emerging and minor political parties

nationalist parties definition

• Parties that seek to appeal to the shared identity and language of individuals from a geographical area

• EX: SNP

single-issue parties definition

• These parties may offer a range of policies which are based on particular ideological perspective or they might campaign on a particular issue/policy

• EX: GREENS, UKIP

local and EU elections - impact of minority parties

• Minor parties tend to have a bigger influence in local and EU elections as fewer people tend to vote in these, meaning minority parties can be more successful than in national elections

  • E.g. UKIP won more sears than Labour and the Conservatives in the 2014 EU parliament election

• By winning these elections, minor parties can make their agenda public and known, putting pressure on major parties

national elections - impact of minority parties

• Minor parties are able to electorally harm other mainstream parties by taking their voters in elections and attracting their membership

  • E.g. the Conservatives lost 2 MPs to UKIP before 2015

• Minor parties also have a role in reflecting protests and grievances

• In minority governments, minority party support can be vital

  • E.g. May’s government made a ‘confidence and supply’ agreement with DUP in 2017

putting issues on the agenda - impact of minority parties

• If successful in gaining seats at a local or national level, minor parties can impact policy and put their main issues and cause at the centre of political debate

UKIP ideas

• UKIP have continually been against greater European integration

• UKIP is a populist and right wing party

• UKIP’s main ideas are anti-EU membership (Euroscepticism), pro-sovereignty and promotion of British nationalism and unionism

UKIP policies

• UKIP’s single major policy idea was for the UK to leave the EU, and control UK immigration

• Before Brexit, policies were broadened to attract more voters

  • E.g. opposition to gay marriage, tax cuts and support for grammar schools

• In 2014, UKIP had 2 MPs in Parliament

UKIP after Brexit

• After Brexit, UKIP lost most of their local council seats and have not had any MPs since the 2015 GE

SNP policies

• Increasing Scottish independence - campaigning for the creation of a Scottish parliament and for the independence referendum in 2014

• Policies have since shifted away from just independence but still focus on putting Scotland first

• In the 2017 election, the SNP supported higher public spending, anti-austerity, protecting Scotland during Brexit, and more devolved powers