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--- offtopic:british_political_system [2017/03/25 06:04] – [British political parties] jc558
+++ offtopic:british_political_system [2019/03/29 15:13] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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 **Liberal Democrats**: Originate from the old Liberal Party, formerly a major 19th-century party but a victim of its own success when the voting system changed. The last nail in the coffin was when leader Jeremy Thorpe turned out to be in a gaysexual relationship with a male model in the pocket of a Soviet spy ring. The last remnant of the Liberals then joined with the SDP, a breakaway Labour faction (see above) in the 1980s to form the Liberal-SDP Alliance. This eventually became the Liberal Democrats, or Lib Dems. They were for some time Britain's third-largest party (until the rise of UKIP, the Greens and the SNP) and their ambitions for power are chiefly limited to being the decider for forming a coalition government in a hung parliament (where there is no overall majority). The Lib Dems' support base is chiefly students and people in very isolated parts of the UK, e.g. [[Cornwall]]. The one policy of theirs everyone can name is their commitment to change the electoral system to bring in proportional representation - which would, purely by coincidence I assure you, result in them winning many more seats. In the 2010 election, they finally entered government in coalition with the Conservatives, but lost much of their support as a result. The party crashed to a mere eight MPs in the 2015 General Election, rising to nine after a by-election win in 2016. Under their current leader, Tim Farron, they have been most notable for their stance on Brexit, calling for a second referendum on the final deal. Their colour is yellow or orange and their symbol is a stylised bird.
-**UK Independence Party**: Concieved as a single-issue party, otherwise Conservative in attitudes, that wants Britain to withdraw from the European Union.  Since the 2010 election UKIP was in the ascendant under controversial leader Nigel Farage, partly due to the Euro crisis but mainly because, as the Lib Dems were now in government, they were hoovering up the 'plague on both your houses' vote.  UKIP won the 2014 election to the European Parliament, also winning two by-elections to Westminster, but lost one of the seats in the General Election the following year.  The party finally achieved its goal in June 2016 with the victory for the Leave campaign in the EU membership referendum, but has since descended into infighting, the incumbent leader being Paul Nuttall. The party colour is purple, and their logo is a purple pound symbol on a yellow background.
+**UK Independence Party**: Concieved as a single-issue party, otherwise Conservative in attitudes, that wants Britain to withdraw from the European Union.  Since the 2010 election UKIP was in the ascendant under controversial leader Nigel Farage, partly due to the Euro crisis but mainly because, as the Lib Dems were now in government, they were hoovering up the 'plague on both your houses' vote.  UKIP won the 2014 election to the European Parliament, also winning two by-elections to Westminster, but lost one of the seats in the General Election the following year.  The party finally achieved its goal in June 2016 with the victory for the Leave campaign in the EU membership referendum, but has since descended into infighting, recently losing its sole remaining MP. The incumbent leader is Paul Nuttall. The party colour is purple, and their logo is a purple pound symbol on a yellow background.
 **Green Party**: Far less successful than the ones in [[Europe]], but has managed to get several councillors and London Assembly members elected. Obviously environmentalist and generally socially liberal. They recently decided to choose a single leader, previously having several spokesmen, but have since reverted to a dual leadership, at the moment Caroline Lucas and Jonathan Bartley. Won their first seat, Brighton Pavilion, at the 2010 election.
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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 probably actually means it. Has done very well recently. Notably supported by Sean Connery.
+**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.
 **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.
-**Sinn Fein**: Pronounced 'Shinn Fayn', it is a left wing republican party from Northern Ireland with ties to the IRA, although it has gradually become more moderate. It also stands candidates in the Republic of Ireland.  Notably its MPs do not take up their seats when elected due to refusing to swear an oath of allegiance to the Queen. However, they do take up their seats when elected to the devolved Northern Ireland Assembly. Currently led in Northern Ireland by Michelle O'Neill, the overall party leader is Gerry Adams.
+**Sinn Fein**: Pronounced 'Shinn Fayn', it is a left wing republican party from Northern Ireland with ties to the IRA, although it has gradually become more moderate. It also stands candidates in the Republic of Ireland.  Its MPs do not take up their seats when elected due to refusing to swear an oath of allegiance to the Queen. However, they do take up their seats when elected to the devolved Northern Ireland Assembly. Currently led in Northern Ireland by Michelle O'Neill, the overall party leader is Gerry Adams.
-**Alliance Party**: Attempt at forming a religiously non-partisan group in Northern Ireland, initially not with much success, but won their first seat in 2010, unseating DUP leader Peter Robinson after a scandal.
+**Alliance Party**: Attempt at forming a religiously non-partisan group in Northern Ireland, initially not with much success, but Naomi Long won their first Westminster seat in 2010, unseating DUP leader Peter Robinson after a scandal. She is their current leader, although now as an MLA. Loosely affiliated with the Liberal Democrats.
 **People Before Profit**: A relative newcomer to Northern Irish politics, PBP stands across the island of Ireland, although they do not define themselves as Irish nationalists.
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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.