- History: developed from the group of MPs known as the Tories in the early nineteenth century.
- Traditional outlook: right of centre; stands for hierarchical authority and minimal government interference in the economy: likes to reduce income tax; gives high priority to national defence and Internal law and order.
- Since 1979: aggressive reform of education, welfare, housing and many public services designed to introduce “market economics” into their operation.
- Organization: leader has relatively great degree of freedom to direct policy.
- Voters: the richer sections of society.
- Money: mostly donations from business people.
| - History: formed at the beginning of the twentieth century from an alliance of trade unionists and intellectuals.
- Traditional outlook: left of centre; stands for equality, for the weaker people in society and for government involvement in the economy; more concerned to provide full social services than to keep income tax low.
- Since 1979: opposition to Conservative reforms, although has accepted many of these by now;
- Organization: in theory, policies have to be approved by annual conference; in practice, leader has more power.
- Voters: working class, plus a small middle-class intelligentsia.
- Money: more than half from trade unions.
| - History: formed in the late 1980s from a union of the Liberals and the Social Democrats.
- Policies: regarded as in the centre or slightly left of centre; has always been strongly in favour of the EU; places more emphasis on the environment than other parties; believes in giving greater powers to local government and in reform of the electoral system.
- Voters: from all classes, but more from the middle class.
- Money: private donations (much poorer than the big two).
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