The Future of Political Parties in Local Politics

ESRC Seminar Series: The Future of Political Parties in Local Government 18 January 2007 Local Politics: The Realm of the Party? Dr Colin Copus, Senior Lecturer in Local Politics, The Institute of Local Government Studies, School of Public Policy. The University of Birmingham: 0121.414.4988; c.m.copus@bham.ac.uk Winston Churchill on being offered the Local Government Board in the1906 Government There is no place in the government more laborious, more anxious, more thankless, more cloaked with petty and even squalid detail, more full of hopeless and insoluble difficulties "Tip" O'Neil: Former Speaker of the House of Representatives All politics is local Political Parties and Local Politics: The Case for the Defence  Clarification of issues  Stimulation of change and initiative  Enhanced accountability  Governmental coherence  Enhanced local democracy (electoral legitimacy) (source: Leach, S., The Changing Role of Local Politics in Britain, The Policy Press, 2006) Political Parties and Local Politics: The Case for the Prosecution          The cartelisation of local politics (partial) Restriction of local choice (three main parties) Distancing of parties from citizens Reduction in the power of the local election to influence policy choices Closing down of public debate Narrowing of local political space Party-politicisation of all local issues – even the non-ideological Party-politicisation of citizens who may disagree with local party (or council) policy Disconnection of citizens from local politics Resulting in: A damaged and unhealthy local democracy The Accomplices Local government’s constitutional position  The electoral system  Central government policy  The national political parties  Inspectorate regimes  Factors that Influence Patterns of Party Political Behaviour          Organisational structure Resources Membership base: Balance between active and inactive members Type of council Proximity to council control Socio-geographic profile of the locality and local population Local mobility The need for and purpose of: party rituals, symbols and shibboleths The attitudes, beliefs, assumptions of party members and the interpretations they hold of key political concepts Interpretations of key Political Concepts    Democracy – is the process which takes place within the party : democracy is the way parties make decisions and the process by which they can legitimately claim the loyalty of their members. Democracy for the is a majoritarian concept Representation – it is the party which is represented, not the electorate, as, by representing the party, the electorate is indeed, represented Accountability – The local election is the means by which accountability is secured. Internally however, a complex set of reporting arrangements (formal and informal) exist These are process which take place within the party, rather than how parties see their relationship with citizens Understanding the Nature of these Interpretations: The Party Person         Immersed in the world of the party and party politics The party is at the centre of his or her social and political world Life experiences are viewed through the prism of the party Sees his or her duty as protecting the party from all external criticism Loyalty to the party is total (at least as far as the outside world is concerned) Presents to the outside world the image of the party as a united, cohesive and disciplined organisation, with no uncertainty as to its cause or direction Party-politicises any and all opposition Central to the organisation, structure, activities and maintenance of a local party machine Yet, sources of discord within parties do exist… Party Politics: Sources of Discord       Membership of a national organisation or grouping – Support for a cause or concern pursued by a nationally organised body Ideological – Firmly held beliefs that may transcend party affiliation, particular if the party can be seen to be moving away from core beliefs Formal local organisation – Support for a cause or concern pursued by a locally organised body Socio-economic – Age, occupation, educational background, class, ethnicity, length and type of residency Personality politics – Simple likes and dislikes Ambition – Political promotion and advancement whatever the cost or casualties along the way Yet, it is rare, although not unheard of, that such local disputes spill into the public arena Parties: Re-configuring Political Relationships and Behaviour: 1        Explode the myth of the ‘apathetic citizenry’ End the party politicisation of all issues and events that occur locally Move from a yah-boo politics to a discursive based democracy Share political space with citizens and political associations – including electoral and office-holding space Recognise that parties are not the only arbitrators of local affairs Recognise that politics has a legitimacy outside of the electoral process and the public vote Respond positively to the notion that parties are not the only vehicles for political representation Parties: Re-configuring Political Relationships and Behaviour: The Requirements       A relaxation of notions of loyalty and discipline to encourage that process, that encourages… …a shift from a majoritarian interpretation of democracy, which would result in… …the acceptance that alternative views on local issue can be expressed and campaigned for without damaging the ideological integrity of the party, resulting in… …parties being able to embrace a range of views that would reflect a range of articulated opinions within local communities, thus… …enabling parties to remain an arbiter of local opinion, but not the arbiter and thus creating… … a fertile political environment for a deliberative style of local politics. Resulting in a healthy, vibrant and exciting local democracy.