Political Parties - Factors Effectng Party Success

Question 1

Party leader

Answer 1

• represents the party and acts a public image which plays an important role creating support for the party
• Charisma; personality it’s important (Farage drew in allot of support for UKIP)
• uniting the part; important at as party supporters may come from a range of groups (conservatives divided over leaving EU
• funding; (here’s May help dinners for donors increasing funding for the conservatives)

Question 2

Election campaigns

Answer 2

• tells the public bout party polices, the personality of the leader and how the party behaves under pressure
• eg Ed Miliband was seen to be weaker than Cameron because of problems in the election campaign
• however studies have shown voters know who they will choose before the election campaign

Question 3

Policies

Answer 3

• important when gathering support
• change in policy gathers new voters
• in 1997 ‘new Labour’ achieved their biggest general election victory

Question 4

The media

Answer 4

• media provides the information for electorates
• daily mail; right wing
• guardian; centrist/left wing
• BBC is funded by taxpayers and supported to be unbiased

Question 5

Social media

Answer 5

• harder to regulate so many false news stories may be seen, which cold influence voters
• mix of news, personal stories and opinions can be seen influecning voters

Question 6

External events

Answer 6

• how major parties respond to external events may impact their support
• terror stacks, world politic and protest may all be commented on and responded to by major parties
• unpopular response may effect their support

Question 7

Class

Answer 7

• historically working class=labour
• however voting has over away from being related to class (class dealignment)

Question 8

Age

Answer 8

• younger voters tend to lean more left and support Labour
• conservative vote increases with age

Question 9

Ethnicity

Answer 9

• some parties are more diverse and representative of minority population than others
• Labour has historically had a more diverse electorate

Question 10

Family

Answer 10

• how families vote also has an pact on how individuals votes - some smilies pass on political values