Do they really matter? As Britain heads to the polls, political parties are preparing manifestos. They are a key part of the electoral process — but some think they are broken.
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Get involved: Write your own manifesto
Do they really matter? As Britain heads to the polls, political parties are preparing manifestos. They are a key part of the electoral process - but some think they are broken.
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PreviousNext
On 4 July 1776, 56 men gathered in PhiladelphiaThe largest city in Pennsylvania, USA, with a population of one and a half million. to sign a paper. This document was the Declaration of IndependenceThe Declaration of Independence of 4 July, 1776 was an official act taken by all 13 American colonies in declaring independence from British rule.. It explained to the world why they rebelled against Britain - and what they hoped their new United States of America would become.
It is one of the most powerful manifestosA statement published by a person or group of people, especially a political party, or a government, in which they say what their aims and policies are in history. And it helped to set a blueprintDesign plans or drawing.. Manifestos have been a major part of democratic politics ever since. Every party in the upcoming UK general electionIn the UK, when an election is held for all 650 members of the House of Commons. One must take place every five years. is expected to publish one.
A political manifesto is a document containing the policies a party plans to enact if put into power.
Election promises can have a big impact on a government's behaviour. The 2015 Conservative PartyA British political party. Members are known as Tories. manifesto, for instance, promised a "straight in-out referendum on our membership of the European UnionA political and economic union of 27 countries. by the end of 2017". The result was Brexit.
Broken manifesto promises can become a sticking point with voters. In 2010, Britain's Liberal DemocratsAlso known as the Lib Dems, a liberal political party in the UK. party won 57 seats in the House of CommonsThe democratically elected house of the UK Parliament. It consists of 650 Members of Parliament. and went into partnership with the Conservatives. Before, they had promised to scrap university tuition fees. Once in government they voted to raise them instead. In the next election they lost 49 seats.
Yet some say this is the exception rather than the rule. Boris JohnsonThe Conservative Prime Minister of the UK and head of the government from 2019 to 2022. broke at least eight manifesto promises during his three years as prime minister.1 But his downfall came about for other reasons.2
In Britain, manifesto promises are not binding. Of 39 key commitments in the 2017 Conservative manifesto, only a third were on track to be implemented by the next election in 2019. A fresh vote pushes old manifesto promises into the dustbin.
Though many people do not read them directly, they do drive media coverage. A policy that the press does not like can lead to outrage.3 Parties need to think hard about what to put in - and what to leave out.
Yes: Manifestos may not be binding. But they give the public and the press some idea of what to expect, and a government a mission to try to follow. And major breaks can cause scandal and discontent.
No: They are all talk. They provide discussion points and capture some voters. But parties are not forced to follow them. Losers rip them up and start again. And winners can do as they please.
Or... It depends on the party - and the situation. Sometimes events make manifesto promises impossible to keep. And policies that sounded good before an election can turn rotten as outside factors change.
Philadelphia - The largest city in Pennsylvania, USA, with a population of one and a half million.
Declaration of Independence - The Declaration of Independence of 4 July, 1776 was an official act taken by all 13 American colonies in declaring independence from British rule.
Manifestos - A statement published by a person or group of people, especially a political party, or a government, in which they say what their aims and policies are
Blueprint - Design plans or drawing.
General election - In the UK, when an election is held for all 650 members of the House of Commons. One must take place every five years.
Conservative party - A British political party. Members are known as Tories.
European Union - A political and economic union of 27 countries.
Liberal Democrats - Also known as the Lib Dems, a liberal political party in the UK.
House of Commons - The democratically elected house of the UK Parliament. It consists of 650 Members of Parliament.
Boris Johnson - The Conservative Prime Minister of the UK and head of the government from 2019 to 2022.
Get involved: Write your own manifesto
Promises: Previous manifestos from the major UK parties — but none of the pledges are legally binding. Glossary
Philadelphia - The largest city in Pennsylvania, USA, with a population of one and a half million.
Declaration of Independence - The Declaration of Independence of 4 July, 1776 was an official act taken by all 13 American colonies in declaring independence from British rule.
Manifestos - A statement published by a person or group of people, especially a political party, or a government, in which they say what their aims and policies are
Blueprint - Design plans or drawing.
General election - In the UK, when an election is held for all 650 members of the House of Commons. One must take place every five years.
Conservative party - A British political party. Members are known as Tories.
European Union - A political and economic union of 27 countries.
Liberal Democrats - Also known as the Lib Dems, a liberal political party in the UK.
House of Commons - The democratically elected house of the UK Parliament. It consists of 650 Members of Parliament.
Boris Johnson - The Conservative Prime Minister of the UK and head of the government from 2019 to 2022.