms
104
What are the Liberals policy towards welfare?
- Increased NHS funding
- Updating pensions
- Free Childcare
- Control spending on benefits
105
What are the Liberals policy towards law and Order?
- Personal freedom should never be eroded
- Defence of civil liberty
- Opposes Conservative “Snoopers Charter”
106
What are the Liberals policy towards foreign policy?
- Most pro EU
| - Reluctance to accept EU referendum
107
What are the three emerging political parties?
Scottish National Party
UKIP
Green Party
108
What are the aims of the SNP
Independence for Scotland
109
When were the SNP founded?
1934 as a centre left party
110
When was UKIP formed?
It was formed as a pressure group in the 90s of Eurosceptic Conservatives. At this time though leaving the EU was a fringe idea
111
When was UKIPs highest turnout?
2015 -
| 12% but got only one seat
112
Where is the most support for UKIP?
They do best in devolved institutions like assemblies and ironically the EU parliament
113
Who vote for UKIP?
Traditional Conservative voters and EX labour Eurosceptics as well as the elderly
114
Give the 6 policies of UKIP?
- Death Penalty
- Support of Grammar schools
- Anti Health Tourism
- Scrap all environmental policy
- Cap on immigration
- Ban immigration
115
What ideology does the Green Party follow?
Environmentalism and Socialism
116
When were the Green Party formed?
1973
117
What were the three names the Green Party has been known as?
People party
Ecology Party
Green Party
118
How did the Green Party do in 2017 general election?
They got 1.6% of the vote and received 1 seat, Brighton Pavillions
119
What are the 6 policies of the Green Party?
```
Universal income
Scrap Nuclear weapon
Abolish tuition fees
Wealth tax
Increase minimum wage
Increase taxes
```
120
What is meant by one party system?
There are s number of different political parties but only one has a realistic chance of holding power
121
What is meant by a two party system?
Two parties have a realistic chance of holding power and compete others don’t have s chance of breaking the monopoly
122
What is meant by a two and s half party system?
There are two main political parties but are challenged by the growth of an emerging party for example of coalition
123
What is meant by a multi party system?
A number of political parties contend to form a government and coalitions become the norm.
