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political parties in the uk
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Political Parties in the UK
Social Studies, Autumn 2012
1
What do the parties do?
1: Fight for political power, e.g. they try to win control over the House of Commons
2: They give ordinary men and women a chance to participate in politics
3: They are accountable; the voters utter their opinions at election time
Since 1918: UK dominated by two large parties:
the Conservative Party + the Labour Party
2
The Conservative PartyPrime Minister and leader: David Cameron
3
The Conservative Party
‘Tory party’In government for 2/3 of the 20th centuryCentre-right party:
Max opportunity for the individualMarket forces: operate relatively freelyLow taxationLow public spendingPrivatisation is healthy
4
The Conservative Party
Supports:Slow, steady change‘Traditional’ values and institutionsFamily lifeThe House of LordsPublic (i.e. private) schoolsModernising industry
5
The Labour PartyLeader: Ed Miliband
6
The Labour Party
Founded in 1900Working-class interestsLeft-of-centre partySupports the have-notsWelfare‘New Labour’ (accepts private enterprise)Tony Blair & Gordon Brown (former leaders
and PMs)7
The Liberal DemocratsLeader and Deputy Minister in the UK: Nick Clegg
8
The Liberal DemocratsPart of the current coalition government
(Conservatives + LibDems)Founded in 1988 (the Liberals + the Social
Democratic Party = the Liberal Democrats)Freedom of the individualSceptical of big businessDevolution is a good thing (moving power
from London to the regions)Enthusiastic about the EUSocial change 9
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