Do small parties matter ?

Breaking the mould Political commentators often use the expression ‘breaking

the mould’ of British politics to describe the possible breakthrough of a new party.

The ‘mould’ refers to the traditional two party system or duopoly.

How many small parties can you name ?

Ulster Unionist Party (UUP)Democratic Unionist Party (DUP)Sinn FeinPlaid Cymru (Welsh Nationalists)Scottish National Party (SNP)Green PartyBritish National Party (BNP)UK Independence Party (UKIP)Social and Democratic Liberal Party (SDLP)

Choose one party to research.Policies Leader Membership Representation Prominent

figures

Do small parties matter ? The voting system works against small parties and favours

Labour and Conservative.

How can small parties make a difference ?

Do small parties matter ?

Most small parties find it easier to win seats in local councils rather than Westminster.

They can highlight issues ignored by other parties.

Small parties only have importance in the Westminster parliament when the government has no majority or only a small majority. This is called a ‘hung parliament’.

1992-1997: small parties do matter ! John Major won the 1992 election with a small majority

of just 32. This was reduced over time by deaths / retirement of

MP’s and by-elections. By mid1990s Major had no ‘working majority’ (reliable

vote). He had to rely on the votes of the 10 UUP MPs to get

government legislation (laws) passed. This is not quite a coalition government but the

government must listen to the wishes of that small party.

In the 1970s Labour’s majority relied on the Liberals support (The Lib-Lab Pact)

Some parliamentary arithmeticThere are 650 seats at Westminster326 would give one party the majority.

Form a government with a working majority from these election results:

Labour 297Conservative 294Lib Dems 28UUP 11DUP 7Plaid Cymru 3SNP 10

Two party system ?1. Since 1945, do you think the UK is a two party system?

Sometimes a small party can win a seat at Westminster because they have a famous / high profile leader like former Labour MP George Galloway or Robert Kilroy Silk

Party funding1. Where do political parties in the UK receive

funding from ? What rules exist to regulate this ?

2. Is our system open to bribery / corruption ?

3. Should political parties in the UK receive state funding (as in some European countries like Germany where parties receive funding in proportion to votes won) ?

Party fundingPolitical parties in Britain are funded from their members and from their sponsors and donors.

All parties accept donors from private businesses and companies.

Following numerous scandals in the 1990’s and 2000’s rules exist concerning donations: they must be declared.

Swing or marginal seats2005 Election Results

2010 Election Results

Party membership1. Suggest reasons why party membership across the UK is

declining for all political parties. (P29 in text book)

Membership Party membership could be declining for a

variety of reasons:i. Disillusionment ii. Lack of control by ordinary party membersiii. Competition from other leisure activitiesiv. Lack of interest from younger age groupsv. Lack of difference between the three main

parties – crowding in the centre ground.

Participation Party membership is declining, however, membership of

pressure groups has increased in recent years:i. Rise of single-issue politicsii. Direct action groups seen as more effective and able to

influence politicsiii. Spread of the internet, online forums, blogs etc

encourages the growth of small pressure groups.