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--- offtopic:british_political_system [2017/04/04 14:03] – [British political parties] jc558
+++ offtopic:british_political_system [2017/05/19 16:27] – jc558
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 === Minor and regional parties ===
-**Plaid Cymru**: Welsh nationalist party, in theory wanting independence for [[Wales]], but in practice probably not willing to go that far. Pronounced 'plyde cummry'.
+**Plaid Cymru**: Welsh nationalist party, in theory wanting independence for [[Wales]], but in practice probably not willing to go that far. Pronounced 'plyde cummry', and led by Leanne Wood.
 **Scottish National Party**: Wants independence for [[Scotland]] and means it. After steady success, they were able to push through an independence referendum in 2014, but lost 55-45. Despite this defeat, the SNP enjoyed a strong bounce in the 2015 General Election, taking all but three of Scotland's seats. In the aftermath of Brexit, they are now pushing for a second vote on independence. The party leader is Nicola Sturgeon, who replaced Alex Salmond in 2014. The party is notably supported by Sean Connery.
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 **Democratic Unionist Party**: A strongly socially conservative unionist party based in [[Northern Ireland]] and also the largest party in the Province.  With the retirement of the veteran loyalist Ian Paisley as leader, Peter Robinson took over in 2008, followed by Arlene Foster.  The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scandal hit the party badly, leaving it only one seat ahead of Sinn Fein at Stormont after a snap election in March 2017.
-**Ulster Unionist Party**: More moderate than the DUP, the UUP was once the dominant party in Northern Ireland until the political crises which unfolded during the Troubles.  It now lags well behind the DUP, and is currently leaderless due to Mike Nesbitt's resignation after a poor showing in the 2017 Assembly Election.  However, Robin Swann is likely to be confirmed as party leader in the near future, due to the absence of any challengers.
+**Ulster Unionist Party**: More moderate than the DUP, the UUP was once the dominant party in Northern Ireland until the political crises which unfolded during the Troubles.  It now lags well behind the DUP, and is currently led by Robin Swann after Mike Nesbitt's resignation due to a poor showing in the 2017 Assembly Election.
 **Traditional Unionist Voice**: A right wing loyalist party, formed as a breakaway from the DUP by the outspoken Jim Allister.  Mr Allister remains the party's only MLA.
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 **Minor far-left parties**: For example the Socialist Workers' Party, the Socialist Labour Party, and so forth. Range from relatively sensible if hysterical to outright apologizing for some of the more authoritarian parts of the far left.  The only one to have any electoral success is "Respect - the Unity Coalition", which is really run by the SWP behind the scenes.
-**Christian parties**: There are several of these, often uniting behind a joint candidate list. They have yet to have much success above the council level. They typically enjoy their highest voting figures in London due to its African and Afro-Caribbean immigrant population.
+**Christian parties**: There are several of these, often uniting behind a joint candidate list. They have yet to have much success above the council level. They typically enjoy their highest voting figures in London due to its African and Afro-Caribbean immigrant population.  Most prominent among these parties is the Christian Peoples Alliance.
 **Mebyon Kernow**: The Cornish nationalist party, but no-one can stop laughing long enough to take it seriously.