Party unity and election success

Question 1

Question

Answer 1

Evaluate the view that party unity is the most important factor in why UK general elections are won or lost.

Question 2

Factors

Answer 2

• Party unity
• Valence issues
• Party leadership

Question 3

Judgement

Answer 3

Party unity is not the most important factor.

Question 4

Weaker argument party unity.

Answer 4

→ 1997 General Election - Tories divided, over the EU. John Major had to try and keep a party together that included Europhiles like Ken Clark and Michael Heseltine and Eurosceptics like Michael Portillo and Michael Howard - the party divisions were obvious.
→ Internal divisions and splits in the Labour Party in the 1980s - the rise of the SDP contributed to Labour defeats under Michael Foot.
→ Under Corbyn the Labour Party was highly divided with some members leaving to form the Independent Party/Change UK.
→ 2024 Conservative Party - in 2024 the Conservative Party was becoming increasingly divided between the centrists and the further right wing members. The rise of Reform UK.

Question 5

Stronger argument party unity

Answer 5

→ The Conservatives dealt divisions over Brexit for a long time - there were clear divisions under Thatcher over the issue of the EU however Thatcher was still able to maintain massive majorities 3 times.
→ Liberal Democrats in 2010: The Liberal Democrats saw a significant rise in support in 2010, despite their lack of party unity regarding their participation in a coalition government with the Conservatives.
* 2010 Election: The LDs received 6,836,000 votes.
* 2005 Election: The LDs received 5,247,000 votes.
→ In 2019 Boris Johnson was able to give the Conservative Party a majority (80 seats) again despite there still being internal divisions within the party over how to achieve Brexit.

Question 6

Weaker argument valence issues.

Answer 6

→ 2019 GE - YouGov post-election poll - 40% of voters made their choice based on party loyalty.
→ 2019: YouGov Polling (2019) showed that “Who is the better leader?” was a more significant issue for voters than the specific policies on healthcare or education.
→ 2017: Studies from the BES found many voters struggle to understand political issues - voters admitted they had limited knowledge of Brexit policies or the details of Corbyn’s manifesto - they voted based on ideological alignment.

Question 7

Stronger argument valence issues.

Answer 7

→ 2017: Brexit was the most important issue for voters, influencing the voting behaviour of Leavers and Remainers:
○ 56% who voted Leave in 2016 backed the Tories in 2017.
○ Remainers (56% of the population) tended to back Labour.
→ 2019: the election was about Brexit. The Tories, promised to “Get Brexit Done” and implement the EU Withdrawal Agreement.
→ 2019: YouGov exit poll - Among those who ranked Brexit as the most important issue, 74% voted Tory, and 23% voted Labour.
→ 2024: In a YouGov Poll prior to the 2024 election participants were asked the following: Which of the following will be the most important issues in deciding who you will vote for at the coming election?. The results are as follows:
* Cost of living - 45%
* Health - 34%
* The economy - 32%

Question 8

Weaker argument party image

Answer 8

→ The end of Thatcher’s 11 year premiership was brought about as a result of internal divisions within the party over her leadership style and the conflict over the EU - the party’s image was not an issue just their lack of unity.
→ Under Theresa May the party did not have a bad image - however the party’s lack of support in May lead to her stepping down emphasising how they believed the divided party under her could not win a general election.
→ Blair’s demise came from not being able to unite his party about continuing support for the Iraq war.

Question 9

Stronger argument party image.

Answer 9

→ Labour’s image problem in the 1980s - ‘party for the unions’. They were unable to be a dominant party in the Commons until this issue was fixed under Tony Blair - who dropped Clause IV.
→ In 2024 the Conservative party suffered their worst defeat in years - contributed to by the scandals within the party: Matt Hancock’s affair, Partygate, Priti Patel’s bullying behaviour allegations, Liz Truss and the economy/lettuce.
→ In 2010 Cameron turned around the image of the Tories - no longer the “nasty party”.
→ 1997 General election was in part lost by the poor image of Major’s party:
* “Cash for Questions” scandal.
* Sex Scandals:
○ Yeo, a minister and family values campaigner, had child with his mistress.
○ Transport Minister Steve Norris admitted to having 5 affairs.