1. Local Governance Research Unit The future of Political Parties in Local Government Professor Colin Copus, Professor of Local Politics Local Governance Research Unit, Department of Public Policy De Montfort University, The Gateway, Leicester, LE1 9BH Tel: 0116.257.7819 Email: ccopus@dmu.ac.uk web: www.dmu.ac.uk/lgruccopus@dmu.ac.ukwww.dmu.ac.uk/lgru

2. Local Governance Research Unit Councillors in England May 2009: Type of Council ConLabLDGnOthers County12581473471787 Unitary140275668520280 London Borough 7826763211368 MBC623109158616129 District51611068181656819 Totals9226373837551221383

3. Local Governance Research Unit Councillors in England: Three main parties –16,719 councillors – 91.7% of England’s total councillor population

4. Local Governance Research Unit Councillors in England: Small Parties and Independents –1,505 councillors –8.3 % of England’s total councillor population –Parties: 130 (from 8 parties) –Independents and political associations: 1,375

5. Local Governance Research Unit 402 parties and political associations registered with the Electoral Commission

6. Local Governance Research Unit Small Parties with Councillors BNP UKIP Greens Respect English Democrats Party Christian Peoples’ Alliance Socialist Alliance The Liberal Party Mebynon Kernow 8

7. Local Governance Research Unit Some Positive Points: 1 Encourages the implementation of manifesto commitments supported by the electorate Displays a government and opposition approach toward council business allowing challenge, criticism and identifiable opposition The ruling group can be seen as ‘in power’ or forming an administration and clearly responsible for council policy and actions

8. Local Governance Research Unit Some Positive Points:2 The ruling group can be held to account at an election and rewarded or punished for its stewardship of the council A private forum for considering political options and policy Certainty Consistent policy-making

9. Local Governance Research Unit Political Parties and Local Government: The Context: 1 Local representative democracy Control of councils by political parties The importation of Westminster practices into council chambers –Often a more strict approach to discipline than in Parliament (no sophisticated whip) –Maintenance of rigid party lines –Lack of cross voting and speaking –Pursuit of party interest –Conflictual political relationships and climate

10. Local Governance Research Unit Political Parties and Local Government: The Context: 2 Growth of central control over local government Executive / scrutiny distinction The emergence of partnership working External inspectorate regimes Electoral turnout and the emergence of an anti- party local political culture?

11. Local Governance Research Unit Parties: A problem of perception Parties own perceptions of their role, activities, organisation and purpose –Governing preferenced over representing –Fear of open and public debate less the party appears divided –Viewing all local politics through the prism of the party: What about the manifesto! –Interpretations of democracy, representation, the role of parties and public participation

12. Local Governance Research Unit The Party Person: 1 places notions of party and party loyalty and cohesion at the centre of his or her political and social world. immersed in the party and views all activity, political or otherwise, through the prism of the party the duty of the party person is to protect the party from criticism or challenge and to present to the outside world the image of a united, cohesive and disciplined organisation, certain in its views and of the rightness of its cause on any and all issues central to the party’s organisation, structure and activities: takes on positions within a wide array of internal party sub-units; involved in all party activity, political and social

13. Local Governance Research Unit The Party Person:2 built a life that fits around and into the party. The party is a vital element of all facets of the party person’s existence. loyalty to the party is total and whilst it may be strained by personal and political rivalries inside the party, loyalty will not be broken, except in the most extraordinary political and social circumstances. central to the conduct of local political activity and to attempts to change the structure, processes and dynamics of political activity.

14. Local Governance Research Unit Criteria for Assessing Party Politics: 1 Does party politics contribute towards: 1. Political competition 2. Electoral turnout 3. Voter choice 4. Nationalisation of local politics 1.Yes 2, No – not at current turn-out 3. Maybe – but it is an informed choice? 4. Definitely

15. Local Governance Research Unit Criteria for Assessing Party Politics:2 Post-election behaviour –Holding councils and councillors to account –Councillors ability to effect action –Openness and responsive to public concerns and opinions –Engaging with other parties –Parties and the reconciliation of conflicting interests and views –Public trust

16. Local Governance Research Unit Party Behaviour in Local Government The party group system (the beast in the woods) Closed and private decision-making Reducing the public and electorally legitimised council to second place behind the private group meeting Exclusory policy-making process Traditions of group party discipline, unity and loyalty A focus on decision-making not public deliberation A focus on running the council and beating the other lot rather than on political representation

17. Local Governance Research Unit Conclusion:1 Domination of local government by the national political parties leads to: –Nationalisation of local politics –Placing party unity and discipline over public debate –A party politicisation of local issues and citizens involved in politics –An exclusive and exclusory politics –Party interest and advancement becomes conflated with the local public interest –Squeezing out of the public space of local deliberation and concerns

18. Local Governance Research Unit Conclusion:2 A healthy local democracy relies on parties: –Sharing local political space with non-party players –Embracing genuine, open, public deliberation as a political tool –Accepting and responding to competing definitions of politics, engagement, representation and accountability –Recognising their fallibility and responsibility for the condition and improvement of local democracy –Facing effective competition from a range of non- party sources