Party Politics and Polarisation
Party politics is central to UK democracy, providing voters with choices, structuring government and opposition, and ensuring accountability (Heywood,...
Party politics is central to UK democracy, providing voters with choices, structuring government and opposition, and ensuring accountability (Heywood, 2013). The dominance of Labour and Conservative parties, alongside smaller parties, offers representation and policy debate, but rising polarisation—highlighted by Brexit and recent elections—has increased ideological, regional, and demographic divides (Curtice, 2020). While polarisation can clarify political choices and energise engagement, it also risks gridlock, reduced compromise, and weakened trust in institutions (Dalton & Wattenberg, 2012; Sartori, 1976).