Text c Political Parties

Task:  read the text, get ready to compare the policy of the Conservative and Labour Parties.

The main political parties in Great Britain are the Conservatives, the Labour party and the Liberal Democrats. The most powerful parties are Conservative and Labour parties. These parties as a rule control Parliament. In this context there is a two-party system in Britain. Since 1945 these parties have held power.

The Conservatives (the official name the National Union of Conservative and Unionist Associations) have always been the party of the Right. The name of the party reflects its aims to conserve and maintain established institutions and practices. It is the party supported traditionally by the rich and the privileged. The origins of the party go back to the 17^th century when it was called the Tory party organized on the basis of political groups of the English landed aristocracy. The Conservative party has no official permanent programme. On the eve of general elections the party issues a pre-election manifesto which states the main aspects of the home and foreign policies of the future Conservative government if the party wins the elections. Tories favour radical policies, they welcome privatization of sections of the national industries, the state's withdrawal from direction of the economy, they stress the pursuit of the national interest and priority for defence of law and order. To this very day it remains a major rightwing party receiving support from middle-and upper class or Establishment circles, traditionally in rural areas. Donations from individuals and companies make up the party’s largest source of income.

The Labour Party was founded in 1900 by the Trade Union Congress on the initiative of socialist organizations to win working-class representation in Parliament. This was initially reflected in the name of the party – Labour Representation Committee. In 1906 the Committee officially adopted the title of the Labour Party. The Party believes that private ownership and free enterprise should be allowed to flourish, but not at the expense of their traditional support of public services. Labour’s origins are important in explaining the way it makes policy. In general, the party has no long term political programmes which would determine the ways and means to attain common goals. Instead, the party endorses current political issues containing measures which the future Labour government intends to implement if the party takes office as a result of a majority in the general elections. Labour remains committed to maintaining the state’s role in such areas as health, education and provision for those in need. Using the state mechanism the party attempts to do away with inequalities in opportunity and develop greater social equality in general. Though today many claim that the Labour Party shows no radical change in policy from the Tories, nevertheless most people recognize Labour as being on the left of the political scene, and the party continues to receive electoral support from amongst the less well-off in society. Despite the fact that Labour was established to support the working class, it is now clearly a middle-class party. Membership of the Labour Party is provided by trade-union members, cooperative organizations, working class and petty bourgeoisie. Nearly two thirds of its members are professional (the ‘salariat’), and less than a quarter work in manual occupations.

The Social and Liberal Democrats (SLD) or simply the Liberal Democrats are the result of alliance in 1988 of the two parties – the Liberal party (the Whigs), which could frame its origins to the XVII century, and was one of the main political parties in the XIX century, and the Social Democratic party created in 1981 as a result of the split in the Labour Party. Liberal Democrats are strongly associated with their policies for better education, environmental protection and constitutional reform to guarantee individual freedom. The Party established itself as a new third force in British politics. The Liberal Democrats are quite often referred to as a “centre” party – a party which in ideological terms plays upon the differencies between the two major parties.

There are some other political parties in Great Britain represented in Parliament. They are regionally based in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The nationalist parties the Scottish National Party and Plaid Cymru of Wales have become a significant force since the 1970s. The political parties of Northern Ireland are: the Ulster Unionist party (UUP) and its other unionist allies; the Social Democratic and Labour party (SDLP); Sinn Fein (SF).

Ex. 1.  Explain and expand on the following:

1. There is a two-party system in Britain.

2. The Conservatives have always been the party of the Right.

3. On the eve of general elections the Conservative Party issues a pre-election manifesto.

4. The Labour Party was formed to win working-class representation in Parliament.

5. Today the Labour Party shows no radical change in policy from the Tories.