Party System Change in Britain: Multi-Party Politics in a Multi-Level Polity

Abstract

The classic two-party system of early post-war Britain has given way to a more complex picture in which distinctive party systems operate at national, regional, local and European level. Most, if not all, of these are multi-party systems. Only the simple plurality electoral system insulates Labour and the Conservatives from the improved performances of the Liberal Democrats and minor parties. Results in elections to the devolved assemblies in 2007 confirmed the reality of multi-party politics away from Westminster as the Scottish Nationalists formed a minority government in Edinburgh, a Plaid Cymru–Labour coalition took power in Wales and four parties made up the Northern Ireland Executive. In England, minor parties fielded record numbers of candidates in the 2007 local elections.