List of political parties in the United Kingdom
This article lists political parties in the United Kingdom.
While the United Kingdom uses first-past-the-post for general elections which tends to favour two larger parties, it is not formally a two-party system or fully a multi-party system.
The two major parties are the Labour Party and the Conservatives but there are several smaller parties such as the Liberal Democrats which can hold significant influence in the event of a hung parliament.
National parties
Parties with representation in the Houses of Parliament and/or local government ( please note the fact these numbers are calculated minus suspended or resigned MPs, defections etc. )
| Party | Leader | Postion | Ideology | House of Commons | House of Lords | Local government | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour Party | Keir Starmer | Centre-left | 404 / 650 |
209 / 830 |
5,884 / 19,103 | ||
| Conservative Party | Kemi Badenoch | Centre-right to right-wing | 116 / 650 |
285 / 830 |
4,212 / 19,103 | ||
| Liberal Democrats | Ed Davey | Centre to centre-left | 72 / 650 |
76 / 830 |
3,212 / 19,103 | ||
| Reform UK | Nigel Farage | Right-wing to far-right | 8 / 650 |
0 / 830 |
969 / 19,103 | ||
| Green Party of England and Wales | Zack Polanski | Left-wing | 5 / 650 |
2 / 830 |
903 / 19,103 | ||
| Your Party | Collective leadership | Left-wing | 1 / 650 |
0 / 830 |
28 / 19,103 | ||
Parties in Scotland
Parties represented in the Scottish Parliament and/or the House of Commons
| Party | Leader | Description | Scottish Parliament | House of Commons | Local government | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scottish National Party | John Swinney | A centre-left party which supports Scottish independence and the European Union. It also promotes social democracy. | 58 / 129 |
9 / 57 |
416 / 1,226 | |
| Scottish Labour | Anas Sarwar | A centre-left party which promotes social democracy and British unionism. It is the Scottish wing of the British Labour Party. | 17 / 129 |
37 / 57 |
267 / 1,226 | |
| Reform UK Scotland | Malcolm Offord | A right-wing to far-right party which promotes right-wing populism, Euroscepticism and British unionism. It is the Scottish wing of Reform UK. | 17 / 129 |
0 / 57 |
21 / 1,226 | |
| Scottish Greens | Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater | A centre-left to left-wing party which promotes green politics and republicanism. It also supports Scottish independence. | 15 / 129 |
0 / 57 |
35 / 1,226 | |
| Scottish Conservatives | Russell Findlay | A centre-right party which promotes conservatism, economic liberalism and British unionism. It is the Scottish wing of the British Conservative Party. | 12 / 129 |
0 / 57 |
204 / 1,226 | |
| Scottish Liberal Democrats | Alex Cole-Hamilton | A centrist party which promotes liberalism, social liberalism, British unionism and supports the European Union. It is the Scottish wing of the British Liberal Democrats. | 10 / 129 |
6 / 57 |
86 / 1,226 | |
See also: Political parties in Scotland
Parties in Wales
Parties represented in the Senedd and/or the House of Commons
| Party | Leader | Description | Senedd | House of Commons | Local government | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plaid Cymru | Rhun ap Iowerth | A centre-left party which promotes social democracy. It supports Welsh independence. | 43 / 96 |
4 / 32 |
201 / 1,234 | |
| Reform UK Wales | Dan Thomas | A right-wing to far-right party which promotes right-wing populism, Euroscepticism and British unionism. It is the Welsh wing of Reform UK. | 34 / 96 |
0 / 32 |
21 / 1,234 | |
| Welsh Labour | Eluned Morgan | A centre-left party which promotes social democracy and British unionism. It is the Welsh wing of the British Labour Party. | 9 / 96 |
27 / 32 |
499 / 1,234 | |
| Welsh Conservatives | Darren Millar | A centre-right to right-wing party which promotes conservatism, economic liberalism and British unionism. It is the Welsh wing of the British Conservative Party. | 7 / 96 |
0 / 32 |
107 / 1,234 | |
| Welsh Liberal Democrats | Jane Dodds | A centrist party which promotes liberalism, social liberalism and British unionism. It is the Welsh wing of the British Liberal Democrats. | 1 / 96 |
1 / 32 |
65 / 1,234 | |
| Welsh Green Party | Anthony Slaughter | A left-wing party which promotes green politics and progressivism. | 2 / 96 |
0 / 32 |
13 / 1,234 | |
See also: Political parties in Wales
Parties in Northern Ireland
There are two main groups of political parties in Northern Ireland; Republicans and Unionists. Republicans want Northern Ireland to leave the United Kingdom and become part of the Republic of Ireland and unionists want Northern Ireland to remain part of the United Kingdom. There is also a third group which is open-minded and/or neutral about the issue.
Parties represented in the Northern Ireland Assembly and/or the House of Commons
| Party | Leader | Description | Northern Ireland Assembly | House of Commons
(NI seats) |
Local government | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sinn Féin | Michelle O'Neill | A left-wing party which promotes Irish republicanism and democratic socialism. It is also active in the Republic of Ireland. | 27 / 90 |
7 / 18 |
144 / 462 | |
| Democratic Unionist Party | Gavin Robinson | A right-wing party which promotes strongly promotes British unionism, national conservatism and social conservatism. | 25 / 90 |
5 / 18 |
122 / 462 | |
| Alliance Party of Northern Ireland | Naomi Long | A centrist party which supports ending sectarianism. It also promotes liberalism and supports the European Union. | 17 / 90 |
1 / 18 |
67 / 462 | |
| Ulster Unionist Party | Mike Nesbitt | A centre-right party which promotes British unionism and conservatism. | 9 / 90 |
1 / 18 |
54 / 462 | |
| Social Democratic and Labour Party | Claire Hanna | A centre-left party which promotes Irish republicanism, social democracy and supports the European Union. | 8 / 90 |
2 / 18 |
39 / 462 | |
| Traditional Unionist Voice | Jim Allister | A right-wing party which strongly promotes British unionism, national conservatism and social conservatism. It opposes the Good Friday agreement. | 1 / 90 |
1 / 18 |
10 / 462 | |
| People Before Profit | Richard Boyd Barrett | A left-wing to far-left party which promotes socialism and Irish republicanism. It is also active in the Republic of Ireland. | 1 / 90 |
0 / 18 |
2 / 462 | |
| Green Party Northern Ireland | Malachai O'Hara | A centre-left to left-wing party which promotes green politics and supports the European Union. It supports ending sectarianism. | 0 / 90 |
0 / 18 |
5 / 462 | |
| Progressive Unionist Party | Russell Watton | A centre-left to left-wing party which promotes British unionism, social democracy and democratic socialism. It is the only left-wing unionist party in Northern Ireland. | 0 / 90 |
0 / 18 |
1 / 462 | |
Minor political parties in the United Kingdom
- British National Party (BNP) - A far-right party which promotes policies of anti-immigration, right-wing populism and Third position economics.
- Northern Independence Party (NIP) - A party that supports northern England becoming an independent country.
- English Democrats - An England-only party that promotes federalism, conservatism and the separation of England from Scotland and Wales.
- Christian Party - A right-wing party that promotes Christian values and Conservative Christianity.
- Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) - A left-wing alliance of parties including the Socialist Party of England and Wales, the Socialist Workers Party, Socialist Resistance and Solidarity.
- National Front - A far-right party that promotes fascism, British nationalism and a belief that the UK should only have White people living in it.
- Socialist Labour Party - A left-wing socialist and Eurosceptic party.
- Liberal Party - A centrist party that promotes liberalism and Euroscepticism.
- Christian Peoples Alliance - A centrist party that promotes Christian democracy.
- Mebyon Kernow (In English:Sons of Cornwall) - A centre-left party that wants to establish a Cornish Assembly.
- Progressive Unionist Party - A centre-left to left-wing political party only in Northern Ireland which supports British unionism.
- Socialist Alternative - A far-left Trotskyist party.
- Trust Party - A party that campaigned for trust in politicians in wake of the 2009 expenses scandal.
- The Official Monster Raving Loony Party - A party that promotes parties and highlights the stupidity of other more mainstream political parties.
- Scottish Socialist Party (SSP) - A Scotland-only left-wing party that promotes socialism, environmentalism, Scottish independence and Scottish republicanism.
- Alliance for Green Socialism - A left-wing socialist and environmentalist party.
- Social Democratic Party - A centre-left party which promotes social democracy.
- Pirate Party - A party which promotes reforms on copyright and privacy laws, as well as freedom of speech and freedom of expression.
- Communist Party of Britain - A far-left communist and Marxist–Leninist party.
- UK Independence Party - A right-wing to far-right party that promotes Euroscepticism and right-wing populism.