List of Political Parties in the United Kingdom
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List of Political Parties in 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, 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 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 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, and the Green Party of England and Wales, together with its Scottish and Northern Ireland affiliated parties, the Scottish National Party and Plaid Cymru, delivered a petition signed by 477,000[7] people to Downing Street demanding electoral reform.
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Scottish Parliament debating chamber
Since 1997, proportional representation-based voting systems have been adopted for elections to the Scottish Parliament, the 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]
House of Commons Parliamentary parties
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Parties without representation in the House of Commons, but with representation in a devolved parliament or assembly
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 Scottish Parliament, Welsh Parliament, Northern Ireland Assembly, and/or the London Assembly. These are:
| Party | Date of foundation | Political position | Ideology | Leader | Scottish Parliament | Welsh Parliament | Northern Ireland Assembly | London Assembly | Local Government | Membership | UK vote share % (2019 general election) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ulster Unionist Party | 1905 | Centre-right | |
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|
Steve Aiken | N/A | N/A | N/A | Not published | 0.3 | |||
| 1990 | Centre-left to left-wing | |
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|
Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater (job share) |
N/A | N/A | 6,412[16] | 0.1 | |||||
| Green Party in Northern Ireland | 1983 | Centre-left | |
|
Clare Bailey | N/A | N/A | N/A | 406[18] (May 2015) |
Did not contest | |||
| Abolish the Welsh Assembly Party | 2015 | 
|
Richard Suchorzewski | N/A | N/A | N/A | 310 (2020) | Did not contest | |||||
| UK Independence Party | 1993 | Right-wing to far-right | .jpg)
|
Neil Hamilton | N/A | N/A | N/A | 26,447[20] (as of 2019) |
0.1 | ||||
| Propel | 2020 | N/A | Localism Sovereignism |
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|
Neil McEvoy | N/A | N/A | N/A | Not published | Did not contest | |||
| Traditional Unionist Voice | 2007 | Right-wing | .jpg)
|
Jim Allister | N/A | N/A | N/A | Not published | 0.0 | ||||
| 2005 | Left-wing | .jpg)
|
Eamonn McCann[Note 6] | N/A | N/A | N/A | Not published | 0.0 | |||||
| Heritage Party[21] | 2020 | Right-wing | Social conservatism | 
|
David Kurten | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Not published | Before party creation | ||
| Reform UK | 2020 | Right-wing | 
|
Richard Tice | N/A | N/A | N/A | 115,000 (registered supporters)[23] | 2.0 | ||||
Party descriptions
| Party | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| Conservative and Unionist Party | A party loosely divided into three categories; the Thatcherites, who strongly support a free market and tend to be Eurosceptic, the economically moderate and socially liberal One Nation Conservatives, and the socially conservative, Eurosceptic Cornerstone Group. | |
| Labour Party | A social democratic party with democratic socialist elements that has its roots in the trade union movement. The party in recent years is seen to have several internal factions, which include: Momentum, Open Labour, Progress, Blue Labour, and the Labour members who stand 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. | |
| Liberal Democrats | A Liberal party; it's 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. Strongly supports membership of the European Union. | |
| Democratic Unionist Party | British Unionist and national conservative party in Northern Ireland. Socially conservative with close links to Protestantism. | |
| Sinn Féin | Irish republican party dedicated to the reunification of Ireland and the creation of a democratic socialist republic. | |
| Plaid Cymru | Democratic socialist, social democratic, and Welsh nationalist party in favour of Welsh independence. | |
| 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 eco-socialism,[24]environmentalism,[24]progressivism[25] and sustainability.[24] | |
| Scottish Greens | Green political party in favour of Scottish independence and Scottish republicanism. | |
| UK Independence Party | A British nationalist and Eurosceptic right-wing populist party. Socially conservative and economically liberal. | |
| Alliance Party of Northern Ireland | Liberal and nonsectarian political party in Northern Ireland. | |
| Green Party in Northern Ireland | Green political and nonsectarian party in Northern Ireland. | |
| Traditional Unionist Voice | Strongly social and national conservative unionist party in Northern Ireland, opposed to the St Andrews Agreement. | |
| People Before Profit | A socialist and Trotskyist party that is active in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. | |
| Propel | Sovereignist party that advocates Wales becoming an independent sovereign state. | |
| Abolish the Welsh Assembly Party | A single-issue, anti-devolution party with the goal of abolishing the Welsh Parliament. | |
| Reform UK | A populist and Eurosceptic party led by Richard Tice. | |
| Heritage Party | A right-wing, social conservative party led by London Assembly member David Kurten. | |
| Alba Party | A pro-Scottish independence and Scottish nationalist party founded in February 2021. It is currently led by Alex Salmond, who was the First Minister of Scotland from May 2007 to November 2014. | |
Local government
Principal authorities
Civil parishes and community councils
| Party | Leader | Ideology | Political position | Councillors | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independents for Frome | Lizzie Boyle (Convener) | Localism, Conservation | N/A | 17[70] | |
| Devizes Guardians | Nigel Carter | Localism, Conservation | N/A | 11[71] | |
| Official Monster Raving Loony Party | Howling Laud Hope | Political satirism, Populism | Big tent | 2 | |
| Women's Equality Party | Mandu Reid | Feminism, Egalitarianism, Pro-Europeanism | Centre-left | 1 | |
| Animal Welfare Party | Vanessa Hudson | Animal welfare | N/A | 1[72] | |
| Cornish Nationalist Party | Androw Hawke | Cornish nationalism, Cornish devolution, Pan-Celticism | Right-wing | 1 | |
| Hampshire Independents | Alan Stone | Localism | N/A | 1[73] | |
No elected UK representation
 | This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. The specific problem is: this section appears to have no current order. Please place the parties in alphabetical order for easier navigation. (March 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) |
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.
Defunct parties
| This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. The specific problem is: this section appears to have no current order. Please place the parties in alphabetical order for easier navigation. (January 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) |
Historical parties
- Campaign for Social Democracy (1973-1974).
- Liberal Unionist Party (1886-1912).
- National Democratic and Labour Party (1918-1923).
- National Liberal Party (1922-1923).
- National Liberal Party (1931-1968).
- New Party (1931) (1931-1932).
- Social Credit Party of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (1931-1951, 1965-1978).
- Women's Party (1917-1919).
- Anti Common Market and Free Trade Party (1967-1988).
- Social Democratic Federation (1884-1911).
- Independent Labour Party (1893-1975).
- Socialist Labour Party (1903-1980).
- British Socialist Party (1911-1920).
- Revolutionary Socialist Party (1912-1941).
- National Socialist Party (1916-1919).
- Communist Party of Great Britain (1920-1991).
- United Socialist Movement (1934-1965).
- Common Wealth Party (1942-1945).
- Revolutionary Communist Party (1944-1950).
- Revolutionary Workers' Party (1962-1990s).
- Committee to Defeat Revisionism, for Communist Unity (1963-c.1972).
- International Marxist Group (1968-1982). (Organised the electoral coalition Socialist Unity.)
- Working People's Party of England (1968-1986).
- British Fascisti (1920s-1930s).
- British Union of Fascists (1930s).
- British People's Party (1940s).
- Union Movement (1948-1973).
- National Labour Party (1957-1960).
- British National Party (1960-1967).
- National Democratic Party (1960s-1970s).
- British Movement (1968-1983).
- National Independence Party (1970s)
- United Country Party (1970s).
- National Party (1975-1977).
- Constitutional Movement (1979-1984).
- British Democratic Party (1979-1982).
- Flag Group (1980s).
- Official National Front (1986-1989).
- Vectis National Party (1970s) - Isle of Wight regionalist party.
- Crofters Party.
- Fife Socialist League (1950s-1960s).
- Highland Land League (1909-1920s).
- National Party of Scotland (1928-1934).
- Orkney and Shetland Movement.
- Progressives (Scotland) (1920s-1970s).
- Labour Party of Scotland (1973).
- Scottish Labour Party (1888-1893).
- Scottish Labour Party (1976-1981).
- Scottish Militant Labour (1990s).
- Scottish Party (1932-1934).
- Scottish Prohibition Party (1901-1935).
- Scottish Socialist Alliance.
- Scottish Socialist Federation.
- Scottish Voice.
- Scottish Workers' Representation Committee (1899-1909).
- Scottish Workers Republican Party.
- Unionist Party (Scotland) (1912-1965).
- Workers Party of Scotland.
- Communist Party of South Wales and the West of England.
- All-for-Ireland Party (1910-1918).
- British Ulster Dominion Party.
- Irish Independence Party.
- Irish Parliamentary Party.
- Irish Unionist Alliance.
- Labour Party of Northern Ireland.
- Nationalist Party (Northern Ireland).
- Ulster Liberal Party.
- Ulster Labour Unionists.
See also
- Timeline of political parties in the United Kingdom
- List of political parties in the United Kingdom by representation
- List of political parties in the United Kingdom opposed to austerity
- Political make-up of local councils in the United Kingdom
- List of political parties by country
- Politics of the United Kingdom
- Political party affiliation in the United Kingdom
- Elections in the United Kingdom
- List of political parties in Northern Ireland
- List of political parties in Scotland
- List of political parties in Wales
- List of political parties in the Isle of Man (a British Crown dependency)
- List of political parties in Gibraltar (a British overseas territory)
- Index of UK party meta attributes
Notes
- ^ Including 26 as Lab Co-op.
- ^ The Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, is not included in this tally as the speaker stands in the election as "Speaker seeking re-election" and no longer has ties with their original party.
- ^ Including 7 as Lab Co-op.
- ^ Including 11 as Lab Co-op.
- ^ Sinn Fein operate a policy of Abstentionism and do not take their Commons seats
- ^ Party operates a policy of collective leadership, but Eamonn McCann is listed as the party's leader for the purposes of registration to the UK Electoral Commission.
- ^ The SDP-Liberal Alliance at dissolution was jointly led by Steel as the leader of the Liberal Party and Robert Maclennan as the leader of the SDP.
- ^ The SDP-Liberal Alliance at dissolution was jointly led by David Steel as the leader of the Liberal Party and Maclennan as the leader of the SDP.
References
- ^ "Party Finance - The Electoral Commission : Regulatory issues : Political parties : Registers : Register of political parties". Search.electoralcommission.org.uk. Retrieved 2015.
- ^ "Search - The Electoral Commission". electoralcommission.org.uk. Retrieved 2019.
- ^ "Whatever you think of Ukip or the Greens, our electoral system is robbing them". 14 May 2015. Retrieved 2015.
- ^ "Green party leader condemns first-past-the-post voting system". 9 May 2015. Retrieved 2015.
- ^ "General Election 2015: Sixty per cent of people want voting reform, says survey". 5 May 2015. Retrieved 2015.
- ^ "Election 2015". Retrieved 2015.
- ^ "Green party and Ukip join forces to demand electoral overhaul". 18 May 2015. Retrieved 2015.
- ^ John Marshall: Membership of UK political parties; House of Commons, SN/SG/5125; 2009, page 6. http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/briefings/snsg-05125.pdf Retrieved 5 January 2012
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Local Council Political Compositions". Archived from the original on 7 January 2019. Retrieved 2019.
- ^ Quote from James Cleverly from Jack Blanchard on Politico Retrieved 3 October 2019
- ^ Evans, Joe (23 November 2020). "Keir Starmer hit by 'exodus' of Labour members led by Jeremy Corbyn supporters". The Week. Retrieved 2020.
- ^ Keen, Richard; Audickas, Lukas (3 September 2018). "SNP membership overtakes Conservatives across UK" (PDF). www.BBC.com. British Broadcasting Company. p. 13. Retrieved 2018.
Data from the House of Commons Library shows the SNP has just under 125,500 registered members, compared to 124,000 for the Tories.
- ^ @LibDemPress (6 September 2019). ".@joswinson celebrates our membership reaching over 120,000 people" (Tweet). Retrieved 2021 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Plaid Cymru see 25% membership boost following Adam Price's leadership victory". 12 October 2018.
- ^ Davidson, Peter (2 April 2021). "Alex Salmond's Alba Party sees membership pass 4,000 as founder hails 'Scotland's new political force'". Daily Record. Retrieved 2021.
- ^ Scottish Green Party loses 30% of members since 2014 Retrieved 18 October 2019
- ^ "Northern Ireland local elections 2019". BBC News. Retrieved 2019.
- ^ "Greens' growth has just begun". Belfast Telegraph. 31 March 2015. Retrieved 2015.
- ^ "Local council political compositions". Open Council Data UK. Retrieved 2020.
- ^ Loft, Philip; Dempsey, Noel; Audickas, Lukas (9 August 2019). "Membership of UK political parties". parliament.uk. Archived from the original on 22 June 2019. Retrieved 2019.
- ^ "Heritage Party". The Electoral Commission. The Electoral Commission. Retrieved 2020.
- ^ "About". Heritage Party. The Heritage Party. Retrieved 2020.
- ^ Walker, Peter (30 June 2019). "Nigel Farage: Brexit party is ready to fight every Westminster seat". The Guardian. Retrieved 2019.
- ^ a b c "The Green Party's Core Values". Retrieved 2015.
- ^ "Green Party of England and Wales elects new leaders". europeangreens.edu. European Green Party. Archived from the original on 1 April 2017. Retrieved 2017.
- ^ "MyEpsomandEwell". eplanning.epsom-ewell.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 2016.
- ^ Surrey County Council, County Hall (30 September 2016). "Your Councillors". Retrieved 2016.
- ^ "Mansfield District Council - List of Councillors". Archived from the original on 27 February 2018. Retrieved 2018.
- ^ "Councillors". Castle Point Borough Council. Retrieved 2018.
- ^ https://www.essex.gov.uk/Your-Council/Councillors/Documents/Members.pdf
- ^ "Residents for Uttlesford County & District Councillors". Retrieved 2015.
- ^ "East Devon Alliance History". Archived from the original on 2 August 2016. Retrieved 2016.
- ^ "Council political composition". East Devon District Council. Retrieved 2020.
- ^ "Your Representatives". 20 February 2017.
- ^ "Local Council Political Compositions". www.gwydir.demon.co.uk. Archived from the original on 7 January 2019. Retrieved 2017.
- ^ "Council's political make-up - Durham County Council". www.durham.gov.uk.
- ^ "Councillors - Stanley Town Council". Retrieved 2016.
- ^ Your Councillors. Gwynedd Council. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
- ^ "Councillors". West Lancashire Borough Council. Retrieved 2020.
- ^ Council, Hartlepool Borough. "Hartlepool Borough Council - Find Councillors". www.hartlepool.gov.uk.
- ^ "Your Councillors". Belfast City Council. 21 February 2018. Retrieved 2018.
- ^ "Councillors". Causeway Coast and Glens District Council. Retrieved 2018.
- ^ "Independent1". www.barnsleyindependentgroup.co.uk. Retrieved 2016.
- ^ Gareth Willey (5 May 2017). "Newport Local Election Results (2017)". Newport City Radio. Retrieved 2018.
- ^ "nottinghampost".
- ^ List of Councillors in Cheltenham Borough Council.
- ^ List of Councillors in Gloucestershire County Council.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 16 May 2016. Retrieved 2016.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- ^ "Your Councillors by Party". Retrieved 2017.
- ^ "Councillors - Middlewich Town Council". Retrieved 2016.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Council, Hartlepool Borough. "Hartlepool Borough Council - Find Councillors". www.hartlepool.gov.uk.
- ^ "Our Values". Democrats and Veterans. Retrieved 2019.
- ^ "Local government elections 2019". www.barnsley.gov.uk. Retrieved 2019.
- ^ Council, Hartlepool Borough. "Hartlepool Borough Council - Find Councillors". www.hartlepool.gov.uk.
- ^ "CMIS > Councillors". colchester.cmis.uk.com.
- ^ "View registration - The Electoral Commission". search.electoralcommission.org.uk. Retrieved 2018.
- ^ "Your Councillors". 30 September 2018. Retrieved 2018.
- ^ "Your Councillors". 30 September 2016. Retrieved 2016.
- ^ "Councillors". www.henleytowncouncil.gov.uk. Retrieved 2016.
- ^ "Councillors by Party: For Britain Movement". Hartlepool Borough Council.
- ^ "Election results by party, 2 May 2019". www.eppingforestdc.gov.uk. 2 May 2019.
- ^ http://search.electoralcommission.org.uk/English/Registrations/PP5299
- ^ "2017 Council Election Results - West Dunbartonshire Council". www.west-dunbarton.gov.uk. Retrieved 2017.
- ^ https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/local-democracy/about-your-county-councillor/
- ^ "Councillor Jan Sargent". Havering London Borough Council.
- ^ "Merthyr Independents". The Electoral Commission. Retrieved 2018.
- ^ "Independents win control of Merthyr Tydfil council and oust Labour after delayed ward votet". Wales Online. 9 June 2017. Retrieved 2018.
- ^ County Borough Council Elections 2017, Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council. Retrieved 2018-09-23.
- ^ "Find Councillor". www.newcastle.gov.uk. 21 July 2020. Retrieved 2020.
- ^ "Frome Town Council Elections 2015". Retrieved 2015.
- ^ "Contact a Devizes Town Councillor". www.devizes-tc.gov.uk. Retrieved 2016.
- ^ https://www.alsagertowncouncil.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Jane-Smith.pdf
- ^ https://www.eastleigh.gov.uk/media/9453/notice-of-uncontested-election-bishopstoke-parish-underwood-ward.pdf
- ^ a b "View registration - The Electoral Commission". search.electoralcommission.org.uk. Retrieved 2020.
- ^ "Zionism is a racist and antisemitic tool of imperialist policy in the middle east". The Communists. 24 November 2018.
- ^ "Why British workers need a Brexit". CPGB-ML. 1 April 2016.
- ^ "JK Rowling's stance against the thought police". 9 July 2020.
- ^ "The reactionary nightmare of 'gender fluidity'". CPGB-ML. 23 March 2019.
- ^ Sweeney, Steve (13 August 2015). "Morning Star at centre of struggle for worker freedom". communist-party.org.uk. Communist Party of Britain. Retrieved 2015.
Trade union rights are human rights
- ^ Griffiths, Robert (14 August 2015). "Against austerity, mobilise zany unite". www.communist-party.org.uk. Retrieved 2015.
austerity has been about enlarging the private sector at the expense of the public one, cutting the level of real wages, reducing the levels of corporation tax on big business profits and increasing both the mass and rate of corporate profit.
- ^ Denny, Brian (14 August 2015). "Unions should take a lead in the EU referendum". www.communist-party.org.uk. Retrieved 2015.
Vote against anti-social Europe, vote to get out
External links
- "List of all parties standing at the 2005 election". Archived from the original on 9 March 2006.
- "List of parties that stood candidates in the 2001 general elections". Archived from the original on 25 September 2006.
- Electoral Commission: Database of Registers, includes Register of Political Parties
- Links to UK political websites from the BBC
- NSD: European Election Database - UK descriptions of main parties
This article uses material from the Wikipedia page available here. It is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.
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