Minor Parties

• • The British National Party (BNP) have campaigned for values they see as being held by indigenous UK people.
  • The BNP is considered now to be a far-right party with fascist values.
• Nationalist parties appeal to the shared identity of a region or nation, and base their campaigns and objectives on this identity.
• • The Scottish National Party (SNP) have campaigned for Scottish Independence and were instrumental in bringing about the Scottish Referendum on Independence in 2014.
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  • Nationalist parties have different objectives, some seeking full independence whilst others promote nationalist policies.
• • The United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) are an example of a party with policies based on a primary goal.
  • UKIP campaigned for the UK to leave the EU.
  • It could also be argued that UKIP also bases their policies around the ideology of British nationalism.
• • The Green Party are an example of a party with policies based on one ideological perspective.
  • The Green Party's policies are based around the principles of social justice and environmentalism.
• • Single-issue parties may offer a range of policies all of which are based on a particular ideological perspective.
  • Other single-issue parties have a primary goal, and campaign on a particular issue or policy.
• • If successful in gaining seats at a local or national level, minor parties can impact policy and put their main issues/cause at the centre of political debate.
  • UKIP helped make the EU an issue debated at the national level.
• • In minority governments, minority party support can be vital.
  • In 2017 the Conservatives made a 'confidence and supply' agreement with the DUP.
• • Minor parties can have an impact on elections at the local and EU level. Fewer people vote in local and EU elections, and minor parties can be more successful than in national elections.
  • UKIP won more seats than Labour and the Conservatives in the 2014 EU parliament election.
  • By winning these elections, minor parties can make their agenda, public and known and put pressure on major parties.
• • Founded in 1993 by members of a group opposed to the Maastricht Treaty.
  • UKIP have continually been against greater European integration (“Euroscepticism”). UKIP is a populist and right-wing party, pro-sovereignty, and promotion of British nationalism/unionism.
• • UKIP’s major policy idea is for the UK to leave the European Union, and control UK immigration.
  • Before Brexit, policies were broadened to attract more voters.
  • Policies included: opposition to gay marriage, tax cuts and support for grammar schools.
  • In 2014 the party had 2 MPs in parliament.
• • After Brexit, UKIP lost most of their local council seats, and since the 2015/2017 general elections have no MPs.
  • There has been a disagreement on UKIP’s party direction.
  • Gerard Batten, who led the party after the 2017 general election, has been criticised by many former high-ranking members for taking the party too far-right.
  • There have been several leaders and lots of controversies.
• • SNP has existed as a party since 1934, aims to promote political & cultural independence from the UK.
  • The party’s supporters have historically come from a broad range of ideologies (sometimes nicknamed ‘tartan tories’).
  • Since the 1970s the party has supported more social democratic and left-wing policies.
• • Historic policies involved increasing Scottish independence, by independence referendum in 2014 and campaigning for the creation of a Scottish parliament.
  • The leader as of 2023, Humza Yousaf, supports another independence referendum. Policies have moved away from just independence, but all focus on putting Scotland first.
  • In the 2017 election, the SNP supported higher public spending, anti-austerity, protecting Scotland during Brexit and more devolved powers.