Do they really matter? The UK's political parties are preparing to release their plans for what they would do if they won power.
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Get involved: Write your own manifesto
Do they really matter? The UK's political parties are preparing to release their plans for what they would do if they won power.
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A political manifestoA 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. is a document containing the policies or ideas parties plan to carry out if put into power.
Manifestos are a major part of the election process. 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. will likely publish one.
Election promises can have a big impact on a governmentThe group of people who govern - or lead - the country.'s behaviour. The 2015 Conservative PartyA British political party. Members are known as Tories. manifesto, for instance, promised a "referendumA direct vote by the population of a country on a particular law or issue. on our membership of the European UnionA political and economic union of 27 countries. by the end of 2017". The result was BrexitThe UK's departure from the European Union. .
In Britain, parties are not forced to carry out manifesto promises. 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 leader. But when he left power, it was for other reasons.
Though many people do not read them directly, they do drive media coverage. A policy that the press does not like can lead to bad news for the parties. Parties need to think hard about what to put in - and what to leave out.
Do they really matter?
Yes! They give voters an idea of what to expect. Many people choose to vote for a party based on promises in the manifesto. And breaking promises can seriously hurt trust in a party.
No! They are all talk. Few people ever really read all the way through a manifesto. And once a party is in power, they often quietly forget about some of their manifesto promises.
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Keywords
Manifesto - 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.
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.
Government - The group of people who govern - or lead - the country.
Conservative party - A British political party. Members are known as Tories.
Referendum - A direct vote by the population of a country on a particular law or issue.
European Union - A political and economic union of 27 countries.
Brexit - The UK's departure from the European Union.
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
Manifesto - 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.
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.
Government - The group of people who govern - or lead - the country.
Conservative party - A British political party. Members are known as Tories.
Referendum - A direct vote by the population of a country on a particular law or issue.
European Union - A political and economic union of 27 countries.
Brexit - The UK's departure from the European Union.
Boris Johnson - The Conservative Prime Minister of the UK and head of the government from 2019 to 2022.