Political Partys Flashcards
Political Parties
What is the representation function of Political Parties?
Parties represent people with similar beliefs. Right-wing people tend to support the Conservatives, and left-wing people support Labour. Parties bring order to politics, which individuals or pressure groups alone cannot do.
What is the function participation of Political Parties?
Parties encourage people to vote, join, and fund them to gain power. All major UK parties let members help choose candidates and leaders. For example, Labour allowed people to join for a small fee, which helped Jeremy Corbyn become leader in 2015.
What is the function recruiting office holders of Political Parties?
Joining a party can make you a candidate and give experience. Parties can remove candidates who don’t meet their standards. Before the 2015 election, Conservatives in Thirsk, Malton and South Suffolk stopped their MPs from running.
What is the function formulating policy of Political Parties?
Parties make policies based on their values and share them in a manifesto. In 2015, the Conservatives promised 7-day GP access, and Labour promised 48-hour appointments. They also try to explain their ideas in a way that makes them look good.
What is the function providing government of Political Parties?
The winning party forms the government and works to make its policies law. The prime minister is usually the party leader. If they lose support, they can be replaced. In 1990, Margaret Thatcher was replaced by John Major after losing support from MPs.
How are MPs funded ?
MPs are paid from taxes, with a salary of £76,000 (as of 2017), and can claim expenses for office costs, living, and travel.
How are Political Parties funded?
UK parties don’t get state funding but rely on membership fees and fundraising. The opposition are supported with a state provision.
Why is party funding controversial?
Concerns that rich donors seek influence. The Conservatives are tied to big business, while Labour’s funding moved from unions to wealthy individuals during “New Labour.” The Liberal Democrats criticise this. Large parties are accused of offering honours, e.g. House of Lords seats, to big donors.
What did the Blair government pass to try and tackle this?
2000 Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act
What did this include?
A new independent commission to monitor party spending.
A £30,000 spending limit per constituency.
A requirement to declare donations over £5,000 nationally or £1,000 locally.
A ban on donations from people not registered to vote in the UK.
Why was the issue not resolved?
2006 ‘cash for peerages’ scandal, Labour used loans to get around donation rules, rich donors received honours. No charges filed, but it hurt Blair’s final months. Later, loans were treated like donations, and spending limits were changed before the 2010 election.
What was suggested in 2007 to tackle the issue of party funding?
Sir Hayden Phillips suggested funding parties with taxpayer money to reduce private donations, but no government acted on it, partly due to the need for spending cuts.
What was suggested in 2015 to tackle the issue of party funding?
Labour and the Liberal Democrats suggested limiting individual donations. The Conservatives opposed it and wanted to reduce Labour’s union funding
How did the Conservative Party start?
Started as the Tory Party in late 17th century, supporting the king and the Church. In the 1830s, under Sir Robert Peel, focused on protecting tradition and gradual changes. Over time, it gained support from both the wealthy and the middle class
