A LevelPoliticsEdexcelExam Questions1. UK Politics & Core Political Ideas1.2 Political Parties

Political Parties (Edexcel A Level Politics): Exam Questions

Exam code: 9PL0

3 hours5 questions
1
30 marks

Look at Source

The following two articles seek to explain if the established political parties are defined by their historical origins or rather now characterised by new policies and ideas. Article 1 claims that nothing much has changed in the established parties’ policies and ideas. Article 2 argues that previous policies and ideas are no longer relevant today

Article 1

To understand the established political parties in the UK we have to appreciate how they evolved. The Conservative Party remains influenced by the One Nation and New Right ideas. This has delivered Thatcherism and also policies set in the One Nation mould. Liberal Democrats’ policy contains elements of classical liberalism and attributes of modern liberalism reflecting its ideas and policies. Finally, the Labour Party is a mixture of Old Labour and New Labour which means the policy of the party looks in two opposing directions and allows it to shape its agenda by application of both privatisation and nationalisation.

Therefore the established parties continue on a left- or right-wing basis in line with their original ideas.

Article 2

Descriptions of the established parties in the UK can no longer be defined by their historical origins. The Conservative Party has claimed both the title of One Nation and a link to the New Right but neither title fits any longer. The Conservative Party in recent years has been shaped by its attitude to Europe and immigration. The Liberal Democrat Party is not defined by the ideas of classical liberals or modern liberals but strives to be as independent as possible on policy and on ideas from the other two established parties – taking the party in multiple directions: quite often being strong on green policies. Finally, for the Labour Party, the influence of Old Labour is now irrelevant as recent revisions on policy show.

The established parties aim to catch as many votes as possible from as wide an audience as they can, they crave success and no longer feel any sense of duty to their historical roots, ideas and policies. The left- and right-wing bases no longer apply

Using the source, evaluate the view that the policies and ideas of the established political parties have now radically changed from their historical origins.

In your response you must:

  • compare and contrast the different opinions in the source

  • examine and debate these views in a balanced way

  • analyse and evaluate only the information presented in the source.

How did you do?

2
30 marks

Evaluate the view that the current funding of political parties in the UK requires reform.

You must consider this view and the alternative to this view in a balanced way.

How did you do?

3
30 marks

Allister Heath discusses the view that parties have now abandoned their traditional Left-wing or Right-wing policies in response to changing voter demands; as voters behave more like consumers, parties become more like shops, adopting a ‘pick and mix’ approach to policy choices and this leads to political party divisions.

The choice facing the electorate remains simple: you support the ‘Left’ or the ‘Right’: each offering a distinct, consistent view of society with debates surrounding equality remaining central. On many issues there is a ‘Left-Right’ divide, although a few like the EU and the environment cloud the issue.

But now voters feel empowered as consumers demanding a pick-and-mix approach to politics that they are used to as purchasers. Voters want to simultaneously back rail nationalisation and cut the top rate of income tax – or perhaps slash welfare but spend more on the NHS.  The old, Left-Right Westminster world is dead. As Mayor of Tees Valley Ben Houchen says, ‘Left and right have no meaning in politics any more, it’s simply a matter of getting things done.’ This policy fragmentation makes the established parties unstable and internally split: Labour is split between hard-left and liberal-left, having lost some working-class support while new parties try to replace it.

However, many feel that Left-Right ideology is still relevant, with most policy fitting the ‘Left-Right’ model. The established parties remain united in opposing each other and still dominate Westminster. Although internal party factions quarrel, they still play by the ‘Left-Right’ rules.

(Source: adapted from Allister Heath 25th January 2017 at https://www.telegraph.co.uk/ news/2017/01/25/voters-used-netflix-have-no-time-left-right-entering-age-pick/)

Using the source, evaluate the view that ‘pick-and-mix’ politics is replacing ‘Left-Right’ politics and political parties are becoming more internally divided than ever.

In your response you must:

  • compare and contrast different opinions in the source

  • examine and debate these views in a balanced way

  • analyse and evaluate only the information presented in the source

How did you do?

4
30 marks

This source shows information published by the House of Commons on the income and membership of political parties in Great Britain. The source then reflects on the significance of this data and questions its implications.

Table of central party income and membership in Great Britain, 2018. Labour Party leads in income and membership; Plaid Cymru ranks lowest in both. Bullet points discuss funding sources and implications.

Using Source 2, evaluate the view that state funding of political parties would be preferable to a situation in which a party can win a general election because it has more members and income than other parties.

In your response you must:

  • compare and contrast different opinions in the source

  • examine and debate these views in a balanced way

  • analyse and evaluate only the information presented in the source.

How did you do?

5
30 marks

Evaluate the view that the only political parties that matter in our political system are the Labour and Conservative parties.

You must consider this view and the alternative to this view in a balanced way

How did you do?