Political Parties in the UK

Social Studies, Autumn 2012

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What do the parties do?

1: Fight for political power, e.g. they try to win control over the House of Commons

2: They give ordinary men and women a chance to participate in politics

3: They are accountable; the voters utter their opinions at election time

Since 1918: UK dominated by two large parties:

the Conservative Party + the Labour Party

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The Conservative PartyPrime Minister and leader: David Cameron

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The Conservative Party

‘Tory party’In government for 2/3 of the 20th centuryCentre-right party:

Max opportunity for the individualMarket forces: operate relatively freelyLow taxationLow public spendingPrivatisation is healthy

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The Conservative Party

Supports:Slow, steady change‘Traditional’ values and institutionsFamily lifeThe House of LordsPublic (i.e. private) schoolsModernising industry

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The Labour PartyLeader: Ed Miliband

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The Labour Party

Founded in 1900Working-class interestsLeft-of-centre partySupports the have-notsWelfare‘New Labour’ (accepts private enterprise)Tony Blair & Gordon Brown (former leaders

and PMs)7

The Liberal DemocratsLeader and Deputy Minister in the UK: Nick Clegg

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The Liberal DemocratsPart of the current coalition government

(Conservatives + LibDems)Founded in 1988 (the Liberals + the Social

Democratic Party = the Liberal Democrats)Freedom of the individualSceptical of big businessDevolution is a good thing (moving power

from London to the regions)Enthusiastic about the EUSocial change 9