UK Political Parties

This article lists political parties in the United Kingdom.

Brief history and overview
Before the middle of the 19th century, politics in the United Kingdom was dominated by the Whigs and the Tories. These were not political parties in the modern sense but somewhat loose alliances of interests and individuals. The Whigs included many of the leading aristocratic dynasties committed to the Protestant succession, and later drew support from elements of the emerging industrial interests and wealthy merchants, while the Tories were associated with the landed gentry, the Church of England and the Church of Scotland.

By the mid 19th century, the Tories had evolved into the Conservative Party, and the Whigs had evolved into the Liberal Party. The concept of right and left came originally from France, where the Right supported a smaller state with less influence on the lives of the public, and the Left advocated the opposite. In the late 19th century the Liberal Party began to lean towards the left. Liberal Unionists split off from the Liberals over Irish Home Rule and moved closer to the Conservatives over time.

The Liberals and Conservatives dominated the political scene until the 1920s, when the Liberal Party declined in popularity and suffered a long stream of resignations. It was replaced as the main anti-Tory opposition party by the newly emerging Labour Party, which represented an alliance between the labour movement, organised trades unions and various socialist societies.

Since then the Conservative and Labour parties have dominated British politics, and have alternated in government ever since. However, the UK is not quite a two-party system as other parties have significant support. The Liberal Democrats were the third largest party until the 2015 general election when they were overtaken by the Scottish National Party in terms of seats and UK political party membership, and by the UK Independence Party in terms of votes.

The UK's First Past the Post electoral system leaves small parties disadvantaged on a UK-wide scale. It can, however, allow parties with concentrations of supporters in the constituent countries to flourish. In the 2015 election there was widespread controversy  when UKIP and the Green Party of England and Wales received 4.9 million votes (12.6% of the total vote for UKIP and 3.8% for the Greens) yet only gained one seat each in the House of Commons. After that election, UKIP, the Liberal Democrats, and the Green Party of England and Wales, together with its Scottish and Northern Ireland affiliated parties, the Scottish National Party and Plaid Cymru, delivered a petition signed by 477,000 people to Downing Street demanding electoral reform.Since 1997, proportional representation-based voting systems have been adopted for elections to the Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales, the Northern Ireland Assembly, the London Assembly and the UK's seats in the European Parliament. In these bodies, other parties have had success.

Traditionally political parties have been private organisations with no official recognition by the state. The Registration of Political Parties Act 1998 changed that by creating a register of parties.

Membership of political parties has been in decline in the UK since the 1950s, falling by over 65% from 1983 (4% of the electorate) to 2005 (1.3%).

The start of political parties
The Electoral Commission's Register of Political Parties lists the details of parties registered to fight elections in the United Kingdom, including their registered name. Under current electoral law, including the Registration of Political Parties Act, the Electoral Administration Act 2006, and the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, only registered party names can be used on ballot papers by those wishing to fight elections. Candidates who do not belong to a registered party can use "independent" or no label at all.

the Electoral Commission showed the number of registered political parties in Great Britain and Northern Ireland as 492.

Parliamentary parties
Two parties dominate politics in the House of Commons. Each one operates throughout Great Britain (only the Conservative and Unionist Party stands candidates in Northern Ireland). Most of the British Members of the European Parliament, Scottish Parliament and the National Assembly for Wales represent one of these parties:


 * Conservative and Unionist Party, centre-right (314 seats in the House of Commons)
 * Labour Party, centre-left (246 seats)
 * Co-operative Party (all Co-operative Party MPs are also Labour MPs as part of a long-standing electoral agreement)

No elected representation
This is a list of notable minor parties. Many parties are registered with the Electoral Commission but do not qualify for this list as they have not received significant independent coverage.

Miscellaneous minor parties

 * Animal Welfare Party
 * Democrats and Veterans (2018–present)
 * Libertarian Party
 * National Health Action Party
 * Peace Party
 * Pirate Party UK
 * Populist Party (2015–present)
 * Women's Equality Party (2015–present)
 * Young People's Party UK
 * Our Nation

Minor left-wing and far-left parties

 * Socialist Party of Great Britain (1904–present)
 * Communist Party of Britain (Marxist-Leninist) (1968–present)
 * Workers' Revolutionary Party (1973–present)
 * Revolutionary Communist Group (1974–present)
 * New Communist Party (1977–present)
 * Socialist Workers Party (1977–present)
 * Revolutionary Communist Party of Britain (Marxist-Leninist) (1979–present)
 * Socialist Equality Party (1986–present)
 * Communist League (1988–present)
 * Communist Party of Britain (1988–present)
 * Communist Party of Great Britain (Provisional Central Committee) (1991–present)
 * Independent Working Class Association (1995–present)
 * Socialist Labour Party (1996–present)
 * Socialist Party (England and Wales) (also main constituent of TUSC; has stood as "Socialist Alternative") (1997–present)
 * Socialist Resistance (part of Left Unity) (2002–present)
 * Alliance for Green Socialism (2003–present)
 * Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist-Leninist) (2004–present)
 * TUSC (Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition) (2010–present)
 * Left Unity (2013–present)

Minor right-wing and far-right parties

 * National Front (1967–present)
 * British National Party (1982–present)
 * National Liberal Party (1999–present)
 * Britannica Party (2011–present)
 * British Democratic Party (2013–present)
 * For Britain (2017–present)

Minor centrist and pro-European parties

 * 4 Freedoms Party (UK EPP)
 * Something New
 * Whig Party

Minor religious parties

 * Christian Peoples Alliance (1999–present)
 * Christian Democratic Party (UK) (1999–present)
 * The Common Good (2004–present)
 * Christian Party (successor to Operation Christian Vote) (2005–present)

Minor English parties

 * Community Action Party; local centre-left party in Wigan.
 * Community Group; local party in Doncaster.
 * English Democrats; campaign for self-government for England.
 * People's Democratic Party, a populist party focused on Northern England.
 * The Republic Party, based in Pendlebury, Salford. Campaigning for the UK to become a Republic.
 * Roman Party.
 * Wessex Regionalist Party, campaigning for devolution for Wessex.

Minor Scottish parties

 * Borders Party
 * Communist Party of Scotland
 * Independent Green Voice
 * RISE – Scotland's Left Alliance; electoral alliance formed by SSP and former ISG
 * Scotland Against Crooked Lawyers
 * Scottish Christian Party – the successor to Operation Christian Vote in Scotland.
 * Scottish Democratic Alliance – the successor to Scottish Enterprise Party
 * Scottish Libertarian Party, a libertarian, pro-independence and Eurosceptic party
 * Scottish Senior Citizens Unity Party
 * Scottish Socialist Party, a party campaigning for an independent, socialist and republican Scotland.
 * Scottish Unionist Party, campaigns to prevent dissolution of the UK. Has strong links with the Orange Order.
 * Socialist Party Scotland
 * Solidarity, a split from the SSP in 2006.

Minor Welsh parties

 * Abolish the Welsh Assembly Party
 * Communist Party of Wales
 * Cymru Sovereign
 * Socialist Party Wales
 * Welsh Christian Party – the successor to Operation Christian Vote in Wales.

Minor Northern Irish parties

 * Cross-Community Labour Alternative
 * Fianna Fáil
 * Labour Party of Northern Ireland
 * Republican Sinn Féin
 * Socialist Party (Ireland)
 * Workers' Party

Joke/satirical parties

 * Al-Zebabist Nation of Ooog
 * Church of the Militant Elvis Party
 * Fancy Dress Party

Defunct and historical parties

 * Campaign for Social Democracy (1973–1974)
 * Cannabis Is Safer Than Alcohol (2015–2016)
 * Countryside Party (2000–2008)
 * Democratic Labour (1972–1979)
 * Democratic Party (1998–2010)
 * Fellowship Party (1955–2007). Environmentalist, pacifist and socialist party.
 * Green Party (UK), formed as PEOPLE, or the Ecology Party, in 1973 and succeeded in 1990 by the Green Party of England and Wales, the Green Party in Northern Ireland and the Scottish Green Party
 * Islamic Party of Britain (1989–2006)
 * Jury Team, a "non-party party": an umbrella organisation for Independent candidates (2009–2011)
 * Legalise Cannabis Alliance (1999–2006), deregistered and became a pressure group in 2006.
 * Liberal Party (1839–1988)
 * Liberal Unionist Party (1886–1912)
 * Make Politicians History (2005–2009)
 * Moderate Labour Party (1985–c.1995)
 * National Democratic and Labour Party (1918–1923)
 * National Liberal Party (1922–1923)
 * National Liberal Party (1931–1968)
 * Natural Law Party (1992–2004)
 * New Party (1931–1932)
 * New Party (2003–2010)
 * No Candidate Deserves My Vote! (2000–2012)
 * One Love Party (2015–2017)
 * Respect Party (2004–2016)
 * Science Party. Launched in April 2010, with initial press support from Newscientist.com. Campaigning for increased importance and use of Science in Politics.
 * Social Credit Party of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (1931–1951, 1965–1978)
 * Social Democratic Alliance (1975–1981)
 * Social Democratic Party (1981–1990)
 * Southport Party (2015)
 * Trust Party (2010–2011)
 * Women's Party (1917–1919)

Defunct English parties

 * Above and Beyond Party
 * Boston Bypass Independents
 * Community; local party in the London Borough of Hounslow.
 * Corrective Party (1988–1990s) – the electoral vehicle for Lindi St Clair (aka Miss Whiplash) to campaign on the liberalisation of sex laws.
 * For Darwen Party - (2007–2013) Local party in Darwen.
 * Free England Party (2008–2009)
 * Idle Toad (2003–2014) - Local party in South Ribble, Lancashire.
 * Liverpool Protestant Party
 * New England Party (2005–2007, merged with the English Democrats)
 * Northern Party (2015–2016)
 * One London (November 2005 – November 2008). A London political party formerly with two seats on the London Assembly, a split from UK Independence Party.
 * Pensioners Party (England) (2004–2013)
 * People's Alliance of Tower Hamlets (2016–2018)
 * Vectis National Party (1970s) – Isle of Wight regionalist party.

Defunct Scottish parties

 * East Dunbartonshire Independent Alliance
 * East Kilbride Alliance
 * Fife Socialist League (1950s–1960s)
 * Crofters Party
 * Fishing Party (Scotland) (2003–2004)
 * Free Scotland Party (2004–2012?)
 * Highland Land League (1909–1920s)
 * Highlands and Islands Alliance
 * International Socialist Group (2011–2015)
 * Labour Party of Scotland
 * Left Alliance (2000s)
 * National Party of Scotland (1928–1934)
 * Orkney and Shetland Movement
 * Progressives (1920s–1970s)
 * Publican Party (2005–2007), campaigned against the smoking ban in pubs and bars.
 * Scottish Enterprise Party (2004–2009), a centre-right party in favour of Scottish independence
 * Scottish Independence Party
 * Scottish Jacobite Party (July 2005 – July 2007), a semi-serious independence party.
 * Scottish Labour Party (1888–1893)
 * Scottish Labour Party (1976–1981)
 * Scottish Militant Labour (1990s)
 * Scottish Party (1932–1934)
 * Scottish Prohibition Party (1901–1935)
 * Scottish Republican Socialist Party (1982–1998)
 * Scottish Separatist Group, party with former links to both the SNLA and the Maoist International Movement
 * Scottish Socialist Alliance
 * Scottish Socialist Federation
 * Scottish Socialist Party (1987–1990)
 * Scottish Voice
 * Scottish Workers' Representation Committee (1899–1909)
 * Scottish Workers Republican Party
 * Unionist Party (1912–1965)
 * Workers Party of Scotland

Defunct Welsh parties

 * Balchder Cymru
 * Blaenau Gwent People's Voice (2005–2010)
 * Communist Party of South Wales and the West of England
 * Cymru Annibynnol
 * Cymru Goch
 * Cymru Rydd
 * Forward Wales
 * John Marek Independent Party (2003), evolved into Forward Wales
 * People Before Politics (2004–2008), nine county councillors were elected to Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council in 2004.
 * South Wales Socialist Society
 * Welsh Republican Movement

Defunct Northern Irish parties

 * All-for-Ireland Party (1910–1918)
 * British Ulster Dominion Party
 * Irish Independence Party
 * Irish Parliamentary Party
 * Nationalist Party
 * NI21 (2013–2016)
 * Northern Ireland Labour Party
 * Northern Ireland Women's Coalition
 * People's Democracy
 * Protestant Coalition (2013–2015)
 * Protestant Unionist Party
 * Republican Labour Party
 * Ulster Democratic Party
 * Ulster Independence Movement
 * Ulster Liberal Party
 * Ulster Popular Unionist Party (1980–1995)
 * United Kingdom Unionist Party (1995–2008)
 * United Ulster Unionist Party (1977–1984)
 * Unionist Party of Northern Ireland
 * Vanguard Progressive Unionist Party (1973–1978)

Defunct religious parties

 * ProLife Alliance. Still operating as a pressure group, ProLife deregistered as a political party in 2004.

Defunct left-wing and far-left parties

 * Social Democratic Federation (1884–1911)
 * Independent Labour Party (1893–1975)
 * Socialist Labour Party (1903–1980)
 * British Socialist Party (1911–1920)
 * Revolutionary Socialist Party (1912–1941)
 * National Socialist Party (1916–1919)
 * Communist Party of Great Britain (1920–1991)
 * United Socialist Movement (1934–1965)
 * Common Wealth Party (1942–1945)
 * Revolutionary Communist Party (1944–1950)
 * Revolutionary Workers' Party (1962-1990s)
 * Committee to Defeat Revisionism, for Communist Unity (1963–c.1972)
 * International Marxist Group (1968-1982) Organised the electoral coalition Socialist Unity
 * Working People's Party of England (1968–1986)
 * Labour Party of Scotland (1973)
 * Revolutionary Communist Party (1978–1997) Organised the electoral coalition Red Front
 * International Leninist Workers Party (1979–2006). Group no longer operates as a political party
 * Marxist Party (1987–2004)
 * Alliance for Workers' Liberty (was part of Left Unity) (1992–). Still operates as a pressure group
 * Democratic Left (1991–1993) [de-registered as a political party from 1993–1998]
 * Socialist Studies (1991-) Group registered as political party from 2006-2012
 * Socialist Alliance (1994–2005)
 * Socialist Peoples Party (1995–2015)
 * Democratic Labour Party (1998–2016)
 * Peace and Progress Party (2004–2015)
 * Red Party (2004–2005)
 * Respect Party (2004–2016)
 * The United Socialist Party (2004–c.2010)
 * Socialist Green Unity Coalition (2004-2005)
 * Left List (2008–2010)
 * Class War (2014–2015)
 * Reality Party (2014–2016)

Defunct right-wing and far-right parties

 * British Fascisti (1920s–1930s)
 * National Fascisti (1920s)
 * Imperial Fascist League (1929–1939)
 * British Union of Fascists (1930s)
 * National Socialist League (1937–1939)
 * British People's Party (1940s)
 * Union Movement (1948–1973)
 * National Labour Party (1957–1960)
 * White Defence League (1958–1960)
 * British National Party (1960–1967)
 * National Socialist Movement (1962–1967)
 * Greater Britain Movement (1964–1967)
 * National Democratic Party (1960s–1970s)
 * British Movement (1968–1983)
 * National Independence Party (1970s)
 * United Country Party (1970s)
 * National Party (1975–1977)
 * New Britain Party (1976–2008)
 * British First Party (1977–2009)
 * Constitutional Movement (1979–1984)
 * British Democratic Party (1979–1982)
 * Flag Group (1980s)
 * Official National Front (1986–1989)
 * Third Way (1990–) [now a think tank]
 * National Socialist Movement (1990s)
 * National Democrats (1995–2011)
 * Freedom Party (2000–2006)
 * White Nationalist Party (2002–2005)
 * England First Party (2003–2012)
 * British Peoples Party (2005–2013)
 * Nationalist Alliance (2005–2008)
 * New Nationalist Party (2006–2007/8)
 * British Freedom Party (2010–2012)
 * Liberty GB (2013–2017)
 * Britain First (2014–2017)

Defunct joke/satirical parties

 * Adam Lyal's Witchery Tour Party (1999–2009)
 * The Blah! Party
 * Citizens for Undead Rights and Equality
 * Death, Dungeons and Taxes Party
 * Free Party (2001–2002)
 * Miss Great Britain Party (2008–2009)
 * New Millennium Bean Party
 * MP3 Party (2002–2007)
 * Raving Loony Green Giant Party
 * Rock 'n' Roll Loony Party (2000–2007)
 * Teddy Bear Alliance

Defunct single-issue Eurosceptic parties

 * Anti Common Market and Free Trade Party (1967–1988)
 * Referendum Party (1994–1997)
 * Veritas (2005–2015)
 * No2EU (2009–2014), (anti-EU electoral alliance & registered party, formed by the Socialist Party, Communist Party and RMT)
 * We Demand a Referendum (2012–2014)
 * Independence from Europe (2012–2017)