Evaluate the view that major parties remain the dominant force in politics [30 marks]
Paragraph 1:
For:
- Both the conservatives and labour dominate the legislative agenda
- This is because they are the only parties to gain a majority in parliament of at least
326 seats
- As a result they are able to implement policy that suits their ideology
- For example: 2022 Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts act is a conservative policy
that strongly reflects their belief of being tough on crime, law and order
- For example: Tony Blair government introduced compensatory education – a strong
socialist policy that aims to increase equality
Against:
- Minor parties have more influence than major parties in devolved nations
- This is because the major parties don’t reflect the views of the population
- For example: the domination of SNP in Scotland and their influence in securing an
independence referendum
- 64 seats/129
Paragraph 2:
For
- Major parties do dominate politics because they are advantaged by FPTP
- Makes it harder for minor parties to get a majority and statistically unlikely
- For example, since 1922 the only government parties have been conservative and
labour with the 1922 being liberal party
Against:
- However, minor parties have managed to secure a place in government through
coalitions
- 2010 and 2017 coalitions proves they are becoming more likely and people are
beginning to support them more because their success in implementing policy
- 2010 = same sex marriage act increased the popularity of liberal democrats
- 2017 = increased funding to NHS by £20 billion
- This means major parties don’t just dominate politics, so do minor parties
Paragraph 3:
- Major parties have been more representative of voters
- For example, labour was created to represent the entirety of those who were
disenfranchised in the working class population – covering men, women and ethnic
minorities.
- Conservative party was created to govern the interests of the whole nation to create
an inclusive society
- This means the major parties are more representative of the public
- For example, conservatives have one nation, new right and traditional and labour has
third way, social democrat, democratic socialists and revolutionary socialists
Against:
Paragraph 1:
For:
- Both the conservatives and labour dominate the legislative agenda
- This is because they are the only parties to gain a majority in parliament of at least
326 seats
- As a result they are able to implement policy that suits their ideology
- For example: 2022 Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts act is a conservative policy
that strongly reflects their belief of being tough on crime, law and order
- For example: Tony Blair government introduced compensatory education – a strong
socialist policy that aims to increase equality
Against:
- Minor parties have more influence than major parties in devolved nations
- This is because the major parties don’t reflect the views of the population
- For example: the domination of SNP in Scotland and their influence in securing an
independence referendum
- 64 seats/129
Paragraph 2:
For
- Major parties do dominate politics because they are advantaged by FPTP
- Makes it harder for minor parties to get a majority and statistically unlikely
- For example, since 1922 the only government parties have been conservative and
labour with the 1922 being liberal party
Against:
- However, minor parties have managed to secure a place in government through
coalitions
- 2010 and 2017 coalitions proves they are becoming more likely and people are
beginning to support them more because their success in implementing policy
- 2010 = same sex marriage act increased the popularity of liberal democrats
- 2017 = increased funding to NHS by £20 billion
- This means major parties don’t just dominate politics, so do minor parties
Paragraph 3:
- Major parties have been more representative of voters
- For example, labour was created to represent the entirety of those who were
disenfranchised in the working class population – covering men, women and ethnic
minorities.
- Conservative party was created to govern the interests of the whole nation to create
an inclusive society
- This means the major parties are more representative of the public
- For example, conservatives have one nation, new right and traditional and labour has
third way, social democrat, democratic socialists and revolutionary socialists
Against:
