Political parties

Functions of parties
what is the function of parties in selecting candidates? what is an example?

parties select candidates to fight local, regional mayoral and general elections. if a candidate wins a seat, they gain an electoral mandate.

-in 2022, the labour MP sam tarry, was deselected by his constituency, as he was sacked by keir starmer on the gorunds that he was out of touch with leadership.

Functions of parties
how do parties provide the personal of government?

by providing candidates for election, parties provide the personell for local, devolved or national governments.

-in 2010, the conservative and liberal democart parties provided members of the coalition government.

Functions of parties
what is the function of electing leaders? what is a recent example with the tories?

members of political parties elect their party leader during vacancies.

-in 2022, lizz truss defeated rishi sunak for tory leadership with 57% of the vote.

Functions of parties
what is the function of policy formulation?

parties determine the policy commitments that will be put in the party manifesto.
-the labour party uses a national policy forum to consult with party members over the development of policy.

Functions of parties
what is the function of parties of campaigning?

partys are used to campaign during elections. party activists deliver leaflets, canvass voters on the doorstep and arrange political events so voters understand their choice.

-parties are increasingly using hte internet and social media to engage with voters

Functions of parties
what is the function of parties in representation ?

-parties have a key function in representing the people.

-in the 2019 general election, 75.7% of those who voted felt that their political opinions were represented by the tory party or the labour party.

-the scottish parliament, welsh assembly, london assembly and northern ireland assembly use proportional representation to give more voice to the minroity.

do political parties help / hinder representattive democracy
how do parties help representatit e democracy in terms of function?

representativ democracy cant function without parties. it would be very difficult to establish a government since its members would not be united.

do political parties help / hinder representattive democracy
how do political parties help representatitve democracy in terms of discussion?

parties develop coherent policy through discussion. the way in which parties issue manifstoes allows voters to make the same rational choices about who they will vote for.

do political parties help / hinder representattive democracy
how do political parties help democracy in terms of helping voters?

without parties, voting would be complicated as voters would not be able to associate candidate with particular manifestoes/ideology.

do political parties help / hinder representattive democracy
how do political parties help democracy through caniddates?

parties select suitable candidates to sit in public office. without parties, wealthy individuals with populaist agendas might find it easier to access power, with potentially dangerous consequences for uk liberal democracuy.

do political parties help / hinder representattive democracy
how do parties hinder democracy in terms of reducing voter choice?

parties reduce voter choice by forcing voters to choose a single manifesto list of commitments, even though their views may vary.

in 2017, a voter could vote labour as they support their taxation policy, however they could view their defence policy less favourably, or vice versa.

do political parties help / hinder representattive democracy
how is the freedom of mps harmed by parties?

the freedom of voting for mps/ their personal mandate is damaged by party whips. benjamin disraeli once said “damn your principles, stick to your party”

-parties therefore suffocate genuinie debate.

do political parties help / hinder representative democracy
how does the approach to government of parties hinder demoracy?

political parties create the ‘spirit of faction’ and push confrontational and negative appraoches to government. tehy focus on differences and dont work together.

(counter argument, joint support for ukraine war, coalitions)

do political parties help / hinder representative democracy
how do parties help democracy in terms of accountability ?

opposistion political parties hold government accountable for its policies in a way that would be impossible for individual representattives.

do political parties help / hinder representative democracy
how do parties hinder democracy in terms of power?

parties are given excessive power in selecting party leader, effectivley determines who will be the primeminister in the next election, and sometimes changes the pm themselves.

do political parties help / hinder representative democracy
how does funding in parties hinder democracy?

Labour and Conservative benefit from disproportionate funding, ensuring they monopolise decision making.

how parties are funded
why is the way in which parties are funded in the UK controversial ?

-in some democracies, the state funds parties.
-however in the UK, much of party funding is private
-still some limited access to public funding to enable policy development/scrutiny

how parties are funded
what is the types of limited money the state gives to parties?

2 million pounds to all main parties for policy development

-’short money’, given to opposistion parties based on number of seats. leader of opposistion funded by almost 800,000 pounds

-’cranborne money’, subsidides the work of scrutiny carried out by opposistion parties in the house of lords

what is an example of short money?

between 2021 and 2022, the labour received over 6,600,000 pounds in short money.

how parties are funded
despite subsidies, how are parties mainly funded

Subsidies do not cover campaign expenses - parties therefore rely on subscription/donation payments.

-the tories for example traditionally receive large scale donations from big business’s.

how parties are funded
how has the system of private funding given an unfair advantage to certain parties?

in the 2019 general election, the conservatives received 63% of all donations.

-the brexit party received 4.2 million pounds from a small number of private donors, demonstrating how the wealthy can influence UK politis.

how parties are funded
what is an example of party funding influencing policy?

in the 2019 general election, 93% of labours donations came from trade unions, perhaps influeicng their union friendly policy.

how parties are funded
what act aimed to regulate party funding? what were its provisions?

Political parties, elections and referendums Act 2000
-independent electoral commision established to record how parties are funded

-amount a party can spend in a constituency limited to £30,000

-parties must register donations aboe 7500 pounds to the electoral commision, and not accept donations from non uk citizens.

what was a famous party funding scandal?

2006-2007 ‘cash for honours’ scandal - labour donors were elevated to the house of lords by blair.

14 out of 15 of Johnsons house of lords appointments were party donors. peter cruddas donated 3 million and was recommended for a peerage by johnson.

Should the state fund parties?
what report called for state funding?

The 2007 Phillip’s Report argued that parties should be funded via taxation, and a limit of £50,000 should be placed on donations.

these provisions have not been introduced.

Should the state fund parties?
how has party finance created a dual party systeM?

in the 2019 general election, conservative and labour parties were responsible for 80.5% of campaign spending.
-party funding clearly harms smaller parties

Should the state fund parties?
would state funding be too expensive?

the cost of state funding would be small. the phillips report recommended 25 million in taxation.

Should the state fund parties?
what is the argument that the role of funding in elections is exagerated?

in 2019, the brexit party spent 13.% of total spending, winning no seats. at the same time, the SNP spent 0.1% of total spending, and won 48 seats.

The conservative party
what are the origins of tory party ideology?

the ideas of Thomas Hobbes, Edmund Burke and an aim to ocnserve the monarchy and the rhuch of england.

thomas hobbes 1651 leviathan

The conservative party
how did one nation conservativsm develop the conservative party?

One nation conservative developed in the 19th century via tory PM Benjamin Disraeli..
-ideas of promoting the nation, while reaching out to the working class to avoid divisions between the classes.

-ideas continued to influence the conservative party up until the 1970s.

The conservative party
how has the new right developed the conservative party ?

new right promoted laissez faire economics with little government intervention to create a free market. promoted low taxes to discourage a “dependency culture”

-also influenced by neoconservative ideas of discouraging alternative lifestyles to protect tradition, while giving the government more powers to fight crime/disorder.

The conservative party
what was a criticsm of the thatcher years?

during the premiership of margaret thatcher (1979-90), one oculd argue that it focused too much on free market principles and allowed society to become divided. authoritarian and lack of commitment to social justice.

The conservative party
what did theresa may say about thatcher’s transformation of the tory party?

lack of focus on social justice in the tory party was highlighted in 2002, as theresa may called the conservative party the “nasty party”

The conservative party
on the other hand, how did cameron change the tory party?

david cameron changed this in 2010 as he entered a coalition with the lib dems.

-this was highly socially progressive. gay marriage was legalised, and cameron promoted a ‘big society’

citizen service was introduced to support young people.

The conservative party
what was the austerity program?

with the uk being severely in debt post 2010, cameron and his chancellor of the exchequer, goerge osborne, introduced an ‘austerity’ pgrogramme to cut spending dramatically.

-cameron governments and tory party since have combined a one nation emphasis on social cohesian with a more thatcherite fiscal policy.

The conservative party
how has the tory party changed in terms of euroscepticism?

the tory party has had a eurosceptic tradition since enoch powell in the 1970s. this has grown in recent years:

-cameron called a EU referendum in 2016 under pressure from the european research group.

-johnsons 2019 campaign was built on the slogan ‘get brexit done’

in 2025, kemi badenoch stated that the UK must “disengage” with the ECHR.

The conservative party
does the conservative party support an enabling state now?

Johnsons success in ‘red wall’ seats led him to produce a policy of ‘levelling up’ society.

-large scale spending on HS2, support for the NHS via a 36 billion pound 3 year package.

-increase in corporation tax from 19% to 25%

The conservative party
what are examples of modern tory econmic policies?

public spending in 2021 was 42% of the economy

-sunak government introduced higher taxes and dramatic cuts in public spending, similar to the ‘good house keeping’ polciies of thatcher in the early 1980s

The conservative party
what are examples of moden tory law/order policies?

-thatcherite approach to law and order.


-investigory powers act 2016 under Theresa May gave government more power under national security.

Johnsons government committed increased police powers over public protesors through police, crime sentencing nad courts act 2022.

The Conservative party

what are examples of modern tory foreign poicy?

Euroscepticism

-in 2021, UK joined the new AUKUS defence alliance with Australia and the US to counter China.

-Strongly pro NATO and against Russias invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

divisions in the tory party
how did truss’ policy cause divisions?

Lizz Truss’s willingness to borrow to finance tax cuts in 2022 and avoid public spending cuts provoked outrage from fiscally responsible conservatives who aim to balance the budget and maintain confidence in the pound.

divisions in the tory party
how has ‘political correctness’ caused divisions?

While camerons governments committed to a more inclusive/progressive tory party, home secreataries priti patel and suella braverman have adopted more social conservatism.

-they have attacked “political correctness” and emphasised tough law and order.

divisions in the tory party
how has tory enviromental policy caused divisions?

althoguh cameron aimed to make hte tories more protective of the enviroment, truss quckly aimed to end the ban on fracking, and expand north sea gas/oil extraction in 2022

when he succeeded her, rishi sunak immediatley brought back the ban on fracking - highlighting divisions.

The Labour Party
what was old labour?

Established in 1900 to represent the working class. while membership included marxists, it was not a marxist party.

-Compromise between democratic socialism and social demcracy. argued that a capitalist state and society can eventually be removed via political changes.

The Labour Party
what were old labour principles?

collectivism, cooperation in society than than competition.

-nationlisation, redistributive taxation and a large welfare state.

Clement Atlee’s first majority labour government (1945-51) introduced the NHS in 1948 and nationlised 20% of the economy.

The Labour Party
how have later old labour governments attempted to create fair and equal society?

Labour governments of Harold Wilston attempted to create equal society through economic expansion.

social policy saw the open university established, improving race relations and the sex discrimnation act of 1975

The Labour Party
why did labour adopt new labour?

the 1983 labour manifesto was dubbed “the longest suicide note in history” as it advocated for further natinolisation, increased tax on the rich and nuclear disarmament.

-labours vote collapsed to below 30%.

The Labour Party
what were new labours policies?

Blair embraced third way ideas of Anthony Giddens.

removal clause IV in 1995 (commitment to common ownership)

-tough law and order through introduction of ABOS

-constitutional modernisation, removal of hereditary peers in 1999 and the 1998 HRA.

1997 minimum wage.

The Labour Party
how did labour chane under corbyn?

election of Jeremy Corbyn in 2015 as Labour party leader almost led to an old labour revival.

-focused on socialist equality and collective solidarity, inspired by Marx’s view on human nature.

2017 slogan “for the many not the few”

The Labour Party
was corbyns shift successful?

labour support in 2019 slumped and the party received its lowest number of MP’s since 1935.
-led labour to move to the centre under Starmer in 2020, who led the party to landslide victorry in 2024

The Labour Party
what are examples of current labour econmic policies?

more centrist approach. Starmer introduced legislation in 2024 to form a “great british energy” company, demonsrating left wing faith in government led enterprise.

while committing to taxing wealth, starmer noted that government “must be a partner to private enerprise, not stifle it”

The Labour Party
what are examples of current labour welfare policy?

keir starmer promise of a great NHS renewal in 2024 general election. labour also promised to review universal credit.

The Labour Party
what are examples of current labour law and order policy?

In his 2021 party confrence speech, Starmer posistioned labour to be more tough on crime than the tories “the fight against crime will always be a labour issue.”

-Tough stance on the summer anti-immigration riots in the UK in 2024.

The Labour Party
what are current labour foreign policy?

-strong commitment to NATO and nuclear deterrent, scrapping corbyns policies.

-strong stance against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

-in 2024 Starmer pledged defence spending hikes by 2027.

Liberal democrats
what was the originn of hte lib dems?

lib dem party ideas originaated in the 19th century, with classical liberal ideas such as restricting hte monarchy, administrative reform and a more moral approach to foreign policy.
-lower taxation. .

Liberal democrats
how did the liberal democrats embrace modern liberalism?

the liberal party became influenced by the works of T.H Greene and William Beveridge in the early 20th century.

-promoted individual freedom and self fulfilment via a basic standard of living.

early 20th century asquith government introduced old age pensions and sickness insurances.

Liberal democrats
how did the liberal party transform into the lib dems?

in the early 1980s, the liberals entered an electoral pact with former Labour MP’s who established the social democratic party.
-they fought the 1983 and 1987 elections as a coalition, and formed the lib dems in 1988.

Liberal Democrats
how did the lib dems grow as a united party?
-talk about iraq, and the coalition.

lib dems enjoyed growing support under Paddy Ashdown and under Charles Kennedy due to his opposistion to the Iraq invasion. they won 62 seats and 22% of the vote in 2005.

-although their number of MP’s dipped to 57 in 2010, it was enough for Clegg and cameron to enter a coalition.

Liberal Democrats
what was the lib dem coalition?

coalition agreement in 2010 gave the lib dems 5 cabinet seats, including cleggs posistion as deputy PM.
-most influence they enjoyed since PM david lloyd george in 1922.

-however they lost influnece as they only won 8 seats in 2015.

Liberal Democrats - currently
what is the modern tension within the party?

-as lib dems combine the ideas of the liberal and social democratic parties, they cover a broad spectrum.

-this has led to tensions between the social democratic left that emphasies governments role in social justice, with the liberals who prefer a smaller state.

Liberal Democrats
what are ‘orange book’ lib dems?

those on the liberal side of the party are sometimes called ‘orange book’ liberals, after a 2004 book arguing that the lib dems should reconnect with their 19th century commitment to freet trade/markets.

Liberal Democrats
what is the ideology of modern lib dem politicans?

modern lib dem leaders (tim farron, sir vince cable, jo swinson and sir ed davey) emphasise social justice.

-core principles of internationlism and constitutional reform give hte lib dems a coherent ideolgoy.

Liberal Democrats
what is the modern liberal democrat view on the EU?

the lib dems are the most pro EU party.
-fought against brexit in 2019.
-While sir ed davey acknowledged this as a distant policy in 2021, the 2024 general election the lib dems souhgt to rejoin the eu in the “long term”

Liberal Democrats
what are modern lib dem policy on the ECHR?

Lib dems remain comitted to the UK’s membership of the ECHR, viewing it as a core way to protect civil liberty.

this comes with growing pressure from conservatives and reform UK.

Liberal Democrats
whata re modern lib dem constitutional reform policy?

strong tradition of constitutional reform with the Lib dems.

-committed to an elected house of lords, furhter edevolution and proportional representation.

Liberal Democrats
what is the modern liberal democrat policy on the economy?

strong social democrat influence can be seen through the lib dem commitment to increase national income tax by 1p - the 7 billion this would generate would be used for the NHS.

-lib dems would also invest 150 billion on green infastructure over 3 years.

Liberal Democrats
what is modern lib dem policy on welfare?

social justice commitment to restoring maintenance grant to encourage more education for disadvantaged young people.

-free childcare for pre school children.

Liberal Democrats
what is modern lib dem policy on law and order?

lib dems support community policiying to discourage crime and develop trust. highlights its preventatitve appraoch to law and order.

-commitment to the legalisation of cannabis continues influence of JOhn stuart Mill and the harm principle.

Liberal Democrats
what are modern lib dem foreign policy?

.internationlist policy, support strong relationship with the EU.

-support NATO, nuclear deterrent and against Russias ukraine invasion.

lib dems critiicsed starmers defencing spending hikes to 2.7% by 2027, arguing that a rise to 3% would be more suitable.

emerging minority parties - SNP
how did the SNP emerge?

the scottish national party was established in 1934, and won its first seat in 1967.

before 2015, its highest MP count was 11 in october 1974.

emerging minority parties - SNP
how has the SNP grown recently in elections?

in 2015, the SNP won 56 out of 59 scottish house of commons constituencies, and 50% of the scottish popular vote.

in 2017 it won 35 seats, and in 2019 it won 48. it was the 3trd biggest HOC party between 2015 and 2024.

emerging minority parties - SNP
how has the SNP gained influence over british politics?

the SNP’s westminster leaders Ian Blackford and Stephen Flynn have gained a reputation for combatively representing scottish interests at PMQ’s.

-the SNP’s large number of seats gave it influence over governments with smaller majorities.

emerging minority parties - SNP
what is an example of the SNP influencing the government?
-whats a limitation?

in 2016, the SNP voted with labour and conservative rebels to defeat camerons plans to allow larger stores in england/wales to open longer on sundays.

-influence of SNP however been limited however by labours unwillingness to work with it, and its poor peformance in 2024 (9 seats)

emerging minority parties - SNP
what are current SNP poliices?

scotland has maintained free university, prescriptions, bus travel for under 22’s and dental treatment for under 26.

16-17 year olds can vote in local council elections, and the independence referendum.

emerging minority parties - SNP
how does the supreme court limit the SNP’s influence?

in 2022 the supreme court ruled nicola sturgeons decision to call a second independence referendum illegal.
-this may have contributed to her resignition in 2023

emerging minority parties - SNP
how has the SNP been limited in terms of defence?

although the SNP rejects nuclear weaponry, national defence policy is still determined at westminster and so trident is stilll based in scotland

emerging minority parties - SNP
how has the SNP been limited on LGBTQ+ policy?

in 2023 westminister blocked a scottish government bill implementing self identification for people who wish to change gender, claiming conflict with the equality act.

emerging minority parties - Plaid Cymru
how did plaid cymru emerge?

PLaid cymru dates from 1925
-won first seati n 1966

-main basis of support has been in the welsh speaking part of wales. never acheived electoral breakthrough in labour dominated south wales.

emerging minority parties - Plaid Cymru
how has plaid crmyu peformed in general elections?

in the 2019 general election plaid cymru won four of the 40 welsh parliamentery seats, which was the most seats it has ever won.
-its influence in westminster has always been minimal.

emerging minority parties - Plaid Cymru
how is plaid cymru more influential in wales?

plaid cymru has acheived more success in the national assembly of wales than westminister.

in a coalition with labour between 2007 and 2011 on the agreement to hold a further devolution referendum.

-labours dominant influence in wales has limited Plaid Cymrus influence in both westminsiter and the national assembly.

emerging minority parties - UKIP/Brexit Party/Reform UK
how has this cohort of parties emerged?

founded in 1993, had little influence until the 2004 EU parliament elections as it won 16.1% of the vote.

-following the election of nigel faragei n 2006, it broadened its support among the white working class, opposing the EU and immigration.

emerging minority parties - UKIP/Brexit Party/Reform UK
how did ti develop electoral success?

the expansion of the EU in 2004/2007, and the resulting number of eastern europeans coming to the UK contributed to its growing electoral success.

-farages high profile media presence and populist ‘common sense’ politics make him popular among the white working class.

emerging minority parties - UKIP/Brexit Party/Reform UK
how did reform UK receive mass influence following the 2024 general electionn?

under leadership of nigel farage, reform UK won over 4 million votes in 2024, with 14.3% of the popular vote.

while the party won only 5 seats, its ability to appeal to the working class has led both labour and conservatives to adopt a more anti immigration stance. badenoch has advocated leaving the ECHR.

emerging minority parties - UKIP/Brexit Party/Reform UK
how did UKIP influence uk polticis in terms of brexit?

David Cameron’s 2015 conservative manifesto allowed a monumental referendum to leave the EU, a policy greatly pushed by UKIP.

emerging minority parties - Green Party
how has the green party emerged?

Orignally known as PEOPLE, became greens in 1985.

-electoral breakthrough in 2010 as corline lucas became an MP. it has consolidated its support there.

-average vote share of 3.6% over the 21st century.

emerging minority parties - Green Party
how can the greens influence politics by not standing?

The Greens can influence the result in constituencies with significant green support by deciding not to stand.

in the 2017 and 2019 general elections the greens decided not to stand in certain constituencies, boosting labour, SNP and Lib Dem support at the expense of the tories.

emerging minority parties - Green Party
how has the AMS in scotland helped the greens?

AMS has given greens more influence in the scottish parliament.

-in 2021 it received 8/129 seats. since the SNP was 1 short of a majority, Sturgeon signed a confidence and supply agreement with the greens (the brute house agreement.) two green MSP’s were given ministerial office and worked on enviromental policy.

emerging minority parties - Green Party
how have the greens influenced climate policy?

Greens have led greater awareness on climate action, encouraging all main parties to make enviromental policy a more key part of their manifesto.

-in 2019, cross party support led parliament to declare a climate emergency.

emerging minority parties - Green Party
how have the greens been harmed by FPTP?

the greens have been harmed by first past the post.

in the 2024 general election, the greens won almost 2 million votes, and only received 4 seats.

emerging minority parties - DUP
how did the DUP emerge?

Founded in 1971, DUP aims to keep northern ireland a part of the UK, and promote social conservatism and protestantism.

-while initially opposed to power sharing with republicans, they played a role in the peace process of northern ireland. in 2005 they became the largest unionist party in westminser

emerging minority parties - DUP
how has their been issues in DUP governance?

the decision of ian paisley in 2007 to agree to power sharing with SInn Feinn was key in the northern ireland peace process.

-however, difficult relationship between the parties makes cooperation hard. the stormont assembly was suspended by westminister between 2017 and 2020 as sinn fein withdrew from government.

emerging minority parties - DUP
what was the confidence and supply agreement?

in 2017, the DUP won 10 seats in Westminster. they made a confidence and supply agreement with the tories, in exchange for 1 billion pounds extra funding for northern ireland, and a practical veto over may brexit legislation.

-DUP lost influence following 2019 general election.

emerging minority parties - Sinn Fein
how did sinn fein emerge?

Sinn fein is a republican party committed to the unification of ireland.

-its westminister MP’s do not take up their seats.
-however, it has served in the stormont assembly with the DUP. in 2022 sinn feins leader, michelle O neill, could claim to be northern irelands first nationlist first minister.

Barriers for entry for smaller parties
why has their been labour/tory dominance?

during much of hte 20th century, the tories and labour dominated politics due to class voting.

-this made it harder for smaller parties to gain an electoral breakthrough.

Barriers for entry for smaller parties
how have periods of one party dominance also harmed 3rd parties?

over the past 100 years, there have been extended periods of 1 party dominance. tory dominance continued for 14 years following the 2010 general election, and was ended in 2024.