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Summary UK Politics paper 1: 2.3 emerging & minor UK political parties
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full detailed study/revision notes on this area of the specification for edexcel a level politics.
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Emerging & minor UK political parties –SNP –
3rd biggest party in Commons since 2015:
- 2015 – 56 of 59 Scottish constituencies in Commons on 50% of popular vote in
Scotland.
- 2017 – 35 seats
- 2019 – 48 seats
Significant role in contemporary British Politics.
Westminster parliamentary leaders Ian Blackford (2017-22) & Stephen Flynn (2022-)
have gained a reputation for combatively representing Scottish interests at PMQs.
Large number of MPs gives potential for significant influence when govt lacks strong
parliamentary majority.
2016 – voted with Labour & Tory rebels to defeat Cameron’s govt over plans to allow
larger stores in Eng. & Wales to open longer on Sundays – claimed it would affect pay
rates in Scotland – justified voting bill down.
HOWEVER, influence at Westminster limited – unwillingness of Labour to work too
closely with a party that supplanted it as the dominant political force in Scotland.
Most powerful influence – Scottish govt – policies have made dramatic impact:
- Free university tuition
- Free prescriptions; bus travel under-22s; NHS dental treatment under-26s.
- 16 & 17 y/o vote in local council elections & could in Scottish independence
referendum.
- Own response to COVID – significantly raised governing profile of Scottish govt at
the expense of UK govt.
- 2021 – Nicola Sturgeon stated that victory in Scottish parliament elections gave
SNP mandate to press for another independence referendum.
HOWEVER, still constrained by UK Supreme Court.
- 2022 – ruled Sturgeon’s decision to call another referendum illegal – power
reserved to Westminster. – perhaps contributed to her resignation in 2023.
- Gina Miller case (2017) – Scottish parliament did not have to be consulted over
legislation withdrawing UK from EU – even though Scotland voted decisively to
remain in the EU.
Still part of UK – significant restraints on what SNP can achieve in Scotland.
- SNP rejects nuclear weapons – but national defence policy determined at
Westminster & so Trident is still based in Scotland.
- 2023 – Westminster blocked Scottish govt bill implementing self-identification for
people who want to change gender – conflicted with Equality Act.
- However, Humza Yousaf remains committed to independence asap.
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