1. Political Parties AS Politics

2. Political Parties and the need for them What are political parties? What are political parties? Why are parties important to democracy? Why are parties important to democracy? What are the different types of party systems? What are the different types of party systems? Is it correct to describe Britain as having a two party system? Is it correct to describe Britain as having a two party system? Benefits and disadvantages of two party systems Benefits and disadvantages of two party systems

3. The Functions of Political Parties Sift Ideas and Organise Opinion Sift Ideas and Organise Opinion Source of Political Knowledge Source of Political Knowledge Link between individual and political system Link between individual and political system Mobilise and recruit activists Mobilise and recruit activists Serve as source of opposition Serve as source of opposition

4. Party Systems One Party One Party Two Party Systems Two Party Systems Dominant Party systems Dominant Party systems Multi Party Systems Multi Party Systems Identify reasons why uses of FPTP encourages the development of a two party system What factors exist that have created and sustained the British Two Party System

5. Britain and the First Past the Post System Tendency for opinions to be ‘for’ or ‘against’ Tendency for opinions to be ‘for’ or ‘against’ The electoral system The electoral system Existence of broad catch all parties Existence of broad catch all parties Emphasis on being in government or opposition Traditional absence of deep ethnic, linguistic, religious differences within the population Problems faced by third or other parties

6. Advantages of Britain’s Two Party System It promotes stable, effective and strong governments It promotes stable, effective and strong governments Simplifies voter choice Simplifies voter choice Government is clearly accountable to the electorate Government is clearly accountable to the electorate Moderation is encouraged Moderation is encouraged

7. Disadvantages It restricts voter choice It restricts voter choice Far from promoting moderation, it can be sometimes be characterised by adversary politics Far from promoting moderation, it can be sometimes be characterised by adversary politics A growing dissatisfaction with the performance of the main parties A growing dissatisfaction with the performance of the main parties

8. British Political Parties Conservative Party Conservative Party Roots in C17 th ‘Tories’; dates from 1830s Roots in C17 th ‘Tories’; dates from 1830s Traditional conservatism  Thatcherism Traditional conservatism  Thatcherism Labour Party Labour Party Founded in 1900 Founded in 1900 Socialist ideology  Social liberalism? Socialist ideology  Social liberalism? Liberal Democrats Liberal Democrats Roots in C18 th -19 th Whigs – Liberal Party from 1868 Roots in C18 th -19 th Whigs – Liberal Party from 1868 Liberal ideology – free trade Liberal ideology – free trade SDP-Liberal Alliance (1981-88)  Lib Dems SDP-Liberal Alliance (1981-88)  Lib Dems Other parties Other parties Celtic nationalist parties in Scotland, Wales, NI Celtic nationalist parties in Scotland, Wales, NI Minor parties (e.g. UKIP, BNP, Greens) Minor parties (e.g. UKIP, BNP, Greens)

9. What Shapes the Party System? (1): Institutions Electoral system: Duverger’s law (1960’s – French Sociologist) Electoral system: Duverger’s law (1960’s – French Sociologist) ‘An almost complete correlation is observable between the simple- majority single-ballot system and the two-party system’ ‘An almost complete correlation is observable between the simple- majority single-ballot system and the two-party system’ ‘Mechanical effect’ – third parties win few seats because must be first- placed ‘Mechanical effect’ – third parties win few seats because must be first- placed ‘Psychological effect’ – voters deterred from ‘wasting’ votes on small parties ‘Psychological effect’ – voters deterred from ‘wasting’ votes on small parties PR tends to favour multi-partism PR tends to favour multi-partism FPTP doesn’t always create 2-party systems FPTP doesn’t always create 2-party systems UK – FPTP manufactures majorities for Lab or Con UK – FPTP manufactures majorities for Lab or Con Hinders third party – unless regionally-concentrated support Hinders third party – unless regionally-concentrated support Not the case for Lib Dems (though Scotland & SW England) Not the case for Lib Dems (though Scotland & SW England)

10. What Explains the Erosion of the Two-Party System? Key election: February 1974 Key election: February 1974 Loss of faith in two main parties – Liberals benefited Loss of faith in two main parties – Liberals benefited Rise of Celtic nationalist parties Rise of Celtic nationalist parties 1980s: Labour’s civil war 1980s: Labour’s civil war SDP-Liberal Alliance 1981-87 SDP-Liberal Alliance 1981-87 Labour’s shift to left – abandoned centre-ground to Alliance Labour’s shift to left – abandoned centre-ground to Alliance 1997-2005: Discrediting of Conservatives 1997-2005: Discrediting of Conservatives Lib-Lab tactical voting to defeat Tories Lib-Lab tactical voting to defeat Tories Minor parties and nationalists: 10% of votes in 2005 election Minor parties and nationalists: 10% of votes in 2005 election 2005-present: Re-emergence of 2-party politics? 2005-present: Re-emergence of 2-party politics? Lib Dems being squeezed by Labour and Tories? Lib Dems being squeezed by Labour and Tories?

11. UK General Elections 1945-2005 % Votes Won by Each Party % Seats Won by Each Party

12. Erosion of the 2-Party System