Does ‘party politics’ get in the way of democracy? A criticism of power structures in the political systems of the United Kingdom

By Sophie Ray
(Submitted as part of the Open Politics Student Blogs)

Political parties are often viewed as an integral part of UK politics. Their existence aligns with the transition from rule of the monarchy to a parliament-led system of government.

In recent years, though, there has been increasing success for independent candidates or candidates not from the major parties. Is this a sign that support for traditional party politics is in decline, or merely a sign that political parties are stuck in the past? 

Barriers to democracy in the UK multi-party system

The UK has long had a multi-party system. But, the electoral system has not adapted to this reality. The first-past-the-post electoral system, which encourages a two-party system, remains in place. In the 2024 election, Labour achieved a majority with only 33.7% of the vote. The Conservative party became the official opposition party with only 23.7% of the vote. The Liberal Democrat share was 12.2%. Multiple (six) independent candidates were elected as MPs in 2024, the largest number since 1950.

As a percentage of seats, that translated to:

• Labour 63%
• Conservatives 19%
• Liberal Democrats 11%

So, it comes as no surprise that the Electoral Reform Society declared the 2024 election as having the ‘most disproportional outcome in UK electoral history’.

Barriers to democracy in UK political parties

Political parties themselves are hierarchical in nature. Like the systems of government that concentrate power among the executive, political parties concentrate power among their leadership. This is, in part, a necessary mirroring of Parliament; if the party leader becomes Prime Minister they will rely on their control of the party to support their aims in Parliament. Dissent almost always results in dismissal, so if parliamentary party members refuse to vote along party lines they may lose party support and therefore their place in Parliament. The only MPs who can prioritise their constituents, or their own personal beliefs, over their party affiliations are those who have no affiliation at all. Furthermore, political parties are often systemically unequal, resulting in a disproportionate representation among MPs. In 2024, the representation of ethnic minorities among elected MPs (14%) was the closest it has ever been to matching that of society as a whole (16%), and representation for women also reached a historic height at 40%, though women make up just over 50% of the UK population. 

The power of defection

As of March 2026, there are currently 13 independent MPs, after some had the party whip removed, and others left their party to become an independent since the 2024 election. Other MPs have also defected from one party to another. Defection grants some power back to MPs who have been dismissed by their party for refusing to heed the whip (a term which further reinforces the lack of power given to backbenchers). They can continue their term however they see fit, though some might argue that without the oversight of party leadership they may be tempted to pursue their own goals rather than act as a representative for local people. Others argue they should stand again, in a by-election.

The natural formation of factions

It is worth noting that party politics evolved naturally from factions among government officials. The names of the Tories and Whigs, later forming the first officially recognised political parties, began as slurs that were levied against individuals based on their affection for or rejection of the monarchy as the sovereign power in the UK. The two groups were further separated by their views on religious freedom. Today, factions exist within political parties too, often coming to the forefront as leaders are nominated and elected by party members. There is little that can be done to dissuade the general population from associating with like-minded individuals to form a group that can place a collective pressure on those above them in a hierarchy. It makes me wonder – if society were perfectly equal, would the need for such groups persist?

In conclusion…

It is unlikely that a perfectly equal society will ever come about, and the more I consider the question of whether party politics is the only option to achieve democracy, the more I begin to feel that there are very few options at all. The question of how democracy can be achieved is considerably complex. Yet, I find myself drawn more to independent candidates, perhaps because I trust that they stand behind their convictions, liberated by their freedom from the whip. One thing is clear: the electoral system has been adapted repeatedly, but these changes have not produced a system without flaws. Democracy is typically difficult to achieve, and to enact lasting change would require a political leader to act in opposition to their own interests and place limits on their own power.