political parties

Three factors that affect party success

-The strength of the party's leadership
-The extent to which parties are united or divided between different party factions
-The role of the media in projecting a particular image of a party (valence)
-How economically responsible the party appears to be
-How trustworthy they are
-How competent the party was in the past

Functions of a political party in a democratic system

Representation
Participation
Formulating policy
Recruiting office holders
Providing government

Where does the funding of parties come from?

State funding
voluntary subscriptions of membership
fundraising events in the MPs constituency

Arguments against state funding

-Increased state funding could lead to calls for greater state regulation

Arguments for state funding

-Would curb the possibility of corruption.
-Parties play an important role in representative democracy

3 main policies of UKIP

-Supporting grammar schools
-Leaving the EU
-More control on immigration

2 main policies of Green party

-Reducing social inequality
-Environmental issues

What is a one party dominant system?

A no. of parties but only one has realistic prospect of winning

What is a two-and-a half party system?

Two large parties are the main players

A two party system

Two parties compete for power at elections

A multi-party system

A number of parties content to form a government

Factors that affect party success

-The strength of the party's leadership
-The extent to which parties are united or divided between party factions
-Party funding
-The role of the media in projecting a particular image of a party

Conservative leader in 1975

Margaret thatcher

Conservative leader from 1990-1997

John Major

Conservative leader from 1997-2001

William Hague

Conservative leader from 2001-2003

Lain Duncan Smith

Conservative leader from 2003-2005

Micheal Howard

Conservative leader from 2005-2016

David Cameron

Conservative leader from 2016

Theresa May

Issue with conservative party after Thatcherism

-Hague

Why did David Cameron win two elections?

-tolerated minority groups and different lifestyles
-showed interest in the environment
-valued public services
-Maintained that they stood on the side of the people rather than well off elite
-Moderate tone allowed him to form a coalition government in May 2010
-Won slim victory in May 2015

Conservative party economic policy

-Priority to reduce budget deficit
-Insisted on a programme of public spending cuts by 25% except for school

Conservative party welfare policy

-distinguished between hard-working "striver" and undeserving "shirker" whom they sought to penalise
-Universal credit system merges work benefits into one payment which simplifies the welfare system and encourages people to take up employment
-overhaul of the NHS

Labour leader from 1980-83

Micheal foot

Labour leader from 1983-1992

Neil Kinnock

Labour leader from 1992-94

John Smith

Labour leader from 1994-2007

Tony Blair

Labour leader from 2007-10

Gordon Brown

Labour leader from 2010-15

Ed miliband

Labour leader from 2015-

Jeremy Corbyn

Labour under Tony Blair

-Under Blair the party dropped unpopular policies and the role played by trade unions was downgraded. Party leadership also developed links with the business community. Labour become pro EU and strong emphasis placed on the media.

Labour under Gordon Brown

Emphasis on wealth creation and people needed to be aware of their responsibilities to the community as well as their rights. Responsibility in handling the national finances and enlisting the public sector to deliver public services

Labour under Miliband

Miliband tried to combine New Labour's support for business with the defence of the parties core-working constituency by drawing a distinction between "predatory" and "responsible" capitalism. Was dubbed "Red Ed" by media due to the nature of his proposals but eventually resigned in 2015 due to pressure to take a more radical approach

Labour economic policy under Corbyn

Increased investment into the economy. Calling for large scale funding of industry and infrastructure organised by a national investment bank. Renationalisation of the railway.

Labour Welfare policy under Corbyn

Strongly oppose benefit cuts

Labour law and order policy under Corbyn

Opposed hard-line policies of new labour such as increased powers to combat terrorism and introduction of identity cards

Labour foreign policy under Corbyn

Favoured withdrawal of the UK from Nato's military structure and the abolition of the Trident nuclear weapon system. Supported British membership of the EU

Lib Dems leader from 1988-99

Paddy Ashdown

Lib dems leader from 1999-2006

Charles Kennedy

lib dems leader from 2006-07

Menzies Campbell

lib dems leader from 2007-15

Nick Clegg

lib dems leader from 2015-17

Tim Farron

lib dems leader from 2017

Sir Vince Cable

Lib dems economic policy

Emphasised continued commitment to eliminating the budget defect but in a way that would be fair to the poor. Progressively raising the income-tax threshold so low-income people can be relieved from paying tax. Commitment to renewable energy and the expansion of the green investment bank to find products such as offshore with farms

Lib dems welfare policy

Control spending on benefits but pledge to curb benefits paid to better off pensioner in order to afford more support for the low paid. They pledge increased funding into NHS

Lib dems law and order policy

Regard defence of civil liberties as key so opposed to conservative's snooper's charter and emphasis on rehabilitation of prisoners and use of community service instead of short prison sentences

Lib dems foreign policy

Most enthusiastic about EU and was reluctant to accept results of Brexit referendum

Features of political parties

-Parties are associations of people who hold similar political views and wish to promote them
-Parties seek governmental power
-Most parties have some kind of hierarchy
-Most parties have a system of membership

How do parties receive money

-Collecting membership subscriptions
-Holding fundraising events
-Receiving loans from wealthy individuals
-The self-financing of candidates for office
-Up to £2 million per party is available in grants from the electoral commission

4 reasons political party funding is controversial

1)Large parties \= more income so higher advantage
2) Funding by donors can give them influence
3)Some parties give expectation to donor of peerage or knighthood
4)Due to decline in party membership

About Lord Ashcroft and the conservative party

Lord Ashcroft was the conservatives party's biggest donor

Proposed measure to solve funding problems

-Restriction on the size individual can donate
-Restriction on how much parties can spend
-Outlaw donations from businesses

Issue of party donors and appointment to the house of Lords

Lord Magan: £1

Arguments for the idea that political parties should be funded by the state

-Ends opportunities for corrupt use of donations
-Ends possibilities of hidden forms of influence
-Reduces advantage of huge parties
-Ensures wider participation from groups who have no ready source of funds

Conservative party income from all sources 2015

51.2 mill

Labour party income from all sources 2015

41.9 mill

Liberal party income from all sources 2015

7.9 mill

SNP party income from all sources 2015

6 mill

UKIP party income from all sources 2015

5.8 mill

Green party income from all sources 2015

3 mill

Plaid Cymru income from all sources 2015

0.7 mill

Arguments against the idea that political parties should be funded by the state

-Taxpayers may object
-Will be difficult to know how to distribute funding
-Parties may lose independence and be seen as organs of the state
-State funding may lead to excessive state regulation of parties

What are cause/ promotional groups

Used for pressure groups to promote issues and policies that do not exclusively benefit the members of the group

What are cheque book members

Refers to those who donate to pressure groups and charities

What is Clickitivism

Describes political action in social media that does not necessarily show genuine political engagement or awareness

What are Core insiders

Pressure groups that work closely and regularly with the government across a broad range of issues

What is Functional representation

Function provided by pressure groups when representing specific sections and social groups in society

What is hyperpluralism

term based when there are so many pressure groups opposed to the government's plan that it struggles to function properly

What are ideological outsiders

Pressure groups with radical aims that reject the existing political system and refuse to limit themselves by working within its formal procedures.

What are specialist insiders

pressure groups that tend to be consulted on particular issues where their expertise required

What is tripartism

where the government closely consults

What are umbrella groups

Organisations that represent the interests of a no. of different pressure groups that share similar interests

About DUP

- Promises to stand up for Ireland
-Does not support independent Ireland
-Opposes integration of religious schools
-Wants to improve Irish infrastructure
-Resists socially progressive ideas such as same sex marriage and legal abortion

About SNP

-Redistribution of income
-Strong support support for public sector health and education
-Investment into renewable energy
-Built school 750 schools

About UKIP

-UK to leave the European single market
-Strong control over immigration]
-Preference for British citizens in jobs

About the Brexit party

I don't know they just want to leave the EU I guess

About the Green party

-Strong controls on environmental damage and strict emission control targets
-Radical redistribution of income from rich to poor
-Cancellation of the trident nuclear programme
-Radical constitutional reform

About Plaid Cymru

-More self-government for Wales
-Similar nationalist policies to the SNP

About Sinn Fein

-Refuse to take seats in Westminister as a protest
-Greater funding for public services
-Socially liberal policies e.g. LGBTQ rights

Why are minor political parties important in the UK?

-A governing party can use a minority party to reach an agreement and form a government
-A minority party that wins are large no. of votes may influence a large party out of fear
-If an emerging party wins a considerable no. of votes it can be influential in the house of commons

Example of the governing party using minority party reach an agreement

The conservative party and the democratic unionist party of northern Ireland made a pact in 2017

An example of a large party being influenced by a small party due to fear of losing votes to them

The conservative party was influenced by UKIP and so promised a referendum on staying in the EU or leaving and the Green party influencing labour

Example of emerging party being able to influence in the house of commons

True of the SNP since 2015 and the DUP after 2017. This brings minority voices into public view

What is consensus politics?

-Consensus is a widespread agreement on an issue or a general political stance
-Parties may disagree on detail of policies rather than basic principle.

What is a party system

A party system is a description of how many parties have a significant no. of seats or a significant no. of seats or influence in a political system

What is adversary politics

Adversary politics is when two side oppose each other. Often one of ideological nature. Such a period was in the 1980s when the Thatcherite policies were Neo-liberal and Neo-conservative

Example of consensus politics

Policies adopted by Ed Miliband where similar to those of 2010-15 coalition government

Dominant party system

one party dominates the no. of seats in the legislative body

Two party system

only two parties have significant representation

Three party system

Three parties have significant representation

Multiparty system

Four or more parties have a signifiant no of representative elected

Factors in party

Example of party losing votes due to their past when last in office

Liberal democrats lost support in 2015 election. 4.4 million votes and 49 seats lost most likely due to the U-turn they took on tuition fees

Example of party being criticised on economical responsibility

Major critics of Labour highlight their increase in government spending as financially irresponsible

Example of party's trustworthiness

Critics of green party say that the party's policies are unrealistic in terms of spending and the possibility of success

traits and qualities are known to attract support in a political party leader

-Experience -Apparent honesty -Decisiveness
-Ability to lead -Intelligence -Media image

Examples of party unity affecting party's success

-In 1983 and 1987 the labour party became defeated by a united conservative party under Margaret Thatcher
-In 1997 the conservative party was divided over the EU and lost heavily to Labour

Examples of media criticising political parties

-Labour party in 1983 and 2010 however managed to overcome ferocious press opposition in the 2017 election campaign. It did this party by mobilising social media in its favour

Positives of the role played by parties in the UK?

-Provides opportunities for people to become involved in politics. They are inclusive and make few demands of members
-They make political issues understandable and help to make government accountable
-They help to make elections and the operation of parliament effective and understandable to the public

Negatives of the role played by parties in the UK?

-Adverbial parties deny the creation of consensus and reduce issues to false simplistic choices
-Parties claim legitimacy through their electoral mandate even when they are elected to power with a minority of the popular vote
-Parties sometimes become over-elitist so that small leadership groups can dominate policy-making to the detriment of internal democracy