starter activity

You will be given a series of cards describing origins, ideologies & policies of the three major parties or minor parties. Sort them accordingly. Can you see any links between the parties?

What are the What are the ideological ideological differences differences between the between the

parties? (Lib-Dems parties? (Lib-Dems & other parties)& other parties)

To be able to explain the origin, To be able to explain the origin, ideological characteristics and recent ideological characteristics and recent policy changes within the Lib Demspolicy changes within the Lib Dems

To be able to describe the key policies To be able to describe the key policies of a selection of minor partiesof a selection of minor parties

To assess the extent to which UK To assess the extent to which UK parties have become ‘catch all’ partiesparties have become ‘catch all’ parties

Learning objectives

Your taskYour task

Read p.88-9 and note down the Read p.88-9 and note down the following in your table:following in your table: Origins and early history of the Lib-Origins and early history of the Lib-

DemsDems Party ideologyParty ideology Recent developmentsRecent developments

Extension. Can you spot any Extension. Can you spot any similarities between Lib-Dems and similarities between Lib-Dems and other political parties?other political parties?

OriginsOrigins

LiberLiber – means ‘free’ – means ‘free’ Nineteenth century LiberalismNineteenth century Liberalism – –

associated with freedom of associated with freedom of individual, equality, govt by popular individual, equality, govt by popular consent & toleranceconsent & tolerance

Modern day Lib-Dem PartyModern day Lib-Dem Party – formed – formed in 1988 with merger of Liberal Party in 1988 with merger of Liberal Party & Social Democratic Party (SDP)& Social Democratic Party (SDP)

William Gladstone, ‘Grand Old Man’ of Liberal politics

IdeologyIdeology

Early C20thEarly C20th – Labour adopted – Labour adopted Liberal reforms, e.g. on National Liberal reforms, e.g. on National Insurance as part of Welfare StateInsurance as part of Welfare State

Later C20thLater C20th – New Right adopted – New Right adopted Liberal principles on economy – Liberal principles on economy – promoting laissez faire and freedom promoting laissez faire and freedom from state intervention in businessfrom state intervention in business

Pro-EuropeanPro-European – supporters of Euro – supporters of Euro & closer integration& closer integration

Recent developmentsRecent developments

Lib-Lab PactLib-Lab Pact – 1976-8, Liberal – 1976-8, Liberal spokesmen consulted by Labour spokesmen consulted by Labour ministers on key legislationministers on key legislation

Lib-Dems, 1988Lib-Dems, 1988 - new party formed - new party formed with members of Labour right (SDP)with members of Labour right (SDP)

Growth in supportGrowth in support – distinctive – distinctive policies, e.g. anti-war, tuition fees & policies, e.g. anti-war, tuition fees & pro-Europe, e.g. 2005 won 22% vote pro-Europe, e.g. 2005 won 22% vote (62 MPs)(62 MPs)

Recent developmentsRecent developments

Move to rightMove to right – embracing market principles, – embracing market principles, traditional Conservative territorytraditional Conservative territory

Move to leftMove to left – championing abolition of tuition – championing abolition of tuition fees & civil liberties issues, e.g. opposition to fees & civil liberties issues, e.g. opposition to Anti-Terrorism legislationAnti-Terrorism legislation

PragmatismPragmatism – adoption of middle way in UK – adoption of middle way in UK politicspolitics

Coalition government – criticism over Coalition government – criticism over compromises to manifesto pledges, allegations compromises to manifesto pledges, allegations they lack mandate, e.g. increases to tuition top they lack mandate, e.g. increases to tuition top up feesup fees

Extension taskExtension task

Visit the Lib-Dem Party website and Visit the Lib-Dem Party website and get the latest updates on Conservative get the latest updates on Conservative policy on:policy on:

Education – tuition feesEducation – tuition fees Public services – spending reviewPublic services – spending review Foreign policy – War in AfghanistanForeign policy – War in Afghanistan Coalition government – find out how Coalition government – find out how

many & which Lib-Dems are part of many & which Lib-Dems are part of the coalition govtthe coalition govt

Your taskYour task Imagine you are holding a press Imagine you are holding a press

conference with Nick Clegg & Vince conference with Nick Clegg & Vince Cable. Choose someone to represent Cable. Choose someone to represent the above. The rest of you should the above. The rest of you should think of appropriate questions to ask think of appropriate questions to ask using your role cards.using your role cards.

Your taskYour task

Read p.89-90 and take notes on a Read p.89-90 and take notes on a selection of minor parties.selection of minor parties.

Extension. How has the role of Extension. How has the role of these parties changed since the these parties changed since the publication of your text book? Have publication of your text book? Have their policies become more or less their policies become more or less pertinent?pertinent?

HomeworkHomework

Now have a go at Q3 (a-c) of the Now have a go at Q3 (a-c) of the January 2010 paper.January 2010 paper.

Write your previous targets at the top of your paper

PlenaryPlenary

Liberalism?Liberalism? Success since Success since

WWII?WWII? Coalition govt?Coalition govt? Extension. Do Extension. Do

you think the you think the Coalition Coalition Government lacks Government lacks a clear mandate?a clear mandate?

Student protests against plans to increase tuition fees, London,

November 2010