Major parties (cont’d)

DO NOWAll four of these men are prominent Scottish politicians. Name all four. Three of them have something in common. Identify the odd one out and explain what makes him different.

How can Labour win?The table summarises the strength of the Labour vote with different social groups at the past five general elections. Based on this data, where does Labour need to improve its showing in 2015 in order to win back power? EXT: What other social groups does Labour need to win over in May?

AB C1 C2 DE LAB 1992 19 25 40 49 1997 31 37 50 59 2001 30 38 49 55 2005 28 32 40 48 2010 28 28 29 40 Change 97/10 -3 -9 -11 -15

How can Labour win?

Policy area Proposal

Economic policy

Home affairs

Education policy

Health policy

Immigration policy

Based on what you know about Labour Party ideology and the party’s base of support, suggest at least three policies that could help win over the target social groups we have identified.

Topics Key concepts Content and amplification

The nature of participation in the political process

• Politics • Democracy • Pluralism • Electorate• Political apathy Turnout

A knowledge of different forms of political involvement: who participates and how in terms of gender, class, ethnicity, age and region. Reasons for non-participation.

Participation through the ballot box

• Voting behaviour • Changing patterns of voting • Mass media• Partisan and class alignment/de-

alignment

Theories and debates concerning the long- and short-term determinants of voting behaviour including partisan and class identification; stability and volatility; influence of issues; campaigns; party and leaders’ images. By-elections.

The role of elections in a democracy

• Majoritarian and proportional electoral systems

• Representation • Electoral reform

Strengths and weaknesses of electoral systems used in the UK. Likely effects of electoral system on party systems. Majority and coalition governments.

The nature of representation • Direct and indirect (representative) democracy

• Referendums

Nature and use of referendums within the UK. Arguments for and against greater use of referendums within the UK.

The role of political parties in a democracy

• Party system • Party competition• ‘Catch-all’ parties • Ideology

Role and function of major parties: how do parties and the party system work? Changing ideologies: how far do political ideas shape parties? Party structure: parties at local, national and EU levels. Programmes, policies and manifestos. Candidate and leader selection. Membership: internal party democracy. Campaigning. Minority parties.

AO1: Knowledge & Understanding AO2: Analysis & Evaluation AO3: Communication

A/B boundary performance descriptions

Candidates characteristically:

a) demonstrate full and accurate knowledge of political institutions and processes and a sound understanding of political concepts, theories and debates

b) produce answers that deploy relevant knowledge to answer the question

c) demonstrate clear contextual awareness

d) use relevant evidence and, where appropriate, contemporary examples to illustrate points made

Candidates characteristically:

a) provide analyses that display a sound awareness of differing viewpoints and a clear recognition of issues

b) evaluate political institutions, processes and behaviour, applying appropriate concepts and theories

c) make valid comparisons.

Candidates characteristically:

a) construct and communicate clear, structured and sustained arguments and explanations

b) use accurate political vocabulary

E/U boundary performance descriptions

Candidates characteristically:

a) demonstrate a basic knowledge of political institutions and processes and begin to show some understanding of political concepts, theories and debates

b) make a limited attempt at answering the question

c) produce at least one piece of relevant evidence, which may be drawn from source material provided.

Candidates characteristically:

a) show some basic awareness of differing viewpoints

b) attempt simple evaluation of political institutions, processes and behaviour

c) make simple comparisons.

Candidates characteristically:

a) attempt to communicate and develop an argument or explanation

b) use basic political vocabulary

What does that look like?Internal Party Democracy – the Labour Party

• demonstrate accurate knowledge of Labour Party organisation

• use contemporary

and near-contemporary examples to illustrate points made

• explain how and why party organisation has changed over time, including arguments both for and against specific changes

• make valid comparisons with other major parties

• Use key terms, such as policy formation, and explain them where necessary

• construct a clear, structured and sustained argument

• use accurate political vocabulary

Learning objectives • To explain how the Conservative Party has

evolved in the modern period• To evaluate the prospects of a Conservative

victory at the next General Election

The Conservative Party

• Founded in 1834• One of two dominant parties in the

19th Century (along with Liberals) and in the 20th Century (with Labour)

• Held office for 57 years of the 20th Century

• Notable leaders include Churchill (1940–45, 1951-55), Thatcher (1979–90) and Major (1990-97)

‘One Nation’ Conservatism • This was the name given to the general ideology of the party during

the 20th century until the birth of Thatcherism in the 1970s.

• The term was coined by Benjamin Disraeli (1804-81), Tory Prime Minister (1874-80)

• Disreali thought the greatest threat to society lay in the failure to integrate the poorer classes in to mainstream society.

• Post WW2 this principle was used to justify supporting the recommendations of the Beveridge Report (1942) and the establishment of the welfare state

Thatcherism: 1970s and 1980s

• Rejected the consensus politics of the ‘post-war’ era in favour of the free-market and competition.

• Thatcherism and the ‘New Right’ argued that the state needed to be ‘reigned’ back and spending needed to be cut. No ‘nanny state’

• Examples: privatisation of national industries, e.g. British Telecom, British Gas, etc. & sale of council houses

• Thatcher was also enormously euro-sceptic, opposing closer involvement with the EU and rejecting outright any suggestion that the UK should join the euro

‘Compassionate conservatism’ & the ‘Big Society’ • Cameron (2010) claimed that social problems such as healthcare or immigration

could be better tackled through charities/corporations etc. rather than directly through the government departments. Transfer of state responsibilities to external agencies – communities taking control of themselves.

• Emphasis on Social Justice – • E.g. giving individuals and families facing multiple disadvantages the support

and tools they need to turn their lives around. No ‘benefit culture’ ‘PEOPLE power & big society’

Supports the ideals of:• - Traditional families• - Welfare reform to promote individual responsibility • - Active policing• - Standards-based schools (cf. No Child Left Behind) • - Assistance (economic or otherwise) to poor countries.