Leiden University Student Repository

Mount, Oliver (2018)

The Political and Institutional Barriers to Minor Parties in the United Kingdom: The Green Party of England and Wales

Bachelor thesis | International Studies (BA)

Politics in the United Kingdom (UK) has historically been dominated by the two largest political parties, with minor parties having struggled due to various political and institutional barriers. This thesis analyses the major barriers which minor parties face in the UK, namely the Single Member Plurality (SMP) electoral system, the lack of state funding and unequal media representation. These barriers will be analysed by examining the Green Party of England and Wales, a party which has seen its support increase a great deal in recent decades, yet has failed to experience much success in national elections. This thesis concludes by analysing the different strategies which the party has utilised in reaction to the barriers which they face.

Electoral Systems

UK Politics

Green Party of England and Wales

Single Member Plurality

State Funding for Political Parties

Media Representation of Political Parties

Author

Mount, Oliver

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Specialisation

Europe

Supervisors

Steen, Bart van der

ECTS Credits

15

Language

en