How democratic are political parties

how party leaders are elected in the conservative party

-candidates need backing from MPs 10 in 2024

-Conservative MPs vote in a series of ballots to narrow field down to two candidates

-party members vote on a one member, one vote basis to decide party leader

how party leaders are elected in the Labour party

Candidates need 15% of the Parliamentary Labour party support to qualify for the ballot

Party members vote on a one member, one vote basis under an alternative vote system

how party leaders are elected in the Liberal Democrat party

Candidates need the nomination of 20 local parties or 200 party members to qualify for the ballot

One member, one vote under the additional vote system

How election candidates are selected

-need to get on a centrally vetted, list of approved candidates

-approved candidates are put on a shortlist

-constituency party members vote at a meeting or postal ballot

All women-shortlist (1997)

-Labour increased the women MPs return to parliament by making women only shortlists for safe labour seats

-controversial and temporarily outlawed by the government by the sex discrimination act 1996 before amendment

How the conservatives establish party policy

-Largely determined by the leader

-also elders and the 1922 committee

-top down

John Major quote on party policy in 1992 election

“It was all me”

How the Labour establish party policy

-Party conferences were policy making up until 1997

-two year cycle was then introduced

-Policy commissions were then created by the National policy forum

-Party conference now only approve policy don’t make it

How the Liberal democrats establish party policy

most democratically but influenced by party leaders