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Summary UK Politics paper 1: 2.4 political parties in context
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2.4 UK political parties in context –Development of a multiparty system & its implications –
Barriers to entry for smaller parties –
Politics dominated by 2 main parties for majority of 20th c.
Political duopoly caused by class-based voting: WC labour / MC & UC conservative.
Periods of one-party dominance – 1951-64 conservatives predominantly in govt &
1979-92. New Labour under Blair similarly dominant, 3 consecutive GEs (1997, 2001
& 2005).
FPTP – difficult for smaller parties to gain representation – generally lack depth of
support the larger parties can claim.
Liberals / Alliance / Liberal Democrats enjoyed significant breadth of support across
the country – but lack electoral strongholds of Labour & Conservative. – historically
underrepresented at Westminster.
Led to self-fulfilling belief – vote for minority party is a wasted vote.
Lack of funding – unable to rely on close financial links that Labour (trade unions) &
Conservatives (big business) have.
L & C dominance at Westminster for much of post-war period – NOT a multiparty
system.
Has two-party dominance been eroded at Westminster?
Challenged in 1980s – SDP established by former members of Labour & formed
electoral alliance with Liberal Party. – created centrist party – with wider potential
appeal. – merger as Liberal Democrats in 1988 – increase influence at Westminster.
Duopoly decline – partisan dealignment – voters focus more on specific issues. –
LibDems focused efforts on key geographical areas they were likely to win (like the
Southwest) & this further maximised their Westminster influence.
Consistent opposition of LibDem leader Charles Kennedy to Iraq war (2003) boosted
their support in 2005 GE.
2010 – strong campaign by Clegg & disappointing performances by Cameron &
Brown – opportunity for LibDem coalition with Conservatives.
SNP – electoral breakthrough in 2015 GE following high-profile campaign in 2014
Scottish independence referendum. – max seats 6 up to in 2015 & 48 in
2019.
2010 coalition & 2015 SNP breakthrough – two-and-a-half-party system?
PREMATURE:
2017 – Conservative & Labour achieved highest vote share (82.4%) in any GE since
1970.
Despite decrease to 75.7% in 2019, still got 87.2% of seats at Westminster (because
of FPTP).
Contrast – LibDem representation plummeted since 2015.
SNP retains strong parliamentary presence. However, likely to only wield decisive
influence if Labour needs its support to form govt.
, So, if L & C can form majority govts, political duopoly will be maintained at
Westminster. 2019 – LibDem 11 seats, UKIP/Brexit no seats, Green 1 seat.
Multiparty democracy in devolved govts –
Regional legislatures have encouraged development of a multiparty democracy in
devolved bodies.
Scottish parliament seats – SNP 63, Conservative 31, Labour 22, Greens 7.
Welsh Senedd seats 2021 – Labour 30, Conservative 16, Plaid Cymru 13.
Northern Ireland assembly seats 2022 – Sinn Fein 27, DUP 25, Alliance 17.
Power shared much more equally.
No 2 parties can be sure of dominance – multiparty democracy exists in constituent
parts of UK.
As further power is devolved to these parts, importance of multiparty democracy in
S, W, NI will continue to increase.
HAS THE UK NOW BECOME A MULTIPARTY DEMOCRACY?
YES NO
Devolved legislatures – power shared by Westminster determines constitutional &
more than 2 parties – multiparty. Since 2007, foreign policy & defence issues. C & L
SNP governed as a single party or with other dominance here – despite SNP’s dominance in
parties. Scotland, it cannot fulfil manifesto
commitments like securing a 2nd independence
referendum or removing nuclear bases from
Scotland without Westminster’s consent.
Smaller parties highly influential recent GEs. 2019 – L & C won 87.2% of seats. Influence at
2010 coalition & 2017 DUP agreed to support westminster remains dominant, esp. if winning
Conservative govt in confidence-and-supply party has large majority.
agreement.
SNP significant westminster presence – 1997 – 2010 LibDem support steadily increased
important in a hung parliament. – 2010 (57 MPs) entered govt for 1st time since
1922 – breaking L/C duopoly. However,
recently, influence collapsed (2015 – 8, 2017 –
12, 2019 – 11 MPs).
Parties can wield significant influence by Every GE since 1922, party with most seats has
setting the political agenda. Although UKIP either been C or L – over 100 years, L or C have
won 1 seat in 2015 with 12.6% of popular always been in government. This dominance
vote, its growing influence shifted extends to local government in England &
conservatives in more Eurosceptic direction. Wales, & elected mayors who wield growing
Green influence - all main parties adopted influence.
more environmentally aware policies.
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