Political Parties Examples

Question 1

2019 Election Results

Answer 1

• Conservative, 365
• Labour, 202
• SNP, 48
• Lib Dems, 11
• Green, 1

Question 2

Conservative Liberal Democrat Coalition Government 2010-2015

Answer 2

• Liberal Democrats able to push policy such as their AV referendum (2011)
• Cabinet was made up of 16 Conservatives and 5 Liberal Democrats
• Liberal Democrats failed to scrap tuition fees and implement amnesty for illegals immigrants who entered country before 2010

Question 3

2019 Manifesto promises

Answer 3

• Conservative: 50,000 more nurses, Get Brexit Done, points based immigration system and £6.3 bil for social housing energy efficiency
• Labour: 4.3% healthcare budget increase, 2nd Brexit referendum and £250 bil Green Transformation Fund
• Lib Dems: Stop Brexit and legalise cannabis
• Green Remain in EU and £100 billion a year for cutting emissions

Question 4

Labour Donations

Answer 4

2023: £21.5m - £5.9m from unions, £14.5m from companies and individuals
2019: £5.4m - £5m from unions, rest from companies and individuals
- Starmer’s push for moderate politics has led to less reliance on trade unions and greater connections with wealthy businesses

Question 5

Conservative Donations

Answer 5

2019: £19.4m in donations (far more than Labour)

2023: £44.5m, £20m came from two individuals, Tory Peer John Sainsbury and IT entrepreneur Frank Hester
(Hester is receiving scrutiny for racist comments against MP Dianne Abbot), the rest from individual donations

Question 6

Small Parties = Less Funding

Answer 6

2023
- Liberal Democrats: £6m
- Green: £610,000
However… public funding
Q4 2023
- Liberal Democrats: £380,000
- Green: £61,000

Question 7

Domination Of Government Party

Answer 7

Dominates Legislative process, massive majority hampers rebellion
- Tobacco and Vapes Bill 2024 passed vote despite rebellion from 57 Conservative MPs
- Ban on Fracking for Shale Gas Bill 2022: Conservative three-line whip - 324 Conservative and DUP against, 230 in favour

Question 8

Prominence of Reform UK?

Answer 8

• As of May 2024 polling at 11%, above Lib Dems (10%), with Conservatives not far at 24%
• March 2024: Lee Anderson MP defection to Reform from Conservatives, split in the right wing vote possible as Reform pushes an anti immigration, low-tax platform

Question 9

Funding Issues

Answer 9

Cash for Access Scandal 2012
- Conservative treasurer Cruddas offered access to PM for £250,000, condemned by Cameron

2006 Cash for Honours Scandal
- Multiple peerage nominations by Blair rejected by Lords appointments commission, later revealed they had loaned large amounts of money to Labour