3.1.2.3 Political parties (UK)

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

Variables affecting elections

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?

Multiparty system certainly exists throughout vote share, less evident through seats held
NI and Scotland have much more multiparty systems
Different electoral systems produce more multiparty results
- MEP elections in 2019: Brexit Party won a majority with 29, Green’s 7 beat Con’s 4, Con was 5th
HoL is multiparty with no party having an official majority
England is mainly two-party dominant due to FPTP

Candidates must be approved by the party after selection/vetting and training
- e.g. Con candidates must pass Parliamentary Assessment Board
Apply to be shortlisted as the prospective parliamentary candidate (PPC) by local branches
Candidates get adopted after vote of local party members

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
Conservatives
- Rules decided by 1922 Committee
- Each contender needs support of 10+ Con MPs
- Con MPs use secret ballots to select four candidates
- Four candidates give a speech at annual conference
- Further ballots reduce to two
- Final two face off in online vote by all Con members (OMOV)
Labour
- Candidates need backing of 10% of Labour MPs, 5% of constituency parties or at least three affiliates (two of which must be tradde uninos)
- Candidates are elected by all members through preferential vote, OMOV
Lib Dems
- Support by 10% of Liib Dem MPs ad support by at least 200 members from 20+ local parties
- Voted by OMOV using AV

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