Evaluate The Argument That Leadership is the Most Important Factor Determining the Success:Failure of Political Parties in the UK

Introduction

Paragraph Factor

• Para 1 = Leadership vs the Electoral System

• Para 2 = Leadership vs the Media

• Para 3 = Leadership vs Policy and Perceived Competence

Para 1 = Weaker Argument - Leadership

• Leaders are able to provide clear direction and leadership to their party to ensure theyʼre providing a united, coherent and persuasive vision to the public

• Charismatic leaders also have the potential to reach beyond a partyʼs core voters and increase their vote share

• Boris Johnson in the 2019 election is a key example of this, as his personal popularity and difference from the traditional image of the Conservative Party allowed the Conservatives to win the votes

• Similarly, poor and unpopular leaders can have a detrimental impact on the popularity of a political party by deterring potential voters

• In 2024, Rishi Sunak was one of the least popular party leaders fighting an election in history, with a net favourability of 51% with the public

Para 1 = Stronger Argument - Electoral System

• In UK Parliament elections, where First Past the Post is used, parties with concentrated geographical support are able to benefit

• whilst smaller parties with some support across the country are greatly underrepresented

• The FPTP electoral system therefore benefits Labour, the Conservatives

• in 2024, Reform received 14% of the vote but just 5 seats

Para 2 = Weaker Argument - Leadership

• a great deal of the focus of political media is on party leaders, who represent their parties, especially in TV debates at election times and in key interviews

• Party leaders are often the only politicians members of the public know, due to being focused on in the media

• for example In the run up to the 2010 election, The Liberal Democrats enjoyed a boost in the polls following the first TV debate, in which Nick Clegg performed very well

Para 2 = Stronger Argument - the Media

• The media is seen by many as playing a key role in shaping the political views and electoral behaviour of voters

• it present an opinionated, biased view unlike the majority of TV and the radio, which is obligated to be politically neutral

• for example, a significant majority of the press is right-leaning and supports the Conservative Party, which can be seen as an important factor in their political dominance

• The media can also play an important role by breaking key political scandals and events which can shape the public's views of parties, such as when Partygate broke in early 2022.

Para 3 = Weaker Argument - Leadership

Para 3 = Stronger Argument - Policy and Perceived Competence

• Successful parties are able to capture the public mood and develop attractive policies that gain them support from significant sections of the population.

• The significant support received by Reform UK in the 2024 election, for example, reflects the fact that a significant portion of the public was unhappy with the increasing migration

• Voters reward parties who deliver on their manifesto policies and manage the economy and government effectively

• The public viewed the Conservatives as incompetent, self-serving and untrustworthy due to a large number of scandals, which led to the partyʼs vote share dropping