Understanding UK political parties

The ongoing riots across the United Kingdom (UK) triggered by a stabbing attack in northwest England is seen as a major test for the new Labour Party government just a month after it was voted into power with a landslide majority. 

In addition to the issue of immigration and misinformation, far-right-led violence has been seen as compounding the problem. In this context, having an understanding of the UK’s political spectrum by locating parties representing the right and the left would help comprehend the ongoing violence and other issues.

Political system in the UK 

The UK comprises England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. It has a constitutional monarchy, which largely remains ceremonial and symbolic. The Parliament has a two-house system – the House of Commons (lower house) and the House of Lords (upper house) – which meet at the Palace of Westminster in London.

The House of Commons comprises 650 members elected directly, while the House of Lords, whose numbers are not fixed, comprises life peers, bishops and hereditary peers. The Prime Minister heads the executive branch of government for five years. 

The UK has also devolved governments and transferred varying levels of power to the Scottish Parliament, the Welsh Parliament and the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Whig and Tory

The party system in the UK traces its origin to the 18th century when Whig and Tory were two opposing political factions in England. However, these terms can be traced back to the Exclusion Crisis (1679-81), and their specific meaning has varied over time. 

In simple terms, Whigs supported Exclusion (of Catholic James, Duke of York and next in line for the English throne) and Tories were their Royalist opponents.

Therefore, Whigs were seen as supporters of Parliament over the monarch, while the Tories were the opposite. 

However, the Glorious Revolution of 1688-89 modified the divisions, with Tories accepting some of Whig ideals, such as limited constitutional monarchy in place of divine rights of Kings. Later on, Tories came to be identified with Anglicanism, merchant classes, and official administerial groups, while Whigs were the aristocratic landowning families and wealthy middle class. 

Left and right

The French Revolution and wars with France complicated the divisions between the two parties – with a large section of moderate whigs deserting the party. With the rise of conservatism (as championed by Sir Robert Peel and Benjamin Disraeli) and liberalism (propounded by Lord John Russell and William Gladstone) – the political space changed. While Tory has continued to be used to designate the Conservative Party, Whig has ceased to have much political meaning.

Another critical feature of the party system is understanding the political spectrum – as left and right. Each end represents a set of principles about the best way to organise society so people can thrive. The terms’ left’ and ‘right’ were first used during the French Revolution – with those on the right supporting the monarchy (hence the status quo) and on the left, supporting change (hence the revolution). 

In larger terms, the left argues for government regulation, higher taxes on the rich, and a robust welfare system for the poor. They tend to adopt a progressive view, often favouring social change or reform. On the other hand, those on the right favour the protection of individual freedom, calling for the government’s limited role and are more traditionalist in their outlook. They support less government regulation, lower taxes and private sector competition for better services.

Conservative and Labour

In the UK, the Conservatives are on the right of the political spectrum, while the Labour Party is on the left. In India, the picture is more complicated due to its multiple-party system. The two major parties that have been at the Centre are the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress. 

The BJP is called the right-wing party due to its emphasis on duty, tradition, and nationalism, while Congress is more centrist. However, left-wing parties like the Communist Party of India are also part of the larger spectrum. 

The recent shift in the UK from right to left comes after a difficult period in British politics, which included immigration concerns and the Brexit referendum, as well as more recent challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, fractured healthcare, conflict in Ukraine, and a cost-of-living crisis.

While the political system of the UK remains dominated by the Conservatives and Labour, several other parties have emerged, such as the Liberal Democrats, which were in power with the Conservatives from 2010-2015; Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage; Scottish National Party, led by John Swinney; Plaid Cymru, in Wales, led by  Rhun ap Iorwerth; and Democratic Unionist Party, Northern Ireland, led by Gavin Robinson.

The 2024 elections

The 2024 result in this regard is critical as it highlighted a notable shift in voter support away from the traditional two-party dominance towards alternative parties. This was evident in the Liberal Democrats winning 72 seats and Reform UK five seats. 

Reform party gained a significant vote share in constituencies with a higher proportion of the electorate who voted to leave the European Union (EU) in the 2016 referendum, indicating right-leaning and pro-Brexit sentiments. These developments indicated a possible fragmentation of the political landscape in the future.

For the Conservative Party, the 2024 general election marked the worst performance in its history, with many prominent leaders, such as Liz Truss and Penny Mordaunt, losing their seats. Labour’s performance, on the other hand, placed Keir Starmer among the top Labour leaders, with a seat share close to that achieved by Tony Blair in 1997 and 2001.

However, the landslide victory of Labour can be attributed to voters’ dissatisfaction with the Conservative government’s handling of the cost of living crisis, fractured healthcare, and internal party conflicts, thereby suggesting that the result was more an anti-Conservative vote than a pro-Labour one.

India-UK Ties

India’s relations with the UK have been underwhelming despite the long intertwined histories of the two nations. Unwarranted interference in India’s internal matters has always been a point of contention between the two countries – especially with the Labour Party under the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn, which was perceived as antagonistic towards India with its repeated references to Kashmir. 

However, Prime Minister Starmer has outlined a commitment to pursuing a ‘new strategic partnership’ with India. Moreover, the new government also has a chance to build on the accomplishments of the previous Conservative administrations, such as the 2+2 dialogue (defence and foreign minister), enhanced cyber partnership, 2030 roadmap for relations, and the negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA). 

Most notably, the UK’s delinking of ties with India and Pakistan signals a shift towards constructive engagement. While the focus for Starmer will be on reviving the UK’s post-Brexit economy, managing illegal immigration, etc., with New Delhi, the finalisation of the FTA will remain critical.

They have maintained their commitment to signing the FTA. However, the timelines remain elusive, and the key lingering issues are India’s demand for greater access for its skilled professionals and the UK’s demand for lower import duties on goods like Scotch whiskey. 

Immigration remains a sticking point despite the signing of the migration and mobility agreement, with India’s demand for temporary visas for its service sector workforce. Addressing these challenges will require deft diplomacy and an understanding of the sensitivities on both sides.

Post Read Question

What do you understand by the terms Whig and Tory? How do they relate to India’s political parties?

Draw a comparison between the Indian and British forms of Parliamentary governance.

In the 2024 general elections, Labour Party emerged victorious. What does this mean for India-UK ties?

(Ankita Dutta is an Assistant Professor at the Centre for European Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.)

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