NEWEST IN USE UNIT 2 political parties

2.1 Political parties. 2.2 Established political parties.

• The functions and features of political parties in the UK’s • The origins and historical development of the Conservative Party, the
representative democracy. Labour Party and Liberal Democrat Party, and how this has shaped
• How parties are currently funded, debates on the their ideas and current policies on the
consequences of the current funding system. economy, law and order, welfare and foreign policy.

2.3 Emerging and minor UK political parties.
• The importance of other parties in the UK.
• The ideas and policies of two other minor parties.
2.4 UK political parties in context.
• The development of a multi-party system and its implications for
government.
• Various factors that affect party success – explanations of why
political parties have succeeded or failed, including debates on the
influence of the media.

2.1 Political parties contribute to the UK’s representative democracy. HFDYA

2.1 Policy formulation is the most important function for political parties. HFDYA
2.1 Political parties should be state funded. HFDYA
2.1 MP’s must follow the party’s manifesto in a representative democracy. HFDYA
2.1 Political party’s help/hinder representative democracy. HFDYA
2.1 The funding of political parties must be reformed. HFDYA
2.1 Alternative funding structures and restrictions must be introduced. HFDYA
 FUNCTION OF PARTIES IN REPRESE ATIVE DEMO IS GOOD ENCHANES
POLICY Issue w policy as policy of ruling party is same as
that of govt esp w majority govt can pass or put up
controversial policy
2017 controversial tory manifesto made under
theresa may w her joint chiefs of stuff fiona hill + nick
timothy w little consultation and discussion among
members
→ included dementia tax
Iraq war, sofa politics Blair no actual consultation
REPRESENTATIO Voters have a range of political parties to vote for
N that align w their beliefs but due FPTP only con and
lab that have become very much consensus politics
= both centrist to appeal to majority of society = blair
removal clause 4 and third way econ and keeping
taxation as tory leader thatcher left
Also views on NHS, green party v similar
Only option of public is lab or con
So much rep even most radical parties have chance
of being heard
= british national party, seeks exclude groups from
equal status in british soc
This was highly opposed in her lead in poll is halved
So she did a u-turn
Shows how only policy w support likely to be successful in passing
and party membership, public have overall final decision
As can even in parties can vote against leader as was seen w may in
brexit plan being defeated, rejected by 230 majority [votes] in 2019
This show how while yes function parties is to aggregate policy and
have been given the democratic legitimacy and mandate to do so -
very controversial policy is unlikely to pass which is a benefit as it
shows how there is NOT a elective dictatorship and people get a
strong say
In the 2017 general election, 82.4% of those who voted felt that their
political
opinions were represented by the Conservative Party (42.4%) or the
Labour Party (40%).
Keep values of party
Momentum uses deselection to ensure that Labour MPs at
Westminster represent the interests of local party activists, who
have generally been more favourable towards Jeremy Corbyn than
the parliamentary party.
Maintain ideology
Blocked from EG in 2015 Tim Yeo, the Conservative MP for South
Suffolk, did not fight the seat, having been denied the nomination
by his local party for his pro-European Union views
Opposition parties create a variety of choice in policy
Much attention given to policy aggregation by identifying range of
demands on political system from [party membership to mas
individuals in society and many diff groups]
Seen in labour party
lab party rule book 2018 clause V
‘Ensure members, elected reps, affiliate orgs and where practical the
wider community able to participate in process of policy
consideration + formulation’
→ lab party, a national policy forum consults w party members over
development of policy - even in 2023 NPF open to public to make
submissions
Also pay attention to salient issues and that of other parties such as
green - environmental concern
= 2019 labour proposition of green transformation fund of £250bn over
next 10ys [upgrade energy, transport etc] will be established by lab
govt
RISE SNP SCOTLAND
→ 2021 Scottish election, the SNP won 64 seats, one seat short of a
majority,
GREEN PARTY ADOPTION
–. Greens make a record 200 gains - the highest ever growth in the
party’s 50 year history
- Party gains majority control of a local authority for the first time - win
in Mid Suffolk lays foundation for new MPs at General Election
UKIP - SINGLE ISSUE PARTY ACHIEVE AIMS
→ 2014 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom
4,376,635
26.6%
24 seats
= more than con and lab
—---------------------------------
Negative
increased emergence of populist parties such as UKIP , yield an
emotional appeal playing on people's fears - intensifying popularity
built on anti immigrant rhetoric and euroscepticism- 12.6% voter share
 in 2015 - large for a minor party

COALITION GOVT INVOLVING LIB DEMS]

Negative
coalition gov 2010 - formed because both Lib Dem and conservatives
formulated policies which gained them sig portions of parl arithmetic

Lib Dem’s formulated policy but failed to uphold them - rendering

them obsolete and seeing their declining support over recent general
elections . Their inability to implement the policies is what made them
unrepresentative

PARTICIPATION This function is becoming less important, due to HOWEVER ISSUES W MEDIA - LOW TRUST - CAMBRIDGE Parties are continuously involved in the process of informing the
growth in media. ANALYTICA SCANDAL - not reliable source people about the political issues of the day,
Click Ocracy explaining the main areas of conflict and outlining their own solutions
OFCOM in 2019 half of people now get their news Also parties can still be active on media to the problems that they have identified.
from social media 90% MPs use twitter Educating the public about how the political system works is part of
LAbour twitter followers 917,000 this process.
28% of young people getting their news from social EG the Green Party raised awareness about environmental issues,
media Tory change twitter name to factcheck uk UKIP made the role and position of the EU a source for debate
As turnout at voting for parties has decreased and Labour raised awareness of the issues of low pay, zero hours
ppl now engage in third party bodies such as bbc to contracts and funding the ‘bedroom tax’.
display news which is under ofcom regulation to not
be bias
Direct participation in open primaries
2019 - 67% turnout
EG: OPEN PRIMARIES CAN BE USED - FOR DIRECT DEMOCRACY
independent MP sarah wollaston in 2009 became a conservative
candidate for Totnes upon winning open primary
 FUNDING OF PARTIES - CHANGE
IMBALANCES brexit led to UKIP gaining 12.6% votes in General election
2015 and going as far in 2014 EU elections to winning
BETWEEN PARTY 26.6%. The success of UKIP was achieved without the
need of complete state intervention in funding
demonstrating how funding of parties is not completely
responsible for the lack of seats minority parties gain
LEGISLATION Would create more trust - spending and regulations are
controlled thus ensuring a fair and equal election.
EG: Political parties, Elections and Referendums act 2000
allowed for greater transparency and fairness by the
electoral commission monitoring money spent on
political campaigning and limiting spending on
constituencies during election to £30,000. Progress in
creating more equal party funding with transparency
enhances trust which will translate to increased
participation and voting allowing for different parties to
have seats in parliament making it more diverse and
representative.
BURDEN ON Current system of short money already sufficient
Fair as money for opposition for work in hoc dep on
TAXPAYER number ministers = proportional
2017
Tories have unhealthy financial reliance on property
developers, says report more than a fifth of all
donations to the party over the past decade coming
from the residential property sector,
POLICY UKIP in interest of right wing
20155 - donations excluding public funds
£2,016,582
Also received many donations despite being minor
party 2019 £4.2m
Frequent discrepancies even with state funding policies
EG: continuous scandals undermining public faith in
democracy such as ‘cash for honours’ under Blair 2006.
LEG NOT FOLLOWED DESPITE Elections and
Referendum act 2000, in which political parties must
declare large donations over £5000 to electoral
commission
→ regulations not being followed, as 2007 Peter Hain of
the Labour party failed to register cash he received
from party chief fundraiser.
Funding party out of tax should be a CHOICE esp in a
liberal democracy
citizens may not opt to fund pp they may be
ideologically not interested in politics- lack of choice OR
minority are spearheading the political realm (cash
for influence over policy)
= dependency on wealthy individuals to influence
policy through large scale donations that would
benefit themselves at expense of public
→ reduce the disproportionate funding which main
parties may use to monopolise political decision
making
EG:not increasing corporate tax, evident by 2017
election Conservative party gaining £25 million in
donations from wealthy individuals and
businessmen, leaving lib-dems and other minority
parties severely disadvantaged
Labour has attacked the Conservatives over reports
it ran an "elite" club for its biggest party donors,
giving them direct access to the PM and chancellor.
Keir Starmer's party accepted donations worth
£2.83million while the Tories were on £2.89million.
Government itself could only pass
legislation/change
legislation to suit them (as no govt is bound by its
predecessor)
EG: 2015 the govt [lab] - GEROGE OUSBORNE
announced plans to cut short money by 19%
Already party membership fulfils duty of public
paying at their own accord if they WISH too
EG:
 Green = £89,000 they may not be supportive of all parties the Labour party under Corbyn in the 2017 General
Lab = £6 million election gaining over £16 million from membership
Very unpopular and unfeasible considering NHS issues subscriptions.
public should fund parties as we live in a rep and underfunding, taxpayer money going to parties
democracy and they have a duty to donate to the instead of bigger such as NHS will be highly —---------
running of political parties controversial and unpopular HOWEVER PARTIES CAN EXPLOIT THIS
membership fees rise conservative 2022
Eg: Desperate Tories hike membership fee by more
than 50% as donations fall increased from £25 to
£39 per year move described as 'absolutely stupid'
by one Conservative MP

2.2 The Conservative Party is more aligned with New Right principles than One Nation. HFDYA
2.2 Historically, the Conservative Party has been aligned with New Right rather than One Nation. HFDYA
2.2 Current Conservative policies are more in line with New Right rather than One Nation. HFDYA
2.2 The Labour Party is more aligned with Social Democracy than the Third Way. HFDYA
2.2 Historically, the Labour party has been more aligned with Social Democracy than the Third Way. HFDYA
2.2 Current Labour policies are more in line with the Third Way than Social Democracy. HFDYA
2.2 The Labour Party today has completely abandoned the principles of New Labour. HFDYA
2.2 The Liberal Democrat Party is more in line with Modern liberalism than classical liberalism. HFDYA
2.2 The current Liberal Democrat party is more in like with classical liberalism than modern liberalism. HFDYA
2.2 Political parties consistently disagree over policies and ideas. HFDYA]
2.2 The current Liberal Democrat party is more in like with classical liberalism than modern liberalism. HFDYA
2.2 Political parties consistently disagree over policies and ideas. HFDYA

LABOUR ABANDON OLD LAB VALUES = YES

ECONOMY Starmer’s 10 point plan which states under his
directive the labour party intends to nationalise the
UK's mail energy rail and water industries and return
them to common ownership
AO2: these policies clearly demonstrate labour;s
however this argument must be dismissed
because ,more recently starmer abandoned his 10
pledges commitment by arguing that “THE
FINANCIAL SITUATION HAS CHANGED , THE
DEBT SITUATION HAS CHANGED “
-he refused to confirm that he stood by several of
2022 - starmer said the Labour Party would seek to
reimagine the role of government in partnering with the
private sector and taking opportunities for brexit
He also criticise sunak and the tory for their decision to
introduce 15 tax rises
 strong alignment with old labour values
-this is in conjunction with trying to align with
clause 4
WELFARE 10 Pledges- pledges to ‘work shoulder to shoulder
with trade unions to stand up for working people in
order to decrease the use of 0 hour contracts and
low wages - repealing the trade union act
This shows that Keir starmer is concerned with
workers rights and aims to reduce labour market
flexibility in the interest of protecting workers
welfare - which is a key old labour value given that
the party emerged as a development of a union into
political organisation
LAW AND ORDER AO1 - Keir starmer’s 10 pledges -“defend free
movement as we leave the EU” - an immigration
system based on compassion and dignity and
ending indefinite detention and a call for the closure
of centres like Yarl’s wood
AO2: DIVERGENT to blair and his treatment of the
Belmarsh detainees when national security was
seemingly threatened
them including public ownership of utilities and
services in the abolition of university tuition fees
AO2: this economic pragmatism is in a similar
approach to blair , who looked at the increasingly
globalised economy to prefer and champion neo
liberal economics and address economic issues=
old labour was a a temporary pledge
july 2022 - starmer sacks his junior shadow
transport minister SAM TARRY for joining strike rail
workers on the picket line
- starmer pled to his senior MPs to not go
to picket lines and say the strikes have
“no political advantage”
Trade unionism is a core tenant of old labour
values and so relinquishing their support just as
tony blair did draws parallels between the current
Labour Party and new labour
- industrial action is the main avenue of
securing workers rights and welfare of
heavily unionised industries ,—-> this
shows a departure from old labour
values
Keir starmer has expressed staunch and
unchanging views on supporting a points based
immigration system in 2022 speech in liverpool
- told LBC in oct 2022 that there was
“little difference “ between the tory
and labour on immigration
- And says decision to not allow shamima
begun back into the uk was the right one
AO2: contradictory to his claimed support of an
immigration system based on compassion and
In a speech to the CBI 2022 “we are not just a pro business
party but a party that is proud of being pro business”
Third way socialism / new labour aims to reconcile
capitalism with socialism hence the use of neoliberal
economic policies
Criticism of cons demonstrates how labour wants limited
gov intervention - which is inherently incompatible with old
labour values
-commitment to growth via business cooperation to inc
productive capacity , deviates from old labour values of
constraints on corporation power
-and excessive economic growth being detrimental to the
welfare of workers
salient issues of inadequate pay and working conditions for
the NHS compelled starmer 2023 to refer and praise Blair
style targets for the NHS - instead insisted that he too
would implement this because it workers under blair
- starmer also moved away from simply conceding
to the trade unions and instead looked at the
private sector as a means of alleviating this socio
economic pressure
- Insisting the nhs MUST BE “REFORMED” and in
2022 - scrapped a pledge to end NHS private
sector sourcing —> in divergent vein to old labour
who make heath sector more accessible
- trying to inc process of self referral to go to private
healthcare — essentially encouraging NHS
workers to go private
- “Privatisation by stealth “ - gradual introduction of
private providers & outsources of public services
to private contractors
AO1: starmer has consistently alluded to labour being the
party of “law and order”
*13,000 more neighbourhood police in march 2023
- Keir starmer attacking rishi sunak over a case
where a man left a prison officer with first degree
burns and was only given a suspended sentence :
AO2:shows Labour Party is currently tough on policing
sentence punishments - contradicts old labour values on
focusing more on the causes of crime and rehabilitation
 dignity shows more new labour values of being
tough on law and order without concern of
circumstances

LABOUR ABDANOLD OLD LAB VALUES [irrelevant to say lab is old lab values]
ECONOMY Kept taxation at 40% as top rate of taxation But brown, blair successor had nationalised banks as response 2008 crisis orbyn's 2019 manifesto was heavily influenced by old labour values and left wing socialist ideals within the economy
Abandon clause iv, pledge to not nationalise and extensive welfare support presented alongside heavy taxation on highest earners
→ priority Brown introduced 50p top rate taxation on incomes over £150,000.

Also corporate tax in lab manifesto 19 labour manifesto policy = boost minimum wage from £8.21 to £10

nationalise the so-called big six energy firms, National Grid, the water industry, Royal Mail, railways and the
broadband arm of BT.

increase tax burden on those with the ‘broadest shoulders’ those salary of £80,000 will pay more tax
=
STARMER 10 PLEDGES
Increase income tax for the top 5% of earners, reverse the Tories’ cuts in corporation tax and clamp down on
tax avoidance, particularly of large corporations. No stepping back from our core principles.

welfare Increase min wage to incentive ppl go work This argument fails to consider how despite caps on welfare and increases on taxes, these were Plan abolish universal credit
Advocates of the view would suggest the labour party adopted aspects of new labour in welfare state only minor alterations and overall even under Blair a new labour, in regards to the welfare he Opponents of the view would suggest the labour party has amintes their old labour values by introducing a more
by yet supporting it alongside well funded health service and education, but with caps to ensure work maintained old labour values at the core demonstrated by blairs £12bn pledge to the NHS generous welfare state to redistribute real incomes.
pays and prevent abuse of the system This is highlighted by the 2019 Corbyn plan to scrap universal credit and introduce a better benefit system that is
This is illustrated by how under Blairs govt - employees national insurance - payroll levy were more generous and fair.
introduced - increase healthy budget by 4.3%

EDUCATION Blair intro tuition fees Starmer support abolition tuition fees
Education action zones - raise attainment

2023 STARMER Education: breaking down barriers; raising standards; and preparing young people for
work and life.

LAW ORDER
Advocates of the view would suggest the labour parties harsher approach to crime can be observed
as a new labour tendency by the mixture of authoritarian measures and ‘social’ remedies to crime
This is illustrated by
2015 miliband policy to toughen controls on terror suspects and strengthen the law on tackling hate
crime
This argument fails to consider how there is still an emphasis on social remedies to crime and they
have not been completely abandoned demonstrating that the labour party still hold old labour
values. This is demonstrated by 2015 manifesto labour - to make prisons a place fo reform and hard
work, learning
Opponents of the view would suggest the labour party has constantly maintained an old labour stance regarding
crime by the focus on social remedies to crime - placing significance of the people themselves
This is clearly presented in 2019 corbyn manifesto - proposing to institute a presumption against prison sentences of
six months of less for non-violent/non-sexual offences
 CONSERVATIVE MOREINFLEUNCED BY NEW RIGHT THAN ONE NATION VALUES [AGREE]
LAW + ORDER Home office scheme 2023 to fast track 12,000 application for
asylum with 95% chance of being granted
- built to deal with the backlog in the home office
AO2: shows the current conservative government yields and
protects their paternalistic duty over wider society
Not such strong law enforcement pragmatism in dealing
with the backlo
Johson 2019 - Introduce points-based immigration system
ECONOMY Current conservative gov are embracing their one nation
values as they are ensuring that families get support over
childcare - free childcare for 30 hours a week - manifesting
paternalistic duty-
Johnson 2019 - Create 250K extra childcare places
- more interventionist socio-economic approach was
consolidated during the Covid-19 pandemic from early 2020,
which saw a further departure from the New Right’s
neo-liberal legacy and more towards one nation policy
tendencies entailing a more interventionist (and costly) state
role in supporting public policy. This has been reflected with
the trend of successive Budgets during Johnson’s
premiership that have raised taxation to levels not
witnessed for decades.
Johnson 2019
→ Increase the number of nurses by 50K - Reintroduce
maintenance grants for nursing students
questionnaire given to those immigrants are complicated and
difficult must be completed in english
Currently illegal migration bill breaching refugee
convention with the small boats policy and Rwanda deal -
Suella braverman admitting it would more than 50% include a
breaking of human rights law
Stop Small Boats. Making sure that if you come to this
country illegally, you are detained and swiftly removed.
**denies asylum seekers access to modern slavery rights if
they enter the UK illegally
AO2 : Immigration policy is STRONG - very NATIONALISTIC-
“stop impeding on British identity” - deterrence for
immigrants - sunak has extinguished the right to seek
refugee protection in the UK
merely a new right policy disguised as paternal duty - has
underlying neo liberal rationality - increases the number of
the workforce and reduce those out of work due to maternal
care - can lead to 60,000 more women in the workforce
Part sunak plan Grow the economy, creating better-paid
jobs and opportunity right across the country (Rising
inflation has led real-terms pay for the average UK worker
to fall drastically since mid-2021. This has led to strikes
across the country as workers argue that anything less than
a pay rise equal to inflation is a pay cut).
prevalence of NEO CONSERVATIVE ideals show that
the modern tory party is more aligned with NEW
RIGHT
Sunak 2023
Recruiting 20,000 new police officers - recruited an
additional 15,343 officers – backed by an investment of
£540 million. Backing police budgets with £17 billion.
Including over £1 billion for Counter Terror policing
ANTI PERMISSIVE STANCE + importance of family
values - heterosexuality marriage etc
- sunak using section 35 of Scotland act 1998 - to
BLOCK THE GENDER RECOGNITION BILL - which
intended to lower the age people can change their
legal gender from 18 to 16 -
Conversion therapy still not banned
NEO LIBERAL VIEWS ON ECONOMY -against trade
union activity
-current strikes 0 big disruption to economy
-coincides with neo liberal idea that trade unions
should have limited power -act as an obstacle to
economic growth
AO1: sunak’s proposed strikes bill - limits ability of
workers to strike - MINIMUM SERVICES LEVEL - also
produces conflict between unions and members -
suppresses notion of collective action
Neo liberal idea : Prioritising OUTPUT of economy over
inputs = the workers
2023 sunak
No income tax, VAT or national insurance rises
(scrapping of April’s planned 1p cut to the basic rate
of income tax, which will stay at 20p indefinitely,
raising an extra £6 billion a year under Sunak).
WELFARE assist households during the cost of living crisis - fulfilling
their paternalistic duty - giving concessions to society in
order to maintain stability and peace
AO1: 3 month extension of energy bill cap at £2500-
showcases pragmatism as continuing policies that have
proven to work previously
Johnson 2019
→ Spend £6.3bn on 2.2 million disadvantaged homes -
improve energy efficiency of social housing
→ Pensions rise by at least 2.5% per year - keep triple lock on
state pension
In 2019, the party promised to give the NHS “its biggest ever cash boost, with 20
hospital upgrades and 40 new hospitals, while delivering 50,000 more nurses
and 6,000 more doctors, and creating an extra 50 million general practice
appointments a year
CONSERVATIVES MOREONE NATION VALUES
Advocates of the view would suggest - new right values play a key role in economic policy on
conservatives. This is to invigorate the economy with minimal state intervention by keeping taxation
Economy at a minimum in order to provide people with greater opportunities to take financial control of their
lives.
They may point to the 2019 conservatives manifesto proposing - no income tax, VAT or national
insurance rises
Advocates of the view would suggest the conservative party today maintains aspects and is
influenced by new right values due to maintaining a positive role for the state in encouraging social
stability and security. This is evident upon the policy of conservative party to provide the
Health government with extensive powers in supporting institutions such as the NHS.
2022 consertvative policy aim - over next three years invest an extra £36bn in funding health and
social care, delievringing 9 more million checks, scans and procedures.
2019 manifesto - increase number of nurses by 50,000
gov has actually continues to reduce size of welfare state
AO1: during spring budget 2023 - announced there wld be
inc in requirements to claim universal credit - now more
difficult to get access to universal credit - more demanding of
individuals
Bringing in a £10 penalty for missing appointments as part of
efforts to tackle the NHS backlog.
This argument fails to consider how the new rights value of a self
regulated economy and limited welfare support to reduce a
‘dependency culture’ is in fact hindered. Thus conservatives are
required to take on a more one nation stance in the economic
welfare provision and essentially maintain an extensive welfare
state which encourages a ‘dependency culture’ going against new
right values which demonstrates the conservatives being
influenced more by one nation ideals in reaching stability and
prosperity by all classes and individuals.
This argument fails to consider how new rights values do not have a
large influence over conservative party today, this due to the NHS
being apart of welfare and new rights are opposed to extensive
welfare, thus supporting it with mass funding and encouragement
in helping all classes and individuals, follows a much more one
nation value of inclusion rather than new right value
AO1:rishi sunak has called for education reform - see
every pupil study maths and english to age of 18 rather
than 16
Continue freeze of £9,250 on tuition fees
AO2: “change to conserve “ policy = minimal change
rather than entire U - turn -pragmatism in making
education compulsory and producing more educated
people for workforce
2023 biggest strikes every - occurring in the UK - as an
indication that they need to “change to conserve
“-refusing to negotiate a settlement convinced trade
union unite that sunak intends on privatising the
NHS - as he said he wants to cut waiting lists - and
there has been a pay row
-not offering pay rises etc - under fear of producing
dependency culture and bloated welfare syste,
Opponents of the view would suggest - one nation values influence the conservatuve party more today as they
strive to create a more inclusive and proegessive nation by advancing interests of the whole nation and putting
selfish interest aside. This means conservatives would encourage welfare in the economy to support low
income households thus bridging the gap between ‘rich’ and ‘poor’ to create one nation
This is illustrated by 2019 manifesto - continue the rollout of universal credit with an increase of 1.7%
Moreover, 2019 manifesto = spend £6.3bn on 2.2 million disadvantaged homes.
Opponents of the view would suggest one nation values influence and lead policy of conservatives today, this
is due to the constant promotion of NHS welfare in supporting all including lower income houses. Creating
social stability by all classes and individuals appreciating their debt to each other.
Highlighted by the significant policy on NHS he Conservatives have promised £1bn per year over the course of
the parliament to prop up the existing social care system – both children’s and adults’ service
 Advocates of the view would suggest that new rights have an influence social policy due to This argument fails to consider how despite conservatives focus on
extensive crime policy to ensure strong law and order protected and allows society to be stable strict law and order by harsher sentencing on crime, this can be
within policy to fight crime and disorder seen as not completely influenced by new rights value since as a
Social (education/crime) whole social reforms contain another policy of spending
2019 manifesto = 20,000 more police and tougher sentencing for criminals. £2.75 billion to create modern, effective prisons. This can be seen as
reformation to change prisoners themselves to stop commiting
crime rather than harsh detenerce thus by focusing on prisoners
reformation of themselves can be observed, to be a one nation
value promoting their equality by providing a second chance and
focusing on reform rather than harsh deterrence such as death
penalty.
LIB DEMS MORE IN LINE W MODERN LIBERALISM THAN CLASSIC LIBERALISM [AGREE] = get help!!!!
classical liberalism
economy lib dems have pledged to “tear down” trade barriers and
fix the conservatives “botched” brexit deal
lib dems were forced to concede absolute
commitment to the eu
- wants to reduce costs for businesses as they ( as swinson’s 2019 pledge to revoke article 50
view the single market under the EU as and stop brexit was largely unpopular ) - only got
something of benefit 11 seats
- Plans to deepen trade with Europe securing - The whole premise of take back
deals on sector specific work visas and control was to centre it around british
establishing mutual recognition of professional individual liberty - forced transfer of
qualifications priorities from free market to more
AO2: endorses idea of free trade and end to tariffs - spread regulated economies at the hand of the
of trade between nation states - free market neo liberal state shows a move towards modern
economics “trickle down “ liberalism
-making different trade deals because we didn't
Classical : all humans capable of rational thought - give leave brexit and Lib Dem have to harness this
as much personal freedom as possible
welfare despite the 2010 election manifesto where nick clegg
promised to abolish tuition fees - in order to secure more
however the decision to ignore the electorate is
also not compatible with Classical -has their
freedom opportunity - he abandoned this pledge when process of utilitarianism - not correspond with the
the Lib Dem’s were in gov - this shows a retreat from electorate feeling betrayed or the tenants of
modern liberal ideals - and instead reinforces a survival of government by consent being abandoned - it is
the fittest and gradual elimination of those unable to enjoy for this reason that Lib Dem’s have struggled to
benefits of individualism - return to classical re establish themselves after breaking this
promise - rendering them a minor party and
Opponents of the view would suggest the conservative party is influenced by one nation values rather than
new right. This is due to the social focus and emphasis on education for all, especially low income households
and providing this at no cost with free school meals.
This is illustrated by 2019 manifesto policy = aiming to create 250,000 extra childcare places during the
holidays for primary school-age children
Conservative party has promised to offer an “arts premium” for secondary schools to fund “enriching activities
for all pupils”. The costing document states this will be funded at around £110 million for each of the three years
from 2021.
Alongside focusing on teachers by - 2022 conservative ‘promise’ policy to raise teachers salaries to £30,000.
And the london top-up, on top of £30,000 for teachers in the capital
modern liberalism
a fair deal cutting household energy bills - by making oil and gas
giants pay for inc taxes on their huge profits
- protecting local businesses by extending planned
support for small businesses on energy costs for 6 months
- full year
- 2019 = reforms of the tax system involving hikes on
corporation tax - from 175 to 20% and replacing business
rates with commercial landowner levy- greater
redistribution of wealth and trickle down effect
- A02: substantial extension of the state through engaging
in Keynesian economics - all done to mitigate poverty -
- Positive liberty -remove restraints from achieving success
and socio economic barriers
ML: SUBSTANTIAL extension of the state in the name of individual
liberty
Utilitarianism - the greatest happiness of the greatest number
free child care all ages 2-4 will qualify from 35 hours a week
-according to the independent economist it would represent an
extra 13 billion a year which is 4.5x higher than current levels of
spending - to be applicable for free childcare - according to the Lib
Dem - both parents have to be earning less than 100k a year - this
enabling the scheme to prioritise lower incomes
-rescue plan for the NHS by recruiting more doctors dentists
 Egotistical individualism - society is a collection of
atomised self interested individuals - rationality means
they will seek to create harmony with others for their own
success
propelling them to modern lib paramedics
2019:billing themselves as the party of fiscal rectitude -where the Lib
Dem’s plan a £130 billion infrastructure investment for public
transport
300,000 new homes built per year by 2024

Modern liberal view - larger state ; more state pending - most

influential liberal economic policies - reduce mass unemployment
and help inc individual freedom = enlarged state = inc equality of
opportunity

law and 2019 manifesto included the LEGALISATION of cannabis -

Swinson defends this decision in arguing it will reduce
order crime by breaking the grip of criminal gangs :
Ao2: This reinforces the classical liberal idea of negative
liberty - whereby individuals were naturally free to
pressure a higher degree of personal freedom - implying
that crime will reduce once cannabis is legalised - further
reinforces the view that humans are autonomous and self
reliant — do not want restrain -
HARM PRINCIPLE = human action should be as free as
possible as long as it does not bring harm directly to
another person
part of swinsons defence was also that the
regulation of cannabis would generate
substantial profits £1.5 billion - not upholding
the classical liberals idea of a “minarchist state”
Argues that the current home office is institutionally racist and has
an anti immigrant culture that needs to be dismantled so the Lib
Dem’s would take powers relating to immigration away from the
home office
- for example department for education would deal with
educational visas and the department of international
development would deal with refugees
- 2023 - ditching the UK’s first past the post system for
parliamentary elections underlining that the party has
supported electoral reform for a hundred years
- Shifting power out of Whitehall and into local communities
- Commitment to greater devolution

= passion for ongoing constitutional change - of only to secure the

principle of gov by consent - modern liberalism has been associated
with ongoing constitutional reform

2.3 Evaluate the view that Minor parties have the same function as pressure groups.
2.3 Evaluate the view that Minor parties are an irrelevance.
2.3 Evaluate the view that The UK is a multi-party state.
2.3 Evaluate the view that Minor parties are vital to the UK’s democracy.
2.3 Evaluate the view that Minor parties are only successful when they are single issue parties.
2.3 Evaluate the view that Minor parties are only successful outside of WestminsteR
 MINOR PARTIES ARE INFLUENTIAL
POLICY INFLUENCE - POLITICAL AGENDA
ELECTION SUCCESS
SUCCESS DEVOLVED REGIONS
Ukip loss importance after brexit, single
party issue
2017 LEFT W NO SEATS IN HOC, NO REP
Minor parties ignored often even w election
success
Lib dems in coalition failure to remove
tuition fees
The failure of AV referendum usage w min
42% turnout
SNP - 62% REMAIN Stop Brexit → keep
Scotland in the EU (Scotland did
overwhelmingly vote to stay in the EU in the
2016 referendum) by supporting a second
Important not to exaggerate scotland's
influence - still in UK SO LIMITED TO
WESTMINSTER
So even SNP rejects nuclear weapons -
national defence policy is determined at
westminster and so trident is still based in
scotland
2022 - supreme court supports westminster
in denying scotland another independence
referendum
Achieved its aim so success and 26.6%%
most at 2014 eu parliament
UKIP became 3rd most relevant party at 2015
GE w 12.6% vote share
Yet lib dems remain growing relevance
Through them same sex marriage pass
2010 GE - 57 seats - GROWING RELEVANCE
→ 2021 Scottish election, the SNP won 64
seats, one seat short of a majority
creation of the Scottish National
Investment Bank to provide £2 billion of long
term capital to businesses and infrastructure
project to help transform the Scottish
economy
SUCCESS IN HOLYROOD SNP → Gain control
over illegal drugs policy devolved to Holyrood
so that
they can tackle Scotland’s record death toll
SNP impact on scottish govt - policies made
dramatic impact
- free uni tuition
- prescription charges abolished
- 16-17 yr old allowed vote local council
election + in the independence ref
Green Party continues influence main political parties
Contro pol agenda to fulfil their aims so
Labour 250bn green fund in manifesto
Green continue thrive in electoral success more seats
2018, may launch govt 25yr env plan - commit reduce
plastic consumption
DUP supply demand w conservative party - paid £1bn
Scotland - 2017 - SNP MPs elected chair 2 HoC
committees international trade + scottish affairs
NORTHERN IRELAND
Main parties irrelevant
2016 NI assembly results
DUP got 29% vote share + Sinn fein 24% vote share
WHILE conservative got 0.4%
2011 - a 67 seat coalition between the DUP and Sinn
Fein - had collective 57% vote share
NORTHERN IRELAND - stormont power sharing - 2019
GE - DUP 30.6% + SINN FEIN 22.8%
2019 GE
Scotland 45%
Labour 25%
2.4 The UK is moving toward a multi-party system. HFDYA
2.4 The UK is a two-party state. HFDYA
2.4 The only political parties that matter is the Labour and Conservative Parties.
2.4 Two party dominance has eroded in Westminster. HFDYA
2.4 The role of the media in the success of political parties is large. HFDYA
2.4 Success of political parties rests on the party leader. HFDYA
2.4 Political parties that can ride the wave of media attacks are more successful than those that cannot. HFDYA
2.4 Parties who are united are more likely to succeed than those who are disunited. HFDYA
2.4 The media is extremely influential in determining party success. HFDYA
→ REFER BACK IN VOTING BEHAVIOUR Q

IS THE UK A MULTIPARTY STATE - NO

POLICY NP - significant parliamentary presence -
would be very important in hung parliament
2017 - SNP MPs elected chair 2 HoC
committees international trade + scottish
affairs
conservative - trying to ban diesel and
petrol cars by 2030
Just for scottish issues
ails to acknowledge the fact that the con
party did not implement env policies due to
minor parties but because
**env is salient issue which public inc
concerned about — protests
As the uk is a trustee system -tory party
simply fulfilling its representative function
UK is two party system - as the more minor
parties do in fact have single issue
prioritised whereas major parties view uk
holistically -enact policy that is broader
Windfall tax - Green Party in favour - big tax
on large oil and energy companies - not
fully taken seriously until endorsed by
major parties- labour and conservative

EG: MPs to vote in scottish vaccine passport VACCINE PASSPORTS NOT SPREAD TO UK
scheme = As in Westminster conservatives show policy concentrated to westminster
strongly against it describing it as and what minor parties do has minimal
"shambolic, last-minute, knee jerk decision influence
making".
BUT SNP wish to pass this new rule and
have the opportunity to do so using the won
scottish parl - holyrood thus can conduct
on their own basis - REPRESENTATIVE
DEVOLVED REGIONS
multi party state due to successful result of
Blair’s decentralisation -
2019 GE
Scotland 45%
Labour 25%
NORTHERN IRELAND - stormont power
sharing - 2019 GE - DUP 30.6% + SINN FEIN
22.8%
PARLIAMENT [GE AND HOC] Smaller parties become highly influential in
recent elections
2010 - con-dem coalition
2017 DUP w theresa may
→ theresa may minority party
- with 60 resignations in total
Con 42% and Lab 40%
Con and lab parties have not won a large
parliamentary majority since the 2005 GE
fails to understand that stormont which has
a unique nature in which the assembly must
be power share between the unionists and
the nationalists due to their violent history
SNP - 62% REMAIN Stop Brexit → keep
Scotland in the EU (Scotland did
overwhelmingly vote to stay in the EU in the
2016 referendum) by supporting a second
Failure lib dems - nick clegg pledge remove
turion fee failed
Also DUP more as rubber stamp for may to
get votes not bc they were valued truly for
ideology etc - just a tool for main party stay
in power
in wales the 2 main parties still dominate
EG: 2019 GE labour 40.9% + conservative
36%
Important not to exaggerate scotland's
influence - still in UK SO LIMITED TO
WESTMINSTER
So even SNP rejects nuclear weapons -
national defence policy is determined at
westminster and so trident is still based in
scotland
FPTP ensures dominance of main parties -
protects the duopoly at westminster
GE 2019
GREEN PARTY - 819,761 VOTES and only 1
SEAT
→ BUT 2017 GE - LAB+CON had 82% of
seats
In 2017 GE con + lab party won biggest
shares of popular vote since 1970 election