Minority Parties Case Studies

Political Studies: Edexcel A Level, topic 2.3.2

UKIP

The UK Independence Party (UKIP) is a party whose primary aim was for the UK to leave the European Union.

Founded in 1993 by members of a group opposed to the Maastricht Treaty.
UKIP has consistently opposed greater European integration.
UKIP is a populist and right-wing party.
UKIP’s main ideas are anti-EU membership (“Euroscepticism”), pro-sovereignty, and promotion of British nationalism and British unionism.
Since 2025, the leader of UKIP has been Nick Tenconi.

UKIP’s primary policy idea was for the UK to leave the European Union, and control UK immigration.
Before Brexit, policies were broadened to attract more voters.
Policies included: opposition to gay marriage, tax cuts and support for grammar schools.
In 2014, the party had two MPs in parliament.

After Brexit, UKIP lost most of their local council seats, and since the 2019 general election, it has had no MPs.
Since the EU referendum, there has been internal disagreement over the party’s direction.
Gerard Batten, who led the party after the 2017 general election, has been criticised by many former high-ranking members for taking the party too far towards the far-right.
There have been several leaders and numerous controversies, contributing to the party’s significant decline in relevance by 2026.
Much of UKIP’s former electoral support has shifted to newer parties such as Reform UK.

The Scottish National Party are a Scottish political party with representation in Westminster and Holyrood (the Scottish Parliament).

Have existed as a political party since 1934, with the aim of promoting political and cultural independence from the UK.
The party’s supporters have historically come from a broad range of ideologies (and were sometimes nicknamed ‘tartan tories’).
Since the 1970s, the party has supported more social democratic and left-wing policies.
Since 2024, the current leader of the Scottish National Party is John Swinney.

Historic policies involved increasing Scottish independence by campaigning for the creation of a Scottish parliament, and for the independence referendum in 2014.
The leader supports another independence referendum.
Policies have moved away from just independence, but all focus on putting Scotland first.

In the 2024 general election, the Scottish National Party supported continued calls for Scottish independence, increased public investment in Scotland, and stronger opposition to austerity policies.
Since 2024, the SNP’s Westminster representation has fallen significantly, reflecting declining support compared to its peak in the 2010s.