POLITICS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

POLITICS - Essay Example Although there are definitely many advantages to the structure of the political system in Britain, there has been great controversy and debate over the questionable matter of why center parties have failed to have more of an impact on British electoral politics, in particular since the start of the 1940s. In response to this, there are various issues that need to be taken into consideration, and the aim of this paper is to further discuss this matter, as well as the reasons and situations which can be used to explain this troubling situation. This is what will be dissertated in the following. The arrangement of government across the United Kingdom in general is considered as being rather complex and confusing. Presently there are some areas in England that are covered by parish councils, while many others, namely community councils, exist in Scotland and Wales. This is certainly nothing new, however, as British local government has been subject to major restructuring since as far back as the early 1940s. Prior to the mid-19th century, the Whigs and Tories pretty much dominated politics in Britain, the Whigs having been associated with the newly emerging industrialized classes, the Tories more with the landed gentry. The Whigs are often described as being one of the most popular political parties ever to reign in Britain, and although they were certainly present in the 1940s, they did not truly evolve until the late 1980s. The Whigs and Tories basically dominated the political scene until around 1920, which was about the time that the Liberal Party began to decline in ter ms of its popularity, and the Labour Party then stepped in to sort of take their place here, and since that point in time, it has been the Conservative and Labour Parties who have held the title of political domination in Britain. The Conservative Party is actually the second largest political party in the UK today, and as well the oldest in UK history. In regards to current policies, conservatives are "generally supportive of reduced government intervention in most matters. They are also noted for stance against further EU integration Conservatives hold a varying record of opposition and support on parliamentary devolution to the national the English regions of the UK. They opposed devolution to Wales and Scotland in 1997, whilst supporting it for Northern Ireland." (The British Journal of Politics and International Relations, 2006). The Labour Party, on the other hand, has been recognized as the principal party of the left in Britain since the late 1920s, and it is also known for being the largest party in the Welsh Assembly. Although these center parties do certainly still have an effect on British electoral politics, it has easily been recognized that this effect is much less impacting than it was a half century ago, and this issue is quite obviously one of great importance and necessity. The problem with party finance is one issue in particular which is considered as having played a major role in this situation, and the study of party finance as well as the resulting consequences are thus critical to take into account here. Parties have been continuing to spend more and more money over the years, and this has resulted in causing a number of different problems, in response to which several bills have actually been passed. One in particular