Political Parties

• Fusion of powers


  The government sits inside parliament
• Arguments in favour of political parties being good for democracy


  • After winning an 80-seat majority in 2019, the Conservative Party was successful and able to proceed with the EU withdrawal deal without much criticism
  • Parties get people involved with politics – beneficial for democracy
  • Labour saw an increase of voters with the new leader of Jeremy Corbyn back in 2015
  • Participation is key
• Arguments against political parties being good for democracy

  • Boris Johnson was made Prime Minister with 1% of the electorate (under 120,000 people) having a ballot to vote in the election
  • Small party membership has required one time only donations from large businesses –conflicts of interest –not in public interest
  • Some parties are more likely to put their own self-interest above the needs of the country – the antithesis of democracy
  • There is still perception that all political parties are the same
  • Membership of political parties is low
  • Largely unrepresentative of the wider population
  • Fusion of powers leads to a hindrance of meaningful oversight
• Lower turnout in by-elections


  People have been less involved in politics
• Party membership has declined – 1.6% of the population are members compared to 3.8% in 1983
• There is a negativity surrounding politicians, meaning that people are less likely to vote
• Without parties


  There may be confusion in the country on how to vote
• Self-running independents


  Would require donations from large businesses