Overview

Question 1

What is a political party?

Answer 1

A group of people drawn together by a similar set of beliefs, known as an ideology.

Question 2

How do political parties differ from pressure groups?

Answer 2

Parties aspire to form a government and adopt a program of policy commitments, while pressure groups represent a single sectional interest and do not enter candidates at elections.

Question 3

What is the main function of political parties?

Answer 3

Representation of the views of people with certain beliefs.

Question 4

What does participation in politics involve for political parties?

Answer 4

Encouraging people to vote, join a party, and support it through funding.

Question 5

Fill in the blank: The Labour Party increased its membership by allowing supporters to join for an annual subscription of _______.

Answer 5

£3

Question 6

What role do political parties play in recruiting office holders?

Answer 6

They serve as mechanisms for politicians to enter politics, gain experience, and become MPs.

Question 7

What is a manifesto?

Answer 7

A document setting out a party’s proposals for government presented at a general election.

Question 8

What are the left principles in the political spectrum?

Answer 8

• Desire reform in society
• Large welfare state
• Seen as on the right side of social issues
• Critical of free market economics

Question 9

What are the right principles in the political spectrum?

Answer 9

• Conserving the status quo
• Emphasis on order and stability
• Advocates of a small government
• Support for individualism and lower taxes

Question 10

Why do political parties need funding?

Answer 10

• Fighting elections
• Holding party conferences
• Developing policies and manifestos
• Employing staff

Question 11

What was the total income of the Labour Party in 2021?

Answer 11

£45.6 million

Question 12

What percentage of Labour’s income came from membership fees in 2021?

Answer 12

35%

Question 13

What significant funding source does the Labour Party rely on?

Answer 13

Trade unions.

Question 14

What is ‘Short money’?

Answer 14

Public funding intended to support opposition parties to carry out parliamentary business.

Question 15

True or False: Donations to political parties in the UK have a cap.

Answer 15

False

Question 16

What did the 2000 Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act establish?

Answer 16

The Electoral Commission to supervise election campaign spending.

Question 17

What was the scandal involving ‘Cash for peerage’?

Answer 17

Link between loans to the Labour Party and nominations for life peerage in the House of Lords.

Question 18

Who was Bernie Ecclestone?

Answer 18

A motor-racing boss who donated £1 million to Labour, alleged to have influenced tobacco advertising laws.

Question 19

What is one key theme of Thatcherism?

Answer 19

Control of public spending combined with tax cuts.

Question 20

What did the ‘Big Society’ concept promote?

Answer 20

A partnership between the state and the voluntary sector.

Question 21

What was a significant policy focus during Cameron’s leadership?

Answer 21

Reducing the budget deficit inherited from the previous Labour government.

Question 22

Fill in the blank: The Coalition’s welfare policy aimed to encourage _______ among benefit recipients.

Answer 22

self-reliance

Question 23

What is the significance of the universal credit system?

Answer 23

It was intended to simplify and reduce welfare costs.

Question 24

What was the response in office to accusations of irresponsible overspending?

Answer 24

Austerity measures were implemented to maintain confidence in financial markets.

This involved public spending cuts across various departments.

Question 25

By how much were the budgets of Whitehall departments cut?

Answer 25

Up to 25%. ## Footnote These cuts were part of the austerity measures following accusations of overspending.

Question 26

What does the term 'Big Society' refer to in the context of public spending?

Answer 26

It was regarded as a smokescreen for cutting costs by withdrawing the state from the provision of public services.

Question 27

What is the main goal of the coalition's welfare policy?

Answer 27

To cut costs and encourage self-reliance among benefit recipients.

Question 28

How did George Osborne categorize benefit recipients?

Answer 28

He distinguished between hard-working 'strivers' and undeserving 'shirkers'.

Question 29

What is the purpose of the Universal Credit system?

Answer 29

To simplify the welfare system and encourage low-income individuals to seek employment.

Question 30

What significant change was made to the NHS under the coalition government?

Answer 30

A radical overhaul that allowed the private sector to compete with state hospitals.

Question 31

What was the coalition's attitude towards law and order?

Answer 31

A more liberal approach while supporting tough sentencing for certain crimes.

Question 32

What phrase did the coalition use to promote understanding of young offenders?

Answer 32

'Hug a hoodie'.

Question 33

What was the coalition's approach to rehabilitation?

Answer 33

Promoted a 'rehabilitation revolution'.

Question 34

What was the coalition's foreign policy consistent with?

Answer 34

Thatcherism, including strong links with the USA and support for air strikes against Islamic terror groups.

Question 35

What did the coalition do regarding British membership in the EU?

Answer 35

Renegotiated it before holding a referendum.

Question 36

What was a significant outcome of the Scottish Nationalist Party (SNP) in 2007?

Answer 36

Became the largest party in the Scottish Parliament.

Question 37

Who is the current leader of the SNP?

Answer 37

Humza Yousaf.

Question 38

What was a key achievement of the SNP in the 2011 elections?

Answer 38

Became the first single party majority government in the Scottish Parliament.

Question 39

What was the SNP's stance on the 2014 independence referendum?

Answer 39

Despite losing, they retained significant support.

Question 40

What are two key policies of the SNP?

Answer 40

* Invest £118 billion into UK public services * Scrap tuition fees and restore free education.

Question 41

What is the Green Party's approach to social policy?

Answer 41

Progressive, including drug policy reform and support for LGBT rights.

Question 42

Who are the current co-leaders of the Green Party?

Answer 42

Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay.

Question 43

What is UKIP's main political objective?

Answer 43

Withdrawal of the UK from the EU.

Question 44

What significant breakthrough did UKIP achieve in 2013?

Answer 44

Came third in the nationwide share of votes in local elections.

Question 45

Who was the most successful leader of UKIP?

Answer 45

Nigel Farage.

Question 46

What was a major outcome for UKIP in October 2014?

Answer 46

Gained its first elected MP at Westminster.

Question 47

What was a major policy goal of UKIP under Farage?

Answer 47

Development into a party standing for traditional conservative and libertarian values.

Question 48

What trend did the UK political system move towards in the 1970s?

Answer 48

A breakdown of the two-party system, leading to the emergence of third parties.

Question 49

What does the term 'two and a half party system' refer to?

Answer 49

A political landscape where support for third parties grows, while still dominated by two main parties.

Question 50

What was a significant event in the 2010 general election?

Answer 50

Formation of a coalition government, demonstrating partisan dealignment.

Question 51

What percentage of the vote did the Conservatives and Labour secure in the 2017 general election?

Answer 51

82%.

Question 52

What is one consequence of the UK's first-past-the-post electoral system?

Answer 52

It has masked the rise of parties like SNP, UKIP, and the Green Party.