British Political Parties, Et Al.

British Political Parties, Et Al.

Section 4 (Part 2)AP Comp Government

Mr. Saliani

Section 4 (Part 2)AP Comp Government

Mr. Saliani

The Labour Party 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/

• 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/

Conservative PartyConservative 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/

• 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/

Liberal DemocratsLiberal 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/

• 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/

ElectionsElections• 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

• 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

The Electoral SystemThe 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)

• 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)

Trends in Electoral Behavior

Trends in Electoral Behavior

Geographic & regional fragmentation have deepened in recent general elections

Where are the bases for the British parties?

1. Labour & Conservatives have dominated in English urban and northern seats

2. Conservative-center party competition dominates England’s rural & southern seats

3. Third two-party competition occurring in Scotland (Labour vs. Scottish National Party or SNP)

Geographic & regional fragmentation have deepened in recent general elections

Where are the bases for the British parties?

1. Labour & Conservatives have dominated in English urban and northern seats

2. Conservative-center party competition dominates England’s rural & southern seats

3. Third two-party competition occurring in Scotland (Labour vs. Scottish National Party or SNP)

National Party Challenge

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 Westminsterhttp://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

• 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 Westminsterhttp://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

Political Culture, Citizenship & IdentityPolitical Culture,

Citizenship & IdentityWhat 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

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

EthnicityEthnicity

• 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

• 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

GenderGender

• 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

• 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

Social IssuesSocial 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

• 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

British Politics in Transition

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

• 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

Gender & Generation Gaps

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

• 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