Political parties and manifestos

Most MPs belong to a political party. Parties bring together people who share ideas about how the country should be run.

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What is a party?

A political party is an organisation of people with similar views who try to win elections so they can put their ideas into action.
Before an election, each party publishes a manifesto: a list of what it promises to do if it wins.
Anyone can join a party (with an age limit set by each party). Members help choose candidates and leaders and campaign at elections.

Parties in Parliament

The party (or parties) that can command a majority in the Commons forms the government.
If no party has a majority, this is a hung parliament. Parties may then form a coalition (sharing government), as in 2010 to 2015, or one party may govern as a minority government.
Party officials called whips encourage their MPs to vote with their party.
An MP who does not belong to a party is an independent.

Comparing views fairly

Parties disagree about questions such as how much tax to raise and how to spend it. People often describe views as left wing, centre or right wing, though these labels are simplifications.
In Citizenship you learn to compare views fairly: find out what each side says, check the evidence, and make up your own mind.
No view is presented here as the right one.
Worked example

Explain why a manifesto is useful to voters.

  1. A manifesto sets out what a party promises to do in government.
  2. Voters can compare manifestos to decide which party best matches their views.
  3. After the election, voters can check whether the party kept its promises.

Answer: It lets voters compare parties' plans before voting and hold the winners to their promises afterwards.

Key idea

A political party is a group with shared views that tries to win elections. A manifesto lists its promises. If no party wins a majority there is a hung parliament, which can lead to a coalition or a minority government. Whips encourage MPs to vote with their party.

Key words
Political party
An organisation of people with shared views who try to win elections to put their ideas into action.
Manifesto
A list of what a political party promises to do if it wins an election.
Majority
More than half. A party with a majority in the Commons has at least 326 of the 650 MPs.
Hung parliament
When no single party has a majority of MPs in the House of Commons.
Coalition
A government formed by two or more parties working together, as in the UK from 2010 to 2015.
2010
The Equality Act protects nine characteristics from discrimination.

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Extra practice

2 more questions

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  1. When do parties usually publish manifestos?

    1. After the King's Speech
    2. Only when they lose
    3. Before an election
    4. Every week
    Show the answer

    Answer: Before an election

    Manifestos set out what a party promises to do if it wins.

  2. After an election, no single party has more than half of the MPs. What is this called?

    1. A landslide
    2. A referendum
    3. A hung parliament
    4. A by-election
    Show the answer

    Answer: A hung parliament

    A hung parliament means no single party has a majority.

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Sources and references

Checked by the GCSE-ready editorial team, 23 October 2026. Last updated 2 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we will fix it.