Curriculum 4 Life Politics Political Parties Ideologies kycc

Curriculum 4 Life Politics – Political Parties & Ideologies kycc kent youth county council

What is a Political Party? • A political party is an organised group of people with at least roughly similar political aims and opinions, that seeks to influence public policy by getting candidates elected. • There are 2 ‘dominant’ parties, but there also important smaller parties that can play key roles in Local elections and Devolved Parliaments. kycc kent youth county council

The Conservative Party • Seeks to ‘advance opportunity, nurture responsibility and protect security. ’ • Believes that there is such a thing as a society, but it is not the same thing as the state. • Stands for a free society and a strong nation state – they want to give people more opportunity and power over their lives. • Current Leader – Boris Johnson(Prime Minister) kycc kent youth county council

The Labour Party • Democratic socialist party that believes that by the strength of our common endeavour we achieve more than we achieve alone. • Believes in a society where wealth and opportunity are in ‘the hands of the many, not the few’ • Stands for a just society, an open democracy and a healthy environment. • Current Leader: Jeremy Corbyn (Leader of the Opposition) kycc kent youth county council

The Liberal Democrats • Exist to build and safeguard a fair, free and open society, in which they seek to balance the fundamental values of liberty, equality and community. • They acknowledge and respect people’s right to freedom of conscience and their right to develop their talents to the full. • Believe that the role of the state is to enable all citizens to attain these ideals, to contribute fully to their communities and to take part in the decisions which affect their lives. • Current Leader – Jo Swinson kycc kent youth county council

Other Parties • These five parties are not the only parties in the UK, and there are many others which focus mainly on individual topics, such as The Brexit Party and The Green Party, some of which could be important to you. • There also parties in other areas of the UK such as Plaid Cymru in Wales and the Scottish National Party in Scotland however you cannot vote for these in Kent. kycc kent youth county council

Party Membership • If you believe strongly in the beliefs & actions of a political party, you can go online and pay to become a ‘member’ of the party. • This allows you to have a say in the leadership and direction of the party and campaign in elections for the party. kycc kent youth county council

Acknowledgements This Power. Point was produced by Kent Youth County Council. If you would like to more about what the council does, visit: www. kent. gov. uk/kycc. kycc kent youth county council