political parties- minor parties

Question 1

what are some of the core policies of the liberal deomocrats?

Answer 1

fair tax through distribution of wealth, prisons should seek to rehabilitate, social causes of crime should be fought, benefits should favour those who need it, abandon trident, elected second chamber

Question 2

what electoral success have the lib dems had?

Answer 2

2005 won 62 seats, in 2010 formed coalition with conservatives gained 57 seats.
in 2015 only won 8 seats and in 2019 11 seats

Question 3

how many members in 2019 did lib dems have?

Answer 3

115,000

Question 4

what led to the downfall of the lib dems?

Answer 4

lost favour during the coalition over broken promises to abolish tuition fees and poor performance in the economy.

Question 5

what reforms did lib dems propose during coalition?

Answer 5

AV referendum in 2011 failed and house of lords reform bill also failed

Question 6

what are the core policies of UKIP?

Answer 6

to leave the EU, regulation of immigration, oppose to excess big business, economically libertarian, socially conservative, oppose to international aid, strongly unionist

Question 7

what electoral success have UKIP had?

Answer 7

2015 won 12.6% of vote resulting in 1 seat, in 2017 lost that seat and party leader Paul Nutall resigned, in 2019 won only 0.1% of vote

Question 8

what influence have UKIP had on conservative party?

Answer 8

achieved goal of EU referendum and conservatives adopted tighter immigration regulation

Question 9

what is the core policy of SNP?

Answer 9

Scottish independence and join EU, proportional voting system reform, supports social justice and redistribution of wealth, opposes trident, abolished tuition fees in scotland, environmental protection

Question 10

what electoral success has SNP had?

Answer 10

2007 won enough seats in scottish election to form government, had been in power ever since.
in 2015 won 56/59 seats available in Westminster elections.
lost 21 of scottish seats in 2017

Question 11

what influence have SNP had on major parties?

Answer 11

both major parties have supported further devolution

Question 12

what is green party core policy?

Answer 12

environmental protection, investment in public transport, abolition of tuition fees, extensive constitutional reform, wealth tax on top 1%, oppose to trident

Question 13

what electoral success has green had?

Answer 13

vote rose from 1% in 2010 to 3.8% in 2015, in which party won 1 seat in brighton (caroline lucas)

Question 14

what influence has green party had over major parties ?

Answer 14

both parties have co-opted more extreme green policy such as emissions control

Question 15

why do small parties fail?

Answer 15

• lack of funding
• electoral system does not work in their favour
• lack media exposure
• lack organisation in communities
• people consider them a wasted vote

Question 16

how can small parties succeed?

Answer 16

• they may find wealthy benefactors to support them. e.g UKIP after 2010
• in devolved regions proportional representation helps smaller parties
• strong leader may help gain support e.g Nicola Sturgeon
• they may gain widespread support with populist ideas e.g ukip
• in proportional systems fewer votes are wasted

Question 17

What effect did minor parties have on the 2022 local elections ? Why is this?

Answer 17

Lib Dems gained 183 seats with conservatives losing 399, Green gained 33.
This shows people dissatisfied with the conservative government promoting them to vote for alternative parties which could follow into the general election

Question 18

what percentage of people voted one of the two major parties in 2019?

Answer 18

75.8% of people voted conservative and labour