Major UK Political Parties Overview

Political Parties

• A political party is a group of people who share political views and goals.
• The UK's major political parties have key philosophical differences about how to improve society.

Party Aims

• The primary aim of a political party is to win a majority in a general election and form a government.

Ideological Parties

• Most parties are ideological, with members sharing political beliefs.
• Examples of parties with national interests include the Scottish National Party, Plaid Cymru, and the Democratic Unionist Party.

Party Manifestos

• At elections, each party presents a manifesto stating the policies they would implement.

Political Spectrum

• The political spectrum runs from left-wing to right-wing.
• Left-wing ideologies include:
  • Communism: a system in which all resources are owned by the state and shared amongst all people.
  • Socialism: a system of common ownership, offering more equality in society and robust welfare for those in need.
• Right-wing ideologies include:
  • Conservatism: belief in individual rights, tradition, and family values, with a focus on private ownership and free enterprise.
  • Liberalism: advocacy for laws that only improve society, with a focus on individual rights and limited government interference.

Examples of Key Party Policies

• Labour: focuses on education, robust welfare, and government intervention.
• Conservative: advocates for private ownership, free enterprise, and limited government intervention.
• Liberal Democrats: advocates for individual rights, limited government authority, and private ownership.