PP functions

• Making policy - opposition parties show viable alternatives to government policies
• Making policy - ministers advise policy but influence on policy spreads to backbenchers, peers, party activists and ordinary members
• Making policy - aggregation, the process of taking the diversity of input + translating into a coherent programme e.g. Clegg in coalition changing his tuition fees policy from his position in opposition
• Representation of interests - in the past Labour aligned with working class and Conservatives with aristocracy
• Representation of interests - shifted to represent national interests but tend to be biased
• Representation of interests - populist parties are quick to emerge and quick to dissipate and play on fear and dissatisfaction, e.g. UKip/Brexit
• Representation of interests - issue parties of Green Party
• Selecting candidates for office - local and regional levels, through party committees staffed by activists
• Selecting candidates for office - find prospective local councillors, elected mayors, members of devolved assemblies + Scottish Parliament + UK Parliament
• Appointing leaders - in the ruling party the PM controls appointment of ministers
• Appointing leaders - in the opposition party the leader appoints front benchers
• Appointing leaders - internal party leadership competitions where members are able to trained as leaders
• Appointing leaders - parties should be united in choosing a leader
• Appointing leaders - united party example in 2016 following Cameron’s resignation May was the favourite among MPs and party members so her rivals withdrew from the leadership race
• Appointing leaders - divided party example in 2015 following Miiliband’s resignation Corbyn was elected. Unpopular as his views were far too left
• Campaigning - parties critical in publicising election issues urging people to vote and informing them about the candidate e.g. using leaflets
• Campaigning - done by party activists who ensure a good turnout
• Campaigning - Party representatives are present for vote count to ensure a fair election
• Education outside of election time - Social media plays a bigger role in educating now
• Education outside of election time - PGs also inform the electorate
• Education outside of election time - parties inform electorate about political issues of the day and their own solutions
• Education outside of election time - educate public about how political system operates
• Mobiliising and reinforcing consent - all main parties support Parliamentary democracy system in the UK so ensure consent to the system
• Mobiliising and reinforcing consent - parties which challenge the system are considered extremist and marginal
• Mobiliising and reinforcing consent - challenging the political system in a fundamental way would create political conflict within society at large