AS UK Government and Politics

Topic 4Political parties

Topic 4

Political parties

Political party functions

• Aggregating policy, developing programmes• Developing policy options• Recruiting members, activists, leaders• Opportunities for participation in politics• Training potential leaders• Educating the public about political issues• Helping to run elections• Reinforcing democratic consent

Topic 4

Political parties

Two-party domination in UK politics

Election Conservative

seats

Labour seats Liberal (or Lib

Dem seats)

% of seats won by

largest two parties

1979 339 269 11 95.8

1983 397 209 23 93.3

1987 376 229 22 93.0

1992 336 271 20 93.2

1997 165 418 46 88.4

2001 413 166 52 87.8

2005 198 356 62 85.6

2010 307 258 57 86.9

Topic 4

Political parties

Electoral and party systems in Europe

Country Electoral system Form of government

Belgium PR list Multi party coalition (2007)

Austria PR list Two party coalition (2008)

Luxembourg PR list Two party coalition (2009)

Finland PR list Two party coalition (2007)

Netherlands PR list Three party coalition (2006)

Spain PR list Single party minority (2008)

Sweden PR list Multi party coalition (2006)

Denmark PR list Multi party coalition (2007)

continued...

Topic 4

Political parties

Country Electoral system Form of government

Germany AMS Two party coalition (2009)

Italy AMS Two party coalition (2008)

Ireland STV Three party coalition (2007)

France Second ballot Four party coalition (2007)

UK FPTP Coalition government (2010)

Compiled by Anna Rose O’Dwyer, St Paul’s School

Topic 4

Political parties

Traditional Conservative principles

• Stress on law and order• Defence of private property• Pessimistic view of human nature• Belief in natural inequality and natural hierarchy• Organic society• Evolutionary change rather than artificial reform• Empiricism• Support for tradition• Patriotism

Topic 4

Political parties

New Right principles

Neo-liberalism• Support for free markets• Reduced government interventions (deregulation)• Reduced levels of taxation• Anti ‘dependency culture’• Opposition to powerful trade unions• Strong belief in individualism

Neo-conservatism• Authoritarian state• Opposition to progressive liberal values• Economic and political patriotism• Stress on traditional or religious values

Topic 4

Political parties

Conservatism under Cameron

• Concern for the socially excluded• Concern for the environment• Euroscepticism• Acceptance of constitutional reform• Support for the welfare state• Concern for individual rights and freedoms• Stress on financial responsibility• ‘Big Society’

Topic 4

Political parties

Principles of Democratic Socialism

• Collectivism• Common ownership• State planning• Redistribution of income• Welfare state• Equal rights• Workers’ rights and trade unionism• Equality of opportunity

Topic 4

Political parties

Social democracy, New Labour and the Third Way

• Support for free market capitalism• Attack on poverty• Weak trade unions but legal safeguards for workers• Support for the welfare state• Less state control of the economy• Tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime• Pro European, but cautious about the euro• Support for active foreign policy and action on world poverty• Constitutional reform

Topic 4

Political parties

Principles of Liberalism

• Stress on individual liberty• Tolerance• Equal rights and protection of rights• Strong constitutional controls on government• Equality of opportunity• Social justice• Welfare state• Removal of artificial privilege• Anti discrimination• Stress on democratic values

Topic 4

Political parties

Liberal Democrat party policies

• Electoral and second chamber reform• Increased power for devolved and local government• Codified constitution• Strengthening individual rights• Redistribution of income through taxation policy• Environmental protection• Ethical and cautious foreign policy• Strong support for the welfare state• Tolerant attitude to law and order