- UKIP
- As a result of the 2009 European election UKIPs profile increased with it securing 13 seats at this election.
- Nigel Farage captured many disenchanted Eurosceptic Tory voters & those who felt that the main PPs don’t offer sufficient direction in tackling issues of immigration & law & order.
- UKIP’s attraction was a major feature in the ref vote to leave EU.
- Received sig. support & funds & in June 2016 52% of voters voted in favour of ‘Brexit’ = massive impact on politics in the UK.
- They struggled to gain any substantial parliamentary representation, winning just 1 seat in the 2015 General Election (but they did gain 3.8m votes which accounted for over 12%) and none since, indicating that they haven’t had any substantial influence on the decision-making process – received 600,000 in 2017 and secured no seats.
- PLAID CYMRU
- A third example of a minor party in the UK is Plaid Cymru, a nationalist party in Wales which has managed to gain representation in both Welsh and UK Parliaments.
- They formed a coalition government with Welsh Labour in 2007 in Wales and their support was critical in encouraging the decision to hold a referendum on the devolution of law-making powers in 2011, which was voted ‘yes’ by 63% of the 35% that turned out.
- However, the party’s impact since this coalition has been limited, securing just 12 of the 60 seats in the Welsh Parliament in 2016 and 4 in the UK in 2019 with 9.9% of the Welsh vote, showing that their support is not particularly reliable and therefore their influence is often weak.
- GREEN
- Another example of a minor party in the UK is the Green Party, a single-issue party that has managed to secure a considerable share of the national vote since 1992.
- They managed to gain over 1.1m votes in 2015 and have held a seat in the House of Commons since 2010, whilst also having success in European elections, winning 7 seats in 2019.
- However, the party has struggled to advance on its single parliamentary seat due to the fact that other parties are starting to embrace a green agenda, as it is becoming an increasingly salient issue, especially among younger voters which parties are trying to encourage to turnout.
- g., clean energy investment is one of the greens main policies and in their 2019 manifesto, the Conservatives pledged to invest £1b in clean energy.