Political parties

This page highlights some of the current parliamentary material available on political parties. This includes select committee reports, briefing papers on current legislation and other subjects produced by the parliamentary research services, and the latest Early Day Motions put down by MPs.

Standard Notes

DateDescription
01.12.2011In brief: party funding
This note briefly draws together Library material on party funding issues; provides a chronology of Sir Hayden Phillips' review of party funding; notes the information that the CSPL has published as its inquiry has proceeded; and notes recent press coverage the CSPL's inquiry and final report have generated
01.08.2011Short Money
This note provides details of the current levels of 'Short money' allocated to opposition parties for parliamentary duties, and a brief history of the scheme. Figures for the corresponding scheme in the House of Lords (Cranborne money) are also provided.
28.10.2010In Brief: Election in Jordan 2010
The forthcoming election in Jordan will not have a big impact on the country's political scene. Political parties are weak and the monarchy retains most of the power in the country.
06.10.2010Leadership Elections: Labour Party
This note outlines the rules under which leadership elections are conducted by the Labour Party and gives details of previous leadership contests.
03.06.2010Hung parliaments
This note sets out situations where there has been no overall control in the House of Commons during the twentieth century. It considers precedents and conventions governing how the monarch might decide which party should form a government in such a situation, and when a request for a dissolution might be granted. The note also considers how a minority government or coalition might affect the work of Parliament. Lastly, it looks briefly at the formation of coalition governments in Scotland and Wales.

Research Papers

DateDescription
16.12.2008Political Parties and Elections Bill: Committee Stage Report
This is a report on the Committee Stage of the Political Parties and Elections Bill 2007-08 produced in response to a recommendation of the Modernisation Committee in its report on The Legislative Process (HC 1097, 2005-06). The Bill has been reintroduced as Bill 4 of 2008-09 and is awaiting a date for report stage in the Commons.
30.09.2008The Political Parties and Elections Bill
This Research Paper looks at the Political Parties and Elections Bill, it includes impacts on the Electoral Commission and political donations and expediture.
11.04.2007The Funding of Political Parties
06.03.2006The Northern Ireland(Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill.
11.05.2005By-election results 2001-05
By-election results 2001-05. House of Commons Library Research Paper 05/34

Select Committee Reports

DateDescription
10.03.2011Lessons from the process of government formation after the 2010 general election.
Government response. Political and Constitutional Reform Select Committee report [Commons]
20.01.2011Lessons from the process of government formation after the 2010 general election.
Political and Constitutional Reform Select Committee report [Commons]
27.01.2009Legislative scrutiny: Political Parties and Elections Bill.
Human Rights Joint Select Committee report [Commons and Lords]

Lords Library Notes

DateDescription
17.02.2011Peerage creations since 1997. LLN 2011/008
Peerage creations since 1997. House of Lords Library Note 2011/008
24.07.2008Peerage creations 1958-2008. LLN 2008/019
This Note presents detailed information on all peerage creations since the first list of life peers was published on 24th July 1958. It updates earlier Notes to
05.10.2007Peerage creations 1958-2007. LLN 2007/004
Peerage creations 1958-2005. House of Lords Library Note 2007/004.

Early Day Motions

DateDescription
31.10.2011CHARTIST MOVEMENT IN SOUTH WALES
That this House congratulates the Blaenau Gwent Chartist and Historical Society on its work in celebrating the successes of the Chartist movement and commemorating the lives of those ...
04.07.201150th ANNIVERSARY OF THE CHRISTIAN SOCIALIST MOVEMENT
That this House congratulates the Christian Socialist Movement on celebrating its 50th anniversary and celebrates the Movement's positive contribution to political thought, social justice ...
10.03.2011LABOUR PARTY AND TUITION FEES
That this House notes the comments of Lord Mandelson in the foreword to his updated memoir The Third Man that `I assumed, as the Treasury did, that the outcome [of the Browne Review] ...
08.02.2011HARRY TOUT
That this House notes and congratulates Harry Tout of Guisborough, Cleveland, on reaching his 90th birthday; further notes that he has been a lifelong member of the Labour Party, fought ...
19.01.2011CENTENARY OF THE DEATH OF ROBERT TRESSELL
That this House notes the centenary of the death of Robert Noonan (Tressell) on 3 February 2011 interred in a pauper's grave in Walton, Liverpool; recognises the significance of his ...

Glossary

  • Research Papers (RP) - briefings produced by the House of Commons Library on Bills, topical issues and regular statistics
  • Standard Notes (SN) - shorter, topical briefings from the Commons Library
  • Early Day Motions (EDMs) - formal motions submitted by MPs in the House of Commons
  • POST Notes - short briefing notes produced by the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology
  • Lords Library Notes (LLN) - an occasional series of papers compiled by the House of Lords Library