Political Parties (UK)

Question 1

What is liberalism?

Answer 1

An ideology which stresses the importance of individual freedom and human rights and the need for clear limits on the power of the state.
Core values: the individual, read, freedom, justice, equality of opportunity and government by consent.

Question 2

What is classical liberalism?

Answer 2

18th and 19th century.
Favours a laissez-faire economic system, a free market with limited government interference.

Classical liberals are influenced by the ideas of Social Darwinism: they believe it is inevitable and natural that talented hard working people will become more wealthy than others.

It has heavily influenced the Conservative party.

Question 3

What is modern liberalism?

Answer 3

19th and 20th century.

Social problems cause by the industrial revolution led some to challenge the view that the poor were really free to improve their lives through hard work.

Modern liberals argue that the state has an important role in ensuring that there is real equality of opportunity.

Modern liberalism has influenced the labour party.

Question 4

What is social liberalism?

Answer 4

A welfare state is required to bring labour real equality of opportunity.
e.g Old Age Pensions Act 1908.
1945-51 labour government wanted to tackle ignorance, disease, squalor and idleness.’

Question 5

What is economic liberalism?

Answer 5

Argues that lassiez-faire policies do not work for all and the government should manage the economy to address inequality.

Believed in Keynsian tax and spend economics.

Question 6

What is socialism?

Answer 6

An ideology that sees capitalism as exploitative.

Socialists believe that humans are social creatures, of equal worth, who can achieve more working for the collective good.

Core values: community and common ownership of the means of production - nationalisation.

Question 7

How can socialism be seen in the labour party?

Answer 7

Enfranchisement of the working classes in the late 19th century led to the idea that socialism could be achieved through the ballot box.

Party had its first majority government in 1945 and tackled Beverage’s ‘Five Giants’ by introducing major reforms such as the introduction of the NHS, nationalisation and the expanding of the welfare state.

Question 8

What was the post-war consensus?

Answer 8

1945-1979 there was a broad agreement across the political spectrum that collectivism, a mixed economy and Keynesian economics were for the best.

Question 9

What split the Labour Party between the 1950’s and 1960s?

Answer 9

Democratic socialists and Social Democrats.

Question 10

Democratic socialists:

Answer 10

The left wing of the labour party.

Supported the abolition of capitalism.

Commitment to full nationalisation found in clause IV of the labour party constitution.

Question 11

Social Democrats:

Answer 11

The centre left go the party.
accepted capitalism but supported significant state intervention..
Proposed changing Clause IV.

Question 12

What is conservatism?

Answer 12

Seeks to resist change.
Tend to be pragmatic, focusing on practical outcomes and are suspicious of utopian ideologies.

Core Values: tradition, pragmatism and hierarchy/

Question 13

What is one-nation toryism?

Answer 13

The belief in organic society, different classes are different organs that all depend on each other.

One-nation conservatives are paternalistic, they believe that the wealth6 should look after the poor.

Question 14

One-nation conservatism and the post-war consensus:

Answer 14

One-nation toryism suited the post war consensus.

Accepted that inequality needed to be addresses and wanted to find a middle course between socialism and classical liberalism.

They supported a mixed economy and state intervention.

In the 1950s and 60s conservatives supported a welfare state and nationalisation

One nation-toryism dominated the Conservative party from 1945 -79.

Question 15

How did Thatcher end the post-war consensus?

Answer 15

It was prompted by the economic problems of the 1970s.

Inflation and unemployment demanded Keynesian responses.

Economic problems and strikes led to the winter of discontent 1978-79. Petrol shortages and uncollected rubbish.

Prompted mant to call for major trade union reforms.

Question 16

What was Thatcherism?

Answer 16

It was inspired by the New-Right and was a reaction to the post-war consensus.

Supposed to tackle the issues of inflation, strikes and poor growth.

It was a return to classical liberal policies of free markets, low taxes and minimal state intervention.

Question 17

What is Thatcherite economic policy (neoliberalism)?

Answer 17

Keynesian tax-and-spend economics replaced by classical liberal economic policies.

-Subsidies for struggling businesses ended.
-Power of trade unions limited by reforms.
-Required secret ballot before strikes and banned secondary striking.
-Universal benefits ended and replaced by means-tested benefits.
- Council house tenants given the ‘right to buy’.

As a result inflation reduced but unemployment rose as competitive industries were allowed to fail.

Question 18

What is Thatcherite social policy (neoconservatism) ?

Answer 18

Thatcherism emphasised law and order and traditional family values.
Video Recordings Act banned ‘video nasties’.

Question 19

What was labour like under Michael Foot (1980-83) ?

Answer 19

Went into the 1983 election with a very left wing manifesto, it was dubbed the longest suicide note in history.
Step down as party leader following the parties heavy defeat.

Question 20

What was the Labour Party like under Neil Kinnock and John Smith 1983-94?

Answer 20

Party began to shift from the left to the centre.

It recognised the challenges faced by a socialist party in a post-industrial society with a large middle class.

Kinnock expelled far left extremists from the party.

Question 21

What was labour like under Tony Blair ( 1994 onwards) ?

Answer 21

Inspired Third way.

Promoted triangulation - a middle course between the socialism of old labour and neo-liberalism of thatcher.

Rebranded the party as ‘new labour’ and shifted it to the centre.

Labour won a landslide victory in 1997.

Question 22

What was new labours economic policy?

Answer 22

Clause 4 was replaced with a commitment to a thriving public sector.
It cut corporation tax and promoted privatisation.
Wanted to increase choice and competition in the public services.
Launched ‘new deal’ work programme- focused on providing training and employment rather than benefits.

Question 23

What were New Labours policies?

Answer 23

A series of reforms eg prompted LGBT rights.
Pro-EU
Supported the US war on terror
Passed the Human rights act.
Passed controversial anti-terror laws following 9/11.
Passed constitutional reforms - devolution.

Question 24

What was the financial crash?

Answer 24

In Labours first 2 years, gov spending increased considerably and there was a fall in tax receipts combined with the bail out - led to enormous national debt.

Labours economic credibility was ruined.

Cameron accused Brown of ‘failing to fix the roof whilst the sun was still shining’.

Question 25

Was the financial crash the Labour governments fault?

Answer 25

The financial crisis originated in the US. Prior to the crisis government spending of GDP had been lower than under the previous conservative government. Labour claimed that they had to invest in the infrastructure that the conservative had neglected. The UKs economy's over reliance on the housing market and financial sector had begun under the previous conservative government.

Question 26

What was the conservatives response to the financial crash?

Answer 26

Sided with the liberal economists views: the deficit had to be reduced at a rapid pace. This would be achieved through cutting government spending (austerity).

Question 27

What was the Labour party's response to the financial crash?

Answer 27

Argued that austerity would lead to a double dip recession. Sided with the Keynesian economic view: the government should now invest large sums of money to stimulate an economic recovery - the national deficit would be reduced when the economy recovered.

Question 28

What was the post-crash consensus?

Answer 28

All major parties responded to the crash by pledging to reduce deficit - however they pledged to do this to different extents and by differing speeds and methods.

Question 29

What internal divisions were there in Thatchers Conservative party?

Answer 29

By the time of Thatchers resignation in 1990, the party was divided between the 'wets' (one-nation tories) and the 'dries' (Thatcherite tories).

Question 30

What was the conservative party like under Cameron?

Answer 30

Elected in 2006 as leader. Seen as a renewing and modernising force following a series of election defeats. Wanted to lead the party away form divisive policy areas like Europe and towards those where it could gain an electoral advantage (environment).

Question 31

Why did Cameron describe himself as a 'liberal conservative'.

Answer 31

He was a blend between fiscal conservatism and socially liberal values. Sought to end the 'nasty party' image. Focused on tackling the causes of crimes and supported same-sex marriage.

Question 32

What was the Conservative party like under May?

Answer 32

Identified herself as a one-nation tory. Pledged to focus on JAMs (just about managing). Pledged to cut-taxes. Make reductions in public spending and grammar school expansions. Premiership was dominated and ended by Brexit.

Question 33

What was the Conservative party like under Johnson?

Answer 33

Identified as a one-nation-tory. Pledged to level up. Critics argued he had no ideology but was an opportunist. Committed large amounts of public spending to the NHS, education and infrastructure. His response to the pandemic can be seen as one-nation-tory.

Question 34

What was the conservative party like under Truss?

Answer 34

Saw a brief return to the neoliberalism of Thatcher. She supported free trade and 'trussonomcis' - her raft of major tax cuts which she thought would stimulate the market and trigger growth. She at times resembled one-nation tory - safeguarded families form the cost of living crisis, introduced an energy price guarantee which costed tens of billions of pounds.

Question 35

What was the Labour Party like under Brown?

Answer 35

Browns era was defined by the financial crash of 2008. Brown's government was forced to nationalise a number of high street banks and returned to the 'tax and spend' approach of 'old labour'.

Question 36

What was the Labour Party like under Ed Miliband?

Answer 36

He struggle to untie the party or the electorate. 2015 saw a sweeping defeat for the Labour Party. Those on the right of the party felt that labours failure was due to the party abandoning Blair's formula. Those on the left felt that Milibands failure was a symptom of the failure of the New Labour project and that the party needed to embrace socialism.

Question 37

What was the Labour Party like under Jeremy Corbyn?

Answer 37

Corbyn was a committed socialist. He was serial backbench rebel. Moved the party back to old labour principles - increasing taxes for the wealthy and massive investment in public services and nationalisation of key industries. In 2017 the party did well and gained an additional 36 seats. The party however suffered badly in 2019 - Corbyn was criticised for his failure to deal with anti-semitism, his weak brexit polciy and left wing manifesto.

Question 38

What was the Labour Party like under Keir Starmer?

Answer 38

Starmers politcal ideology is described as being 'soft left'. Seen to be guiding labour towards more centrists policies. Starmer is supportive of investment in the UK's public services, paid by tax hikes for wealthy individuals. He has distanced himself from corbyns-era talk of denationalisations and Blair-era interventionist foreign policy positions.

Question 39

When/ how did the Lib Dem's form?

Answer 39

Formed in 1988 out of a coalition between the Iiberal party and the social democrat party. They place a high emphasis on civil liberties and have historically held a pro-European stance. The parties two main factions are the social liberals and the orange book liberals.

Question 40

Social liberals:

Answer 40

Draw on modern liberalism. Reject Thatcherite economics. During the New Labour era, people began to view the LibDems as a more left-wing alternative to labour. Favoured economic policies that reduced inequality. Party seen as more liberals on issues such as defence spending anti-terror laws, the war in Iraq and ID cards.

Question 41

Orange Book liberals:

Answer 41

2004, some senior MPs including Nick Clegg and Ed Davie contributed to the 'Orange Book'. It set out more classically liberal approaches for the party and stressed the importance of Thatcherite economics.

Question 42

What was the coalition government of 2010-15 like?

Answer 42

There were tensions between Orange book liberals who led the party and grassroots social liberals. Social liberals opposed welfare cuts and the increase to tuition fees.

Question 43

What was the liberal party like post-2015?

Answer 43

-Jo-Swinson won only 11 seats in 2019 - mainly down to their manifesto promise to revoke article 50. -2020 Ed Davey elected leader of the party - he is an orange book liberal and has promoted significant investment in transition to net zero, childcare, schools and adult education.

Question 44

What policy issues was there a consensus between major parties in 2019?

Answer 44

-All parties pledged extra funding for the NHS and social care. -All parties pledged to recruit more police officers. -All parties pledged additional funding for schools and childcare support. -All pledged to built lots of new homes - also pledged to make them more energy efficient. -All support immigration that benefits the UK economy. -All pledged major investment in the rural infrastructure and bus services. - All opposed IndyRef2.

Question 45

What manifesto pledges were made about Brexit in 2019?

Answer 45

Conservatives favoured Brexit. Labour favoured a second referendum. Lib Dem's favoured revoking article 50.

Question 46

What manifesto pledges were made on crime in 2019?

Answer 46

Lab and LibDem pledged to reduce prison sentences for less serious prison offences and improve access to legal aid. LibDems pledged to legalise cannabis.

Question 47

What manifesto pledges were made on education.

Answer 47

Lab and LibDem pledged to expand FSM. Lab pledged to scrap tuition fees for all. LibDems wanted to restore grants for poor pupils.

Question 48

What manifesto pledges were made on work and benefits in 2019?

Answer 48

Con largely promised to maintain status quo and pledge no income tax or NI rises. Labour and LibDem pledged to scrap a range of unpopular benefits, such as universal credit.

Question 49

What manifesto pledges were made on the economy in 2019?

Answer 49

Con pledged modest investment. LibDem pledged significant investment. Lab pledged massive investment and renationalisation of key industries.

Question 50

What manifesto pledges were made on housing in 2019?

Answer 50

Lab and LibDem pledged to end rough sleeping. Lab pledge to abolish right to buy and pledged to build council houses.

Question 51

What manifesto pledges were made on the environment in 2019?

Answer 51

Targets for net zero on carbon emissions varied. Lab pledged to phase out petrol and diesel cars by 2050.

Question 52

2019 manifesto pledges on immigration?

Answer 52

Con pledged to a point-assessed immigration system. Lab and Lib Dem immigration policies more flexible.

Question 53

2019 manifesto pledges on transport?

Answer 53

Lab pledged to renationalise railways. LibDem pledge to freeze rail fares.

Question 54

Argument that the recent years have seen an end of distinct party ideologies in the UK:

Answer 54

-Considerable ideological breadth within each party( one national tories v Thatcherism, old v new labour, social liberals v orange book liberals.) -There is a socially democratic consensus on high levels of spending on public services. -Significant overlaps between parties manifestos in 2019. -Rise of centrist politics: Blair, Cameron, Starmer. -increased importance of party leaders. -Tendency of Conservatives and labour to focus on appealing to the centre ground. -Coalition gov 2010-15.

Question 55

Argument that there are still distinct party ideologies in the UK:

Answer 55

-All main parties are rooted in distinct ideologies. -The motivation and scale of parties investment to public services varies. -Major parties still very ideological at times: Euroscepticism, corbynism, trussonomics. -Minor parties tend to be more ideological SNP, Reform.

Question 56

How is the Conservative Party structured ( top-down)?

Answer 56

Executive Level: The Conservative Party board acts as the ultimate decision making body - has representatives from each section of the party. The parties head office (Conservative Campaign Headquarters) is overseen by the parties charisma and leads on all administrative matters. (Finance, drafting policy and election campaigns.) National Level: A national convention meets three times a year and is attended by representatives of each constituency association. Local Level: Constituency associations for every constituency.

Question 57

How is the Liberal Democrat party structured (federal structure)?

Answer 57

Local Level: Local constituency parties feed into three state parties in England State Level: State parties report to the federal party and its Governemnt body, the federal executive. Federal level: The federal party is responsible for policy drafting, election campaigns and fundraising. Executive level: members elect representatives to three federal committees: the federal executive, the federal policy committee and the federal conference committee. The federal conference is composed of members from each local party and is the final decision-making body.

Question 58

How is the Labour Party structured (Bottom-up)?

Answer 58

Local level: The party has local branches with community led organisations: youth clubs, sports clubs and trade unions. The constituency Labour parties (CLP) brings together party members within each constituency. Labour also runs several local and regional policy forums each year. The party then operates 8 different policy commission to carry out detailed policy work. National level: the party hosts a national policy forum several times a year - theoretical ensures that the party policy represents the views of all members. Executive level: National executive committee, sets out the party's objectives and oversees the party nationally. In theory the ultimate decision-making authority resides with the party's annual conference - delegates vote on the policy framework that the party's manifesto will be draws. Since the 1990s the significance of the Annual conference has been dismissed by the National Policy forum and National executive committee.

Question 59

What functions do politcal parties perform?

Answer 59

Governing and electioneering: provide choice at election. Parties provide a united and coherent opposition to hold the government accountable. Fund-raising: party structures enable the parties to raise money efficiently and effectively. Easier for party to raise money under one banner than through individuals. Policy Development and Integration: parties help to form a wide range of policies. Enable a clear ideology to be developed and communicated. Representation: Parties connect parliament and the people through MPs. Recruitment: Parties responsible for providing the electorate with a choice of candidates. Participation: Parties educate voters and help to mobilise the electorate.

Question 60

What are the main political parties of the UK?

Answer 60

Conservatives Labour LibDem

Question 61

What are the two types of minority party?

Answer 61

Nationalist parties. Single-issue parties.

Question 62

Nationalist parties:

Answer 62

Look to nurture a shared cultural identity. Some nationalists campaing for full independence such as SNP whilst others have more modest goals such as Plaid Cymru.

Question 63

Single-issue parties:

Answer 63

Some of these parties offer a comprehensive policy programme rooted in a particular ideological perspective- such as the Green Party. Sometimes they campaign for a particular issue - UKIP.

Question 64

The SNP.

Answer 64

Campaigns for Scottish independence. Has held power in the Scottish parliament since 2007. Won a majority in 2011. Had a new mandate in 2019 with IndyRef2. It's the third largest party in the commons. Sturgeon had a pro-Europe perspective during brexit.

Question 65

UKIP

Answer 65

Campaigns for hard brexit and against immigration. Won 2014 European Parliament election. Won 12.6% of the vote share in 2015 with only 1 seat. Used its influence to push the conservatives to have an EU referendum. Since 2016 referendum the party has lost its influence.

Question 66

Plaid Cymru

Answer 66

Campaigns for welsh devolution and increased investment in Wales. Won just 4 seats in 2019. and in 2024.

Question 67

Brexit party:

Answer 67

Campaigned for a hard brexit. Won the 2019 European Parliament elections - gained 29 seats. Help the conservatives win in 2019 by standing down candidates in constituency's the conservatives had won in previous elections. Didn't win any seats in 2019.

Question 68

DUP

Answer 68

Campaigns for NI to remain in the UK. Largest unionist party in NI. In Government with Sinn Fien. 2017 formed a confidence and supply agreement with May.

Question 69

Green Party.

Answer 69

Limited direct influence over policy because of its size. 1 seat in the 2019 election, 4 seats in 2024. Encourages other progressive parties to develop environmental policies.

Question 70

Two-party system:

Answer 70

Where two-fairly equally matched parties compete for power at elections other parties have little chance of breaking their duopoly. Britain has traditionally operated under this system.

Question 71

Multiparty system:

Answer 71

Where many parties compete for power and the Government consists of a series of collations. Rise of the Lib Dem's and other smaller parties in the 21st century led some to suggest that the UK was morphing into a multiparty system.

Question 72

What is the nature of the UK party system?

Answer 72

Despite the rise of smaller parties - UK remains a two party system. Conservatives and Labour dominate in elections. 2017 Labour and conservative won 580/650 seats.

Question 73

Argument that the UK is a multi-party system?

Answer 73

-There has been a move away from single-party government in the UK: coalition between 2010-15 and a minority government in 2017. -Smaller parties played a role in coalition and minority governments. -Smaller parties have significant impact on UK politics SNPs dominance in Scotland from 2015 onwards, UKIPs rise resulted in the 2016 referendum. -2015: 61% of voters backed parties other than the big two in Scotland. -Multiple parties hold power across the UK and developed nations. -SNP dominate in Scotland.

Question 74

Argument that the UK is a two-party system?

Answer 74

-Either conservatives or labour have been in government since 1945. -Coalition and minority Govs are rare. (two major parties have provided every prime minister). -FPTP prevents smaller parties wing a proportional number of seats. -In 2019 the two main parties won a combined 76% of seats. -The success of minor parties are fleeting - BNP enjoyed a brief period of success in local elections but has now faded into obscurity. LibDems now hold 72 seats.

Question 75

How democratic is the labour parties leadership selection process?

Answer 75

Stage 1: Since 2018 to qualify for the ballot. candidates must firstly secure the nomination of 10% of Labour MPs and 5% of constituency labour parties or at least three affiliated groups. Stage 2: Since 2014 members, registered supporters and affiliated members vote under the OMOV basis under and Av system. *2014 saw a change from the electoral college in which labour MPs help 1/3 of the vote. New system is more democratic, votes are weighted equally. 2019, 5 candidates received the required number of votes from MPs and 3 received the required support from constituency labour parties and affiliated organisations. Starmer went on to win the election in the first round with 56.2% of the vote.

Question 76

How democratic is the conservative parties leadership election?

Answer 76

Stage 1: Candidates must be nominated from 20 MPs. MPs then vote in a series of ballots, where the candidate with the least number of votes is eliminated. Process repeats until just two candidates remain. Stage 2: Party members vote on a OMOV basis to decide which of the two becomes leader. 2022, Truss chosen of Sunak however Truss only lasted 50 days - party leadership decided to raise the threshold for nominations to 100 and Sunak was chosen - meaning members did not have a say.

Question 77

How democratic is the Lib Dems leadership selection process?

Answer 77

Stage 1: Candidates must receive the support from 10% of MPs and at least 200 party members from at least 20 local parties. Stage 2: Members vote on a OMOV basis under the AV system. Party members were denied a vote in 2017 when Vince Cable was unopposed. 2020, saw a completion between Ed Davey and Layla Moran.

Question 78

What stages do the main three parties follow in choosing their candidates?

Answer 78

1. Hopefuls must get their name on the list of prospective candidates - list is vetted and approved by party leadership. 2. Local party draws up a shortlist from those approved candidates. 3.Constituency party members vote for their preferred candidate.

Question 79

How have the conservatives tried to diversify the pool of candidates?

Answer 79

Have experimented with public hustings - meetings at which prospective candidates can address constituency party members and local voters. Open primaries - popular ballot in which all registered voters can vote to select a candidate - 2 were held in 2010 with Caroline Dinenage selected as the candidate for Gosport. One cost 40,000. Priority lists (a lists) - lists of candidates which priorities female and ethnic minority candidates.

Question 80

How have the Labour Party attempted to diversify the pool from which their candidates are chosen?

Answer 80

Use of all women shortlists - 1997 election saw 101 female Labour MPs elected to parliament - Blair's Babes. Some argue that all-women shortlists are discriminatory. Under Labour Party policy - all women shortlists can be imposed only when fewer than half of Labour MPs are women.

Question 81

How democratic is the conservative party in its policy making?

Answer 81

Policy traditionally largely determined by the leader. Leader is expected to canvass the views of front bench colleagues, the 1922 committee and grass roots members. In theory grassroots members have a greater influence since the establishment of the conservative policy forum 1998 - advisory rather binding. Very top Down. John major 1992: 'It was all me'. Theresa May along with aides Nick Timothy and Fiona Hill said to have dominated the formulation of partys 2017 manifesto.

Question 82

How democratic is the labour party in its policy formulation?

Answer 82

Conferences of the past were policy making events. From 1997 the party adopted a 2-year policy making cycle. Party's National Policy Forum appointed policy commissions to make proposals which were formalised in the National Executive Committee. Changes have made the party conference a rubber stamp for policy. Labours radical 2019 manifesto was seen as a clear reflection of leader Corbyn's views.

Question 83

How democratic are the Liberal Democrats in their policy formulation?

Answer 83

Local and national parties can submit motions to conference to debate. Motions debated and passed at conference become official national party policy. Motions must first be selected by the Federal Policy Committee. Conference agenda is controlled by a Federal Conference Committee.

Question 84

For which parties has membership been increasing recently?

Answer 84

Labour Party and SNP. Labour party is now the largest political party in Western Europe - with membership surging to over half a million.

Question 85

What has party membership been like for the conservatives?

Answer 85

Incredibly low. - raised 835,000 in membership fees compared to labour who raised 16 million.

Question 86

From where does the labour party receive their income?

Answer 86

Individual members. Affiliated members and organisation. Those who choose to pay one off fees to participate in the general election. Trade Union Act - means that those in trade unions have to opt in to paying into the labour party.

Question 87

What donations do the Conservative party receive?

Answer 87

Conservative and labour party receive the most. Conservatives received 33 million between 2006-15. Labour received 21.5 million. Lib dem received just 6.5 million.

Question 88

Elitism in the conservative party?

Answer 88

Claims that small group of wealth individuals use donations to encourage the Conservative party to protect their interests. The conservatives leaders club is a dining club which gives those who Donte more than 50,000 a year regular access to the PM and ministers.

Question 89

Is there elitism in the Labour Party?

Answer 89

Labour Party is arguably dependent on the support of a small number od union bosses. 2016 - trade unions provided 55% of funds. Starmer refused to bow to pressure form Unite, who have recently withdrawn funding in protests at his decision to return the party to the centre ground.

Question 90

What scandals have there been regarding party donations?

Answer 90

1997, Bernie Ecclestone donated 1 million to the labour part - speculation that it was linked to Labour Govs devisions to delay a ban on tobacco advertising in formula 1. 2006 Tony Blairs 'Cash for Honours' scandal. 2022, conservative party came under criticism for accepting donations from individuals who have made money from Russia or have alleged links to the Putin regime.

Question 91

How are parties funded?

Answer 91

State funding Short Money Cranbourne Money. PDGs

Question 92

State Funding:

Answer 92

Is made available to opposition parties in the House of Commons (Short Money) and House of Lords (Cranborne Money) to help them cover their administrative costs thereby provide proper scrutiny of the government.

Question 93

Short Money:

Answer 93

Introduced in 1975. Annual payment given to opposition parties in the commons. To qualify a party must have 2 seats, or 1 seat and more than 150,000 votes at the previous election. Labour received 6 million in Short Money between 2016-17.

Question 94

Cranborne Money:

Answer 94

Introduced in 1996. Annual payment given to the two main opposition parties in the Lords. The governing party does not receive Short Money or Cranborne Money as it has the use of the civil service at its disposal. The Conservative government was criticised for making changes to Short Money funding in 2016 (linking increases to CPI inflation).

Question 95

PDGs

Answer 95

Parties can also receive funding through Policy Development Grants. There is a £2 million annual budget for PDGs. Parties must have at least 2 MPs. The first £1 million is distributed equally among the eligible parties. The second £1 million is divided based on the proportion of the registered electorate where the part contest elections. The three main parties all received £432,000 in PDGs in 2016-17.

Question 96

Argument that political parties should be state funded:

Answer 96

-Reduces a parties reliance on donations made by wealthy individuals which breeds elitism. -state funding would enable politicians to focus representing their constituency rather than courting wealthy donors. -Most political parties operate in deficit.Without state funding, this deficit would become unsustainable and parties would become even more reliant on donations from wealthy individuals and organisations. After LibDems took office in 2010 they had to make several redundancies due to loss of short-money - shows how vital state funding is for smaller parties.

Question 97

Argument that parties should not be state-funded?

Answer 97

Taxpayers should not be expected to bankroll parties they oppose. State funding could cause politicians to be more isolated - pressure exerted by interest groups is a healthy sign of a pluralist democracy. -Parties will inevitably have equal resources even if state funding is introduced. There are differences on membership levels, human and material resources. -Both the conservatives and Labour were critical of the 2011 proposal to cap donations and increases state funding.

Question 98

What are reforms have there been to party funding?

Answer 98

The Political Parties Elections and Referendums Act 2000. Political Parties and Elections Act 2009.

Question 99

The Political Parties Elections and Referendums Act 2000:

Answer 99

Parties must declare all donations over 5,000 pounds to the electoral commission, which publishes a record of donations. The act also places limits on campaign spending - 30,000 per party per constituency,

Question 100

Political Parties and Elections Act (2009):

Answer 100

Raised the limit for declared donations. Gave the Electoral Commission powers to investigate breaches of the law and impose fines. Declared donations must include documentation proving the origin of the money and UK residency of the donor.

Question 101

What problems are there with party funding?

Answer 101

- wealthy individuals have circumvented the regulation of donations by instead offering long-term, low interest loans. -Main source of funding for the UK's main political parties continues to be donations - Conservative party remains largely dependent on donations from wealthy backers.