political parties

what are the functions of parties

making policy

representation

selecting candidates

identifying leaders

contesting elections

political education

how are political parties funded

-membership subscriptions

-donations

-loans from wealthy individuals or banks

-up to 2 mil per year in grants

-money granted to opposition parties

what is the Political parties, referendums, and elections Act 2000

-regulates the funding of parties

-people not on uk electoral role cannot make donations

-limits placed on how much parties can spend on elections

-donations over 500 pounds have to be declared

-donations of over 7500 pounds have to be placed on electoral register

why is party funding considered controversial

-unaccountable form of political influence

-aspects of funding are corrupt e.g. cash for honours

-decline of party members mean parties are more reliant on donors

case study

in 2016 labour was fined 20,000 by the electoral committee for breaching finance rules

7600 found to be missing from the parties election funds

found 24 other undeclared election expenses totalling 109,000

scandal

what is short money

distributed to all opposition parties to fund their parliamentary work

what is cranbourne money

given to opposition parties in the lords

how much short money did labour receive in 2019

8 million

arguments for parties receiving full state funding

-end opportunities for corrupt use of donations

-end the possibility of influence through funding

-reduce the financial advantages of larger parties

arguments against full state funding for parties

-use of taxpayers money

-difficult to know how to distribute funding

-could lead to excessive state regulation of parties

what are one nation conservatism principles

-strong law and order

-preservation of tradition

-theory of noblesse oblige

-pragmatic response to issues

-property and home ownership

what is new right conservatism (thatcherism)

ideology divided into neo-liberalism and neo-conservatism

what are the principles of neo-liberalism

-high taxation is a disincentive to productivity and work

-state should disengage from political management

-welfare benefits produce a dependency culture, detrimental

-trade unions hinder economic development

-markets should not be regulated by the state

principles of neo-conservatism

-promotion of traditional moral values to ensure a stable society

-strong law and order, authoritarian state

-nationalism

-distrust of multi-national organisations e.g. EU

conservative ideas about the economy

-neo liberal attitude to markets

-gov policy should promote free markets and free trade

-curb power of trade unions

-low taxes

conservative attitudes to law and order

-stern punishments

-sacrifice freedoms in the name of security

conservative attitudes to welfare

-unemployment should not be prefferable

-minimum wage

-cap on welfare benefits

-maintaining welfare state

conservative attitudes to foreign affairs

-support nato

-independent foreign policy

what are the three factions in the con party

Cornerstone (christian and reactionary)

Conservative Way Forward (Thatcherite, retention of free markets)

Tory Reform Group (one nation conservatives)

old labour values

gov should favour the interests of the working class

equality of opportunity

collectivism

common ownership

trade unionism

central state

welfarism

new labour values

rejected the idea of class conflict

markets should remain free of state control

enabling state

equality of opportunity

communitarianism

political and constitutional reform

examples of new labour policy

increase in expenditure on the nhs

investment in education

‘welfare to work’ to encourage employment

what three factions are there in the labour party

Momentum (far left wing, wealth redistribution)

Blairites (centrist, supporters of new labour)

Blue Labour (socially conservative)

core values of the lib dems

liberty

social justice

welfare

controlled power of gov

social reformers

multiculturalism

lib dem views about law and order

law enforcement systems should rehabilitate offenders

balance between civil liberties and the need for securitye

two lib dem factions

Orange Book Liberals (traditional liberal values of free markets ect.)

Social Liberals (social justice and wealth redistribution)

reasons for the failure of small parties

lack of funding

electoral system may discriminate against them

lack media exposure

lack organisation

wasted votes

what is collectivism

belief in people working together and supporting each other

what was camerons big society

compassionate towards young criminals

focus on community

austerity

some neoliberalism ideas

what was the cash for honours scandal

2006-7 media scandal

large donations given to parties in return for titles

led to a limit of 50,000 for any one private donation

2024 labour party membership

400,000 members

tory party membership 2024

172,000 members

adversary politics

main politcal parties are divided by fundamental philosophies and ideologies

opposition will oppose the policies of gov

gov under johnson

return to one nation conservatism

hard right approach to immigration

more socially liberal

government under sunak

state intervention

hard right immigration

fiscal responsibility

conservative view of human nature

negative

need for a strong state

economic policy in camerons big society

reduce budget defeciet inherited from labour

public spending cuts

budget cuts of 25%

prevent borrowing costs from rising

welfare policy camerons big society

encourage those receiving welfare to become more self reliant

nhs reform

universal credits

example of ‘old labour’ leaders

clement atlee

harold wilson

james callaghan

what is keynesianism

significant level of taxation (up to 90% for wealthiest)

expansion of welfare state

central roles given to trade unions

state provide resources

became dominant after ww2

new labour equality policies

minimum wage

didnt believe in redistribution as a priority

pledge to raise minimum wage to 10 pounds

successes of clement attlee

creation of nhs

nationalised major industries

nationalities of over 20% of the economy

failures of clement attlee

income tax at its highest was 97.5%

reliance on direct taxation

james callaghan successes

lib lab pact

kept work excesses of wage increases down

james callaghan failures

winter of discontent

inflation

plaid cymru

party of wales

increase child benefit to 20 pounds per week

join european customs union

full justice powers for wales

green party

40 bn investment into green economy per year

carbon tax

stop tuition fees

proportional voting

snp

against austerity

more fiscal responsibility for Scotland

triple lock on pensions

abolition of house of lords

elements of a successful party

broad church

established

in touch with public opinion

prime ministerial

press support

circumstances

conveying a message

1979 labour

want for more control over union power due to winter of discontent

heavy defeat by con

labour party leadership 1979

callaghan had a favourable image

more popular as a leader

labour party leadership 1997

tony blair reformed party

young and clear vision

seen as the stronger leader

party leadership labour 2019

corbyn

not seen as favourably as johnson

labour media 1997

media soundbites - education education education

focusing on pro blair campaign