Political Parties Flashcards
Devolved Bodies and Minority Parties
Whilst FPTP has negatively impacted minority parties, in 2016 the Green Party managed to win 6 seats in the Scottish Parliament which used AMS
In 2016 UKIP won 7 seats in the Welsh Assembly which uses AMS
A Two-Party System
Between 1979-2019, either Conservatives or Labour were in power
This is because of traditional class divides and the influence of FPTP which negatively impacts minority parties
Is There A Two and a Half Party System?
In 2010-2015, the Liberal Democrats won 23% of the vote, and entered into a coalition with the Conservatives
In 2017 the Conservatives had to rely on the DUP in a confidence and supply agreement
HOWEVER
It is wrong to take 2 elections and deem them a trend, and in 2019 the Conservatives won an 80 seat majority
A Multi-Party System
Success in devolved bodies suggests that regions of the UK have a multi-party system
In 2016 the Greens won 6 MSPs in the Scottish Parliament
In 2016, a Labour and Liberal Democrat coalition government was elected to the Welsh Parliament
The Scottish National Party
As the SNP’s support is concentrated in a certain area, unlike the Liberal Democrats, it has been advantaged by FPTP and won 56/59 Scottish Constituencies in 2015
The SNP supports Scottish Independence and EU Membership
The SNP dominates the Scottish Parliament and has implemented free university tuition and voting rights for 16 year olds in local elections
The Green Party
The Green Party has been severely disadvantage by FPTP whilst many voters support, them they are not concentrated in one area
In 2019 the Green Party pledged £100bn to get net zero carbon emissions by 2030
The Green Party supports EU membership, abolition of tuition fees, and voting rights for 16 year olds
UKIP
Despite winning 3.9 million in the 2015 general election, UKIP only won one seat
UKIP won 24 MEPs in the 2014 EU Parliament elections, making it the biggest party in the EU Parliament
UKIP supports Brexit, grammar schools, green taxes and controlling immigration
The Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrat party stands for the regulation of the free market and social justice
Originates from an alliance between ex-Labour MPs and Liberal Party MPs in 1988
In 2019 the Liberal Democrats pledged to increase NHS spending, and in 2017 they pledged free school meals for all primary school children, as they support the welfare state
The Liberal Party
The Liberal Party stood for free trade, lower taxes, balanced budgets and parliamentary reform
In the 19th century the Liberal Party was under William Gladstone
Old Labour
Harold Wilson, and Clement Attlee, the creator of the NHS, were Old Labour PMs
Main principles were the redistribution of the wealth, nationalisation, welfare provision and collectivism
New Labour
Created by Tony Blair and sought to end the language of class conflict and reduced its links with trade unions
Saw the state as an ‘enabler’ rather than a ‘provider’
Jeremy Corbyn
Movement toward Old Labour as Corbyn pursued renationalisation, an increase in the top rate of tax, abolition of tuition fees, votes for 16 year olds, and greater investment into the NHS
How Opposition Parties Are Funded
Trade Unions fund the Labour Party
The Opposition receives ‘short money’ and MPs are paid from taxation
Spending Disparities
In 2017 the Tories spent £18.6m and the LibDems spent £6.8m
Blair’s 2000 Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act means that parties can only spend £30,000 per constituency and have to declare donations over £5000
Publicly Funding Parties
In 2007 SIR HAYDEN PHILLIPS suggested that the taxpayer should fund political parties
Whilst publicly funding parties may create a level playing field, it would be heavily unpopular with taxpayers
