Smaller Political Parties Flashcards
What is a two party system?
Two parties win most of the votes, and the power alternates between two parties
What is duvergers law?
hard for third parties to break through because either the policies of the smaller parties would be adopted by one or both of the main two parties or if the small party was to succeed it would ultimately take the spot of one of the main two parties.
example of two and a half party system?
-increased seats numbers from 1974-2015, never really threatened party dominance but in 2010 they did secure enough seats to act as power brokers for the creation of a coalition government with the tories.
-height in 2005 when the party won 62 seats
-now replaced by SNP.
arguments that the UK is a two party system?
-FPTP continues to reward CON/LAB in seats in the commons 2017 84% of votes cast were fir CON/LAB highest since 1970.
-the main parties still dominate the political agenda, policy making and the media.
-power lies at westminster where the main parties dominate.
arguments that the UK is not a two-party system?
-height in 2005 when the libdems won 62 seats
-new election systems for devolved assemblies produce genuine multi-party contests.
-FPTP not delivering clear single-party government, smaller parties have had a share of power.
-2 and a half party at UK level since 1970s until the collapse of Lib dems who were replaced by UKIP who then collapsed by 2017.
-increasingly minor and emerging parties are shaping the agenda, forcing the main parties to change their policies.
what are the Lib dems main ideas and key values?
-strong belief in individual liberty
-stress on equal rights and rule of law
-checks and balances in the political system
-support for private property ownership.
-want a fair free and open society based on liberty and equality where all people have the same rights and live in peace.
evidence of the Lib dems electoral success?
-height in 2005 when the party won 62 seats
-2 periods of coalition with Labour in Scotland between 1999-2007 and were able to introduce free uni fees
-built up a reputation in the 1990’s for winning by elections
-2010 coalition with tories Nick Clegg influence in Parliament and had 5 ministerial posts but did fail to achieve key policy aims
evidence of Lib dems electoral failure?
-only won 8 seats in 2015 election
-2019 first female leader failed to gain her seat
what were the Libdems economic policies in 2019?
-toughest rules on government borrowing in an attempt to position themselves as the strongest party on public finances.
-Targeted tax rises would be used to pay for spending commitments to improve public services and tackle climate change in order to deliver equality of opportunity for all.
-20% wage boost for those on zero hours contracts was proposed in order to make work pay and decrease the use of these types of business practises.
what were the libdems welfare policies in 2019?
-Responsible welfare spending where all additional spending is paid for by specific taxes.
-Extra £7bn a year for health and social care that would come from putting one penny in the pound on income tax to enable every individual to lead a healthy life.
-Free childcare for all children aged between the ages of two and four, paid for by a corporation tax rise to give all children the access to opportunities in life.
what were the lib dems law and order policies in 2019?
-Emphasis on community policing that prevents crime, investing in the local services that will help people build lives free from crime and focusing on rehabilitation within the prison system to prevent re-offending.
-Extra £1bn per year for all policing which will place two new police officers in every council ward in the UK.
-Legalisation of cannabis would help break the grip of criminal gangs that make their money from the trade in illegal drugs.
what were the lib dems foreign policy in 2019?
-Their two distinctive policies were to strengthen international institutions like the UN, EU and World Trade Organisation (WTO) to tackle global issues like climate change and human rights abuses.
-In addition they retained a desire to cancel Brexit and they made a commitment to reverse the UK’s departure by repealing Article 50. They now seek to build a closer relationship with the EU.
what are key bits of evidence to demonstrate UKIP’s electoral success?
-Brexit forcing debate, referendum and us to leave.
-2015 finished 3rd in election and received 12.6% of votes and 4 million votes
-2019 came first in European elections
what are the key bits of evidence which show UKIP to have had little impact?
-no safe seats
-only got 1 seat 2015
-not chosen as official campaign group
-find it hard to have an identity now, lost electoral support.
why was the DUP a big deal in the 2017 election?
- signed a confidence and supply deal with the tories following the 2017 election. The DUP had secured the most Westminster seats that it had ever had, winning ten seats. May failed to win a majority she became reliant on the parliamentary votes of the DUP. They were now moved from the margins to the heart of Westminster Politics.
-The DUP’s focus in the negotiations was on gaining additional resources for Northern Ireland rather than on policy issues such as abortion.
-The agreement did however, include a pledge not to change the pension triple lock or the winter fuel payment. The extra revenue for Northern Ireland represented about £100 million per DUP MP as they secured an extra £1 Billion for the province an incredible deal.
