Prior to the mid 19th century British politics was dominated by the Whigs and the Tories. These were not political parties in the modern sense. The whigs were associated with the newly emerging moneyed industrial classes, whereas the Tories were associated with the landed gentry.
By the mid 19th century the Tories had evolved into the Conservative Party, and the Whigs had evolved into the Liberal Party.
These two parties dominated the political scene until the 1920s. When internal divisions caused the Liberal Party to fall apart. It was replaced as the main left-wing party by the newly emerging Labour Party, who represented the mass working classes.
Since then the Conservative and Labour Parties have dominated British politics, and have alternated in government ever since. The UK is nearly but not quite a two-party system however. The Liberals in their new incarnation as the Liberal Democrats are a sizeable third party whose electoral performance has improved in recent years.
The UK's First Past the Post electoral system leaves small parties disadvantaged.
The following political parties are active in the United Kingdom:
Brief History and overview
Major Parties
Three parties dominate politics in the House of Commons. They all operate throughout Great Britain, and also comprise most of the the british members of the European Parliament, the Scottish Parliament, and the Welsh Assembly.Minor Parties
Parties with representation in the Scottish Parliament
Parties with representation in the Welsh Assembly
Parties with representation in the Northern Ireland Assembly
Unionist
Republican/Nationalist
Neutral on the Constitutional Status
Other parties with representation in the European Parliament
Other parties
Far left parties
Regional parties
Far right and fascist parties
Joke parties
Miscellaneous parties
Defunct Parties
Far left parties
Regional parties
Far right and fascist parties
Miscellaneous parties
See also
British politics, List of political parties in Scotland, List of political parties in Northern Ireland