UK political parties Flashcards
conservative party structure
National Conservation Convention makes decisions for party
Conservative Campaign Headquarters at Westminster
day to day running by Board of Conservative Party- only 3 out of 18 members are from grassroots
labour party structure
Constitutuency labour party in each constituency
National Executive Committee handle day to day running. 40 members including from 13 affiliated TUs
13 affiliated TUs coordinated by Trade Union & Labour Party Liaison organisation
lib dem party structure
federal structure: local branches main role in constituency level campaigns
Federal Board: national governing body- 35 voting members- 15 directly elected by party members
Specified Associated Orgs. groups with particular focuse which submit motions to party conference
conservative party leader appointment
most power to MPs
MPs vote in ballots to narrow down to 2 candidates
members then have final pick my OMOV system
labour party leader appointment
Parliamentary Labour Party makes nominations first
candidates need 10% of MPs and 5% constituency party or 3 affiliates
party members vote on OMOV basis using AV
lib dem leader appointment
need support of at least 10% MPs supported by 200 members from over 20 local parties
party members vote on OMOV basis using AV
conservative party policy establishment
Leader’s team decides what goes in manifesto
delegates at party conference don’t vote on policy
Conservative Policy Forum set up 1998 to enable grassroots participation in policy- but role is advisory not binding
labour party policy establishment
National Policy Forum reps from across party agree on policy directions
8 different forums that anyone can submit to
policies voted on at party conference
lib dem policy establishment
Federal Policy Committee develops policies to be put to conference twice a year
any member makes proposal to conference
at the conference, all policies voted on by all members
party funding- membership fees
income has decreased due to falling membership since 1980s.
fairest and most transparent method as large numbers pay small amounts
however not large enough to sustain level of fincance to fund national campaigns
party funding- donations
rely on generous individual or institutional donors
however, also decrease as membership increases
party funding- state funding
public funds available through Policy Development Grants
give £2m a year to parties with 2 sitting HoC members
short money (to opp in HoC) and Cranborne money (to opp in HoL)
arguments for the state funding parties
- money is “clean”- no dependence on wealthy donors
- equality between parties- cons outraised all rivals in 2019
- if state funding matched vote, would encourage campaigning in all seats to increase vote not just in marginal areas
arguments against the state funding parties
- voters shouldn’t have to fund parties they disagree with (tax money)
- always inequality- some parties larger and donating is free speech
- funding based on share of votes means harder for smaller parties to get off the ground: strengthens largest.
Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000
- spending limit on party spending in general election campaigns- £30,000 per constituency
- donations over £7,500 declared to Electoral Commission
Political Parties and Elections Act 2009
- electoral commussion could investigate donations and impose fines
- higher requirements for establishing donation source: major donations can only come from UK residents
minor party role: affect agenda
nationalist parties have regional followings such as SNP
45% vote in Scotland
without SNP pressure, Cameron wouldn’t have entertained 2014 referendum
Sturgeon provided pro-EU vote during Brexit- pointed out Scotland voted remain
minor party role: different regions
Northern Ireland own party system. only conservatives have contested seats in Ulster politices (2019 0.7%)
dominated by minor parties like DUP
DUP help balance of power in Westminster 2017- ‘supply and confidence’ deal with cons.
minor party role: single issue
UKIP and Brexit eurosceptic- did well in elections
success pushed cons. party into resolute position on brexit
however, eurosceptic parties only won one seat
arguments for UK 2 party system
- after 2019, 87% seats held by 2 largest parties
- despite coalitions, 2 main have provided every PM
- FPTP guarantees 2 party system
arguments against UK 2 party system
- recent move away- 2010, 2017
- significant impact on policies- UKIP= brexit, SNP= referendum
- diff parties hold power across UK and devolved nations
