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List of political parties in the United Kingdom


This article lists political parties in the United Kingdom.











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Brief history and overview
Before, politics in the United Kingdom was dominated by the Whigs and the Tories. These were not political parties in the modern sense but somewhat loose alliances of interests and individuals. The Whigs included many of the leading aristocratic dynasties committed to the Protestant succession, and later drew support from elements of the emerging industrial interests and wealthy  merchants, while the Tories were associated with the landed gentry, the Church of England and the Church of Scotland.
By the mid 19th century, the Tories had evolved into the Conservative Party, and the Whigs had evolved into the Liberal Party. The concept of right and left came originally from France, where the Right supported a smaller state with less influence on the lives of the public, the Left advocated a larger state with more influence on the lives of the public. In the late 19th century the Liberal Party began to lean towards the left. Liberal Unionists split off from the Liberals over Irish Home Rule and moved closer to the Conservatives over time.
The Liberals and Conservatives dominated the political scene until the 1920s, when the Liberal Party declined in popularity and suffered a long stream of resignations. It was replaced as the main anti-Tory opposition party by the newly emerging Labour Party, which represented an alliance between the labour movement, organised trades unions and various socialist societies.
Since then the Conservative and Labour parties have dominated British politics, and have alternated in government ever since. However, the UK is not quite a two-party system as other parties have significant support. The Liberal Democrats were the third largest party until the 2015 general election when they were overtaken by the Scottish National Party in terms of seats and UK political party membership, and by the UK Independence Party in terms of votes.
The UK's First Past the Post electoral system leaves small parties disadvantaged on a UK-wide scale. It can, however, allow parties with concentrations of supporters in the constituent countries to flourish. In the 2015 election there was widespread controversy[1][2][3] when UKIP and the Green Party of England and Wales received 4.9 million votes[4] (12.6% of the total vote for UKIP and 3.8% for the Greens) yet only gained one seat each in the House of Commons. After that election, UKIP, the Liberal Democrats, and the Green Party of England and Wales, together with its Scottish and Northern Ireland affiliated parties, the Scottish National Party and Plaid Cymru, delivered a petition signed by 477,000[5] people to Downing Street demanding electoral reform.
 Since 1997, proportional representation-based voting systems have been adopted for elections to the Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales, the Northern Ireland Assembly, the London Assembly and the UK's seats in the European Parliament. In these bodies, other parties have had success.
Traditionally political parties have been private organisations with no official recognition by the state. The Registration of Political Parties Act 1998 changed that by creating a register of parties.
Membership of political parties has been in decline in the UK since the 1950s, falling by over 65% from 1983 (4% of the electorate) to 2005 (1.3%).[6]
The start of political parties
The Electoral Commission's Register of Political Parties[7] lists the details of parties registered to fight elections in the United Kingdom, including their registered name. Under current electoral law, including the Registration of Political Parties Act, the Electoral Administration Act 2006, and the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, only registered party names can be used on ballot papers by those wishing to fight elections. Candidates who do not belong to a registered party can use "independent" or no label at all.
As of 3August2015 the Electoral Commission showed the number of registered political parties in Great Britain and Northern Ireland as 492.[8]
Parliamentary parties

Two parties dominate politics in the House of Commons. Each one operates throughout Great Britain (only the Conservative and Unionist Party stands candidates in Northern Ireland). Most of the British Members of the European Parliament, Scottish Parliament and the National Assembly for Wales represent one of these parties:
Conservative and Unionist Party, centre-right (316 seats in the House of Commons)
Labour Party, centre-left (257 seats)
Co-operative Party (all Co-operative Party MPs are also Labour MPs as part of a long-standing electoral agreement)

Party descriptions


† Sinn Féin MPs do not take their seats in the UK House of Commons as they refuse to swear allegiance to the Crown, nor recognise Westminster's right to legislate for any part of Ireland.
Local government
Principal authorities

Civil parishes and community councils

No elected representation

This is a list of notable minor parties. Many parties are registered with the Electoral Commission but do not qualify for this list as they have not received significant independent coverage.
Miscellaneous minor parties
Animal Welfare Party
National Health Action Party
No Candidate Deserves My Vote
Peace Party
Pirate Party UK
Populist Party (2015–present)
Women's Equality Party (2015–present)
Young People's Party UK
Democrats and Veterans (2018–present)
Minor left-wing and far-left parties

Socialist Party of Great Britain (1904–present)
Communist Party of Britain (Marxist-Leninist) (1968–present)
Workers' Revolutionary Party (1973–present)
Revolutionary Communist Group (1974–present)
New Communist Party (1977–present)
Socialist Workers Party (1977–present)
Revolutionary Communist Party of Britain (Marxist-Leninist) (1979–present)
Socialist Equality Party (1986–present)
International Socialist League (1987–present)
Communist League (1988–present)
Communist Party of Britain (1988–present)
Communist Party of Great Britain (Provisional Central Committee) (1991–present)
Independent Working Class Association (1995–present)
Socialist Labour Party (1996–present)
Socialist Party (England and Wales) (also main constituent of TUSC; has stood as "Socialist Alternative") (1997–present)
Socialist Resistance (part of Left Unity) (2002–present)
Alliance for Green Socialism (2003–present)
Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist-Leninist) (2004–present)
TUSC (Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition) (2010–present)
Left Unity (2013–present)
Minor right-wing and far-right parties
National Front (1967–present)
British National Party (1982–present)
National Liberal Party (1999–present)
Britannica Party[58][59][60] (2011–present)
British Democratic Party (2013–present)
For Britain (2017–present)
Minor centrist and pro-European parties
4 Freedoms Party (UK EPP)
Something New[61][62]
Whig Party
Minor religious parties
Christian Peoples Alliance (1999–present)
Christian Democratic Party (UK) (1999–present)
The Common Good (2004–present)
Christian Party (successor to Operation Christian Vote) (2005–present)
Minor English parties

Community Action Party; local centre-left party in Wigan.
Community Group; local party in Doncaster.
English Democrats; campaign for self-government for England.
People's Democratic Party, a populist party focused on Northern England.
The Republic Party, based in Pendlebury, Salford. Campaigning for the UK to become a Republic.[63]
Roman Party.
Wessex Regionalist Party, campaigning for devolution for Wessex.
Minor Scottish parties

Borders Party
Communist Party of Scotland
Independent Green Voice
RISE – Scotland's Left Alliance; electoral alliance formed by SSP and former ISG
Scotland Against Crooked Lawyers
Scottish Christian Party – the successor to Operation Christian Vote in Scotland.
Scottish Democratic Alliance – the successor to Scottish Enterprise Party
Scottish Libertarian Party, a libertarian, pro-independence and Eurosceptic party
Scottish Senior Citizens Unity Party
Scottish Socialist Party, a party campaigning for an independent, socialist and republican Scotland.
Scottish Unionist Party, campaigns to prevent dissolution of the UK. Has strong links with the Orange Order.
Socialist Party Scotland
Solidarity, a split from the SSP in 2006.
Minor Welsh parties

Communist Party of Wales
Cymru Sovereign
Socialist Party Wales
Welsh Christian Party – the successor to Operation Christian Vote in Wales.
Minor Northern Irish parties

Cross-Community Labour Alternative
Fianna Fáil
Labour Party of Northern Ireland
Republican Sinn Féin
Socialist Party (Ireland)
Workers' Party
Joke/satirical parties

Al-Zebabist Nation of Ooog
Church of the Militant Elvis Party
Fancy Dress Party
Defunct and historical parties
Campaign for Social Democracy (1973–1974)
Cannabis Is Safer Than Alcohol (2015–2016)
Countryside Party (2000–2008)[64]
Democratic Labour (1972–1979)
Democratic Party (1998–2010)
Fellowship Party (1955–2007). Environmentalist, pacifist and socialist party.
Green Party (UK), formed as PEOPLE, or the Ecology Party, in 1973 and succeeded in 1990 by the Green Party of England and Wales, the Green Party in Northern Ireland and the Scottish Green Party
Islamic Party of Britain (1989–2006)
Legalise Cannabis Alliance (1999–2006), deregistered and became a pressure group in 2006.
Liberal Party (1839–1988)
Liberal Unionist Party (1886–1912)
Make Politicians History (2005–2009)
National Democratic and Labour Party (1918–1923)
National Liberal Party (1922–1923)
National Liberal Party (1931–1968)
Natural Law Party (1992–2004)
New Party (1931–1932)
Respect Party (2004–2016)
Science Party. Launched in April 2010, with initial press support from Newscientist.com. Campaigning for increased importance and use of Science in Politics.
Social Credit Party of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (1931–1951, 1965–1978)
Social Democratic Alliance (1975–1981)
Social Democratic Party (1981–1990)
New Party (2003–2010)
Trust Party[65] (2010–2011)
Women's Party (1917–1919)
Jury Team, a "non-party party": an umbrella organisation for Independent candidates (2009–2011)
One Love Party (2015–2017)
Defunct English parties
Above and Beyond Party
Boston Bypass Independents
Community; local party in the London Borough of Hounslow.
Corrective Party (1988–1990s) – the electoral vehicle for Lindi St Clair (aka Miss Whiplash) to campaign on the liberalisation of sex laws.[66]
Free England Party (2008–2009)[64]
Liverpool Protestant Party
New England Party (2005–2007, merged with the English Democrats)
Northern Party (2015–2016)
One London (November 2005 – November 2008). A London political party formerly with two seats on the London Assembly, a split from UK Independence Party.[64]
Pensioners Party (England) (2004–2013)
People's Alliance of Tower Hamlets (2016–2018)
Vectis National Party (1970s) – Isle of Wight regionalist party.
Idle Toad (2003–2014) - Local party in South Ribble, Lancashire.
For Darwen Party - (2007–2013) Local party in Darwen.
Defunct Scottish parties

East Dunbartonshire Independent Alliance
East Kilbride Alliance
Fife Socialist League (1950s–1960s)
Crofters Party
Fishing Party (Scotland) (2003–2004)
Free Scotland Party (2004–2012?)
Highland Land League (1909–1920s)
Highlands and Islands Alliance
International Socialist Group (2011–2015)
Labour Party of Scotland
Left Alliance (2000s)
National Party of Scotland (1928–1934)
Orkney and Shetland Movement
Progressives (1920s–1970s)
Publican Party (2005–2007), campaigned against the smoking ban in pubs and bars.[64]
Scottish Enterprise Party (2004–2009), a centre-right party in favour of Scottish independence[64]
Scottish Independence Party
Scottish Jacobite Party (July 2005 – July 2007), a semi-serious independence party.[64]
Scottish Labour Party (1888–1893)
Scottish Labour Party (1976–1981)
Scottish Militant Labour (1990s)
Scottish Party (1932–1934)
Scottish Prohibition Party (1901–1935)
Scottish Republican Socialist Party (1982–1998)
Scottish Separatist Group, party with former links to both the SNLA and the Maoist International Movement
Scottish Socialist Alliance
Scottish Socialist Federation
Scottish Socialist Party (1987–1990)
Scottish Voice
Scottish Workers' Representation Committee (1899–1909)
Scottish Workers Republican Party
Unionist Party (1912–1965)
Workers Party of Scotland
Defunct Welsh parties
Balchder Cymru
Blaenau Gwent People's Voice (2005–2010)
Communist Party of South Wales and the West of England
Cymru Annibynnol
Cymru Goch
Cymru Rydd
Forward Wales
John Marek Independent Party (2003), evolved into Forward Wales
People Before Politics (2004–2008), nine county councillors were elected to Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council in 2004.[67]
South Wales Socialist Society
Welsh Republican Movement
Defunct Northern Irish parties
All-for-Ireland Party (1910–1918)
British Ulster Dominion Party
Irish Independence Party
Irish Parliamentary Party
Nationalist Party
NI21 (2013–2016)
Northern Ireland Labour Party
Northern Ireland Women's Coalition
People's Democracy
Protestant Coalition (2013–2015)
Protestant Unionist Party
Republican Labour Party
Ulster Democratic Party
Ulster Independence Movement
Ulster Liberal Party
Ulster Popular Unionist Party (1980–1995)
United Kingdom Unionist Party (1995–2008)[68]
United Ulster Unionist Party (1977–1984)
Unionist Party of Northern Ireland
Vanguard Progressive Unionist Party (1973–1978)
Defunct religious parties
ProLife Alliance. Still operating as a pressure group, ProLife deregistered as a political party in 2004.[64]
Defunct left-wing and far-left parties
Social Democratic Federation (1884–1911)
Independent Labour Party (1893–1975)
Socialist Labour Party (1903–1980)
British Socialist Party (1911–1920)
National Socialist Party (1916–1919)
Communist Party of Great Britain (1920–1991)
Common Wealth Party (1942–1945)
Revolutionary Communist Party (1944–50)
Revolutionary Workers' Party (1962-1990s)
Committee to Defeat Revisionism, for Communist Unity (1963–c.1972)
International Marxist Group (1968-1982) Organised the electoral coalition Socialist Unity
Working People's Party of England (1968–1986)
Labour Party of Scotland (1973)
Revolutionary Communist Party (1978–1997) Organised the electoral coalition Red Front
International Leninist Workers Party (1979–2006)
Marxist Party (1987–2004)
Alliance for Workers' Liberty (was part of Left Unity) (1992–2015) Still operating as a pressure group
Democratic Left (1991–1993) [de-registered as a political party from 1993–1998]
Socialist Alliance (1994–2005)
Socialist Peoples Party (1995–2015)
Democratic Labour Party (1998–2016)
Peace and Progress Party (2004–2015)
Red Party (2004–2005)
Respect Party (2004–2016)
United Socialist Party (2004–c.2010)
Socialist Green Unity Coalition (2004-2005)
Left List (2008–2010)
Class War (2014–2015)
Reality Party (2014–2016)
Defunct right-wing and far-right parties
British Fascisti (1920s–1930s)
National Fascisti (1920s)
Imperial Fascist League (1929–1939)
British Union of Fascists (1930s)
National Socialist League (1937–1939)
British People's Party (1940s)
Union Movement (1948–1973)
National Labour Party (1957–1960)
White Defence League (1958–1960)
British National Party (1960–1967)
National Socialist Movement (1962–1967)
Greater Britain Movement (1964–1967)
National Democratic Party (1960s–1970s)
British Movement (1968–1983)
National Independence Party (1970s)
United Country Party (1970s)
National Party (1975–1977)
New Britain Party (1976–2008)
British First Party (1977–2009)
Constitutional Movement (1979–1984)
British Democratic Party (1979–1982)
Flag Group (1980s)
Official National Front (1986–1989)
Third Way (1990–) [now a think tank]
National Socialist Movement (1990s)
National Democrats (1995–2011)
Freedom Party (2000–2006)
White Nationalist Party (2002–2005)
England First Party (2003–2012)
British Peoples Party (2005–2013)
Nationalist Alliance (2005–2008)
New Nationalist Party (2006–2007/8)
British Freedom Party (2010–2012)
Liberty GB (2013–2017)
Britain First (2014–2017)
Defunct joke/satirical parties
Adam Lyal's Witchery Tour Party (1999–2009)[64]
The Blah! Party
Citizens for Undead Rights and Equality
Death, Dungeons and Taxes Party
Free Party (2001–2002)[64]
Miss Great Britain Party (2008–2009)[64]
New Millennium Bean Party
MP3 Party (2002–2007)
Raving Loony Green Giant Party
Rock 'n' Roll Loony Party (2000–2007)[64]
Teddy Bear Alliance
Defunct single-issue Eurosceptic parties
Anti Common Market and Free Trade Party (1967–1988)
Referendum Party (1994–1997)
Veritas (2005–2015)
No2EU (2009–2014), (anti-EU electoral alliance & registered party, formed by the Socialist Party, Communist Party and RMT)
We Demand a Referendum (2012–2014)
Independence from Europe (2012–2017)
See also
Timeline of political parties in the United Kingdom
List of political parties in the United Kingdom by representation
List of political parties in the United Kingdom opposed to austerity
Political make-up of local councils in the United Kingdom
List of political parties by country
Politics of the United Kingdom
Political party affiliation in the United Kingdom
Elections in the United Kingdom
List of political parties in Northern Ireland
List of political parties in Scotland
List of political parties in Wales
List of political parties in the Isle of Man (a British Crown dependency)
List of political parties in Gibraltar (a British overseas territory)
Index of UK party meta attributes
Notes








 descriptions of main parties