UK Politics 2.1 - Political Parties (funding) Flashcards
(14 cards)
5 functions of political parties
1) representation
2) encourage participation
3) recruit and train politicians
4) formulate policy
5) stand in elections and run country
Characteristics of a major party (3)
1) run candidates in every constituency
2) formulate policy in every area
3) realistically attempt to form a government
Main characteristic of a minor party
Little chance of success
Two types of minor party
1) nationalist
2) single issue
4 reasons parties need funding
1) fighting elections
2) party conferences
3) policy research
4) recruitment of staff
Current methods of funding (5)
1) Membership fees
2) Trade Unions
3) Private Donations
4) Public funding
5) Constituency donations
How much did labour make from membership fees in 2024
£14.8 min
Recent reform to funding
Conservatives passed a Trade Union Act in 2016 that meant that TU members had to opt in for their membership fees to the trade union to be donated to labour
Private donations of Lrd Sainsbury’s journey
New labour - donated
Corbyn - stopped donating and started donating to the Lib Dem’s due to their support for EU
Starmer - donating again
2024 labour funding scandal
Keir Starmer accepted gifts not registered as donations
2024 conservative funding scandal
Conservatives accepted £200,000 of unreported money and then received a fine
PPE contracts scandal
Michelle Mone - Tory peer who received preferential treatment for her company
4 arguments in favour of state funded parties
1) reduce reliance on donors
2) remove barriers for minor parties
3) more focus on representation than campaigning
4) curb possibility of corruption
3 arguments against state funding
1) ensures the party in government can’t tamper with opposition funding
2) isolate parties from the electorate
3) waste of taxpayers money
