Politics: UK Political parties
Key policies of Conservative party?
1. focus on europe
2. economic policy
3. social policy/traditional values
Key policy of the Labour party?
1. Economic socialism
2. New Labour/3rd way
3. Trade unionism
key policy of the Liberal Democrats?
1. End wasted votes
2. Taxation
3. Environment
how ordinary members can play a role in UK parties
1)choosing the leader - PLP makes nominations first and candidates needs to be nominated by at least 20% of PLP
2)campaigning/local activism - local members = crucial in fighting the election on ground....
3)candidate selection - main function of the constituency lab parties and often jealously protected. lab central party has become more involved....
why some parties do better than others
1)Leadership - image and quality of the leader....
2)media support - newspapers back certain parties....
3)electoral systems.... fptp holds the 2 horse race, smaller parties under represented...
features of party funding
1)individual donors - large donations are controversial souce of funding...
2)trade unions - crucial role in funding of lab party....
3)state funding - helps oppostion parties overcome funding advanatages held by parties of govt
policy grants - fund development of policy
short money - helps opposition parties pay for adminstrive losts
parties also receive indirect help thru free tv airtime