Are Parties in Decline?
This final lesson examines one of the most important debates in A-Level Politics: are political parties in decline? We consider evidence of falling membership, declining loyalty, and growing disillusionment, but also assess whether parties remain indispensable to the democratic system.
Evidence of Party Decline
1. Falling Membership
Party membership has declined dramatically since the mid-20th century:
| Year | Conservative Membership | Labour Membership |
|---|
| 1950s | ~2.8 million | ~1 million |
| 1980s | ~1.2 million | ~300,000 |
| 2010 | ~150,000 | ~190,000 |
| 2017 | ~124,000 | ~564,000 (Corbyn effect) |
| 2024 | ~140,000 (est.) | ~370,000 (est.) |
- Total party membership across all parties is a fraction of what it was in the 1950s
- The brief surge in Labour membership under Corbyn proved temporary
- The Conservatives' membership is ageing and not being replenished at the same rate
2. Class Dealignment
Class dealignment refers to the weakening of the traditional link between social class and party support:
- In the 1960s, around two-thirds of the working class voted Labour and two-thirds of the middle class voted Conservative
- By 2019, the Conservatives won significant working-class support in northern "Red Wall" seats, while Labour performed well in university-educated, metropolitan areas
- Voting behaviour is increasingly driven by values, education, age, and cultural identity rather than class
3. Partisan Dealignment
Partisan dealignment is the decline in strong identification with a particular party:
- In the 1960s, around 44% of voters said they had a "very strong" party identification
- By the 2010s, this had fallen to around 10%
- More voters describe themselves as floating voters, deciding their vote during the campaign
- This makes elections less predictable and parties less secure
4. Declining Trust in Parties
- The Hansard Society's Audit of Political Engagement consistently shows low trust in political parties
- Parties are regularly ranked as among the least trusted institutions in the UK
- Scandals (expenses, Partygate, lobbying) have reinforced public cynicism
- Many citizens feel that parties do not represent their interests
5. Rise of Pressure Groups and Social Movements
- As party membership has declined, pressure group membership has grown
- Organisations like the National Trust (5.5 million members), the RSPB (1.3 million), and Greenpeace have far larger memberships than any political party
- Social movements (climate strikes, BLM, #MeToo) mobilise citizens outside party structures
Evidence That Parties Remain Important
1. They Are the Only Route to Government
No individual can become Prime Minister or form a government without leading a political party (in practice). Parties remain the essential mechanism for:
- Selecting candidates
- Forming a government and opposition
- Organising parliamentary business
- Developing comprehensive policy programmes
2. Recent Membership Surges
Although membership has declined overall, there have been notable surges:
- Labour's membership surged to over 500,000 under Corbyn
- The SNP's membership surged after the 2014 independence referendum
- Reform UK and the Green Party have attracted new members in recent years
These surges suggest that when a party offers a compelling vision, people will join.
3. Elections Still Revolve Around Parties