UK Political Parties

Question 1

How do the Conservatives Select their leaders
With example

Answer 1

Series of ballots voted on by MP’s until candidates narrowed to 2
Party members vote for final selection on OMOV basis

2019:
9 MP’s secured support to stand, after ballots only Jeremy Hunt and Boris Johnson remained for members to choose from. Johnson won by a two thirds majority of the vote

Question 2

How does Labour select its leaders
With example

Answer 2

Candidates secure at least 10% of MP support + 5% constituency parties OR at least 3 affiliates, two of which must be Trade Unions
Members and registered voters then determine winner via OMOV alternative vote

2020:
In succeeding Jeremy Corbyn
Emily Thornberry failed to gain sufficiat affiliate support. Keir Starmer, Rebecca Long-Bailey and Lisa Nandy moved on to member votes. Starmer won over 50% in the first round of voting. thus won outright with no second round.

Question 3

How do the Lib Dems select their leaders
With Example

Answer 3

Candidates secure 10% MP support + 200 members of at least 20 local parties
Remaining candidates eliminated with OMOV alternative vote by members

2020:
Ed Davey secures 63.5% of member votes in the first round

Question 4

What is the ERG?

Answer 4

European Research Group

Collection of eurosceptic Conservative MP’s, similar to that of the Bruges group in the 1980’s

Question 5

What was Clause IV?

Answer 5

Set about the principle of universal nationalisation in Labour policy, reflecting the party’s socialist core and post war welfare state ideals.

It was reformed by Blair in 1995 as part of his modernisation of the party, directing intent towards a ‘dynamic economy’

Question 6

3 ways political parties are funded

Answer 6

• Membership fees
• Business donations
• Trade Unions
• Individual donations

Question 7

2 arguments for state funded parties

Answer 7

• ‘clean’ money without expectations attached like those from business or pressure group donors
• Equality between parties
  i.e conservatives consistently out raise their competitors
• Matching state funding with a parties vote would encourage campaigning across all seats, benefiting democracy
• Encourages politicians to aim their focus on connecting with constituents and beneficial policy instead of getting close to potential donors

Question 8

2 arguments against state funded parties

Answer 8

• Diverts taxpayer money into parties people may not actually support when it could be better spent going into health and education
• Free market is an extension of basic democracy, thus people should be able donate as much, and to whom they want
• Cutting links to donors and pressure groups can isolate parties from what people want out of policy

Question 9

Conservative leaning newspapers

Answer 9

• Daily Express
• Daily Mail
• The Times
• Daily Telegraph

Question 10

Labour / LibDem newspapers

Answer 10

• Daily Mirror
• The Guardian
• The Observer