Evaluate The View That The Labour and Conservative Parties are the Only Parties That Matter In UK Politics

Introduction

• Two Party System = two parties compete for power at elections; other parties have ne real chance of breaking their monopoly

• minor parties stand candidates in election, but have very little chance of winning themselves

Paragraph Focus

• Para 1 = Success in Elections

• Para 2 = Roles in Government

• Para 3 = Impact Over Policy

Para 1 - Weaker Argument = Minor Parties don’t Matter

• the Labour and Conservative Parties has either been in government alone or as the majority partner in a coalition since the end of WWII

• Eg. the Conservative Party had been in power for 14 years until the 2024, where the Labour Party won the general election in a large majority (33.7%)

• this indicates that the two majn parties hold historical dominance in Westminster as they have consistently captured of both seats and vote share

• this is ignificant because it demonstrates their enduring prprevelance in UK politics, suggesting smaller parties have a little impact on election outcomes

• this is due to FPTP which greatly reduces the power and prevelance of smaller parties by establishing a two party system

• for example, in the 2024, Reform won 14% of popular vote (3rd highest) but just 5 seats

Para 1 - Stronger Argument = Minor Parties do matter

• in 2025, parties other than Labour and the Conservatives picked up a significant number of local seats and votes

• for example, Reform UK won 677 councillors respectively

• this may suggest that the 2025 local election, was a clear return to a multi party system in terms of vote share

• this means that the two main parties are no longer able to secure outright majorities as easily in the past, suggestung a decline in their dominance

Para 2 - Weaker Argument = Minor Parties don’t Matter

• the Labour and Conservative Party have always been in government since the end of WWII, either on their own or in a coalition

• eg. in the 2010 coalition government, the Conservatives dominated policy making, with the Lib Dems unable to prevent tuition fee increases depsite their manifesto pledge

• this highlights how, even in coalitons, the two main parties retain control over key decisions, marginalising smaller parties

Para 2 - Stronger Argument = Minor Parties do matter

• The Scottish National Party, for example, has been in power in Scotland since 2007 and has been able to make significant policy changes, such as abolishing prescription charges and tuition fees.

• this shows how minor parties have had a lot more electoral success in devolved bodies and have been able to wield a significant amount of power and influence over policy as a result.

• this means smaller parties can wiele influence in specific context, challenging the dominance of the main parties

Para 3 - Weaker Argument = Minor Parties don’t matter

• New Labour government have been able to implement significant amounts of influential policy, such as HRA 1998, Supreme Court, enfranchisement of 16-17 yr olds

• this demonstrates the two main parties ability to drive major policy changes, underscoring their dominance in shaping the political agenda

Para 3 - Stronger Argument = Minor Parties do matter

• eg. UKIPs rise in the early 2010s forced the Conservatives to take a tougher stance on Europe, leading David Cameron to promise a Brexit Referendum

• this shows minor parties have significant indirect influence over policy, through threatening the two main parties electorally and using their platforms and public support to put issues on the political agenda.

• By taking votes away from a major party so that they lose the election to the other major party, minor parties can have a significant impact on the policies of the major parties, who want to hold on to these votes.