POLITICAL PARTIES

What is a political party?

An organised group of people with shared political ideas etc. They seek to elect their candidates into office to achieve their aims.

What are the 5 main functions of political parties in the UK?

-Representation

-Participation

-Recruitment of leaders and candidates

-Formulating policy

-Formation and Operation of government

What is Representation?

What is Participation?

-This is where parties represent the values of the people who identify with them and vote for them

-Where political parties provide opportunities for citizens to become involved in politics.

What is the recruitment of leaders and candidates?

What is formulating policy?

What is the formation and operation of Government?

-Where political parties select and train candidates for elections , providing a route for them into politics

-Where Parties decide and develop policies which are favourable to them. Parties can adapt these as new issues form.

-The party that wins forms a government.. They encourage strong communication between executive and legislative and create discipline via whips.

What is the best example to show that political parties ensure good Representation of people’s views?

Labour passed the Employment Rights Act in Dec 2025. This ended zero hour contracts and day one rights for sick pay. They also increased the national Living Wage (21 and over) to £12.71 from £12.39 by April 2026

What is the Best example to show that Political Parties do not always represent the view of the people?

In late 2025 Labour’s full budget introduced by Rachel Reeves introduced tax and benefit changes aimed at ensuring economic stability. However, a major YouGov poll showed around 48% of Britons considered the Budget unfair with many saying it would destroy family finances. Two child benefit Cap also drew large criticism.

What is the best example to show that Political Parties ensure adequate Participation?

Reform has grown to be the largest by December 2025 with 268,000 members .Moreover, following the election of Jeremy Corbyn in 2015 and the leadership challenge in 2016, the Labour Party membership peaked at 564,443 in 2017.

What is the best example to show that Political Parties do not ensure Adequate Participation?

In the early 1950s Conservative Party Membership peaked at 2.8 million members with Labour around 1 million. This has now reduced to only 121,000 for conservatives and 250,000 for Labour.

What is the Best example to show that Political Parties can effectively Recruit leaders?

All included later on