Political parties

what is a political party

an organized group of people who share similar political beliefs and work together to gain political power or influence the government.

an example of a country with one party dominance

russia, North Korea, china

example of a country with a two party system

UK — Labour and Conservatives

Two and a half party system

UK — 2010 Coalition of Conservatives and Lib Dems

Multi party system

when lots of many different parties are running the country such as Netherland.

a brief history of political parties

17-19th century: after the English civil war Whigs (liberals) and Tories (conservatives) were running the country

Late 19th-20th century: Rise of Labour and decline of liberals. A two-party system is created.

21st century: greater diversity and smaller movements creating a multi party fee; within the overarching two party dominance. eg. green reform.

characteristics of left wing parties

Like govt involvement

higher taxes

likes the welfare state

more open to alternative lifestyle eg gay marriage

likes trade unions

characteristics of right wing parties

less government involvement

lower taxes

likes the private sector

likes traditions

hates trade unions

electing a leader

labour: labour mp nominate candidates and then vote for a shortlist of them

conservatives: conservatives mp will decide on two mps who then the members will vote for.

how does the leader election affects democracy

it weakens it because only those who are the party members can actually vote for the members. additionally, in order to become a party member you need to pay money which could lead to inequality as not everyone ca afford to pay leading to poorer groups getting unrepresented.

however, those people who are in the party are better in politics so they actually understand who is more likely to become a better leader that will benefit the country. additionally even if it was free to vote for a party member some people still wouldn’t because its too much voting leading to a participation crisis and law turnouts leading to a lower legitimacy

policy formulation (manifesto)

these are policies and ideas the party is aiming to do if is elected as a governing party. after an election they receive a mandate from people to carry out these policies.

They also have the doctors mandate where in case of an emergency they are allowed to include a legislation/policy which wasn’t originally included in the manifesto. For example BOJO and Covid-19 legislation to keep the county safe.

how does the manifesto impact democracy

this allows people to understand what are they voting for and therefore makes their mandate strong and thoughtful leading to the government being legitimate and responsible to carry out their promised policies and represent people — increases democracy

in case of an emergency — people dint give their mandate for it. also the party won’t always do everything they had to — less democracy

making the govt to work

without political parties there wouldn’t have been an effective govt

how does it affect democracy

good — more representation from all kind of parties

bad — two party dominance — some of the parties like green barely get any representation

selecting a candidate for an election

the local party members approve the candidate and give a mandate for they to represent the party of their constituency in the House of Commons

how does it affect democracy

bad —- only party members can decide

good — only they normally have the expertise to do so

representation

in 2019 75.7% of those who voted said they felt like were represented by the labour or conservative

good — minority groups representation

bad — smaller parties barely get any say

campaigning

orates spend time to educate people about their manifesto ect

good — they understand what they vote for

bad — they can influence too much depending on how big and influential the party is — eg 2014 Scotland Independence referendum

how much money from the state is given to the main parties for policy advisors

2million pounds

who are the policy advisors

they look at the ideas of how the govt should be run and help to come up with effective policies and legislations

what are the short money

they are given to the opposition parties in the House of Commons and don’t cover campaigning and election experiences — only the work in the government. a leader of opposition gets over a million of pounds. — loto

what are the Cranbourne money?

they are given to an opposition party in the House of Lords and again do not cover campaigning

why is short Money important for democratic system

Opposition can scrunitice effectively

the can progress and get ready for a new GE

smaller parties can have a platform to advance to HoC — more representation

stops dominance of one governing party

what is the importance of donations?

state funding don’t cover campaigning and election expense so the parties need donations and subscriptions

how much did the conservatives get in 2019 GE

63% of all political donations

how much donations went to the Labour Party from trade unions

in 2019, 93% of donations to the labour case from the Trade Unions

what are the limitations

parties must declare donations over 7,500 pounds and cannot spend more that 30,000 pounds in a constituency — this reduces corruption

what was the Peter cruddas scandal

in 2020 BOJO nominated Cruddas a peerage in the House of Lords after he donated 3 million pounds to the conservatives and previously was in trouble for allegations that he offered access to the PM for a cash donation of 250,00 pounds. this leads to cronies and is not good for the country — eg the Russian oligarch who only had 3% attendance

What is Capitalism?

Businesses, property and tea sources are owned by individuals, and they can make profit from them

What is the difference between capitalism and socialism?

Socialism aims to change capitalism to make the society fairer, whilst communism aims to overthrow capitalism with a new system

When the Labour Party was founded and how it was called at the beginning?

Founded in 1900 as a Labour Representative Committee

Who was the Labour Party founder and what did they believe in?

Keir Hardie and they believed in collectivism.

What is nationalisation?

When the government takes control of a company and runs it on behalf of the nation.

What are some examples of nationalisation in the UK?

The creation of NHS in 1948

Nationalisation of railways after 1945

Royal Mail was only privatised in 2013

What are arguments for nationalisation?

Social equality

Make decision in a favour of people rather than for profit

What are arguments against nationalisation?

Relaying on the government too much for running things well

By getting profit workers are more motivated to work and are more likely to provide a better services

Initiave for production of more goods

Private businesses are likely to provide the appropriate services for the regional demand

what are sone old labour individuals?

Keir Hardie, Clemeny Attlee and harold wilson

what are some policies Keir Haride belived in?

full nationalization of key industries like railways, energy and mail. he also believed in the redistributive taxation

what were some policies Clement Attlee believed in?

he also believed in the nationalization and for examples he created the nationalized NHS in 1948and aimed for the full employment through the state involvement.

what is the Keynesian theory?

an idea of the government intervention whilst running the economy as it helps to stabilize it.

what were some welfare policies of heir hardie?

he had ideas about the sick pay and pensions

what were some of Attlees welfare policies

he created NHS in 1948 and introduced the unemployment benefits, pensions and the sick pay through the national insurance act 1946.

what were some of Attlees law and order policies?

he started focusing more on rehabilitation and removed the corporal punishments through the criminal justice act 1948

what are some of the foreign policies of Hardie?

he was a pacifist who believed in a full international cooperation and achievement of peace at any cost

foreign policies - clement

he started decolonization

society - Harold Wilson

he believed in the social equality and responsibility eg sex discrimination act 1975

what is the 3rd way?

a mixed economy of capitalism and socialism

what are some of the new labour individuals?

Tony Blair, Gordon Brown

who removed the clause 4 of the labour constitution and what was it?

Tony Blair did this and it was responsible of the parties commitment to the nationalization?

what is one conservative economic policy that blare chose to keep.

lowered top rate tax to 40% as he believed more money in Irish people would boost the economy quicker

what are some welfare policies by Tony?

Minimum wage act 1998\ more NHS funding and family programs like Sure Start

law and order in the new labour?

anti-social behavior orders

foreign policy in the new labour

Tony believed in interviewing into other countries to prevent the rights abuse such as in Kosovo

society

HRA 1998 was created

tuition fees

he wanted fully elected HoL

supported devolution

what are some recent labour figures?

Jeremy Corbyn and Keir Startmer

what were some policies of Jeremy Corbyn?

Corbin and Momentum Key policies would be:

vote at 16

increase of the minimum wage by 10 pounds

more nationalization o

no privatization of NHS

opposed nuclear weapons

what are some economical policies of Keir Starmer?

strongly believed in the redistribute taxation but has no commitment to huge nationalization

what are sone of Starmers welfare policies?

big commitment to the NHS and higher taxes for the independent schools putting it back to the private sector.

foreign and law and order?

he wants to be very harsh on criminals, even more that the conservatives and has commitment to the NATO and nuclear weapons

what is Neo-liberal?

a belief that economy would work the best with the smallest government intervention as possible

what is conservatism?

they operate on traditions, stability and small government intervention in Econ

who is One nation conservative individual?

Benjamin Disraeli

what were BD believes?

he wanted a lot of the social equality and was helping the working class

new right inidividual?

Margaret Thatcher

what were her believes?

She was Neo-liberal

limit influence of the trade unions and small welfare so people wouldn’t rely on the government

lots of government power against crime

section 28

doesn’t like EU

poll tax

what are some recent conservatives

David Cameron

bojo

liz truss

what did Cameron believe in?

he was supporting the working class and kept labour policies such as NHS and minimum wage

however he still called the EU referendum and was committed austery where the public spending was cut

what did bojo believe in?

more public spending and higher funding of the NHS — 36 billion pounds in 3 years

also he was spending more on the military — 16. 5 billion pounds

more power to police

what did liz truss believe in?

neo liberal

corporation tax of 19%

deregulation

value of the pound fell

what is a right to buy?

an idea implemented by Thatcher which was about allowing people to buy the council houses

what is the free market?

where there is a minimal government involvement in prices, production and the distribution of goods and services.

what is the difference between liberlalism and conservatism?

they believed in social justice whilst the conservatives believe in more of individual responsibility

who was the classic liberal?

William gladstone

what did he believe in?

low taxes, free trade

moral approach regarding warms and foreign policies

equality for all religious groups

who was the modern liberal?

Hubert Henry Asquith

what did he believe in?

welfare reforms such as an introduction of pensions and unemployment benefits

parliament act 1911 to reduce the power of the House of Lords for more democracy

free school meals and medical inspections of children

woman suffrage

who were the recent liberal democrats?

nick Clegg, Ed Davey and orange book liberals

what did nick Clegg believe in?

low taxes

more protection of civil liberties

reducing government spending whilst protecting public services

ed davey?

pro European

protection of civil liberties

high taxes

orange book liberals?

free trade

unity between nations