Political Parties (UK)
Roles & Functions
- Representation – Of their membership and of society as a whole
- Recruitment – Parties providing people to be MPs and frontbenchers
- Participation – By joining a political party people are becoming actively involved in Politics
- Governing – By winning a general election a party will provide the country with leadership
- Policy Formulation – A party’s ideas, through its’ manifesto, will be put into operation
- Electoral Function – Parties put forward and support candidates at election time
How effectively do they fulfil these functions?
Party Ideology (Values):
Conservative – Greater emphasis on private over public sector. Preference for lower taxation and less state investment, combined with an emphasis on the role of the individual. There can also be a strong emphasis on tradition and hierarchy.
Labour – Opposite to Conservative in the belief that the state should provide for those less fortunate in society. Public sector jobs being an example of this. Also look to reduce inequality between people. Positive view of human nature and their ability to work together for the good of all, rather than a more selfish individualistic view.
Liberal Democrat – Highlight the importance of liberty and freedom for the citizens of a country. Equality is also an important idea in an attempt to create a fairer society. However do not see state intervention in all aspects of life as desirable and should only be involved in helping fairness. Believe in greater freedom in the economy. Highlight championing of civil rights and plan to rescind parts of anti-terror legislation.
Reform UK - Is a right wing populist party, formed from the Brexit/UKIP movement. Since 2022 the party has campaigned on a broader platform, pledging to limit immigration, reduce taxation and opposing net-zero emissions policies.
Green Party of England and Wales – Is a left wing populist party. The party's ideology combines environmentalism with left-wing economic policies, including well-funded and locally controlled public services.
Scottish National Party (SNP) – Campaigns for Scottish independence.
Leadership Selection
In 1997 the Conservative Party changed the system for electing their leader from just Conservative MPs electing to a system where MPs select 2 candidates and then the Conservative party membership elect the leader.
2024 Conservative Leadership Election
In 2024 6 Conservative MPs were on the 1st ballot, over a series of elections they were whittled down to 2 candidates by Conservative MPs. Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick made the final ballot which was voted on by all conservative members.
Candidate Votes %
Kemi Badenoch 53,806 56.5%
Robert Jenrick 41,388 43.5%
Turnout - 95,194 (72.8%)
2022 Conservative Leadership Election
In 2022 8 Conservative MPs were on the 1st ballot, over a series of elections they were whittled down to 2 candidates by Conservative MPs. Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak made the final ballot which was voted on by all conservative members.
Liz Truss served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom for a total of 49 days. She took office on 6 September 2022 and announced her resignation on 20 October 2022, remaining in office until her successor, Rishi Sunak, was appointed on 25 October 2022. Her tenure is officially recorded as lasting 49 days, making her the shortest-serving prime minister in British history.
Candidate Votes %
Liz Truss 81,326 57.4%
Rishi Sunak 60,399 42.6%
Turnout - 141,725 (82.2%)
2019 Conservative Leadership Election
In 2019 10 Conservative MPs were on the 1st ballot, over a series of 5 elections they were whittled down to 2 candidates by Conservative MPs. Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt made the final ballot which was voted on by all 159,000 conservative members.
Candidate Votes %
Boris Johnson 92,153 66.4%
Jeremy Hunt 46,656 33.6%
Turnout - 138,799 (87.4%)
2005 Conservative Leadership Contest
First ballot (Tuesday 18 October)
- David Davies 62 votes
- David Cameron 56 votes
- Liam Fox 42 votes
- Kenneth Clarke 38 votes
Second ballot (Thursday 20 October)
- David Cameron 90 votes
- David Davies 57 votes
- Liam Fox 51 votes
David Cameron 134,446 votes, 68 per cent of votes cast
David Davis 64,398 votes, 32 per cent of votes cast
Eligible voters 253,689
Turnout 198,844 (78 per cent)
2020 Labour Leadership Election
The 2020 Labour leadership election was conducted under a pure one member, one vote (OMOV) system, using the instant-runoff voting electoral system with preferential balloting to calculate the result. Votes were cast using postal ballots and online voting forms.
Candidate Vote %
Sir Keir Starmer 275,780 56.2%
Rebecca Long-Bailey 135,218 27.6%
Lisa Nandy 79,597 16.2%
Turnout – 490,731 (62.6%)
2015 Labour Leadership Election
This was the first time the labour party would use the One Member, One Vote System (replacing the three way Electoral College system of the past).
In total over 552,000 people were eligible to vote (292,000 full party members, 148,000 affiliate members and 112,000 registered supporters.
The election was held under the alternative vote system. However Jeremy Corbyn collected over 50% of the first preference votes so no further rounds of results were needed.
Candidate Vote %
Jeremy Corbyn 251,417 59.5%
Andy Burnham 80,462 19%
Yvette Cooper 71,928 17%
Liz Kendell 18,857 4.5%
Turnout – 422,871 (76.3%)
2020 Liberal Democrat Leadership Election
Candidate Votes %
Sir Ed Davey 42,756 63.5%
Layla Moran 24,564 36.5%
Turnout - 67,320 (57.6%)
2019 Liberal Democrat Leadership Election
Candidate Votes %
Jo Swinson 47,997 63.1%
Sir Ed Davey 28,021 36.9%
Turnout - 76,018 (72%)
2015 Liberal Democrat Leadership Election
Candidate Votes %
Tim Farron 19,137 56.5%
Norman Lamb 14,760 43.5%
Turnout - 33, 897 (56%)
The system uses Alternative Vote, where each member of the party has a vote. The 2015, 2019 and 2020 elections were therefore effectively a plurality vote as only two candidates stood for election.
Selection of Parliamentary Candidates
Conservative – Previously the central office would give the local constituency office a short list and would then allow them to interview and appoint a candidate. Now there is the “A” List with preferred candidates going to safe or marginal seats e.g. in 2010 Zac Godsmith or Chloe Smith. Note trials with open primaries in places such as Totness in Devon in 2010.
Labour – Have something similar to Conservatives due to the need to appeal to a broader base of society e.g. Mary Creagh was part of an all female shortlist in 2005 that the local association had to chose from. Leaders have tried to stop local parties having an influence e.g. George Galloway stopped from being a candidate in 2005
Lib Dem – Due to their federal approach to their party the selection process involves the membership at local level much more. Selection of some controversial candidates such as pornographic film producer in Essex.
Role of Party Conferences
All 3 major parties have an annual conference which takes place in the autumn.
Conservative – Due to their more elitist structure the Conservatives do not give their members any say at the conference. Instead it is used for other purposes:
- Rally party members through speeches by leading members
- Give some degree of consultation on policies already decided
- To use the media to highlight a positive image of unity
Labour – Like the Conservatives Labour preside over an elitist party and therefore the conference is less important than it used to be e.g. 1983 agreeing to nuclear disarmament at the conference which was political suicide. It does the same as above but also allows election to NEC from ordinary members.
Liberal Democrats – Much more of a consultative process with members able to question MPs and policies being made. Key party defeats over issues such as drugs.
Role of Party Leaders
Conservative – Traditionally a more powerful role and leaders have usually come from a magic circle of senior MPs. This has changed a little but party leaders have usually dominated policy making e.g Cameron’s Big Society is a result of consultation with a few senior advisers. Also the leader appoints his own shadow cabinet and chair person. Usually seen as a top down relationship.
Labour – Traditionally much more consultative with party members and colleagues. However after significant defeats in the 1980s changed this approach. Blair criticised by some for his small circle of confidants and this lead to him having direct control of policy and this can be seen in the direction he took the party, away from traditional Labour values.
Lib Dem – Much more consultative with the members and therefore in theory more democratic.
Party Funding
Major parties reliant on donations due to a reduction in the membership fees available. Labour heavily reliant now on Trade Union donations after the private sector’s loss in confidence in the party e.g. UNITE gave £1.5 m. Conservative still the most important when it comes to individual donations because of their pro business stance.
Conservative scandal involving Number 10 should be used as an example of the corrupt nature of party funding. Likewise with the Lib Dems and the arrest for fraud of Michael Brown, after he donated £2.5 million to the party in 2005. This has never been refunded.
Spending at general election time is still high with Con spending nearly £18m at the 2010 election, but Labour down to around £11million. The Lib Dems do not have as much money, spending just over £4m and they see this is another reason why they can’t compete with the big two.
Reform to Party Funding
Neill Report highlighted a number of changes to the system that were put into effect by the Political Parties Elections & Referendums Act 2000.
- No foreign donations
- Cap of £20m on spending at general elections
- No donations of £5000 or more to be anonymous
- Electoral Commission set up to monitor the spending and audit the accounts of the various political parties
- Ensure that shareholders of a company agree on a donation rather than just the CEO to avoid claims of corruption
• 2009 Max spending limit to £19.5m approx £30000 per constituency
• Parties to report donation of £7500 or more to HQ and £1000 or more to local bodies quarterly
• Weekly donation reports submitted during election campaigns
• Foreign donations banned later allowed a maximum of £7500
• Party accounts and donation reports overseen by Electoral Commission
State Funding
In Favour:
- Remove the spectre of corruption from the donations made to the big two
- Would help the minority parties and remove feeling that elections can be bought
- Elections are about democracy and therefore should be fairly funded
- Opposition lacks the fund to do proper research and therefore propose viable alternative policies to the government.
Against:
- How do you redistribute the money fairly?
- People may resent their taxes going to politicians
- It is a free society so people should be able to donate money if they want
Party Membership
Parties have all lost significant numbers of members and this has a had a significant effect on the amount of money they make from subscriptions.
Conservatives have gone from 3million after WW2 to approximately 123,000 members as of July 2025.
Labour fell from about 1million to fewer than 200,000 in 2013, the 2015 leadership election saw membership rise to over 500,000 by August 2016. By 2025 membership was 309,000.
Liberal Democrats have approx 90,000 members as of June 2024.
Reform UK have approx 240,000 members as of September 2025.
Green Party of England and Wales 68,500 members as of September 2025.
Scottish National Party 56,011 members as of June 2025.
Reasons for the decline:
- Rise in popularity of pressure groups have taken members
- Pressure group objectives are achievable whereas political parties have wide ranging issues to cover
- Sleaze and MPs expenses over the past 10 years has created an aura of mistrust about the political process
- There is a feeling that being a member of a political party will not achieve anything
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