power within political parties + electing leaders Flashcards
why was the 2016 conservative leadership election controversial?
theresa may ran unopposed so automatically became the next party leader and PM, without the involvement of any of the party’s 150,000 members
how did the conservative party used to select their leader compared to how they do today?
-used to close leader by MPs negotiating and discussing
-now it’s a 2 stage process, party members have the opportunity to vote for one of two candidates selected by MPs
what did the 2014 collins review suggest for labour?
-replacing the old electoral college system (controversial due to block voting) with a full one member, one vote system
-anyone could participation either as a party member, affiliated supporter or registered supporter
-it impacted the 2015 election because the party enabled members to elect a candidate who was unlikely to win with the electoral college - corbyn
how do the lib dems select their leader?
to run, candidates must be nominated by at least 10% of lib dem MPs and at least 200 party members from at least 20 different local parties
how do third parties include members in the decision for party leader?
-they all require candidates to get support from members
-SNP also allows members to select other roles in the party e.g. deputy leader
what selection stages do candidates generally have to go through?
- party HQ creates an approved list of candidates
- local associations select from approved candidates
- constituency party members select their preferred candidate
how has labour attempted to increase the number of female MPs over time?
-1988 = at least one woman has to be on the shortlist
-1993 = conference voted to introduce all women shortlists
-1996 = all women shortlists outlawed
-2002 = sex discrimination (election candidates) act
-controversial because some men have been prevented from standing for labour because of the all women shortlists
what was the conservative’s A-list and why was it controversial?
-list = diverse candidates
-local associations had to include a list candidates in their shortlists
-local party associations weren’t happy because they had to take candidates who often were’t local + had no connection to the constituency
what are open primaries?
-all registered voters, not just party members, can vote to select the party’s candidate for MP
-e.g. in Totnes in 2009, the tories used this system but the election was very expensive and the elected MP was quite rebellious
how far did the main parties open up their candidate selection processes for the london mayoral election?
-labour: voting opened to all members, affiliated supporters and registered supporters (£3 fee)
-conservative: used open primary process (£1 register fee)
how do the tories generally decide their policies? (+ example of when this was controversial)
-members defer to the party’s leader
-annual conference is quite stage managed, although representatives do attend and have some influence
-some members said cameron was betraying the grass roots of the party when he legalised same sex marriage in 2014
how has labour’s policymaking process changed over time?
-in the past trade unions retained significant influence over party policy
-party conference was considered sovereign in deciding policy
-national executive committee was in charge of policy
-labour MPs had no formal policy making power
-now it involves them more
how has the block vote (labour) changed and what impact has this had?
-trade unions used to cast their votes at the party conference in a single block
-in 1993 the conference voted to give union members individual votes
-it made consensus much less likely and more ideological decisions were made that the voters might not like
how do the lib dems decide policy, and how was this challenged when in government?
-they use the federal structure - english, scottish and welsh parties are responsible for drawing up policies for their region
-the federal executive oversees proceedings, elected representatives attend the federal conference to discuss national policy
-federal policy committee writes manifesto alongside MPs
-challenged under the coalition gov 2010-2015 because party leadership went on to support some policies that were particularly controversial with members - e.g. they voted in agreement with tories to increase tuition fees
what is the ‘iron law of oligarchy’ and does it apply to the UK’s political parties
-argues that large organisations need leaders with the necessary expertise and skills, and these leaders have to make decisions daily where not everyone can be included
-this elite will become more knowledgable and will desire more power and influence than other members
-yes: conservative peaders often make decisions without the support of their cabinet/party members - e.g. Sunak didn’t call a vote before launching air strikes on Houthi in Yemen. Sunak made Cameron a lord so exercised his eletist power, showing that the party’s candidate selections have always been oligarchic
