3.1.2.3 Political parties

Much different to the US
- By 1902, UK had stronger ideological division
- Not the case now, US has become much more polarised

Media

19th century: Liberal and conservative
20th century: Labour and conservative
two party system does not apply in the devolved system
- Scotland: SNP
- Wales: Plaid Cymru
- NI:
  - Sinn Fein
  - DUP / UUP
  - Alliance
  - SDLP
There are 6 parties that represent the whole UK
- Labour
- Conservatives
- Liberal Democrats
- Reform UK
- Green Party
- Your Party
If the left splits:
- Lab, YP, Green
If the right splits:
- C, Reform
Many political commentators think Reform will win the next general election by close margin
Council elections in May 2026 will be a bellwether (indicator) of the general election
TPP’s prediction: coalition between C and Lib to keep R out
If Reform wins: does the Official Opposition become Lab/C without the other?
- Will there be a major constitutional shift?

Conservative MPs before 1998 chose a leader without consulting the members
Before 1965, leaders were generally chosen by the MPs
- Smoking rooms and gentlemen’s clubs
- Discussions between MPs allowed for a leader to emerge

Early parties were based upon grouping MPs around a figure/leader
Whigs and Tories
Whigs were more pro-reform, wanted constitutional change to limited government
- Limits on powers of government
Tories
- stood for defence for the Church of England
- stood for protecting the aristocracy
- stood for limited change

Modern parties developed ~1850
- Period of Robert Peel, Benjamin Disraeli, William Ewart Gladstone

Great Reform Act (Milestones of the British Constitution)
- Increased electorate
Robert Peel
Writes the Tamworth Manifesto (1834)
Repeals the corn laws, splits the Tories into Peelites and Conservatives
- Peelites join with the Whigs and Radicals to form the Liberal
Conservatives become dominated by Disraeli