Political parties in the UK DO NOW Complete the table, providing precise definitions for each of the key terms. Use the comparison below to guide your.

Political parties in the UK

DO NOWComplete the table, providing precise definitions for each of the key terms. Use the comparison below to guide your work. Unacceptably vague Reassuringly precise

First-past-the-post is an electoral system with some sort of geographical basis.

First-past-the-post is an electoral system in which candidates compete for a simple plurality of votes in single member constituencies.

Dave says: “We are on the road to stronger exam results.”

Put the following dates in your diary for extra lessons:

• Friday, 13th February, 10-11.30am

• Wednesday, 18th February, 10-11.30am

• Go to the iSideWith website and take the policy quiz to determine which political party you side with on most major issues.

• https://uk.isidewith.com/political-quiz

Homefun

Learning objectives• To define the characteristics and functions of political

parties• To explain how the party system functions in the UK• To evaluate the similarities and differences between

political parties and Pressure Groups

What are political parties?A political party is …

“… a group of like-minded individuals who seek to realise their shared goals by fielding candidates at elections and thereby securing election to public office”.P. Lynch and P. Fairclough (2010)

“… a group of people that is organised for the purpose of winning Government power, by electoral or other means”.Andrew Heywood (2010)

“… an organisation whose members share a common ideology and/ or policies, and come together to seek election to political office”.P. Fairclough (2008)

Parties in the electorate Parties as organisations Parties in government

Represent voters’ views and interests

Simplify choices for voters Recruit political leadership based on suitability for office

Create workably majorities in the HOC

Educate citizens Compete for governmental office

Create stability in government

Generate symbols of political identification/loyalty

Train political elites Implement policy

Encourage/organise political participation

Aggregate and articulate political interests

Control the administration

Take responsibility for government actions

Organise opposition/Hold government to account

What do they do?

Different party systemsThere are different types of party system:

Single- Party System (e.g. North Korea, China and Eritrea)- One party has total control, there is no political opposition and no real means of protest. Elections may be held but the state controls the result.

Dominant- Party System (e.g. Japan, Brazil and Russia) – These are democratic countries but one party is dominant and has held the bulk of power, e.g. in Japan the Liberal Democratic Party has held power almost continuously for the past 55 years.

Multi-Party System (e.g. Italy, Germany and Australia) – There are numerous parties all competing for power. Larger parties are likely to form coalitions with smaller parties in making a Government.

Pluralism and democratic equilibrium

• Pluralism as a political philosophy is the recognition and affirmation of diversity within a political body, which permits the peaceful coexistence of different interests, convictions and lifestyles.

• Pluralism in political science is the view that politics and decision making are located mostly in the framework of government, but that many non-governmental groups also exert influence.

• The idea of democratic equilibrium (Held, 1987) describes the state of open competition for electoral support among a significant part of the adult population. This competition ensures relative equality of group interests and relative freedom of choice for the individual.

The party system in the UKBogdanor (2004) identifies four distinct phases of the evolution of the UK party system during the past ~100 years

• 1906-1914 two-’block’ system (led by Conservatives, Liberals)• 1918-1931 three party system (Conservatives, Labour, Liberals) • 1945-1970 two party competition (Conservatives, Labour)• 1974-present

The decline of the two-party system

Left-right infographic• Study the infographic on the difference between left-wing

and right-wing politics—this is based mainly on the state of politics in the United States

• Using this as a model, design your own infographic for the state of politics in the United Kingdom. Try to include: core beliefs, social basis of support, key policies, etc.

• The best examples will include relevant detail from UK current affairs, e.g. Devolution, Immigration, the NHS, the EU, the deficit, etc.

The political spectrumPeople’s views on how the country should be run are often referred to as an Ideology. A person or party’s political ideology can be plotted on a ‘Political Spectrum’ running from Left to Right.

Left Wing Right Wing

CommunismSocialism

Liberalism

FascismConservatism

Typical ideological positions

Left-wing beliefs• Emphasis on people as social beings

working together for common good.

• The state is chosen by the people and should reflect their views. The state be proactive in providing the poorer in society with similar opportunities to the rich.

• The state should provide welfare and opportunities for people to better themselves.

Right-wing beliefs• Emphasis on the individual and the

need to preserve order in society.• People need strong government. This

can only be achieved with strong leadership that cares for the very needy.

• Believe in slow gradual change in society rather than radical reform.

• Belief in a small state and minimal welfare provided by the state, with more emphasis on the private sector.

The political spectrum - expanded

• The higher on the scale, the more powerful the state.

• The lower on the scale, the smaller/less powerful the state.

Race to the centre

Since the collapse of Communism in the Eastern bloc, all the main political parties in the UK have begun to move towards the ideological ‘centre ground’. This area of ideology is commonly referred to as Liberalism and has some of the following features:

1. Minimal welfare state (aimed at “the needy”)2. Balance between public and private sector3. Pragmatic policies (right place, right time)4. Protection of Civil Liberties and Human Rights5. Maintaining sovereignty of the state.

What is that like in practice?

Single-issue and ‘fringe’ partiesThere are a whole world of fringe parties which actively play a role in Britain today.

Single issue and fringe parties have been growing in support over the past decade. These groups tend to do better in Local Elections and slowly but surely they are gathering support.

Year BNP Green SNP UKIP

2002 31,000 59,000 160,100 100,000

2003 55,000 53,000 95,000 160,000

2004 79,000 63,000 109,000 260,000

2005 65,000 71,000 110,000 190,000

2006 63,000 70,000 126,000 160,000

2007 98,000 74,000 139,000 159,000

2008 118,000 80,000 151,000 146,000

Single-issue and ‘fringe’ parties

Political parties vs pressure groups

Political Party1. Broad policies for broad groups.2. Open Membership and structure3. Win seats to Win Power4. Grassroots organisation5. Internal Democracy6. Donations from across society to

party.

Pressure Group1. Specific policy or issue.2. Exclusive or selective membership3. Win seat to raise public awareness4. Grassroots based.5. Run by small group of individuals6. Usually donations from local

community.

Two- or multi-party system?The Question is often asked as to whether the UK is a multi-party or a two-party system.

What do you think?

STUDENT RESOURCES

Key term Definition

First-past-the-post

Additional Member System

Proportional Representation

‘Wasted’ votes

Representative

Constituency

Hybrid electoral system

Secondary elections

Popular vote

Disproportionality

The Ayes Have It... The Ayes Have ItTwos Company

1. Realistically only Labour and the Conservatives have the size, structure and experience to run the country.

2. In 2010 Conservatives and Labour secured 65.1% of the vote and won 86.8% of the seats available.

3. Even the 3rd Party Liberal Democrats are a long way off forming a Government.

4. The current electoral structure doesn’t favour the growth of new parties.

Threes a Crowd1. 34.9% of voters didn’t vote for

Labour and the Conservatives.2. Whilst the Liberal Democrats are 3rd

Nationally. In individually seats they are sometimes 2nd or 1st preference.

3. In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland contests are a lot closer and there is genuine choice in which party to vote for.

4. Some 34.9% of the Population don’t vote. If ANYONE could win them over they would win an election.