‘Third Parties In The US And The UK Are Irrelevant And On The Political Margins’ - Essay

Question 1

What is the overall argument?

Answer 1

-third parties UK are more significant + not irrelevant
-whereas US third parties are more irrelevant

Question 2

What are three ways this difference is shown?

Answer 2

-through balance of power
-representation
-securing votes

Question 3

How have UK third parties held the balance of power?

Answer 3

-coalition gov cons-lib dems 2010-15
-lib dems hand in policy directions e.g. referendum on ATV

Question 4

How else have they held the balance of power?

Answer 4

-May’s ‘Confidence + Supply’ agreement with NI’s DUP
-secured £1b funding for NI + deal made with cons to safeguard the union

Question 5

How is there no balance of power in the US?

Answer 5

-no parallel - control of Congress always rested with one of two main parties
-the two chambers often divided between them

Question 6

How does this divide further exclude third parties?

Answer 6

-requires different approach to political compromise if legislation needed to be passed
-both try + secure bipartisan support which excludes third parties

Question 7

What is an example of this lack of balance of power in the US?

Answer 7

-2019 Brexit party 31% of vote in European elections
-no equivalent national elections in US + 2012 Libertarian Johnson won 0.99% whereas Dem Obama 52% + Repub Romney 47%

Question 8

What is the significance of representation?

Answer 8

-devolved assemblies with different electoral systems - ATV + AMS
-two main parties struggle to dominate

Question 9

What is an example of this in the UK?

Answer 9

-Wales (Plaid Cymru) NI (SNP) significant players
-SNP very dominant + often forms minority gov in Scottish parliament

Question 10

What is the significance of devolved powers in the UK?

Answer 10

-growth in devolved powers makes third parties more significant

Question 11

What is the synoptic link to devolution?

Answer 11

-delegation of gov powers away from centre to regions with own elected assemblies/parl
-Scotland act 2016 following referendum - major transfer of powers incl abortion law + speed limits

Question 12

How is this different to the US?

Answer 12

-mo state gov deviates from norms of two party control
-the only signif case was Wallace 1968 American independence party

Question 13

How is this reflected in the libertarian and Green Party’s?

Answer 13

-elected posts he,d by their members are the lowest rung of local gov
-e.g. 2020 libertarian Charles Boust held post of auditor in Pennsylvania

Question 14

How are US third parties significant?

Answer 14

-through co-optation of policies from third parties

Question 15

What is an example of this?

Answer 15

-2019 Dem adopted ‘Green new deal’ with emph tacking climate change

Question 16

How does this also show their insignificance?

Answer 16

-lessened distinctive appeal of Green Party leading to loss of potential voters
-candidate Hawkins only won 0.2% of vote 2020

Question 17

What is the significance of securing votes in the US?

Answer 17

-little incentive for candidates to run outside two party system
-have main traditional broad appeal + looser central structures

Question 18

What are US third parties concerning votes?

Answer 18

-main significance as ‘spoilers’
-determine final outcome + spoil chances of party winning by syphoning crucial votes

Question 19

What is an example of US third parties being spoilers?

Answer 19

-Green candidate Nader 2000 won enough left leaning votes Florida to spoil chances of Dem Gore winning

Question 20

How is securing votes seen with UK third parties?

Answer 20

-2019 lab leader Miliband strongly remain + clung to his seat Doncaster North with 2000 votes over cons
-but Brexit party third with over 8000 ‘spoiling’ result for pro-Brexit cause