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SYSTEM OF POLITICAL PARTIES

The main parties in the UK are the Conservative party (right wing), the Labour party (left wing) and the Liberal Democrats (centre). The Conservative and Liberal parties are the oldest, and until the last years of the 19th century they were the only parties elected to the House of Commons. Once working-class men were given the right to vote, however, Socialist MPs were elected, but it was not until 1945 that the UK had its first Labour Government. At this election, the number of Liberal MPs was greatly reduced and since then Governments have been formed by either the Labour or the Conservative party. Usually they have had clear majorities - that is, one party has had more MPs than all the others combined.

The Conservative party goes back to the Tories, or Royalists, who originated in the reign of King Charles II (1660-1685). The Tories were the party that supported Church and King. The other main party at the time was the Whigs, who were a group eager for political reform. The Tory party gave way to its successor, the Conservative party , in around 1830. The Conservative party believes in free enterprise and the importance of a capitalist economy, with private ownership preferred to state control. It can broadly be described as the party of the middle and upper classes although it does receive some working-class support. Most of its voters live in rural areas, small towns and the suburbs of large cities. Much of its financial support comes from large industrial companies.

The Labour party, on the other hand, has always had strong links with the trade unions. In 1899, the Trade Union Congress summoned a special conference of trade unions and socialist bodies to make plans to represent labour in Parliament. The proposal for such a meeting had come from Thomas Steels, a member of the Independent Labour party which had been formed in 1883. The conference met in February 1900 in London and has always been looked at as the foundation of the Labour party. However, the name ‘the Labour party’ was not adopted until 1906. The Labour party believes that private ownership and enterprise should be allowed to flourish, but not at the expense of their traditional support of the public services. While many Labour voters are middle-class or intellectuals, the traditional Labour party support is still the strongest in industrial areas. It receives financial support from the trade unions.

There has been a Liberal party in Great Britain since 1868 when the name was adopted by the Whig Party. The Whig party was created after the revolution of 1688 and aimed at subordinating the power of the Crown to that of Parliament and the upper classes. In 1981, a second centre party was created by 24 Labour MPs. It was called the Social Democratic party, and soon formed an alliance with the Liberal party. They formed a single party which became the Liberal Democrats after the 1987 election. The Liberal Democrats and other small minority parties in the House of Commons would like to change the electoral system; they want MPs to be elected by proportional representation. Under this system, the number of MPs from each party would correspond to the total number of votes each party receives at the election. The Liberal Democrats believe that the state should have some control over the economy, but that there should also be individual ownership.



There are other political parties within the UK. The Green party offers economic and industrial policies that relate directly to the environment. The Scottish Nationalist party wants independence for Scotland within the European Community. Plaid Cymru, the Welsh Nationalist party, is determined to preserve the Welsh language and culture as the foundation of a distinctive Welsh identity within the UK. Its radical wing has resorted to arson attempts as a means of protest. The Protestant community in Northern Ireland is represented at Westminster by MPs who are in favour of the maintenance of Northern Ireland as part of the UK. They belong to the Ulster Democratic Unionist party. The Catholic minority is represented by the Social Democratic Labour party. Provisional Sinn Fein is the political wing of the Irish Republican Army (the IRA), that campaigns openly, sometimes by force, for the withdrawal of British troops from Northern Ireland.

A party’s political philosophy dictates what its politicians intend to do if they are elected to government. The document that describes these policies is called a manifesto, and gives a general statement of that party’s objectives. If the party comes to power, the manifesto becomes a set of rules and instructions for how that party should behave.

There are many influences that affect the way a party thinks. The Conservative party tends to listen to people in business and in the financial markets, whereas the Labour party will listen more to what the Trade Unions are saying. A newer kind of influence is a think-tank. This is a group of people who work out policy for a particular party. The Institute of Economic Affairs and the Centre for Policy Studies are two influential Conservative think-tanks. The Fabian society is a great influence in the Labour party. A new left-wing think-tank is called the Institute for Public Policy Research. The greatest influence on policy, though, is public opinion. All political parties want to be popular in order to be elected to government. As they all try to please the public, it can sometimes be difficult to see the difference between the parties.

 

5.3. Answer the following questions:

1. What sections of society might the Conservative party influence when it is deciding its policies?

2. What is the background of the Labour party?

3. What may influence its policies?

4. What are the main aims of Plaid Cymru, the Scottish Nationalist party and the Provisional Sinn Fein?

 

5.4. Here is a brief description of the British party system . Complete the sentences below using the following names of the parties.

The Conservative Party   The Labour Party   The Liberal Party

1. The main parties in the United Kingdom are ... 2. ... were the only parties elected to the House of Commons until the last years of the 19th century. 3. Since 1945 Governments have been formed by either ... or ... 4. ... goes back to the Tories. 5. The Tories gave way to ... in 1830. 6. ... has always had links with the trade unions. 7. ... believes that private ownership should be preferred to state control. 8. ... believes that private ownership should not be allowed to flourish at the expense of its support of the public services. 9. ... dates back to the Whig Party.

 

5.5. Try to find the differences and the things which are similar in the Conservative and the Labour Parties. Put a V next to the statements which are true.

1. Both parties are the oldest in the United Kingdom.

2. Both parties were formed in the 17th century.

3. Originally both parties had other names.

4. Both parties have had links with trade unions.

5. Both parties receive support from large industrial companies.

6. They both believe in private ownership.

7. Both parties have formed Governments in the United Kingdom since 1945.

8. Both parties are the main ones in the country.

9. Both parties tend to listen to people in business.

 

5.6. Match the names of the parties and their main aims.

1. The Welsh National Party a) campaigns for the

withdrawal of the British

troops from Northern Ireland

2. The Scottish Nationalist Party b) represents the Catholic

Minority

3. The Green Party c) wants independence for

Scotland

4. The Ulster Democratic Unionist Party d) offers policies that relate to

the environment

5. The Social Democratic Labour Party e) wants to maintain Northern

Ireland as part of the United

Kingdom

6. Provisional Sinn Fein f) wants to preserve the Welsh

language and culture

 

5.7 Use your knowledge and decide which word or phrase in each group of five does not belong and why.

1. a) Crown

b) Monarchy

c) Royal assent

d) MP

e) Heir to the throne

2. a) the Labour Party

b) the Social Democratic Party

c) the Conservative Party

d) the Social and Liberal Democrats

e) the Republican Party

3. a) constituency

b) electorate

c) hereditary peer

d) suffrage

e) ballot paper

4. a) Opposition

b) Majority party

c) Cabinet

d) Prime Minister

e) Home Secretary

5. a) life peerage

b) unelected members

c) Lord Chancellor

d) House of Commons

e) Lords Spiritual

5.8. Complete this word puzzle.

                     
                       
                       
                       
                       
                       
                       
                       
                       

1. Thomas Steels was a ___ of the Independent Labour Party.

2. The ___ party is one of the main parties in the UK.

3. The ___ party is one of the oldest in the UK.

4. Provisional Sinn Fein is the political wing of the ___ Republic Army.

5. The Institute of Economic ___ is one of the two influential Conservative think–tanks.

6. The ___ party offers policies that relate to the environment.

7. The ___ Nationalist party wants independence for Scotland.

8. The Social Democratic Labour party represents the ___ minority.

9. Provisional Sinn Fein campaigns for the withdrawal of British ______ from Northern Ireland.

10. ___ is the document that describes the party’s policies.

5.9. Complete the following dialogue.

1. Could you explain the main differences between the Conservative and Labour parties?

2............................................................................................................

1. Do you know which political party is in power in Britain now?

2. ..........................................................................................................

1. If you were British, which political party would you support, and why?

2. ..........................................................................................................

1. There was a great change in outlook during the period of M.Thatcher’s government. Could you give any specific features of «Thatcherite policies»?

2. ..........................................................................................................

1. The Labour party founded the trade union movement. Does the latter remain influential in the evolution of the party policy? If so, how?

2. ..........................................................................................................

1. Do you think the Labour party is the only realistic alternative to the Conservatives? Why do you think so?

2. ..........................................................................................................

1. Why have the Liberal Democrats become weaker? Do they reflect political views of any category of voters?

2. ..........................................................................................................

1. Are there any regions with strong nationalist feeling in your country? If so, are their aspirations expressed in political parties? How do these parties compare with Sinn Fein or the SNP?

2. ..........................................................................................................

1. Do you remember the name of the leader of the political party which dominates in Britain now?

2. ..........................................................................................................

1. Thank you for your help.

2. ..........................................................................................................

5.10. Written practice.

Write a short paragraph explaining the dependence of the parties’ policies on the society and their influence on the latter. Compare the party system in the UK with that in your country.

 


UNIT 6

 

GOVERNMENT

 

6. Before reading the text, match a word on the left with a definition on the right.

 

1. minister a) a person speaking, chosen to speak, on

behalf of a group

2. office b) the process of proceeding against

someone in a court action

3. convention c) what one is obliged to do by morality,

law, a trade, calling, conscience, etc.

4. The Civil Service d) a public position of authority,

especially as part of government

5. spokesman e) a person at the head of a department of

state

6. confer f) to take criminal proceedings against

someone

7. duty g) a rule or practice which regulates the

conduct of the Crown and state organs

where there are no formal legal rules

8. responsible h) legally or morally liable for carrying out

a duty

9. litigation i) all government departments except the

Navy, Army and Air Force

10.prosecute j) to give or grant

6.1. Test your general knowledge in the quiz below.

1. People who work in government departments are called

a) civil servants

b) governors

c) representatives

d) senators

2. The judicial system of the UK is administered by

a) the Ministry of Justice

b) the Procurator General

c) the Chief Justice

d) the courts, the Lord Chancellor and the Home Secretary

3. The difference between the role of the Cabinet and the role of the government ministries is in the fact that

a) the Cabinet decides what to do and the ministry does it

b) the ministry decides what to do and the Cabinet does it.

4. The Government lost the confidence of the House of Commons, Parliament was dissolved and a/an................................was called.

a) election compaign

b) General Election

c) electoral roll

d) by-election

6.2. Now read the text and see if you were right.


Date: 2015-12-24; view: 1883


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