LONDON–Earlier today, Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced that the nation election would be held on May 6. After a final meeting of his Cabinet, Prime Minister Brown asked Queen Elizabeth II to dissolve Parliament, the traditional beginning to a month-long political bloodbath. This particular election looks to be particularly unpredictable.
Major Parties:
Labour Party
• Leader: Gordon Brown
• Founded: 1900
• Center/Left; Party had socialist platform for much of its life. In the late 1980’s, the party began to move away from socialism. The party is currently enduring a slump in popularity stemming from financial issues, the “Cash for Peerages” scandal, and Tony Blair’s controversial support of the Iraq War. Between January and March of 2008, the party found itself £17 million in debt.
• Official Color: Red
• Theme song: Brother Can You Spare A Pound?
• Motto: “Screw the rules, we need money.”
• Famous Members: Tony Blair
Conservative Party:
• Leader: David Cameron
• Founded: 1678
• Center/Right; Original founding name was the Tory party, and it is still affectionately or otherwise referred to by that name. The party is trying to distance itself from the public impression that it is made up of old noblemen with lots of money, an effort made difficult by members such as Sir Nicholas Winterton, an old nobleman with lots of money who recently implied that common folk were inferior.
• Official Color: Blue
• Theme Song: Bippity Boppity Boo
• Motto: “Would you care for a spot of tea
• Famous Members: Arthur Balfour, Winston Churchill
Liberal Democrats
• Leader: Nick Clegg
• Founded: 1988, through a merger of the Liberal and Social Democratic parties.
• Center/Center-left; The Liberal Democrats have long supported welfare state ideology and European integration. The party also has strong environmental values. There have been several pacts between the Liberal Democrats and the Labour Party, and the Labour Party is hoping to accomplish this again this year, to bolster its failing popularity.
• Official Color(s): Black and Gold
• Theme Song:
To your call once more we rally;
Alma Mater hear our praise;
Where the Wabash spreads its valley;
Filled with joy our voices raise.
Form the skies in swelling echoes
Come the cheers that tell the tale
Of your vict'ries and your heroes,
Hail Liberal Democrats! We sing all hail!
• Motto: “We’re here for you, Labour.”
• Famous Members:
Scottish National Party
• Leader: Nicola Sturgeon
• Founded: 1934
• Center/Left; Party’s platform is based around Scottish independence. The party has thus drawn much criticism for being “Anti-English.” British comedian Billy Connolly has been quoted with saying that the “Scottish Parliament is a joke.” He has also claimed that “this new racism in Scotland, this anti-Englishness” was “entirely their [the SNP's] fault.” Incidentally, SNP has supported English and English-born candidates in the past.
• Official Colors: Heather
• Theme Song: We’re so vain
• Motto: “AW SNP!”
Sinn Féin
• Leader: Gerry Adams
• Founded: 1905, current political party slit away from original organization in 1970
• Left; Party’s platform is based around the unification of Ireland. The original organization, founded in 1905, was very popular until 1910, when it suffered a sharp decline in attendance and had trouble finding members willing to run for offices. In 1970, during a dispute as to whether taking seats in Parliament was ideologically sound, the party split. The party is closely linked to the IRA.
• Official Colors: Green
• Theme Song: Brand New Day from “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog”
• Motto: “The road will rise up to meet England, and we hope there are sharp stones in it when it does.”
Plaid Cymru
• Leader: Ieuan Wyn Jones
• Founded: 1925
• Center/Left Party’s platform is based around Welsh independence. Despite supposedly being bitter rivals, Plaid Cymru is well known for allying itself with Labour. The party has called this election the party’s “coming of age,” and, as such, several party members have begun to learn a party “Haftarah” and are hiring orchestras to play a party “Pomp and Circumstance.” Their “Think Different” campaign slogan was hailed as one of the most unused and creative slogans to grace a campaign.
• Official Color: Yellow
• Theme Song: Anything from “Forever Plaid”
• Motto: “Think Different. Think
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom_political_parties
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/8536029.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/8536227.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/8536985.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/scotland/8583067.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/northern_ireland/8585612.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/wales/8589099.stm
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/07/world/europe/07britain.html?ref=europe
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