2.4 UK Political Parties in Context
2.4 UK political parties in context.
• The development of a multi-party system and its
implications for government.
• Various factors that a:ect party success – explanations of
why political parties have succeeded or failed, including
debates on the influence of the media.
The Development of a Multi-Party System
The UK is usually described as a dominant two-party system at Westminster.
Þ However, devolution, electoral reform in devolved bodies, and changing voting
behaviour have created features of a multi-party system
This has consequences for how governments are formed and how parties compete.
Party success is shaped by factors ranging from leadership and funding to national
circumstances and media influence.
Party Systems in the UK
What is a party system?
A party system refers to the number of parties with a realistic chance of forming a
government.
The number of parties that have a chance of forming a government is a result of the
electoral system chosen
Þ Majoritarian and plurality electoral systems generally returning two-party
systems
Þ Proportional electoral systems generally returning multi-party systems
, Types of Party Systems
One-Party System Two-Party System
One party has a realistic chance of Two parties have a realistic. Chance of
forming a government, with one party forming a government, and power often
dominating for extensive time periods. changes hands between these two
parties.
Two-and-a-half Party System Multi-Party System
Two parties have a realistic chance of Many parties have a realistic chance of
forming a government, but a third party forming a government or being part of a
may be a coalition partner (although governing coalition.
unlikely to gain power alone).
Arguments the UK is (or remains) a Two-Party System
• UK government at Westminster is dominated by Labour and Conservatives and
has been for around 100 years.
Þ Even in 2024, the most disproportionate election ever, Labour and
Conservatives gained 57% of the vote but 82% of the seats
• Labour and Conservative spend considerably more on elections than other
parties, spending between 5 and 6 times more each than the Liberal Democrats
in 2024.
• Even when minor parties influence policy, these policies are enacted by one of
the two major parties, for example Brexit in 2016.
• Labour and Conservative continue to do relatively well in the devolved region
elections and in the elections for mayors.
Arguments the UK is becoming more of a Multi-Party System
• Since 2010: more coalition, minority or small-majority governments
• Scottish Parliament 2007: Greens (2 seats) held the balance of power between
Labour (56) and SNP (57)
• Northern Ireland: power-sharing since the Good Friday Agreement (1998)
2.4 UK political parties in context.
• The development of a multi-party system and its
implications for government.
• Various factors that a:ect party success – explanations of
why political parties have succeeded or failed, including
debates on the influence of the media.
The Development of a Multi-Party System
The UK is usually described as a dominant two-party system at Westminster.
Þ However, devolution, electoral reform in devolved bodies, and changing voting
behaviour have created features of a multi-party system
This has consequences for how governments are formed and how parties compete.
Party success is shaped by factors ranging from leadership and funding to national
circumstances and media influence.
Party Systems in the UK
What is a party system?
A party system refers to the number of parties with a realistic chance of forming a
government.
The number of parties that have a chance of forming a government is a result of the
electoral system chosen
Þ Majoritarian and plurality electoral systems generally returning two-party
systems
Þ Proportional electoral systems generally returning multi-party systems
, Types of Party Systems
One-Party System Two-Party System
One party has a realistic chance of Two parties have a realistic. Chance of
forming a government, with one party forming a government, and power often
dominating for extensive time periods. changes hands between these two
parties.
Two-and-a-half Party System Multi-Party System
Two parties have a realistic chance of Many parties have a realistic chance of
forming a government, but a third party forming a government or being part of a
may be a coalition partner (although governing coalition.
unlikely to gain power alone).
Arguments the UK is (or remains) a Two-Party System
• UK government at Westminster is dominated by Labour and Conservatives and
has been for around 100 years.
Þ Even in 2024, the most disproportionate election ever, Labour and
Conservatives gained 57% of the vote but 82% of the seats
• Labour and Conservative spend considerably more on elections than other
parties, spending between 5 and 6 times more each than the Liberal Democrats
in 2024.
• Even when minor parties influence policy, these policies are enacted by one of
the two major parties, for example Brexit in 2016.
• Labour and Conservative continue to do relatively well in the devolved region
elections and in the elections for mayors.
Arguments the UK is becoming more of a Multi-Party System
• Since 2010: more coalition, minority or small-majority governments
• Scottish Parliament 2007: Greens (2 seats) held the balance of power between
Labour (56) and SNP (57)
• Northern Ireland: power-sharing since the Good Friday Agreement (1998)
