UK Politics- Political Parties: Minor Parties

What is Co-option?

When major parties adopt the policies of smaller parties

What are some of the UK's minor parties?

Liberal Democrats, Green party, Reform UK, UKIP, SNP

SNP Ideology

Pro-EU membership, Scottish self-governance, social justice/multiculturalism

SNP Seats

45 Hoc / 64 out of 129 seats in Scottish parliament

UKIP Ideology

Euroscepticism, anti-immigration

UKIP seats

0

Where are the Liberal Democrats on the political spectrum?

Centre

Liberal Democrat Ideology

Liberty, tolerance/multiculturalism, social justice, welfare, social reform

Lib Dem Factions-

Orange Bookers, Social Liberals

Orange Bookers-

Free market, complete withdrawal of state, classical liberalism

Social Liberals

Policies regarding welfare and wealth distribution are required to ensure that all sections of society can enjoy liberty (modern liberalism)

Did the Lib Dems have success during the 2011 coalition?

Yes- Same sex couples act No-Failure on AV reform, increased tuition fees

How does the SNP show the influence of minor parties on policy?

They have been able to secure greater devolution to Scotland e.g 2016 Scotland Act

How have the lib-dems influenced policy?

The 2011 AV referendum, Same-sex marriage act 2013

How many parties currently sit in Westminster?

8 parties

How has the Green Party influenced policy?

The adoption of net-zero and climate pledges

How has Labour recently undermined the Green party's aims?

They u-turned on their £28Bn green pledge

Which central aim of the Liberal Democrat party has failed?

The replacement of FPTP with an alternative electoral system

How was the Brexit party/UKIP successful in influencing policy?

Brexit did occour

What was the outcome of the 2019 EU Parliament Elections for UKIP?

They won the most seats-- 29 seats

Which two parties won the most seats in the 2019 European Parliament Elections?

UKIP and the Lib Dems

How do proportional systems actually disadvantage minor parties in campaigning?

They have to campaign all across the nation instead of being able to direct all of their efforts towards a few seats they're likely to win in order to conserve their resources

In 2015, what % of the vote was won by Labour and the Conservatives vs in 2019?

2015: 67%

2019: 76% -- increasingly a two-party system

What three points can be addressed for 'ETV that minor parties are important in UK politics'?

Representation in Westminster, representative in devolved assemblies, shaping party policy

In which constituency did Reform UK pose an electoral challenge to the Conservatives in a by-election?

Wellingborough — Reform UK wins 13% of the vote in what was a Tory safe seat

vote share for lib Dems and reform 2024

Lib Dems: 12% 72 seats

reform : 14% 5 seats

2024 lib dem manifesto

• Introduce free personal care, such as nursing at home, in England and offer more support to unpaid carers

• Give everyone the right to see their GP within seven days

• Introduce a proportional voting system to elect MPs

• Reduce trade barriers and build stronger relationships with the UK’s closest trading partners, including the EU

• Reverse tax cuts for banks and reform capital gains tax

• Extend free school meals to another 900,000 children living in low-income households, and aim to extend further to every child in primary school

2024 reform

• Freeze immigration except for those with essential skills

• Stop illegal Channel crossings, including by returning migrants found in small boats to France if needed

• Cut NHS waiting lists to zero by boosting staff recruitment and increasing the use of alternative health providers

• End policies to reach net zero - the aim to stop adding to the total amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere