Political Parties - Topic 2.4 Flashcards
The British political parties in context
What are the barriers to entry for smaller parties?
The two main parties formed a duopoly taking the majority of the voter base for most of the 20th Century. Since the Commons is elected by FPTP, it also makes it difficult for smaller parties to gain representation as they generally lack the depth of support that the larger parties can claim.
Has two-party dominance been eroded at Westminster?
Since the 1980s, the two-party system has been challenged by the Liberal Democrats (originally the Liberal-SDP alliance). Additionally, growing partisan dealignment as voters increasingly voted on specific issues rather than according to class.
With the Lib Dems opposition to the Iraq War, and then Nick Clegg’s successful 2010 campaign, provided the opportunity to form a coalition government in the same year with the Tories.
In the meantime, the SNP had their breakthrough in 2015, following the 2014 IndyRef and their sensational 2015 electoral campaign. This, and the Lib Dem breakthrough, suggests that the UK has now entered a two-and-a-half party system, with a smaller party deciding the fate of the larger two.
How do devolved legislatures differ to Westminster?
In terms of vote and seat share
- Holyrood: 62 SNP, 31 Tory, 22 Lab, 7 Green, 4 Lib Dem, 1 Alba, 1 Indy
- Senedd: 30 Lab, 16 Tory, 13 Plaid, 1 Lib Dem
- Stormont: 27 Sinn, 25 DUP, 17 Alliance, 9 UUP, 8 SDLP, 1 TUV, 1 PbP, 2 Indy
No two parties can be sure of being dominant and so, in the devolved areas of the UK, multiparty democracies exist. As further power is devolved to the constituent parts of the UK, so the importance of multiparty democracy will continue to increase.
As of mid-September 2024
Why does popularity and image contribute to a party’s success?
A ‘spatial leadership’ - a charismatic and empathetic leader creates space between them ad their party - is necessary so the public put their faith in the leader more than the party they represent.
If a leader is seen as weak and ineffectual, this will have a negative impact on their party’s performance. Small parties need effective leaders if voters are going to change their voting allegiance. The Lib Dems have been at their most successful when they have had media-friendly and compelling leaders such as Charles Kennedy, Nick Clegg, and more recently Ed Davey.
How does a party’s relationship with the media affect their success?
If political parties can establish a positive relationship with the media, it’ll be easier for them to achieve political success. The term ‘spin doctor’ was coined for media-savvy political advisers, such as Alistair Campbell with Blair.
If political parties have distant relationships with journalists, it’ll be more difficult for them to encourage favourable stories. Such cases is the Lib Dems role in the Tory-Lib coalition, and went from 57 seats to 8 seats between one election, and Liz Truss’ debacle of a mini budget.
This doesn’t always happen though. Depsite positive media coverage in the 1987 Election, Labour still lost in a landslide to Thatcher, and again in 1992. After the bloody end to the Iraq War in 2003, Labour found itself on the firing end of the media, depsite previously having its way the year before.
How does a party’s record in government affect their success?
If a party achieves a reputation for governing competence, this will naturally contribute to its success. Macmillan won in ‘59 due to a period of unparalled economic prosperity. Thatcher won two landslide victories because enough voters believed that Tory governments had successfully transformed the economy.
Conversely, Truss and Kwarteng’s mini budget reminded Tories of ‘Black Wednesday’ (1992) and the fear of showing the Tories as economic incompetents. Labour didn’t recover from the Winter of Discontent under Blair took over the party in ‘94.
How does a party’s record in opposition affect their success?
From 1994-97, Blair successfully undermined John Major’s government by highlighting Tory decisions over membership of the EU and accusing the government of incompetence. David Cameron used PMQs to discomfort Gordon Brown between 2007-10. Starmer’s attacks on Johnson and Truss between 2020-22 were generally regarded as having been successful.
Neither Michael Foot nor Neil Kinnock had enough popular appeal to provide a strong Labour opposition to Thatcher. This is similar to the Tories after 1997 with William Hague and Ian Duncan Smith against Blair.
How does funding and organisation affect a party’s success?
Although the Tories dominate party funding, this hasn’t always guaranteed electoral success, as demonstrated by their consecutive losses between 1997-2005. The Lib Dems winning 62 seats in 2005 and 72 in 2024 is seen as a success despite their limited financial resources.
How well the party organises itself is more important than the financial backing they receive. Having a coherent and political message shows the party as more unified and therefore is more successful electorally.
How do the choice of candidates and campaign methods make party success?
A local candidate, or one who is thoroughly engaged with constituency issues, can generate more support than a perceived outsider. The Tories generally selected local people with a commitment to Brext to fight Red Wall seats in 2019.
In many general elections, the campaign has little impact, especially if the public already have either a very positive or a very negative view of the government or the opposition.
How do policy statements and the manifesto affect party success?
High-profile statements, manifesto commitments and the way they’re reported in the media can have a dramatic impact on the fortunes of a party. In 2015, Cameron’s manifesto commitment to a referendum on UK membership of the EU meant that the Tories lost fewer votes to UKIP and so Cameron secured a 12-seat majority.
Conversly, the Tories attacks on Labour’s perceived ‘dementia tax’ and the popularity among young people of Labour’s commitment to ending tuition fees encouraged such a dramatic shift in public opinion that May lost 13 seats and had to form a minority government with the supply and confidence of the DUP.
How do referendum impacts affect the success of a party?
A criticism of referendums is that a party may use them for political self-interest. Harold Wilson won votes on promising a referendum to join the EEC in ‘74. Cameron took votes away from UKIP by promising a referendum on leaving the EU and won.
The aftermath of the referendum encouraged bitter in-fighting within the Tory party and led to the resignation of both Cameron and May as PM.
