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Politics of the United Kingdom |
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The Electoral Commission's Register of Political Parties[1] lists the details of political parties registered to fight elections in the United Kingdom, including their registered name. Under current electoral law, including the Registration of Political Parties Act 1998, the Electoral Administration Act 2006, and the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, only registered party names can be used on ballot papers by those wishing to fight elections. Candidates who do not belong to a registered party can use "independent" or no label at all. As of 2 August 2019[update], the Electoral Commission showed the number of registered political parties in Great Britain and Northern Ireland as 408.[2]
Before the middle of the 19th century, politics in the United Kingdom was dominated by the Whigs and the Tories. These were not political parties in the modern sense but somewhat loose alliances of interests and individuals. The Whigs included many of the leading aristocratic dynasties committed to the Protestant succession, and later drew support from elements of the emerging industrial interests and wealthy merchants, while the Tories were associated with the landed gentry, the Church of England and the Church of Scotland.
By the mid 19th century, the Tories had evolved into the Conservative Party, and the Whigs had evolved into the Liberal Party. The concept of right and left came originally from France, where the supporters of a monarchy (constitutional or absolute) sat on the right wing of the National Assembly, and republicans on the left. In the late 19th century, the Liberal Party began to lean towards the left. Liberal Unionists split off from the Liberals over Irish Home Rule and moved closer to the Conservatives over time.
The Liberals and Conservatives dominated the political scene until the 1920s, when the Liberal Party declined in popularity and suffered a long stream of resignations. It was replaced as the main anti-Tory opposition party by the newly emerging Labour Party, which represented an alliance between the labour movement, organised trades unions and various socialist societies.
Since then, the Conservative and Labour parties have dominated British politics, and have alternated in government ever since. However, the UK is not quite a two-party system as other parties have significant support. The Liberal Democrats were the third largest party until the 2015 general election when they were overtaken by the Scottish National Party in terms of seats and UK political party membership, and by the UK Independence Party (UKIP) in terms of votes.
The UK's first-past-the-post electoral system leaves small parties disadvantaged on a UK-wide scale. It can, however, allow parties with concentrations of supporters in the constituent countries to flourish. In the 2015 election, there was widespread controversy[3][4][5] when the UK Independence Party (UKIP) and the Green Party of England and Wales received 4.9 million votes[6] (12.6% of the total vote for UKIP and 3.8% for the Greens) yet only gained one seat each in the House of Commons. After that election, UKIP, the Liberal Democrats, the Scottish National Party, Plaid Cymru, and the Green Party of England and Wales, together with its Scottish and Northern Ireland affiliated parties, delivered a petition signed by 477,000[7] people to Downing Street demanding electoral reform.
Since 1997, proportional representation-based voting systems have been adopted for elections to the Scottish Parliament, the Senedd (Welsh Parliament), the Northern Ireland Assembly, the London Assembly and (until Brexit in 2020) the UK's seats in the European Parliament. In these bodies, other parties have had success.
Traditionally political parties have been private organisations with no official recognition by the state. The Registration of Political Parties Act 1998 changed that by creating a register of parties.
Membership of political parties has been in decline in the UK since the 1950s, falling by over 65% from 1983 (4% of the electorate) to 2005 (1.3%).[8]
There are a number of political parties in the United Kingdom that do not have representation in the House of Commons, but have elected representatives in the Northern Ireland Assembly and Scottish Parliament These are:
Party | Founded | Political position | Ideology | Leader | House of Lords |
Holyrood | Stormont | Local government | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ulster Unionist Party | 1905 | Centre-right | British unionism Conservatism |
Doug Beattie | 2 / 824 [Note 8]
|
— | 9 / 90
|
74 / 19,698
| |
Scottish Greens | 1990 | Centre-left to left-wing |
Green politics Scottish independence Scottish republicanism Pro-Europeanism |
Patrick Harvie, Lorna Slater (job share) |
— | 7 / 129
|
— | 35 / 19,698 [9]
| |
Traditional Unionist Voice | 2007 | Right-wing | British unionism National conservatism Social conservatism Euroscepticism |
Jim Allister | — | — | 1 / 90
|
6 / 19,698
| |
People Before Profit | 2005 | Left-wing | Socialism Trotskyism Anti-capitalism Irish reunification |
Eamonn McCann[Note 9] | — | — | 1 / 90
|
5 / 19,698
|
Party | Description | |
---|---|---|
Conservative and Unionist Party | A party loosely divided into three categories; the Thatcherites, who strongly support a free market with restrained government spending and tend to be Eurosceptic, the Cornerstone Group, who advocate for the preservation of established institutions and traditional principles, and the liberal conservative One Nation Conservatives. | |
Labour Party | A social democratic party with democratic socialist elements that has its roots in the trade union movement. The party has several internal factions, which include: Momentum, Open Labour, Progress, Blue Labour, and the Labour members on a split ticket with the Co-operative Party. | |
Scottish National Party | Scottish nationalist and social democratic party which supports Scottish independence and membership of the European Union or further devolution for Scotland. | |
Liberal Democrats | A liberal party; its main branches are the social liberals based around groups like the Social Liberal Forum, and the 'Orange Book' grouping, which supports classical liberalism. There is also a social democratic faction and influence within the party. Supports membership of the European Union. | |
Democratic Unionist Party | British Unionist and socially conservative, national conservative political party in Northern Ireland. | |
Sinn Féin | Irish republican party dedicated to the reunification of Ireland and the creation of a new republic based on democratic socialist values. | |
Plaid Cymru | Democratic socialist, social democratic, Welsh nationalist party in favour of Welsh independence or further devolution for Wales. | |
Social Democratic and Labour Party | Irish nationalist and social-democratic party supporting a United Ireland. | |
Ulster Unionist Party | A conservative and Unionist party in Northern Ireland. | |
Green Party of England and Wales | Green political party that favours environmentalism, progressivism and sustainability. | |
Scottish Greens | Green political party in favour of Scottish independence and Scottish republicanism. | |
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland | Liberal and nonsectarian political party in Northern Ireland. | |
Traditional Unionist Voice | Strongly social and national conservative unionist party in Northern Ireland. | |
People Before Profit | A socialist and Trotskyist party that is active in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. | |
Alba Party | A pro-Scottish independence and Scottish nationalist party founded in February 2021. |
Main article: Local government in the United Kingdom |
Party | Leader | Local authorities | Councillors | Parish councillors | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ashfield Independents | Jason Zadrozny | Ashfield, Nottinghamshire | 41[50][51] | 12 | |
Residents for Uttlesford | John Lodge | Uttlesford, Essex County Council | 26[52] | 20 | |
Loughton Residents Association | — | Epping Forest District, Essex County Council | 14 | 21 | |
Residents Associations of Epsom and Ewell | Keith Lugton | Epsom and Ewell, Surrey | 35[53][54] | 0 | |
Farnham Residents Group | No leader | Surrey County Council, Waverley | 20[55][56][54] | 14 | |
Lincolnshire Independents | Marianne Overton | Lincolnshire | 26[57][58] | 0 | |
Horwich and Blackrod First | Marie Brady | Horwich Town Council, Bolton Council | 13 | 11 | |
Aspire | Kalam Mahmud Abu Taher Choudhury | Tower Hamlets Council | Tower Hamlets Council
21 / 45 [59]
|
0 | |
Mansfield Independents | Martin Wright | Mansfield, Nottinghamshire | 19[60] | 0 | |
Residents for Guildford and Villages | Jonathan Bigmore[61] | Guildford, Surrey | 18[62][54] | 0 | |
Independents for Frome | Richard Ackroyd | 0 | 17[63] | ||
Canvey Island Independent Party | David Blackwell | Castle Point, Essex | 16[64][65] | 0 | |
Derwentside Independents | Watts Stelling | Durham County Council | 7[66][67] | 5 | |
Ashford Independents | Noel Ovenden | Ashford | 11 | 0 | |
East Devon Alliance | Paul Arnott | East Devon | 11[68] | 0 | |
Devizes Guardians | Nigel Carter | 0 | 11[69] | ||
Alderley Edge First | Mike Dudley-Jones | Cheshire East | 1 | 9 | |
Ecclesfield Parish Independent Councillors | Robert John Brownrigg | 0 | 10 | ||
Swale Independents | Mike Baldock | Swale Borough Council | 10 | 0 | |
Independents for Rame and Maker (INFORM) | Ian Turpitt | 0 | 9 | ||
Our Ryde | Michael Lilley | 0 | 9 | ||
The Haswells Community Party | Chris Hood | 0 | 9 | ||
Tunbridge Wells Alliance | Nicholas Pope[70] | Tunbridge Wells | 9[71][72][73] | 0 | |
Ashtead Independents | Chris Hunt | Mole Valley, Surrey | 8[74][75][76] | 0 | |
Henley Residents Group | No leader | South Oxfordshire, Oxfordshire | 2[77] | 6 | |
Residents of Wilmslow | No Leader | Cheshire East Council | 4 | 4 | |
Hornchurch Residents' Association | Stephanie Jane Nunn[78] | Havering London Borough Council | 7[79] | 0 | |
Rochford District Residents | No Leader | Rochford District, Essex County Council | 7 | 0 | |
Thornaby Independent Association | No Leader | Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council | 7 | 0 | |
City Independent | No Leader | Stoke-on-Trent City Council | 6[80] | 0 | |
Ideal Bradford | Dominic Newton | 0 | 6 | ||
Molesey Residents' Association | Stuart Selleck | Surrey County Council, Elmbridge Borough Council | 6[81][54][82] | 0 | |
Our West Lancashire | Adrian Owens | West Lancashire Borough Council | 6[83] | 0 | |
Reform Derby | Alan Graves senior | Derby | 6 [Note 12] | 0 | |
Runnymede Independent Residents' Group | No leader | Runnymede | 6 | 0 | |
Upminster and Cranham Residents' Association | Linda Hawthorn | Havering London Borough Council | 6 | 0 | |
Alliance for Local Living | Felicity Rice | Dorset Council, BCP | 5 | 0 | |
Basingstoke & Deane Independents | Ian Tilbury | Basingstoke and Deane | 5 | 0 | |
Burnley and Padiham Independent Party | Mark Payne | Burnley Borough Council | 5 | 0 | |
Farnworth and Kearsley First | Peter Flitcroft | Bolton Council | Bolton Council 5 / 60
|
0 | |
Morley Borough Independents | Robert Finnigan | Leeds City Council | 5 | 0 | |
Old Windsor Residents' Association | Lynne Jones and Malcolm Beer | Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council | Local government
5 / 57 [84]
|
0 | |
Poole Local Group | Mohan Iyengar | BCP | 5 | 0 | |
Poole People Party | Mark Howell | BCP | 5 | 0 | |
South Tyneside Independent Group | Glenn Thompson | 0 | 5 | ||
Thames Ditton & Weston Green Residents' Association | Graham Cooke[85] | Elmbridge Borough Council | 5[86][54][82] [Note 13] | 0 | |
Wells Independents | Philip Welch | 0 | 5 | ||
Barnsley Independent Group | Phillip Birkinshaw | Barnsley | 4[87] | 0 | |
Brockworth First | No Leader | Tewkesbury Borough Council | 4 | 0 | |
Independent Community and Health Concern | Dr Richard Taylor | Wyre Forest, Worcestershire, Shropshire | 4[9] | 0 | |
Newport Independents Party | Kevin Whitehead | Newport, South Wales | 4 [88] | 0 | |
Nork Residents' Association | No leader | Reigate and Banstead, Surrey | 4[89][54] [Note 14] | 0 | |
Nottingham Independents | Francesco Lari | Nottingham City Council, Gedling Borough Council, Nottinghamshire | 3 [90] | 1 | |
Tattenhams & Preston Residents | No leader | Reigate and Banstead, Surrey | 4[89] [Note 15] | 0 | |
Edlington and Warmsworth First | no leader | 0 | 3 | ||
Fairfield and Yarm Independents | No leader | Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council | 3 | 0 | |
Guildford Greenbelt Group | Susan Parker | Guildford | 3[91] | 0 | |
H&E Matters | No leader | Tendring District | 3 | 0 | |
Handforth Ratepayers' Association | No leader | Cheshire East | 1 | 2 | |
Harold Wood Hill Park Residents Association | Darren Wise | Havering London Borough Council | 3 | 0 | |
Highwoods Group | Beverley Oxford | Colchester | 3[92] | 0 | |
Hinchley Wood Residents Association | Saranne Bristow[93] | Elmbridge Borough Council | 3 [94][82] [Note 16] | 0 | |
Ingleby Barwick Independent Society | Kenneth Dixon | Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council | 3 | 0 | |
Merton Park Ward Residents Association | Peter Southgate | Merton London Borough Council | Merton London Borough Council
3 / 60
|
0 | |
Newcastle Independents | Jason Smith | Newcastle City Council | 3[95] | 0 | |
People Against Bureaucracy | Malcolm Stennett | Cheltenham, Gloucestershire | 3[96][97] | 0 | |
Rotherham Democratic Party | Allen Cowles | Rotherham | 3[98] | 0 | |
Swanscombe and Greenhithe Residents' Association | Peter Martin Harman | Dartford Borough Council | 3 | 0 | |
Teesville Independents | No leader | Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council | 3 | 0 | |
Thurrock Independents | Graham Snell | Thurrock | 3[99] | 0 | |
Independent Union | Shane Moore | Hartlepool | 2[15] | 0 | |
Bollington First | Amanda Stott | Cheshire East | 2 | 0 | |
Chichester and Harbour Independents | Louise Goldsmith | Chichester District Council | 2 | 0 | |
Esher Residents Association | No leader | Elmbridge Borough Council | 2[100][82] | 0 | |
Knowle Community Party | Gary Hopkins | Bristol City Council | 2[101][102][103] | 0 | |
Lytham St. Anne's Independents | John Raymond Davies | Borough of Fylde | 2 | 0 | |
Morecambe Bay Independents | Roger Dennison | Lancaster | 2[104] | 0 | |
Orkney Manifesto Group | Rachael King | Orkney Islands Council | Orkney Islands Council
2 / 21
|
0 | |
South Woodham Ferrers Independents | Keith Bentley | Chelmsford City Council | 2 | 0 | |
Tewkesbury and Twyning Independent | No Leader | Tewkesbury Borough Council | 2 | 0 | |
The Borough First[105] | Charles Hollingsworth | Windsor and Maidenhead | 2[106] | 0 | |
The Walton Society | No leader | Elmbridge Borough Council | 2[107][82] | 0 | |
Uplands Party[108] | Peter May | Swansea Council | 2 | 0 | |
West Words | no leader | Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council | 2 | 0 | |
Weybridge & St. George's Independents | no leader | Elmbridge Borough Council | 2[109][82] | 0 | |
Wickford Independents | No leader | Basildon Borough Council | 2[110] | 0 | |
East Cleveland Independent | No leader | Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council | 1[111] | 0 | |
Hampshire Independents | Alan Stone | 0 | 1[112] | ||
Heavy Woollen District Independents | Aleksandar Lukic | Kirklees Council | 1[36] | 0 | |
Putting Cumbria First | Jonathan Davies | Allerdale Borough Council | 1[113] | 0 | |
Sutton Residents' Party | Elizabeth Sarah Parry | 0 | 1 | ||
The Rubbish Party | Sally Cogley | East Ayrshire | 1[114] | 0 | |
West Dunbartonshire Community Party | Drew MacEoghainn | West Dunbartonshire | West Dunbartonshire Council
1 / 22
|
0 | |
West Suffolk Independents | Victor Lukaniuk | Suffolk County Council | 1[115] | 0 | |
Wythall Residents' Association | No leader | Bromsgrove District | 1[116][54] | 0 |
This is a table of notable minor parties. Many parties are registered with the Electoral Commission but do not qualify for this list as they have not received significant independent coverage. Parties active across Ireland may have representation in the Republic of Ireland but not Northern Ireland.