Evaluate the view that the UK has become a multiparty system?

1. Traditionally a two party system

• Labour and conservative dominate the HOC- due to FPTP

• 2017 GE- Labour and Conservative won 82% of the vote- highest vote share since 1979

• The Conservatives and Labour have traditionally covered a broad aspect of policy areas- trusted with running government-have expertise

• However- In 2017 The Conservatives had to rely on the DUP anyway

• In 2019- The Conservative and Labour vote share decreased to 75% with just over 24% of people voting for minority parties

2. Electoral Systems

• FPTP- disproportionate and unrepresentative and therefore Minor parties are significantly disadvantaged- preventing minor parties from gaining significant seats and influence in parliament

• Winners bonus- advantage winning party- 2019- Conservatives won 56.2% of seats with only a minority of the vote share 43.6%

• Minor parties may struggle to gain geographical concentrated support needed under FPTP- Green Party in 2015 won 1 million votes but only one seat

• FPTP leads to people voting tactically

• However:

• Proportional voting systems in devolved bodies have allowed for an increase in minority party representation

• Independence Parties such as the SNP have been able to take advantage of geographical location and in 2015 won 56/59 seats

• Rise in independence parties has led gov to allow independence referendums

3. Influence on Policy

• Elective dictatorship- little constraints on the executive

• Due to FPTP usually delivering a strong majority and the whip/patronage system in place- government is likely to guarantee support on legislation- this means minor parties have little influence in legislation and will struggle to contest it

• 2019-21- 92% of bills passed were government bills or public bills- minor parties will introduce bills for coverage and exposure to issue

• Public BIll Committees=heavily whipped and composed of majority parties- opposition are unlikely to have amendments accepted

• However- If the minor parties put pressure on government through people, they are still able to significantly influence legislation

• 2015- UKIP- came third with 12.6% of vote- demonstrated to government that people wanted something done about Brexit, threatened the governments stability- UKIPS vote share fell to 1.8% in 2017

• Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition from 2010-2015- Cameron had to accept a referendum on AV and had to give up 5 positions in the cabinet to the lib Dems

In conclusion:

Despite minor parties not having significant number of seats in the HOC- their influence can be demonstrated elsewhere through devolved regions and their impact on policy.