ABSTRACT
The British political system is the product of an extraordinary evolution, from Anglo-Saxon times to the twentieth century, when our present structure essentially emerged. The history and ancient nature of this process tell us the British are a conservative people, slow to change and keen to hang on, even with a degree of nostalgia, to outdated symbols of our monarchical past, like the annual opening of parliament and the ceremony attending the Queen’s Speech. Political parties began to organise in the country, hence the many old buildings – Conservative and Liberal Clubs – which are seen all over the country, which acted as headquarters for them. At the end of the nineteenth century, trade unions realised that they could better advance the cause of their members by organising to get representatives directly elected to parliament. The chapter provides the story of the British parties up to the end of the twentieth century.
