Political Parties

What is a party system?

This definition of party system refers to the typical structure of parties within a political system. It describes the normal number of parties that compete effectively. Thus we may speak of dominant, two-, three- or multi-party systems. It also refers to the typical party make-up of governments – for example, single-party government, coalitions and so on.

What type of party system has the uk had?

The party system in the UK has varied from two-party systems – where government swings back and forth between two parties such as Labour and Conservative with very little contribution from other parties (1945 – 1974) , to a ‘dominant’ party system, featuring long reigns in government by one party followed by the other (1979 – 2010).

What type of party system does the uk have?

It can be argued that today we have multi-party system in UK, as we have recently had Liberal Democrats in coalition government, SNP have 56 seats, and UKIP received 4 million votes. However, others argue as long as FPTP is electoral system, there will always be more or less a 2-party system.

What is party structure?

Party structure refers to way political parties are organised. This can be looked at from the ‘top down’ or ‘bottom up’. The mainstream political parties in UK have similar structures.

Who are party’s led by?

Political parties are typically led by a party leader, who is the most powerful member of the party and the spokesperson for the party. 

Who is party secretary?

There is also a party secretary, whose role is to maintain the daily work and the records of party meetings. 

Who is party treasurer?

The party treasurer is responsible for collecting membership dues, but also for seeking donations to the party. 

Who is party chair?

Then there is the party chair, who has the responsibility of recruitment and retention of party members as well as chairing party meetings. 

Who is party executive?

The people in those above positions are also likely to be members of the party executive, which is the organisation that leads the setting of national policies for the party.

how can you look at party structures from the bottom up?

Looking at party structure from ‘bottom up’ – a good example is how Labour Party is organised. When someone joins Labour Party, they are assigned to their local branch, lowest level of party organisation. These local branches have role for selecting candidates to represent party in local elections, and also send delegates to General Committee of the Constituency Labour Party (CLP).

What is the CLP?

The CLP has the role of organising the party at the constituency level, taking the lead in the local and national election campaigns, and playing a party in selecting the parliamentary candidates. The role of the CLPs have been diminished somewhat by the extension of one member one vote (OMOV) on matters of selection in the Party.

What is the NEC?

The National Executive Committee (NEC) is the main organ of the national Labour party, ensuring the smooth running of the party, overseeing policy proposal preparations, having final say on parliamentary candidates, and sometimes enforcing party discipline.

What is the labour parties annual conference ?

The Labour Party’s annual conference was once the sovereign policy-making body in the Labour Party. This role was diminished somewhat in the 1990s, although Jeremy Corbyn, the new Labour leader, has proposed re-empowering the role of members at conference.

what local structure does the Conservative Party have?

The Conservative Party has a similar local structure to Labour Party, with branches corresponding to local council wards at local level, below the constituency associations. The constituency associations play key role in organising grassroots level – selecting parliamentary candidates and planning election campaigns, although have less free reign than used to do. Above constituency associations are the regions, then National Convention, and finally main Board of the Party, on which the Party leader sits.

Where do most parties get income from?

Most political parties receive income in the form of membership subscriptions. However, until the 1990s the lion’s share of Labour party funding came from fees paid by trade unions and other affiliated organisations, while the Conservative Party was said to be bankrolled by wealthy business interests.

How have party finances been adversely affected?

Party finances have been adversely affected by decline of political parties as mass-member organisations. The efforts by Neil Kinnock, John Smith and Blair to reduce influence of trade unions on Labour Party also resulted in falling revenues.

What individuals do parties have to depend on then?

These developments led parties to court donations from wealthy individuals such as Bernie Ecclestone and Lord Sainsbury (Labour) and Sir Paul Getty and Stuart Wheeler (Conservatives – although Wheeler now funds UKIP).

What perceptions has the rise of individual donations led to?

The rise of large individual donations to political parties since 1990s has led to perception that one might be able to buy access or political influence – in much same way that Mohamed Al Fayed claimed to have done with individual Conservative MPs such as Neil Hamilton in closing years of John Major’s time in office.

What did donation from Ecclestone do?

For example, some felt that Bernie Ecclestone’s £1 million donation to the Labour Party in 1997 may have resulted in the subsequent delay in the introduction in the ban on tobacco advertising in Formula 1 motor racing. This led to calls for regulation.

What regulations have been brought in to funding?

Attempts to regulate party funding included 2000 Political Parties, Elections and Referendum Act (PPERA) (2000), which put an overall limit on party spending in general election campaigns and required parties to declare all donations over £5,000 to Electoral commission. Political Parties and Elections Act (PPEA) built on this by giving electoral commissions more powers for investigation and limiting donations over £7,500 to those who could prove they were UK residents for tax purposes.

What report did Philips write?

Sir Hayden Phillps wrote report in 2007 called Strengthening Democracy: Fair and Sustainable Funding of Political Parties (2007). It concluded one way forward might be greater state funding for UK political parties – perhaps on a ‘pence-per-voter’ or ‘pence-per-member’ funding formula.

What are arguments for state funding?

Arguments for state funding include that :

if parties were not funded by taxpayers, they would be funded by special interest groups.

state funding would allow politicians to focus on representing their constituents.

it would also mean that parties such as the Lib Dems could finally compete on an equal financial footing

What are arguments against state funding?

Arguments against state funding include :

the question of why should taxpayers bankroll parties that they may not support?

politicians could become isolated. is good that interest groups are at the heart of government.

is also the acceptance parties will always have unequal resources, even if finances are tinkered with in this way.

What did parties still receive?

Political parties do actually receive state funding anyway: This is particularly true of opposition parties, who receive funding in both the Commons and the Lords to help them fulfil their obligations as opposition to the Government.

What are functions of parties?

Convert political ideas into policies (policy formulation by discussion is called aggregation)

participation through internal voting, discussion, leafleting etc.

Represent sections of society, certain issues, political ideas

Select candidates for election

Identify leaders – Prime Ministers are leaders of a party

Help organise elections and provide choice in these elections

They help to educate the public on issue

what are features of parties?

Members hold broadly similar views

Seek to secure elections of their candidates at various levels

Have organisation to help develop policies, select leaders etc.

They have some kind of formal membership

What are let wing policies?

Redistribute income through high taxes and welfare

Strong support for welfare state

Support workers’ rights and trade unions

State should be involved in economy through support or control

A stress on equal rights for all in society

Support for equality of opportunitY

What are right wing policies?

Low levels of tax to incentivise work and enterprise

Acceptance of private sector involvement in public services

State should not interfere in economy

Support for free market and reducing trade union power

Strong on law and order

Stress individualism and national identity

How are parties funded?

Collecting membership fees

Holding fundraising events

Receiving donations

Raising loans

Self-financing of candidates

£2 million available in state grants

Short money available for opposition political partieS

Why is funding controversial?

Funds collected vary considerably.

Funding by large donors may give them influence. Labour received £4.4 mill Unite Union, Tories received £1.5 mill from the JCB Hedge fund

Cash for honours and cash for questions scandals, show problem of funding

Richard Desmond scandal 2020, big donation after his building was approved by Conservatives.

Declining party memberships makes parties more reliant on donation

In the three months before the 2017 elections Tory funds collected?

25 million

In the three months before the 2017 elections labour funds collected?

9\.5 million

In the three months before the 2017 elections lib dems funds collected?

4\.4 million

In the three months before the 2017 elections snp funds collected?

600,000

In the three months before the 2017 elections ukip funds collected?

150,000

In the three months before the 2017 elections Plaid Cymru funds collected?

5,300

how many donations to parties were there October to December 31st 2019?

Highest ever, 70 million in all

how much funding did conservatives get : Donations to Parties between October and December 31st 2019?

37\.6 million

how much funding did lib dems get : Donations to Parties between October and December 31st 2019?

13\.7 million

how much funding did labour get : Donations to Parties between October and December 31st 2019?

10 million

how much funding did Brexit party get : Donations to Parties between October and December 31st 2019?

7 million

how much funding did green party get : Donations to Parties between October and December 31st 2019?

0\.4 million (409,000)

how much funding did snp get : Donations to Parties between October and December 31st 2019?

0\.2 million (213,000)

how much funding did plaid cymru get : Donations to Parties between October and December 31st 2019?

0\.09 million (90,000

what are proposed solutions to election funding?

\- Impose restrictions on size of individual donations

\- Impose tight restrictions on spending

\- Outlaw donations from anyone other than individuals

\- Replace with state funding

Arguments for state funding

It will end opportunities for corrupt use of donations

It will end opportunities for ‘hidden’ funding and influence of money

Reduce huge financial advantage of big parties

Improve democracy, by increasing wider participation of all groups, not just the rich

Arguments against state funding

Taxpayers may object to their taxes funding certain parties

It will be difficult to know how to divide up state funding. Will bigger parties get more? Will this make change harder?

Parties may lose some independence

May lead to state regulation of parties

What type of party system did the UK have between 1945 & 1972?

Two party system and conservative / labour dominance 

when was there dominance of conservative and labour?

After WW2, Conservatives and Labour consistently won over 90% of votes and over 90% of seats in House of Commons.

Liberal Party obtained only around twenty seats on average.

Only 2 parties had real chance of forming government in UK up until 1974.

What can a 2 party system still include?

Note that in a two-party system there can be more than two parties competing, but only two have a realistic chance of forming the government.

What were some advantages and disadvantages of the UK having a 2-party system?

FPTP usually produced majority for 1 of these 2 parties to govern on their own.

The 2-party system was often considered, therefore, to contribute to strong and stable government.

The voters could choose between two rival policy programmes, knowing that the winning party would have the ability to carry out its manifesto plans.

Can you think of any disadvantages of a two- party system?

What has happened since 1974?

Minor parties have increased representation in Parliament.

Liberals started to gain more seats, from 1983 joined by Social Democratic Party in alliance challenging Conservatives and Labour.

From 1987 Liberals and SDP merged to form Lib Dem Party.

Produced almost 2-and-a-half party system as British class system changing + traditional party loyalties started to change.

Other parties, such as Scottish and Welsh Nationalists started to gain strength also in this period.

Effects of FPTP 1974-2010

Although smaller parties gaining more votesFPTP prevented them gaining proportional no of seats in Parliament.

Dominance of Conservatives and Labour remained, as were only parties with a realistic chance of forming government.

Labour tended to win seats in the Northern & urban and Conservatives tended to win in the South and rural areas.

What challenges have there been to the 2-party system since 1997?

Since 1997 been move little towards more of multi-party system in UK – but clearer outside of Westminster in Scotland, Wales & NI.

Devolution Acts 1997 set up Parliament in Scotland + Assemblies in NI and Wales, and in these assemblies other parties broke 2-party dominance of Conservatives and Labour in those regions.

In local govt, many Local councils have been controlled by Lib Dems, with many other areas having no 1 party with majority

What happened in 2010 and was this a turning point?

Westminster in 2010 there was Liberal presence in govt for 1st time since 1920 but still Cs dominated that govt

By 2017 G.E. Cs and L were back to gaining 82% of vote, and 89% of seats because of FPTP. In 2019 this dropped a little to 75% of the vote and 87% of the seats.

Despite brief share of govt by Lib Dems, the 2-party system in Westminster still exists.

How did Lib Dem’s suffer set back?

Revival of Liberal Democrats suffered huge setback in 2015 election.

They only won 8 seats

How did snp grow?

Scottish Nationalists replaced them as 3rd largest party in Westminster HoC with 56 seats in 2015 (48 in 2019).

However, SNP only stood for election in Scottish seats and so couldn’t hope to form majority govt for UK but they have crushed Labour in Scotland.

What is government still dominated by?

Overall, UK govt still dominated by Conservatives and Labour, However, DUP support 2017 Conservative minority government, voting for conservative government’s bills in Parliament (in return for more financial support \[£1bn\] for NI)

Has not been a PM from another party since just after WW1.

Overall, do we have a 2-party system in the UK? 

UK has always been a two-party system.

At Westminster, broadly remains 2-party system, but lack of clear majorities have meant other parties such as DUP have increased their influence.

Outside of Westminster, however, dominance of these 2 has been strongly challenged in Devolved Parliament/Assemblies and in local government

How are parties funded now?

• Membership

• Fundraising events

• Donations

• Loans

• 2m in grants from the Electoral Commission

• Short money/Cranborne/Policy Dev Grants

• Fewer members=less money

• Results in a need for wealthy donors- problematic!

What do they need funding for?

• Paying local officials and other staff such as election strategists (e.g. Lynton Crosby)

• Campaigns- particularly at election times

• Policy planning

• Advertising and social media- digital marketing

• Market research

• Administration

• Polling

What are the Current regulations?

• Political parties, Elections + Referendums Act (2000) was intro to regulate party funding.  Donors had to be on UK electoral roll (to reduce foreign influence).

•Limits imposed on spending for each candidate in Parliamentary elections (£30,000) 

•Parties publicly declare donations over £500, with register of specific details established for donations over £7500.

•Aim was to make large donations transparent + traceable.

What funding did parties receive 2017 GE?

In record political donations in run-up to UK GE 2017, Conservatives received 60% more than all other parties combined. May’s party declared £24.8m in donations in 3 months to end of June.  The other 10 political parties raised total of £15.3m, led by Labour’s £9.5m. Liberal Democrats raised £4.4m over 3-month period. 

How did funding give conservatives an edge (2017 GE)?

Conservatives expected that their fundraising power would give them edge in buying advertising space and making Mrs May appear as the only credible leader.  The PM was able to travel across country by private jet on final day of campaigning, visiting target areas such as Southampton and Norwich (this may not have worked!)

who were the biggest donors (2017 GE)?

Biggest donors in 2nd quarter were Unite, Britain’s biggest trade union, which gave £4.2m to Labour, and JCB Services, machinery maker, which gave £1.5m to the Conservatives. 

Problems with the existing system?

Large parties benefit hugely and disproportionatelY

Something hidden + worrying about it- why would someone make big donation?? Cash = influence = undemocratic

Corruption

Decline of party membership means big donors are more important

What examples of funding scandals have there been?

• Tory party fined over Downing Street flat refurb as investigation contradicts PM's account | Politics News | Sky News

• Moscow-on-Thames: Soviet-born billionaires and their ties to UK's political elite | UK news | The Guardian

• Tories facing calls to return cash from donors named in Pandora papers | UK news | The Guardian

• https://www.sanpedrosun.com/business-and-economy/2017/11/10/michael-ashcroft- accused-tax-evasion-leaked-paradise-papers/

• Cash-for-Honours scandal – Wikipedia

• https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-58100884

What are the alternatives to the current system?

Impose restrictions on size of individual donations, to reduce possible influence.

Ban donations from organisations, e.g. businesses + trade unions.

2012 Sir Christopher Kelly suggested the following:

Impose more restrictions on donations individuals can makE

Impose more restrictions on what parties can spend

State funding of political parties? – cost about £25m / year

Present levels of state funding?

• state gives policy development grants of up to £2 mill for each party, to help them hire policy advisers.

• ‘Short Money’ is payment given to opposition parties to help fund organisation in Parliament. Each party receives a payment in proportion to number of seats in HoC.

• ‘Cranbourne money’ is fund for parties in HoL.

Why is reform to party funding currently unlikely?

This topic not under consideration at moment due to other priorities such as Brexit, pandemic and dealing with deficit

State funding wouldn’t benefit either Conservatives or Labour party!

Lib Dems, SNP and the Greens care a lot!

Should there be state funding of parties? Yes

Perhaps end to behind scenes/corrupt image of funding

Fairness- some get more than others from donations due to rich supporters

Effectiveness - parties could focus on carrying out role rather than raising money

Representation + democracy- parties be more responsive to members and voters rather than wealthy individuals / organisations

It stops wealthy groups influencing parties 

Parties can focus on representing electorate, not fundraising 

Smaller parties will get fair financial support 

Less wealthy PGs will get a more equal hearing by parties

Should there be state funding of parties? No

Burden on tax payer- should they pay? waste of pub money

Parties become even more detached from real world if don’t have to raise money

Might damage small parties if distributed on basis of size and prevent from finding money in other ways

Enlargement of state power + interference- loss of independence

Politicians may be less interested in what PGs have to say 

Taxpayers should not be funding political parties 

Would be disagreement over how funding allocated 

What do policy develop grants allocate?

Policy development grants allocate 2 million to all the main parties so that they can employ policy advisers

what is short money allocated to?

Short money, named after Labour politician Ted Short, is allocated to opposition parties for their work in HoC on basis of number of seats they have. The leader of opposition is also funded almost /800,000 for running of his or her office

what is cranborne money?

Cranborne money, named after Conservative peer Lord Cranborne, subsidises work of scrutiny carried out by opposition parties in House of Lords.

Short money allocation, 9 June 2017 to 31 March 2018 for labour

£6,222,106

Short money allocation, 9 June 2017 to 31 March 2018 for SNP

£638,506

Short money allocation, 9 June 2017 to 31 March 2018 for LDs

£509.044

Short money allocation, 9 June 2017 to 31 March 2018 for Green Party

£89.137

Short money allocation, 9 June 2017 to 31 March 2018 for UKIP

£0 (in 2017 Douglas Carswell lost Clacton. This left UKIP without representation in the House of Commons and, consequently, no Short money)

What do these subsidies not cover?

These subsidies do not, however, cover campaigning and election expenses. For these, a political party will depend on the subscriptions of its party members, as well as individual donations from benefactors. The Conservative Party has traditionally received large-scale donations from big business people who see a Conservative government as being in their best interests.

What do critics of these subsidies say?

Critics of this way of funding political parties point out that it provides the Conservatives with a massive advantage over the other political parties. The Labour Party's close relationship with the trade union movement has meant that Labour gains significant financial support from the trade unions, leaving LDs and other minority parties severely disadvantaged.

What did the trade Union act do?

The Trade Union Act 2016 has changed the laws regarding trade union membership so that a new union member must now opt in' if they wish their membership fee to g° to the Labour Party. This suggests that the Conservative Party's advantage over Labour in terms of funding will further increase.

Donations to political parties in the second quarter 2017, leading to the general election conservatives

£25 million

Donations to political parties in the second quarter 2017, leading to the general election labour

£10 million

Donations to political parties in the second quarter 2017, leading to the general election LDs

£5 million

Donations to political parties in the second quarter 2017, leading to the general election UKIP

£170,000

Donations to political parties in the second quarter 2017, leading to the general election green

£150,000

What did The Political Parties, Elections and Referendum Act 2000 do?

Political Parties, Elections + Referendum Act 2000 has provided funding of political parties with greater transparency and fairness.
Independent electoral commission established to monitor how much money political parties spent on campaigns.
Amount political party can spend in constituency during an election is limited to 30,000.
Political parties must declare large-scale donations (over 5,000) to electoral commission and must not accept donations from non-UK citizens.

Should the state fund political parties?
Yes

In 2007, Phillips Report stated there was now strong case for political parties to be funded through taxation. Case had become particularly pressing because of vast discrepancy in amount of money different parties received, as well as number of financial scandals which were undermining public faith in parliamentary democracy. In particular, controversy over 'cash for honours' (2006-07) gave force to Phillips Report as it seemed to suggest certain Labour donors had been elevated to House of Lords by TB.

Should the state fund political parties?
No

Further progress to reduce discrepancy in funding difficult as C Party, largest recipient of donations, unwilling to lose advantage over rivals. Critics of state funding of political parties make following arguments:
In free democracy, people should be able to financially support whatever cause they wish. Political parties are no different to charities or pressure groups.
If state was to fund political parties would be controversial deciding how much each could claim
Philosophically, state funding might also suggest political parties were somehow servants of state - so, potentially, limiting political independence.
Funding of extremist political parties, such as BNP, which excludes certain groups from equal status in British society, would be extremely contentious

Background to traditional and One Nation Conservatism (1790- 1900)

The basic ideas of traditional conservatism were set out by Burke in 1790, included commitment to concepts such as tradition, pragmatism, protecting private property and avoiding radical change.
In mid 19th century Disraeli updated traditional conservatism to 'One Nation' conservatism.
He tried to persuade rich they had social obligation to look after poor, and accept gradual social change and reform - known as noblesse Oblige.
Otherwise 'the poor could turn to revolution unless their lives improved'.
Aim was to stop nation splitting because of poverty.

Later One nation conservatism: (1951-74)

One Nation approach continued to dominate Conservative Party through most of 19th and 20th centuries.
After WW2, British PMs Macmillan and Heath, in 1950s and '60s were leading figures of One Nation conservatism.
Conservatives maintained consensus (broad agreement) with Labour on welfare and economic policy aimed at full employment. They kept most of key changes introduced by Labour after WW2.

One nation ideas

A paternalistic role for the state
State should intervene in economy when necessary, but in limited manner
Market forces should not be lift to rip society apart
Emphasis on social stability and social cohesion.
It was Conservative government which took UK into EU (at that time called the European Economic Community) because of economic advantages

Margaret Thatcher was a leader who believed in new right ideas. What were the two main elements of the new right?

Thatcherism (The New Right)
When Thatcher became P.M. in 1979 consensus broke down and UK entered period of adversary politics.
New Right ideas contain both neoliberal and neoconservative elements.
Thatcher's Conservatives also went on to win 1983 and 1987 elections

Thatcherism (neoliberalism)

Neoliberal ideas based on acceptance of individualism.
Thatcher's most famous quote was 'There is no such thing as society, there are individual men and women and there are families'.
This requires individuals to look after themselves so welfare & benefits reduced, but NHS was still vital.
Neoliberal economic policy seeks minimal intervention by government in economy.
Nationalised industries were privatised (e.g. BT and British Rail).
The aim of this was to reduce government spending and lower taxation.

Thatcherism (neo-conservatism)

There was also return to more authoritarian and nationalistic conservatism.
This produced tougher policies on law and order, defence and immigration.
A call for return to 'Victorian values' was made, because of perceived moral decline since 1960s in family and public life.
Thatcherism became more critical of EU as her time in power developed.

What is conservatism?

Conservatism is an idea which developed in the 18th and 19th centuries. It priorities order and security and doesn't like extreme ideas. It seeks traditional, evolutionary and pragmatic solutions to political problems

Cameron's Conservative Party (2005-2016)

When elected party leader in 2005, Cameron urged party to 'stop banging on about Europe and tried to present a new image, one that cared about environment and socially disadvantaged young people. 2010, become UK's 1st peacetime coalition PM. This, alongside need to reduce UK's budget deficit, restricted ability to create 'Cameron's Britain". Nonetheless, adapted well to coalition, with some suggesting he used Lib Dems as excuse for not carrying out some of more right-wing manifesto promises. Despite making progress on reducing UK's budget deficit, winning Scottish independence referendum and detoxifying Conservative brand, Cameron will be remembered for decision to hold (and then lose) EU referendum in June 2016

What is ideology of Traditional and one nation conservatism , Thatcherism , Cameron ?

1. pragmatic — opposed to fixed political principles
2. prefers a highly ideological, dogmatic approach
3. a preference for pragmatism over dogmatism