POLITICAL PARTIES

What are three ways in which political parties are funded?

-HOLDING FUNDRAISING EVENTS

-DONATIONS FROM WEALTHY INDIVIDUALS

-SHORT MONEY

What are fundraising events?

Organised activities run by political parties to raise funds for things like election campaigns

Give an example

In the 2024 general election at the conservative party annual Ball, a donor paid 25,000 pound for a dinnner with Jeremy Hunt( the then Chancellor of the Exchequer) . In total lotteries raised 225,000 pound in total in 2024.

What is the counter?

Fundraising events accounted for only a very small proportion of Conservative Party income in 2024—roughly 1–3% out of a 50 million total income .

Give an example of donations from wealthy individuals

In 2025 Reform UK received a donation of 9 million pound from Christopher Harborne who made his fortune in crypto currency. This was one of the largest single political donations ever reported from a living person in UK history. This pushed Reform UK’s fundraising above that of both the Conservative and Labour parties in that quarter.

What is short money?

This is money given to opposition parties to help their parliamentary work based on the number of seats they won in the general election and ensure they can effectively hold the government to account.

Give an example

In 2025/26 the conservative party were eligible for 5.5 million , the Lib Dems 2.5 million and both the Green party and Reform got 400,000 in short money. With parties receiving 22,000 per seat won at the general election.

What is the counter?

-THIS FUNDING IS RESTRICTED TO PARLIAMENTARY WORK AND IS FAR SMALLER THAN MONEY FROM PRIVATE DONATIONS , SHOWING THAT PUBLIC FUNDING ALONE CANNOT SUSTAIN PARTY CAMPAIGNING.

eg. In 2019 the Liberal Democrats’ Short Money of ~£2 million covered only a fraction of their ~£19 million election spend,

WHAT ARE THE PREMISES WE CAN USE TO DISCUSS WHETHER POLITICAL PARTIES SHOULD BE VOLUNTARILY FUNDED?

-RIGHTS PROTECTIONS

-REGULATION

-REPRESENTATION

WHY DO SOME SAY PRIVATE FUNDING IS NECCESSARY TO PROTECT RIGHTS?

VOLUNTARY FUNDING IS VIEWED AS AN EXTENSION OF FREE SPEECH. IT ALLOWS CITIZENS TO AMPLIFY THEIR POLITICAL VOICE THROUGH SURROGATE EXPRESSION.

WHAT IS AN EXAMPLE TO DEMONSTRATE THIS?

-IN 2023 -2024 FRANK HESTER DONATED OVER 20 MILLION POUNDS TO THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY+ MULTIPLE 5 MILLION POUND DONATIONS. THIS WAS BECAUSE HE BELIEVED THE PARTY UNDERSTANDS AND VALUES THE NHS

WHY MAY THIS NOT ALWAYS BE GOOD?

IT CAN LEAD TO DISADVANTAGES FOR SMALLER PARTIES. THIS IS BECAUSE WEALTHY DONORS TEND TO DONATE TO ONLY LARGE PARTIES, WITH THE HOPE OF INFLUENCING POLICY ONCE THEY ARE IN POWER.

GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF THIS?

IN 2024 THE LABOUR PARTY’S INCOME WAS 91 MILLION IN TOTAL , WITH THE CONSERVATIVES RAISING 50 MILLION. IN CONTRAST THE GREEN PARTY WAS ONLY ABLE TO RAISE JUST UNDER 5 MILLION.

WHAT IS ANOTHER POSITIVE OF ALLOWING VOLUNTARY FUNDING?

-POSSIBLE DISADVANTGES CAN BE MITIGATED TRHOUGH STRONG REGULATION

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

BECAUSE PARTIES RELY ON VOLUNTARY DONATIONS , ONEY FLOWS THROUGH OFFICAL, DECLARED CHANNELS RATHER THAN HIDDEN SOURCES

WHAT IS THE BEST EXAMPLE TO SHOW THAT REGULATION CAN BE ENSURED VIA VOLUNTARY FUNDING?

IN 2000 THE UK GOVERNMENT MADE THE POLITICAL PARTIES ,ELECTIONS AND REFERENDUMS ACT. THIS STIPULATED THAT YOU HAD TO BE ON THE UK ELECTORAL ROLL TO MAKE DONATIONS AND THAT ANYTHING OVER 11,180 HAD TO BE DECLARED BY THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION.

WHY MAY THIS STILL NOT BE EFFECTIVE?

DESPITE BANS ON FOREIGN INTEFERENCE LOOPHOLES ARE USED BY POWERFUL INDIVIDUALS AND FIRMS TO CIRCUMENT THE GUIDLINES

GIVE AN EXAMPLE

IN 2025 WHEN MUSK WAS CONSIDERING GIVING REFORM A SIZEABLE DONATION (REPORTEDLY 100 MILLION ACCORDING TO SOURCES) , IT WOULD HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED THROUGH A UK REGISTERED COMPANY SUCH AS THE UK BRANCH OF X.

WHAT IS ANOTHER ADVANTAGE OF VOLUNTARY FUNDING FOR POLITICAL PARTIES?

HOW?

-REPRESENTATION

-POLITICAL PARTIES RELY ON DONATIONS GIVEN BY INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS TO SUPPORT THEM SO IT ALLOWS MULTIPLE GROUPS(THAT FUND PARTIES) TO BE REPRESENTED

GIVE AN EXAMPLE?

TRADE UNIONS SUCH AS ‘UNITE THE UNION’ HAVE BEEN HUGE BACKERS OF LABOUR. IN 2023, 40% OF ALL LABOUR’S FUNDING CAME FROM TRADE UNIONS

WHAT IS THE COUNTER?

-BECAUSE OF THE RELIANCE ON INDIVIDUAL DONORS IT HAS BEEN ARGUED THAT SOME ASPECTS OF FUNDING ARE ON THE VERGE OF BEING CORRUPT. THIS MEANS SOME PEOPLE ARE DONATING TO RECIEVE AN HOUR FROM PARTY LEADERS OR POSSIBLE KNIGHTHOOD.

GIVE AN EXAMPLE?

IN 2024 SCRUTINY GREW OVER A PRIVATE MEETING WHERE LABOUR LEADER KEIR STARMER AND SENIOR FIGURES MET REPRESENTATIVES FROM BLOOMBERG AFTER THEY DONATED £150,000 VIA A SUBSIDIARY GROUP.

WHAT ARE TWO REASONS WHY STATE FUNDING MAY BE GOOD?

-REDUCES CORRUPTION

-ENHANCES FAIRNESS FOR THIRD PARTIES

HOW DOES STATE FUNDING REDUCE CORRUPTION?

WHEN PARTIES RECIEVE ONLY FUNDING FROM THE STATE THEY ARE NOT FOCUSED ON MEETING THE NEEDS OF RICH ELITES WHICH REDUCES CASH FOR ACCESS ETC.

GIVE AN EXAMPLE TO SUPPORT THIS?

BLOOMBERG CASE

WHAT IS THE COUNTER?

IT MAY DAMAGE MINORITY PARTIES BECAUSE THE RULES AND REGULATIONS AROUND STATE FUNDING WILL BE SET BY THOSE IN POWER AND SO WILL MOST LIKELY BE TO THEIR ADVANTAGE. ( CORRUPTION)

GIVE AN EXAMPLE

IN 2015 THE CONSERVATIVE GOVERNMENT IN POWER PROPOSED CUTS OF UPTO TO 19% FOR SHORT MONEY, MONEY GIVEN TO OPPOSITION PARTIES. THESE CHANGES WERE CONFIRMED IN MARCH 2016

HOW DOES STATE FUNDING PROTECT THIRD PARTIES?

IF YOU HAVE A STATE FUNDING SYSTEM BASED ON THE % OF VOTES RECIEVED BY A PARTY , PARTIES WILL FOCUS ON APPEALING TO THE WHOLE POPULATION RATHER THAN SELECT CONSTITUENCIES. THIS HELPS THIRD PARTIES WHICH USUALLY GET MORE VOTES COMPARTED TO SEATS.

GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF THIS?

IN THE 2024 GENERAL ELECTION REFORM WON 14.3% OF THE VOTE BUT ONLY GOT 5 OUT OF THE 650 SEATS. MOREOVER, THE GREEN PARTY WON 6.7% OF THE VOTE BUT ONLY GOT 4 SEATS.

WHAT IS THE COUNTER?

ALTHOUGH REFORM AND GREEN WOULD BENEFIT SMALLER PARTIES WOULD STILL BE DISADVANTAGED. WITH LITTLE STARTING SUPPORT THEY MAY FIND IT HARD TO GET A LARGE % OF VOTES.

GIVE AN EXAMPLE

IN THE 2024 GENERAL ELECTION THE WORKERS PARTY FOR BRITAIN ONLY GOT 0.7% OF THE VOTE WITH 152 CANDIDATES NATIONALLY, ESTABLISHED ONLY RECENTLY IN 2019.

WHAT IS MEANT BY A POLITICAL PARTY?

AN ORGANISED GROUP OF PEOPLE WITH SHARED POLITCAL IDEAS WHO AIM TO GET CANDIDATES INTO OFFICE.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR POLITICAL PARTIES TO BE FUFILLING THEIR FUNCTIONS?

-THEY ARE ENHANCING REPRESENTATION

-THEY ARE ENHANCING PARTICIPATION

-THEY ARE RECRUITING LEADERS AND CANDIDATES

EXPLAIN WHAT IT MEANS FOR POLITICAL PARTIES TO BE ENSURING REPRESENTATION?

-PARTIES REPRESENT THE VALUES OF THE PEOPLE WHO IDENTIFY WITH THEM AND VOTE FOR THEM. THEY GIVE VOTERS A WAY TO EXPRESS POLITICAL PREFERENCES VIA PARTY SUPPORT.

WHAT IS THE BEST EXAMPLE TO SUPPORT THIS?

IN 2025 LABOUR PASSED THE EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS ACT IN DEC 2025. THIS ENDED ZERO HOUR CONTRACTS AND DAY ONE RIGTHS FOR SICK PAY AND PARENTAL LEAVE. THEY ALSO RAISED THE NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE TO 12.71 FROM 12.39 BY APRIL 2016. THIS SHOWS LABOUR IS REPRESENTING WORKERS.

WHAT IS THE COUNTER?

IN NOVEMBER 2025 RACHEL REEVES DELIVERED A MAJOR BUDGET THAT INCLUDED RECORD BREAKING TAX CHANGES WITH TAX RISES WORTH 26BN BUILT INTO POLICY AND THE FREEZING OF TAX THRESHOLDS TILL 2031 TO MAKE PEOPLE PAY MORE TAX. THIS WAS A U TURN FROM WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY PROMISED.

WHAT IS PARTICPATION IN POLITICAL PARTIES?

POLITICAL PARTIES PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CITIZENS TO BECOME INVOLVED IN POLITICS VIA BECOMING MEMBERS, LEADERSHIP ELECTIONS ETC

WHAT IS AN EXAMPLE TO SUPPORT THIS?

REFORM HAS GROWN TO BE THE LARGEST PARTY BY DECEMBER 2025 , WITH 268,000 MEMBERS. AS OF MID 2025 THE PARTY CLAIMED AROUND 15,000 MEMBERS IN LONDON AND 8000 IN WALES .

WHAT IS THE COUNTER?

IN THE EARLY 1950s PARTIES WERE MASS PARTIES- THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY PEAKED AT AROUND 2.8 MILLION MEMBERS WITH LABOUR AROUND 1 MILLION. THIS HAS NOW REDUCED TO ONLY 120,000 FOR CONSERVATIVES AND 250,000 FOR LABOUR.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR POLITICAL PARTIES IN THE UK TO BE INTERNALLY DEMOCRACTIC?

MEMBERS OF THE POLITICAL PARTY MUST HAVE A MEANINGFUL SAY IN WHO BECOME THE LEADER.

-MEMBERS MUST HAVE A MEANINGFUL SAY IN PARTY POLICY

-LOCAL MEMBERS MUST BE INVOLVED IN THE SELECTION OF CANDIDATES

WHO ARE ORDINARY MEMBERS?

ORDINARY PAYING MEMBERS WHO JOIN THE PARTY WITHOUT HOLDING ANY SPECIAL OFFICE

HOW DO LABOUR SELECT LEADERS?

THEY USE THE ONE MEMBER , ONE VOTE SYSTEM WHERE YOU VOTE FOR THE LEADER IF YOU ARE A PARTY MEMBER OR REGISTERED SUPPORTER( HAVE TO PAY 3 POUND)

WHAT IS AN EXAMPLE TO SUPPORT THIS?

JEREMY CORBYN RAN FOR LABOUR LEADER AND GOT 60% OF SUPPORT OVERALL , WITH 84% OF REGISTERED SUPPORTERS FOR HIM.

WHAT IS THE COUNTER?

IT CAN CREATE TENSION BETWEEN LEADERS AND MPS AS SEEN BY 2/3 OF LABOUR MPs PASSING A VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE IN CORBYN SHOWING HOW OMOV PRIORITSES THE POPULARITY UNDER THE MEMBERS OVER PARTY UNITY WITH MPS.

HOW DOES THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY SELECT LEADERS?:

THEY HAVE A 2 STAGE PROCESS WHERE MPS VOTE ON A SERIES OF BALLOTS DOWN TO TWO CANDIDATES AND THEN PARTY MEMBERS PICK THE FINAL LEADERS IN A ONE MEMBER ONE VOTE SYSTEM

GIVE AN EXAMPLE

IN 2022 LIZ TRUSS LOST THE MPS BALLOT TO SUNAK ( 32% TO 38%) BUT WON THE MEMBERSHIP VOTE 57%-43% AND BECAME THE LEADER OF THE TORY PARTY.

WHAT IS THE COUNTER?

ITS NOT ALWYAS DEMOCRATIC AS MPS NEED 100 NOMINATIONS FROM OTHER MPS TO RUN FOR LEADER WHICH DOESN’T ALWAYS HAPPEN EG. RISHI SUNAK WAS THE ONLY WON TO GET THAT MUCH SUPPORT AND SO IMMEDIATELY BECAME LEADER.

HOW DO LIBERAL DEMOCRATS SELECT LEADERS?

THEY USE A MEMBERSHIP VOTE USING STV. TO BE A CANDIDATE YOU NEED THE SUPPORT OF 1 MP AND 200 PARTY MEMBERS.

GIVE AN EXAMPLE TO SUPPORT THIS?

ED DAVEY BEAT LAYLA NORAN WITH 63% OF THE VOTE AFTER BOTH CANDIDATES SECURED ENOUGH SUPPORT FROM MPS AND GRASSROOTS.

WHY IS THIS GOOD?

DUE TO THE LOW THRESHOLD REQUIRED TO BE A CANDIDATE IT INCREASES THE CHOICE FOR VOTERS AND RAISES PARTICIPATION.

HOW DOES THE LABOUR PARTY SELECT CANDIDATES?

ANYONE CAN APPLY TO RUN AS LONG AS THEY ARE A MEMBER FOR 12 MONTHS + A NATIONAL EXECTIVE COMMITTEE PANEL SELECT AT LEAST TWO APPLICANTS AND LOCAL MEMBERS DECIDE WHO SHOULD RUN FOR MP.

GIVE AN EXAMPLE

DUE TO THE NEC’S INFLUENCE OF ALL WOMEN SHORTLISTS THERE WAS ONLY WOMEN WHO WERE SHORTLISTED AS POTENTIAL CANDIDTAES FOR CONSTITUENCIES , THUS INCREASING REPRESENTATION. EG. 43% OF MPS WERE FEMALE IN 2015 COMPARED TO 9% IN 1987.

WHAT IS THE COUNTER?

NEC INTERVENTION UNDERMINES PARTY DEMOCRACY AS RATHER THAN SHORTLISTING THE BEST CANDIDATES THEY JUST CHOOSE WOMEN. EG. PETER LAW WAS PREVENTED FROM STANDING FOR MPS OF BLAENAW GWENT DUE TO AN ALL WOMEN SHORTLIST AND SO RAN AS INDEPENDENT AND WON IN 2005.

HOW DO THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY SELECT CANDIDATES?

APPLICANT MUST PASS A PARLIAMENTARY ASSESSMENT BOARD(PAB) CONTROLLED BY THE PARTY , WHEREBY AT MOST 8 CANDIDATES ARE SELECTED FOR VOTE. IN THE PAST OPEN PRIMARIES HAVE BEEN USED.

GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF THIS?

OPEN PRIMARIES WAS USED FOR THE TORY CONSTITUENCY ELECTIONS OF TOTNES IN 2009 ALLOWING SARAH WOLLASTON TO WIN THE NOMINATION.

WHAT IS THE COUNTER?

THE PARTY ARE LESS LIKELY TO USE IT IN THE FUTURE DUE TO WOLLASTONS REBELLIOUS NATURE WHEREBY SHE OPENLY CRITICISED HER OWN PARTY ON HEALTHCARE AND NHS POLICY HENCE IT WASN’T USED IN 2024

HOW DO THE LIB DEMS SELECT CANDIDATES?

PRIMARY POWER RESIDES WITH LOCAL PARTY MEMBERS WHO SELECT CANDIDATES USING A ONE MEMBER, ONE VOTE SYSTEM BUT LEADERS CAN STILL INFLUENCE OUTCOMES.

WHAT IS AN EXAMPLE TO SUPPORT THIS?

NATALIE BIRD WON THE CANDIDATES FOR WAKEFIELD AFTER BEING CHOSEN BY HER LOCAL PARTY. HOWEVER, SHE THEN WORE A T-SHIRT SAYING ‘ WOMEN: ADULT HUMAN FEMALE’ AND SO THE PARTY SUSPENDED HER MEMBERSHIP, PREVENTING HER FROM RUNNING.

WHAT DOES THIS SHOW?

IT EXPOSES THE LIMITS OF INTERNAL DEMOCRACY DUE TO THE PARTY INFLUENCE AS SHE WAS DEEMED THE BEST CANDIDATE BUT WAS REMOVED FOR HER VIEWS.

HOW DOES THE LABOUR PARTY PARTAKES IN POLICY MAKING?

LABOUR HAS A 2 YEAR POLICY MAKING CYCLE CENTERED BY THE NATIONAL POLICY FORUM( NPF). IF MEMBERS AGREE IT WILL BE DRAFTED AND SENT TO THE LABOUR PARTY CONFERENCE WHO THEN DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT IT WILL BE ADOPTED.

WHAT IS THE EXAMPLE TO SUPPORT THIS?

PROPOSALS IN LABOUR’S 2024 MANIFESTO SUCH AS GB ENERGY WAS DEVELOPED THROUGH THE NPF AND APPROVED AT THE LABOUR PARTY CONFERENCE.

WHAT IS THE COUNTER?

WHETHER OR NOT POLICY IS ACCEPTED IS PURELY AT THE DISCRESSION OF LABOUR’S LEADERS AS SEEN BY THE MOTION FOR GAZA FOR AN IMMEDIATE CEASFIRE WHICH WAS STRUCK DOWN BY KEIR STARMER DESPITE GRASSROOT SUPPORT

UNDER WHAT THREE LEADERS HAS THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY IDEOLOGY CHANGED OVERTIME?

-NEW RIGHT UNDER THATCHER

-UNDER CAMERON

-UNDER MAY

WHAT WAS THE NEW RIGHT UNDER THATCHER?

THIS WAS THE IDEOLOGY COMBINING NEO -LIBERALISM AND NEO-CONSERVATISM WHICH HEAVILY PROMOTED THE DECREASED ROLE OF THE STATE IN THE ECONOMY AND A TRADITIONAL VIEW OF SOCIETY.

GIVE AN EXAMPLE

THATCHER SOLD OF MAJOR COMPANIES LIKE BRITISH TELECOM(1984) TO REDUCE GOVERNMENT CONTROL OVER THE ECONOMY. SHE ALSO LIMITED TRADE UNION POWER VIA THE 1984 ACT AND IMPOSED STRICTER RULES ON STRIKES. SHE ALSO OPPOSED THE PERMISSIVE SOCIETY.

WHY WAS THATCHER’S IDEOLOGY SO SIGNIFICANT?

SHE ENDED THE KEYNESIAN LED STATE MODEL THAT HAD DOMINATED SINCE 1945 AND INSTEAD BELIEVED IN ROLLING BACK THE STATE ( LESS COLLECTIVISM).

WHAT WERE THE CONSERVATIVES UNDER CAMERON?

CAMERON ATTEMPTED TO REVOLUTIONISE THE ‘NASTY PARTY’ IMAGE FROM THE THATCHER ERA , MOVING TOWARDS MORE LIBERAL CONSERVATIVE VIEWS.

GIVE AN EXAMPLE

CAMERON ATTEMPTED TO END THE OLD VICTORIAN FAMILY VIEWS. HE CALLED FOR A COMBINATION OF TOUGHER PRISON SENTENCES ALONGSIDE LIGHTER REHABILITATION METHODS. HE ALSO LEGALISED SAME SEX MARRIAGE IN THE MARRIAGE ACT 2014

WHAT WERE THE CONSERVATIVES LIKE UNDER THERESA MAY?

MAY TRIED TO REVIVE A MORE INTERVENTIONALIST AND SOCIALLY CONSCIOUS VERSION OF CONSERVATISM SIMILAR TO ONE NATION IDEAS.

GIVE AN EXAMPLE

MAY PROMISED TO END AUSTERITY AND RAISE THE PERSONAL TAX ALLOWANCE , RULING OUT A RISE IN VAT. SHE ALSO INTRODUCED A POLICY TO MEANS TEST WINTER FUEL ALLOWANCES WHICH TOOK INTO ACCOUNT PEOPLE’S ASSETS WHEN DETERMINING THE COSTS THEY WOULD PAY FOR ELDERLY CARE.

WHAT IS THE COUNTER?

SHE STILL LARGELY REMAINED CONSERVATIVE TRADITIONALLY AS SHE WANTED TO REINTRODUCE GRAMMAR SCHOOLS AND WAS COMMITTED TO CUTTING IMMIGRATION BY 100,000 A YEAR.

HOW WERE THE LABOUR PARTY UNDER TONY BLAIR?

THEY ADOPTED ‘NEW LABOUR’ IDEAS AS PART OF THE THIRD WAY APPROACH WHEREBY THEY TRIED TO BLEND FREE MARKET CAPITALISM AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.

GIVE AN EXAMPLE

THEY ABANDONED CLAUSE IV OF THE LABOUR PARTY CONSTITUTION( PUBLIC OWNERSHIP OF THE MEANS OF PRODUCTION). THEY ALSO ACCPETED THE MARKET ECONOMY , ALLOWING PUBLIC SERVICES TO BE BUILT AND DELIVERED VIA THE PRIVATE FINANCE INIATIVES. THEY ALSO TARGETED CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM.

WHAT IS THE COUNTER?

VERY SIGNIFICANT AS HE ONE THE LARGEST LANSLIDE IN HISTORY, ENHANCING THE LABOUR PARTY FOR BETTER ELECTORAL SUCCESS

WHAT WAS LABOUR LIKE UNDER JEREMY CORBYN?

THE LABOUR PARTY TOOK A TURN MORE TO THE LEFT WHEREBY THEY REJECTED NEW LABOUR CENTRISM AND PROMOTED THE REVIVAL OF STATE OWNERSHIP/REDISTRIBUTION

GIVE AN EXAMPLE

UNDER THE ‘FOR THE MANY NOT THE FEW’ SLOGAN CORBYN WANTED TO RENATIONALISE RAIL,ROYAL MAIL ETC. HE ALSO PLEDGED THE ABOLITION OF THE OF £9250 UNI FEES. HE ALSO WANTED TO RAISE THE CORPORATION TAX FROM 19% TO 26%.

WHAT IS THE COUNTER?

CHANGE WAS RADICAL ON PAPER BUT WAS NEVER IMPLEMENTED FOLLOWING THE LABOUR ELECTION LOSS(365-202)

WHAT WAS THE LABOUR PARTY LIKE UNDER STARMER?

THEY SHIFTED AWAY FROM CORBYNISM TO A MORE CENTRIST AND ELECTORALLY FOCUSED PARTY.

GIVE AN EXAMPLE

KEIR STARMER ABANDONED NATIONALISATION BY 2023-2024 FOR ENERGY AND WATER AND ONLY KEPT RAIL REFORM. HE ALSO KEPT STRICT FISCAL RULES SUCH AS THE COMMITTMENT THAT DAY TO DAY SPENDING MUST BE FUNDED BY TAX REVENUES. HE PROMOTED ‘NEW DEAL FOR WORKING PEOPLE’ BUT MORE BUSINESS FRIENDLY.

WHY WAS STARMERS CHANGE SIGNIFICANT?

LABOUR MOVED FROM AN IDEOLOGICAL DRIVEN PARTY TO A PRAGMATIC GOVERNMENT IN WAITING PRIORITISING ELECTABILITY.

WHAT IS CONSENSUS POLITICS?

A POLITICAL SITUATION WHERE THE MAJOR PARTIES BROADLY AGREE ON KEY POLICIES AND PRINCIPLES , EVEN IF THEY DIFFER ON DETAILS.

WHAT IS ADVERSARIAL POLITICS?

WHEN MAJOR PARTIES SHARLY DISAGREE ON KEY POLICIES AND PRINCIPLES LEADING TO CONFLICT.

WHAT PREMISES WOULD YOU USE TO DISCUSS CONSENSUS POLITICS?

-THE ECONOMY

-IMMIGRATION POLICY

ONLY LABOUR AND CONSERVATIVES WILL BE DISCUSSED.

WHAT WAS CONSERVATIVE POLICY LIKE ON IMMIGRATION?

WHAT WAS LABOUR POLICY LIKE ON IMMIGRATION?

CONSERVATIVES SEE IMMIGRATION AS A THREAT TO SOCIAL COHESION AND WISH TO ENFORCE STRICT LAWS TO REDUCE INCENTIVES TO MIGRATE

LABOUR SEE IMMIGRATION AS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE MANAGED NOT ELIMINATED FOR THEM THIS IS DONE VIA FIXING PROCESSING AND ENFORECEMENT SYSTEMS.

WHAT ABOUT THE ECONOMY?

CONSERVATIVES BELIEVE THAT MARKETS ARE THE MOST EFFICIENT ALLOCATORS OF RESOURCES AND PRIORITISE LOW INFLATION , TAXATION ETC

LABOUR ACCEPT CAPITALISM AND MARKETS BUT SEE THEM AS IMPERFECT AND SO THE STATE SHOULD PLAY A ROLE.

WHAT IS THE BEST EXAMPLE TO SHOW WE ARE NOT IN A CONSENSUS PERIOD AROUND IMMIGRATION?

IN 2024 UNDER RISHI SUNAK THE CONSERVATIVES INTRODUCED THE SAFETY OF RWANDA ACT DECLARING RWANDA A ‘SAFE COUNTRY’ IN LAW TO ENABLE DEPORTATIONS AFTER THE SUPREME COURT BLOCKED THE POLICY IN 2023. MEANWHILE, WHEN STARMER ENTERED GOVERNMENT HE REMOVED IT ARGUING IT COST £700M WITH VERY FEW REMOVALS ( ONLY 2000).

WHAT IS THE COUNTER?

BOTH PARTIES DO STILL SHARE THE SAME END GOAL OF REDUCING ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION. FOR EXAMPLE, KEIR STARMER ENFORCED THE BORDER SECURITY COMMAND IN 2024 WHICH WAS MADE TO COORDINATE ENFORCEMENT AROUND ILLEGAL ENTRY AND SMUGGLING.

WHAT IS THE BEST EXAMPLE FOR THE ECONOMY TO SHOW WE ARE NOT IN CONSENSUS POLITICS?

UNDER RISHI SUNAK THE CONSERVATIVES PROMOTED TAX CUTS .IN THEIR 2024 SPRING BUDGET NATIONAL INSURANCE CONTRIBUTIONS WERE LOWERED FROM 10-8% , SAVING THE AVERAGE WORKER £450 A DAY. MEANWHILE, WITH LABOUR RACHEL REEVES ADOPTED A ‘SUPPLY SIDE’ APPROACH FOCUSED ON INVESTMENT. THIS INCLUDED THE NATIONAL WEALTH FUND FOR FUTURE INDSUTRIES AND THE CREATION OF GREAT BRITISH ENERGY.

WHAT IS THE COUNTER?

THERE IS SOME AGREEMENT ON THE NEED FOR FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND PROMOTING ECONOMIC GROWTH. FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE 2024 SPRING BUDGET SUNAK SAID THAT THE DEBT TO GDP RATIO HAS TO FALL WITHIN 5 YEARS AND INFLATION MUST FALL AND IN LABOUR’S AUTUM 2024 BUDGET THEY SAID DAY TO DAY PUBLIC SPENDING MUST BE FUNDED BY TAX REVENUE WITH REEVES ECHOING THE SAME DEBT TO GDP THINGS AS RISHI.

WHAT ARE FACTIONS?

SMALL ORGANISED GROUPS WITHIN A LARGER POLITICAL PARTY WHICH ARE UNITED BY SHARED IDEOLOGIES

WHAT ARE THREE FACTIONS WITHIN THE LABOUR PARTY?

-SOCIALIST CAMPAIGN GROUP

-LABOUR FIRST

-BLUE LABOUR

WHAT IS THE SOCIALIST CAMPAIGN GROUP FACTION?

THIS IS A HARD LEFT CAUCAS OF LABOUR MPS COMMITTED TO DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISM WITH A SMALL BUT VOCAL MEMBERSHIP WITHIN THE LABOUR PARTY

GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF THEIR SIGNIFICANCE WITHIN THE LABOUR PARTY

IN THE RUN UP TO THE 2024 MANIFESTO THE CAMPAIGN GROUP PUSHED FOR STRONGER WORKER’S RIGHTS . FOR EXAMPLE, THEY SAID THE MANIFESTO SHOULD INCLUDE EXPANDED STATUATORY RIGHTS FROM DAY ONE OF EMPLOYMENT AND GREATER PROTECTIONS AGAINST UNFAIR DISMISSAL.

HOW SIGNIFICANT ARE THEY TO THEY TO THE POLICIES OF THE LABOUR PARTY?

HOWEVER, THE FACTIONS FULL RANGE OF POLICIES DID NOT MAKE IT ONTO THE MANIFESTO. THIS IS DUE TO THEIR SMALL SIZE (20 TO 30 MEMBERS) COMPARED TO THE OVER 400 MPS LABOUR HAD AFTER THE 2024 ELECTION.

WHAT IS THE LABOUR FIRST FACTION?

THIS IS A MODERATE FACTION OPPOSING THE HARD LEFT WITH SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC OUTLOOK

GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF LABOUR FIRST?

IN THE 2024 MANIFESTO ITS INFLUENCE CAN BE SEEN IN COMMITMENTS TO MAINTAIN ‘TOUGH SPENDING RULES’ TO CONTROL INFLATION AND THE DEFICIT. ALSO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONAL WEALTH FUND TO SUPPORT GROWTH AND INVESTMENT JOBS. THIS ALIGNS WITH THEIR FOCUS ON ECONOMIC STABILITY AND RESPONSIBLE PUBLIC SPENDING.

HOW SIGNIFICANT ARE THEY IN THE POLICIES OF THE LABOUR PARTY?

THEY ARE HIGHLY INFLUENTIAL WITHIN THE PARTY DUE TO THEIR SIZEABLE PARLIAMENTARY NETWORK AND ALIGNMENT WITH THE LEADERSHIPS STRATEGIC EMPHASIS ON ELECTABLITY.

WHAT IS THE BLUE LABOUR FACTION?

THIS GROUP COMBINES LEFT WING ECNOMICS WITH SOCIALLY CONSERATIVE AND BRITISH COMMUNITY IDEALS

GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF THE BLUE LABOUR FACTION

IN THE 2024 MANIFESTO THEIR INFLUENCE WAS MOST NOTICEABLE IN POLICIES ON IMMIGRATION AND BORDER CONTROL WHERE LABOUR INCLUDED COMMITMENTS TO REDUCE NET MIGRATION AND STRENGTHEN BORDER SECURITY. THIS REFLECTED BLUE LABOUR’S FOCUS ON IDENTITY AND SOCIAL COHESION.

HOW SIGNIFICANT ARE THEY TO THE POLICIES OF LABOUR?

ITS SOCIALLY CONSERATIVE IDENTITY LIMITS THEIR DOMINANCE WITH THE BROADER LABOUR COALITION EG. MAURICE GLASMAN WAS NOT GIVEN A FRONTBENCH OR ADVISORY ROLE WHEN STARMER BECAME LEADER IN 2020