The political parties

Abstract

In Britain there is a system of party government — government by and through political parties. Parties are at the very centre of the system: national, organised, disciplined political parties. The rise of parties changed the nature of elections, altered the relationship between Members of Parliament and their constituents, determined the position of Prime Minister and Cabinet and transformed the House of Commons. As a result political parties have a dominant influence upon the whole nature of the British political system.