Is The Uk A Two Party System?

Question 1

Agree 1: Labour and conservatives are the only parties capable of establishing a strong majority government.

Answer 1

AO2: 2024, Labour won 411 seats
AO2: 2019, conservatives won 365 seats

Question 2

Counter 1: In times of minority government, the two parties look at third parties to create a majority coalition.

Answer 2

AO2: 2010 Cameron-clegg coalition
AO2: 2017 Conservative and DUP agreement.

Question 3

Agree 2: Minor and third parties growth are limited by FPTP.

Answer 3

AO2: Reform UK 5 seats with 4m votes
AO2: Lib Dems 72 seats with 3.5 mil votes
AO2: Labour 412 seats with 9 mil votes

Question 4

Counter 2: Minor parties increase representation and offer choice to the electorate and thus they are growing in influence

Answer 4

AO2: Reform UK focus on restoring british values and strongly tackling immigration. Despite being a new party they still won 5 seats and have almost half of labours total vote

Question 5

Agree 3: Local Elections are dominated by conservatives and labours in big regions.

Answer 5

AO2: Labour’s sadiq khan mayor from 2016 onwards and Richard Parker labour mayor for west midlands 2024 onwards

AO2: Andy street mayor of westmidlands 2017-2024

Question 6

Growth of minor party influence in by elections and local elections force government into policy making.

Answer 6

AO2: 2025 By-election reform won labour’s runcorn constituency. Reform have the biggest influence in council elections with 10 councils and 677 councillors. This influence has forced Keir Starmer in a PMqs to come down harder on immigration and create a white page