Evaluate the view that the only parties which matter in the UK's political system are the Conservative
and Labour parties- themes - ANS Westminster
Local elections
Devolved bodies
1. Judgement - ANS As a whole- yes- however when looking at a more local level their power is
weakening
Westminst...
Political party essay plans ALREADY
PASSED
Evaluate the view that the only parties which matter in the UK's political system are the Conservative
and Labour parties- themes - ANS Westminster
Local elections
Devolved bodies
1. Judgement - ANS As a whole- yes- however when looking at a more local level their power is
weakening
Westminster - ANS Lab and Cons formed government for over 100 years
FPTP use in Westminster elections mean that Lab and Cons will be favored and inevitably form the
executive or opposition
87% huge majority of the votes
SNP only appoints candidates in 59/650 seats
Only ones that matter as only ones can be influential- PAC committee, PMQs, select committee, forming
the government itself
Westminster counter-argument - ANS SNP has concentrated support and is quickly increasing its vote
share
Lab and Cons vote together decreased- was 96% in 1979- suggests they aren't as important as they once
were
Local - ANS 2022- third parties made significant gains- 25% of the seats available went to third parties
Conservatives lost 330+ seats
Lib Dems gained 192 and the Greens doubled their seats
, Local counter-argument - ANS Labour and Conservatives still won vast majority- 75% of seats
Local elections use FPTP and so Lab and Cons will inevitably win the majority
Local elections have far less influence than Westminster
Devolved bodies - ANS Lab and Cons don't put up candidates in NI, where Sinn Fein and DUP dominate-
absolutely no influence and do not matter
Scottish Parliament- SNP dominates and has more seats than Lab and Cons combined (SNP 64, C 31, L
22)
48/59 Scottish MPs are SNP- only 6 from C and 1 L
Plaid Cymru in Wales have increasing influence; formed a coalition with Labour and have only 3 less
seats than Conservatives
Devolved bodies counter-argument - ANS Still matter in Welsh parliament and are the two biggest
parties-Labour with 22 seats and Conservatives with 16
Evaluate the view that the emergence of multiple parties in the UK means that the Westminster
electoral system must be changed - THEMES - ANS Representation
Participation
Will it actually make a difference
Evaluate the view that the emergence of multiple parties in the UK means that the Westminster
electoral system must be changed - JUDGEMENT - ANS yes
Representation - ANS FPTP favors larger parties and leads to an unrepresentative HoC e.g., 2019- Cons
won 56% of seats but only 43% of vote, LD and SNP comparison
Emergence of minor parties suggest that people are unhappy with L and C and are looking elsewhere
Vote share for L and C decreased- 81% in 1979 to 76% in 2019
Also less influence in devolved bodies, which use PR- reflection is should be changes as devolved
parliaments are significantly different to Westminster
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