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Factual: Politics

10/08/2016

BBC Radio 4 - Party Futures

Is now the point when the structure of British party politics will fundamentally change?

At a time of intense political turmoil, Isabel Hardman chairs a discussion exploring if now is the point when the structure of British party politics will be fundamentally changed.

Is now the point when the structure of the UK's party politics could fundamentally change?

The repercussions of the EU Referendum result are shaking British party politics. Labour faces a bitter internal crisis, with some talking about possible splits. The Conservatives wonder whether they have put to rest the perennial battles in their party over Europe. UKIP has the challenge of what to do under a new leader with the voters it has mobilised. The LibDems hope they have been given the opportunity to revive which they desperately seek.

All this is against the background of how Brexit will occur and at what pace, where Remain voters will now go for political leadership, whether there will be a second independence referendum in Scotland, and how political alienation will affect all conventional politics. 

It is a time of turmoil, uncertainty and awe at the recent pace of events - but are these the conditions that will lead to a fundamental change in the configuration of the British party system? Will historians look back on this time as the pivot point when everything shifted in our party politics? 

Isabel Hardman chairs this discussion about where the future of the UK's party politics is heading, which features Tim Montgomerie, Miranda Green, Prof. Tim Bale, James Morris and Dr Phil Burton-Cartledge.

Producer: Gary Connor.

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