The Growth of Political Parties

19th Century

During the 19th Century 'rotten boroughs' saw a change in population and demographics. It was the time of the rise of the industrial north. For example, Manchester and Liverpool became factory or mill orientated which caused these two places to be at the heart of the Industrial Revolution. There was no representation (MP) at all. The Reform Act 1832 was brought into action in hope that it would shift representation towards the towns and the north. The reason for this Act was to prevent the misrepresentation of voters occurring. Issues of unfair treatment were therefore dealt politically with no need or violence.

The creation of the Reform Act meant that the repeal of the Corn Laws was passed which meant the end of the Tory Vs Whig system and so the Liberals and the Conservative Party were created. Sir Robert Peel's Conservative Party Vs Gladstone's Liberals.

Towards the end of the 19th Century, came about Electoral reform which meant competition for the Urban Working Class vote. There was also a steady increase of the Franchise Acts such as Education, Housing and Health. The Working Class were no longer satisfied by merely getting by, they wished to earn more money to invest into their future. This consequently saw the growth of the Middle Class.

World War One

Post war introduced Socialism and the rise of the Labour Party in the 1920s. However, there was also a resurgence of Conservative Politics in the depression years.

The Second World War

1945 was the year of the first 'proper' Labour government with a secure majority, this meant that there was also many social democratic reforms. For example, the NHS, Keynesian Economics, Trade Union rights etc. Also after the war Britain began to regain their original resources which caused the dismantling of the British Empire which gave India its Independence.

Despite Churchill being pronounced a War hero having won Britain another war, the public turned against him and so a new prime minister was announced. This was to be Attlee who belonged to the Labour Party. The 'Beveridge Report' which was created by William Beveridge, was introduced by Attlee and provided Britain with a social welfare system. This set the foundations for the welfare system which we still use today.

The 'Beveridge Report' was very popular amongst the public due to claims that the report will act as a national insurance, 'protecting you from cradle to grave'.

Keynes introduced the idea of the government managing the economy aiming for full employment. This was called 'Managed Capitalism'.

The 1970's

The 1970s was a disaster for Labour during the 'Winter of Discontent'. This was a period of time where everyone was demanding to be paid more money and regularly went on strikes. The Trade Unions were gaining too much power which needed to be cut back urgently. With the Conservatives back in power with Margaret Thatcher she was determined to pull Britain out of its current depression.

The 1980-1990s saw the rise of Thatcher she put a stop to the Trade Unions which were still growing in power. She knew that she had to go for the biggest Trade Union to kind of 'show them who's boss'. The biggest Trade Union was in fact the mining Trade Union. After she conquered the Trade Unions she sold off all national attributes in order to gain complete privatisation. This encouraged vast consumption in Britain and so the depression was a thing of the past.

However, the rise of Thatcher did cause a very polarised clash between the left and the right. The right wing were living by the theory: the 'best will achieve' but the left wing viewed this as unfair. Labour challenges nuclear and nationalisation.

Major and Tory Sleaze

Major's cabinet were 'torn apart' by various tabloids by printing conclusive evidence of bribery, prostitutes and irresponsible behaviour from Tory Cabinet members. This was a 'boom' time for tabloids due to the public interest to have an insight into politics. Jonathon Aitken head of the Military finances was reported for taking bribes by the Guardian. However, Aitken denied the claims, using the line 'Sword of Truth'. He was jailed for not only for taking bribes, but for lying on Oath.