Evaluate the view that the only political parties that matter in our political system are the Labour and Conservative parties

Introduction: criteria for importance

Power in parliament, legislative output, representative function

Introduction: line of argument

Labour and Conservatives are not the only parties that matter - often fail to account for fringe groups/issues

Para 1: Point

Labour and Conservatives are only parties who consistently win large numbers of seats and are only ones that can win majorities.

Hasn't been a non Labour/Conservative government since 1922, when the now-extinct Liberals won.

Para 1: Counterpoint

Minor parties still play a role - e.g. recent Lib Dem and DUP coalitions with Conservatives

Minor parties have become increasingly successful in elections - e.g. In 2010, only 65% of voters supported Labour or the Conservatives, compared to 97% in 1951

Parliament far from a two-party chamber - e.g. 2015:

UKIP won 12.75% of the vote, SNP won 56 of the 59 Scottish constituency seats, Labour and Conservatives only won 67.3%

e.g. 2019 GE: SNP 47 seats, Lib Dems 11

Para 1: Overall

Labour and Conservatives only parties with a chance of winning of majorities, but minor parties are only increasing their influence in elections and parliament.

Para 2: Point

Labour and Conservatives have the ability to set legislative agenda and dominate policy, whereas minor parties cannot as they are never in power

e.g. of the bills passed in the 2017-19, 41 were government bills and only 15 were private members bills, which would likely still be majority Conservative/Labour

Para 2: Counterpoint

Private members bills from other parties still 'matter' - e.g. in the 2016-17 parliamentary session, SNP member Eilidh Whiteford introduced the Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence Act 2017

Labour and Conservatives dominate policy but do not have total control over policy or account for all issues - e.g. IndyRef forced by SNP, Brexit forced by UKIP

Para 2: Overall

Large shifts in political landscape have been result of minor parties and private members' bills often 'matter' just as much as government legislation, even if they are less frequent.

Para 3: Point

Labour and Conservatives are broad parties, encompassing majority of political spectrum - e.g. New/Old Labour, One Nation/New Right Conservatives

Major parties often cover many issues and can eclipse smaller, single-issue parties - e.g. Johnson pushing Brexit and green agenda

Para 3: Counterpoint

Minor parties more effective at representing voters, particularly those dismissed by major parties - e.g. SNP and UKIP

Were Labour and the Conservatives able to encapsulate the majority of the political spectrum, there wouldn't be such support for minor parties - e.g. 11 parties now in House of Commons; recent formation of Alba Party reflects that major parties do not account for the whole political spectrum

Para 3: Overall

Most important role of minor parties is representation and their success in this area means that they must be seen to matter, speaking out for those ignored by the major parties.

Conclusion

Labour and Conservatives certainly matter most, but definitely are not the only parties that matter.

Minor parties vital for democratic functions of scrutiny, representation and legislation - ensure pluralism survives and major parties are challenged.