Changes

'''British politics''' take place within the context of a democratic [[parliamentary]] system called "Westminster system" dominated by two major parties.  Currently, there is a minority government of the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] led by [[Theresa May]] (2017–2019 A.D.) and [[Boris Johnson]] (since 2019 A.D.), supported with a "Supply and Confidence" arrangement by the small Northern Ireland [[Democratic Unionist Party]].

'''British politics''' take place within the context of a democratic [[parliamentary]] system called "Westminster system" dominated by two major parties.  Currently, there is a minority government of the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] led by [[Boris Johnson]], supported with a "Supply and Confidence" arrangement by Northern Ireland's [[Democratic Unionist Party]].

The political culture of the UK tends to be more liberal than that of the United States, but less so than that of many other European nations. In contrast to many other [[Europe]]an countries, in the UK [[abortion]] is lightly restricted: to cases of [[rape]], fetal defects, socio-economic factors and when the mother's life is endangered. [[File:Brit-history.jpg|thumb|250px]]

The political culture of the UK tends to be more liberal than that of the United States, but less so than that of many other European nations. In contrast to many other [[Europe]]an countries, in the UK [[abortion]] is lightly restricted: to cases of [[rape]], fetal defects, socio-economic factors and when the mother's life is endangered. [[File:Brit-history.jpg|thumb|250px]]

==Institutions==

==Institutions==

==Parties==

==Parties==

The British political spectrum has historically been dominated by the '''[[Labour Party]]''' on the left, the '''[[Conservative Party]]''' on the right, and the '''Liberal Party''' (now the [[Liberal Democrats]]) in the centre between them ("liberal" in British political terminology is often used to mean "centrist" or "moderate", rather than "left-wing"). In theory, these parties represent the three main political ideologies; liberal, conservative and socialist, but recently, there has been a perception that the main parties are crowding together on the centre ground. In the 1990s, Labour moved decisively away from the traditional left (angering many of its more traditionally-minded supporters), to the point where it was perceived by many as being less left-wing than the Liberal Democrats. Since the advent of [[David Cameron]] as its leader in 2005, the Conservative Party has moved away from the territory of the traditional right (in this case too, angering many of its more strongly conservative or [[Thatcherite]] supporters).

The British political spectrum has historically been dominated by the '''[[Labour Party]]''' on the left, the '''[[Conservative Party]]''' on the right, and the '''Liberal Party''' (now the [[Liberal Democrats]]) in the centre between them ("liberal" in British political terminology is often used to mean "centrist" or "moderate", rather than "left-wing"). In theory, these parties represent the three main political ideologies; liberal, conservative and socialist, but recently, there has been a perception that the main parties are crowding together on the center-ground. In the 1990s, Labour moved decisively away from the traditional left (angering many of its more traditionally-minded supporters), to the point where it was perceived by many as being less left-wing than the Liberal Democrats. Since the advent of [[David Cameron]] as its leader in 2005, the Conservative Party has moved away from the territory of the traditional right (in this case too, angering many of its more strongly conservative or [[Thatcherite]] supporters).

===Labour===

===Labour===

The [[Labour Party]] is currently the main opposition party in the UK and is led by [[Jeremy Corbyn]]. It is also the largest party in the Welsh legislature and the second-largest party in the Scottish Parliament.

The [[Labour Party]] is currently the main opposition party in the UK and is led by [[Jeremy Corbyn]]. It is also the largest party in the Welsh legislature and the second-largest party in the Scottish Parliament.

Following its defeat by Margaret Thatcher's Conservatives in 1979, the Labour Party adopted a strongly left-wing, communistic program. Following a catastrophic defeat in the 1983 general election, more moderate politicians took charge of Labour and slowly moved it closer to the centre ground of British politics, a process started by [[Neil Kinnock]] in the mid-1980s and carried forward enthusiastically by [[Tony Blair]] after his election as leader in 1994. Many more traditional, left-wing Labour supporters see Tony Blair as an usurper whose policies are too right-wing for comfort. This has been the case in particular following the Iraq War.

Following its defeat by Margaret Thatcher's Conservatives in 1979, the Labour Party adopted a strongly left-wing, communistic program. Following a catastrophic defeat in the 1983 general election, more moderate politicians took charge of Labour and slowly moved it closer to the centre-ground of British politics, a process started by [[Neil Kinnock]] in the mid-1980s and carried forward enthusiastically by [[Tony Blair]] after his election as leader in 1994. Many more traditional, left-wing Labour supporters see Tony Blair as an usurper whose policies are too right-wing for comfort. This has been the case in particular following the Iraq War.

Blair's policies were arguably a mixture of left (e.g. higher taxes, higher government spending, greater integration with the European Union, equal rights for gay people) and right (e.g. pro-market reforms in the public services, retention of Lady Thatcher's labour laws, support for the [[War on Terror]] and [[George W. Bush]]'s foreign policies).  His successor [[Gordon Brown]], once a close ally of Blair, has spoken out against the idea of the party shifting back to the left. Gordon Brown and Tony Blair were both seen as modernists within the Labour Party before they were elected to power in 1997.

Blair's policies were arguably a mixture of left (e.g. higher taxes, higher government spending, greater integration with the European Union, equal rights for gay people) and right (e.g. pro-market reforms in the public services, retention of Lady Thatcher's labour laws, support for the [[War on Terror]] and [[George W. Bush]]'s foreign policies).  His successor [[Gordon Brown]], once a close ally of Blair, has spoken out against the idea of the party shifting back to the left. Gordon Brown and Tony Blair were both seen as modernists within the Labour Party before they were elected to power in 1997.

==References==

==References==

[[Category:British Politics]]

 

[[Category:British Politics|*]]

[[Category:British History]]

[[Category:British History]]