British Political Parties, Et Al.

1. British Political Parties, Et Al. Section 4 (Part 2) AP Comp Government Mr. Saliani

2. The Labour Party • Traditionally supported by manual workers • Collectivism  Keynesian Welfare System • Labour has become a left-of center party • 1997-present have been dominant party • 3rd Way • Impact of war in Iraq - EU Relationship • Transition from Blair to Brown • http://www.labour.org.uk/

3. Conservative Party • Founded in 18th century, center-right party • Conservatives a.k.a Tories have been a formidable party due to a “long-lasting alliance between an upper-class leadership and a lower-class following” • Britain’s role with EU cost Conservative Party in the 1990’s - Difficulties since with their leadership • Michael Howard & David Cameron have brought some hope to party but unable to use war unpopularity & policy issues to their advantage • http://www.conservatives.com/

4. Liberal Democrats • Since 1980’s the Lib Dems have grown in number & could be viable force going forward • Liberal Party & Social Democracy Party merged in 1987 to form current Lib Dems • Center-left critic of New Labour • Labour policy issues (education & health care) have similarities to Lib Dem agenda • Even with anti-war stance, the Lib Dems have been unable to increase presence • http://www.libdems.org.uk/

5. Elections • Elections are strictly for legislative posts • PM is elected as an MP from a single constituency (avg - 65,000 voters) • Parliament has a maximum life of 5 years, with no fixed term • General elections are held after the Crown, at the request of the PM, has dissolved Par. • Controlling the time of elections is a great advantage/asset for the PM • Contrasts w/US system of direct election for the chief executive and a fixed term Be able to compare the executives of US & GB

6. The Electoral System • Election for MPs is by a “first-past-the-post” (winner-take-all) principle in each consituency • In this single-member plurality system, the candidate with most votes is elected. • No requirement of majority and no element of proportional representation (% of seats is determined by % of vote for each party) • Examination of Brit. General Elections Table • Electoral system can exaggerate the results for the winning party - reduces smaller parties influence • Stable 2.5 party system • Women (1997-numbers doubled) & minorities still underrepresented in Parliament (note the amount of each)

7. Trends in Electoral Behavior Geographic & regional fragmentation have deepened in recent general elections Where are the bases for the British parties? • Labour & Conservatives have dominated in English urban and northern seats • Conservative-center party competition dominates England’s rural & southern seats • Third two-party competition occurring in Scotland (Labour vs. Scottish National Party or SNP)

8. National Party Challenge • Since the 1970’s there is a new growing challenge to the two-party dominance • The Scottish National Party (SNP) and Plaid Cymru in Wales have grown in stature • Since 1997 SNP has averaged around 20% of the vote in Scotland and made minor gains in HoC (6 seats), greater SNP support in Scottish Parliament than in Westminster http://www.snp.org/ • Plaid Cymru has minor representation in the HoC (3 seats) but a larger presence in national government (15 seats) http://www.plaidcymru.org/ • Impact of 2005 election - Labour lost some of their majority, some Conservative gains (31), some LibDem gains (10) but 22% of popular vote a plus

9. Political Culture, Citizenship & Identity What is a Briton? • National Identity - fragmented sovereignty (EU context) commingled histories of 4 nations & interplay of race & nationality in postcolonial Britain have created doubts about British identity • Europeanization, globalization, 9/11, immigration, asylum seekers, ethnic minorities have all become pushbutton issues

10. Ethnicity • Ethnic diversity (8% African, Carib &/or Asian)  multiethnic society • Difficulties faced by minority groups include police insensitivity, access to best public housing, hate crimes, Britishness?, 9/11 & 7/7 aftermath • Success - Muslim inroads in government and high-level professions notable

11. Gender • Traditional women’s issues (child care, treatment of part-time workers, domestic violence, equal pay do not receive political attention but Labour has made the effort to listen to concerns • Policy issues of heath care, crime, & education by Labour have enabled them to obliterate the gender gap in which women favored the Conservatives & the political presence of women in Labour has grown

12. Social Issues • Globalization - anti-WTO movement • Environmental activism - anti- Genetically Modified Crops (GM) mm • High Fuel Prices • Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) aka “mad cow’s disease” • Fox hunting ban (urban vs. rural) • Anti-Iraq war demonstrations

13. British Politics in Transition • Northern Ireland’s past & future • Constitutional Reforms • Identities in Flux • The Challenges of Europe & World • British Politics, Terrorism, & U.S. Relationship What can you write about these topics & what does the future hold for Britain going forward? Read Blair’s departing thoughts for homework. What I’ve Learned by Tony Blair

14. Gender & Generation Gaps • 1945-1992 - Women were more likely than men to vote Conservative • Under 30 years old voters - women preferred Labour, men Conservatives • 1997- men and women shifted support to Labour at a total of 44% • Lowest turnout younger voters in 2001 • British youth turnout in protest told different story • 2005 - 37% of eligible 18-24 year olds voted