Political Parties

Political Parties

1. Functions

   • Selecting political leaders
   • Making policy & programmes
   • Reinforcing consent
   • Political education to the people
   • Organisation of parliamentary procedure
   • Selecting candidates
   • Representing national interest

2. Features

   • Being organised
   • Seek government office
   • Put candidates up for election
   • Develop policies etc
   • Train & recruit leaders
   • Campaign to achieve public support

3. Adversary Polittics

   • Deep & widespread ideological differences between the mainstream parties
   • Where political parties are engaged in considerable conflict over political issues
   • e.g in the early 1980's when the Labour party advocated nationalism

4. Consensus Politics

   • Noticably little difference between policies of the parties
   • Where 2 or more parties broadly agree on most basic policies
   • Decision makers seek a wide level of agreement with the political community before proposals

5. Labour Party

   • Old Labour
     • Common class interest
     • Keep taxes as reasonably low as possible
     • At one point they did believe in restoration of trade union power
     • Greater redistribution of income
     • The vast majority of socialists agree on aspects of equality
     • We are born with equal rights
     • Reject the idea of natural order
     • Equality of opportunity
     • Social justice
     • Natural wealth should be redistributed
     • Support trade union power
     • Collectivism
     • Common ownership
   • Third Way
     • Capitalism should be allowed to flourish
     • Fair trade
     • Limited role for trade unions
     • Individual's rights should be protected by law
     • Welfare benefits should be used as an incentive to work
     • High quality public services should be preserved
     • Public sector borrowing is okay if it's for public services
     • 'Tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime' Blair 1994
     • Britain to remain at the centre of the EU
     • Britain to take a leading role in world affairs
     • Less radical reforms of the constitution e.g a mild Lord's reform

6. Conservative Party

   • Traditional Conservatism
     • Society is 'hierarchal'
     • Tradition of inheritance
     • Emphasise the need for principles of natural law and moral order
     • Values of rural life are high
     • Defend classical western civilisation
     • Patriotism
     • Reactionary
     • Nationalism
     • Reductions of welfare state
     • Want to privatise NHS
     • Wants to leave the EU
     • Don't like wind farming
     • Don't like trade unions
     • Enter text here
     • Order
     • Pragmatic
   • New Right Conservatism
     • Disengagement - Reluctance to interfere with economy
     • Deregulation - privatisation of industry
     • Opposition to trade union power
     • Low levels of personal taxation
     • Depndency culture from welfare benefits
   • Modern Conservatives
     • It is society's job to improve conditions of those who are deprived
     • Claiming benefits will be difficult for those doing nothing to do better for themselves
     • Tax levels should be at a level to sustain good quality public services
     • Environmental protection is vital
     • Balance between tough on causes of crime and a tough approach to serious crime
     • State has a key role
     • Education shouldn't single out the more fortunate
     • Accept HOL needs reforming

7. Liberal Democratic Party

   • Industry to be brought under state control
   • Capitalism should be controlled by the state
   • trade unions should be powerful to protect the workers
   • welfare benefits compensate for disadvantaged people
   • Welfare state to be protected and be controlled by the state
   • Public sector borrowing for the economy
   • Distance UK from international affairs
   • Democratise institutions
   • Concentration on causes of crime
   • Anti EU

8. Other Parties

   • Scottish National Party
   • UK Independence Party
   • Green Party
   • Plaid Cymru - Welsh Nationalists
   • British Nationalist Party