1.4 Political Parties

Whigs (1680s to 19th cent.): in support of

• supremacy of parliament

• enlargement of electorate

• abolition of slavery

• full catholic emancipation

Whigs later turn into

liberal party

Tories (1680s to 19th cent.) support

interests of country gentry and merchant classes

Tories later turn into

Conservatives

liberal party (19th cent.) supports

• Irish home rule

• welfare state

Conservative Party (19th cent.) against

Irish home rule

Labour Party founded in

1906

labour party developed out of

trade unions

labour party (20th cent.) supports

• full employment and labour regulation (minimum wage, working hours)

“New labour” party (1990s) more

Central

Margaret Thatcher PM timeframe

1979-1990

Liberal Democrats: number of seats

72

Liberal Democrats: policy

liberalism

Green Party: number of seats

4

Reform UK: policy

Right-wing populism

Reform UK: led by

Nigel Farage (driving force of Brexit)

Reform UK: number of seats

5

Social Democratic Party: policy

centre-left

Regional Parties

• Scottish National Party

• Sinn Féin

• Democratic Unionist Party

• Ulster Unionist Party

• Plaid Cymru