Political Parties in Modern British Politics
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- Start Date: 05 Jun 2025End Date: 26 Jun 2025Thu (Daytime): 10:15 - 12:15In PersonFull fee £119.00 Senior fee £95.00 Concession £77.00
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What is the course about?
This course explores a range of key themes that define and help develop an understanding the major political parties in contemporary Britain. The approach will encompass assessment of historical origins, key developments in leadership and ideas, key policy and its foundations, recent electoral success, and support within the wider community. The course will incorporate the political, social, and economic context of today’s Britain and assess how the major parties have adapted to change.
What will we cover?
Each of the major national parties, Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat, will be assessed from their past to the present in terms of development of policy and ideas; this will incorporate an assessment of contemporary leadership and support both within their own party in both government and opposition, and wider support within the country as a whole.
The course will also assess other national parties such as the Greens and Reform to understand their development, ideology and policy to assess current support and electoral potential under the current Westminster electoral system.
In the case of each party the origins and approaches taken to their key economic, social and foreign policies will be discussed. These will be assessed from such perspectives as ideology, opportunism, and pragmatism and expediency.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Understand the different approaches to ideas and policy of the main national political parties in UK politics and society
- Assess key party policy in respect to origins and development.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is suitable both for newcomers to the subject and for those who have some background knowledge. You will need a good grasp of English to keep up with the course. An ability and willingness to explore relevant shared resources will increase what you get out of the course.
However, as with most of our history, politics and current affairs courses, an open mind and a respectful willingness to listen to and think about views with which you do not always agree are more important than specific levels of skills.
Given the sensitive nature of some of the topics the course will explore, we also expect everyone to engage group and class discussions with respect and the willingness to learn from others.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
The course will be delivered through a mixture of lecture and discussion, with student participation invited and encouraged. There is no formal assessment with this course due to its leisure study nature. However, students may wish to read books or watch documentaries at home in their own time to broaden their knowledge and understanding of the period.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
No additional costs but you may wish to bring pen and paper, or digial equivalent, for making notes.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
HPC135 Understanding the different political systems of the UK
HPC165 The essentials of British politics
HPC180 Scandals in British politics.
Ian has taught in Adult Education in London from 1996. He holds a degree in Economics and a MSc in Politics and Administration from Birkbeck College, University of London. Ian is highly committed to adult and continuing learning and has taught politics and political history courses at Morley College and Richmond Adult and Community College and Hillcroft College, in addition to Citylit. Ian has held both teaching and academic management roles including the development of humanities courses that engage and inform students in areas including History and Politics and provide opportunities to progress to further study. He has specialised in teaching a range of courses in politics and current affairs focusing on UK governance and developments in the UK constitution. He has also taught courses on domestic and foreign policy, political parties, and assessments of political leadership. He has also taught on Access to Higher Education Courses that prepare student for degree level study.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.