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 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 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

Conservative 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 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

Liberal 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 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

Elections 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 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 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 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:// Plaid Cymru has minor representation in the HoC (3 seats) but a larger presence in national government (15 seats) 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:// Plaid Cymru has minor representation in the HoC (3 seats) but a larger presence in national government (15 seats) 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 & Identity 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 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

Ethnicity 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

Gender 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 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 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 Women were more likely than men to vote Conservative Under 30 years old voters - women preferred Labour, men Conservatives 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 % of eligible year olds voted Women were more likely than men to vote Conservative Under 30 years old voters - women preferred Labour, men Conservatives 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 % of eligible year olds voted