Smaller and regional parties
The nutshell
Two big parties win most seats in Parliament. But many smaller parties stand in elections too, and some are regional parties that stand in only one part of the UK, such as Scotland or Wales.
Every fact on this page comes from official bodies and non-partisan researchers. Each source tag — like HoC — opens where a fact comes from.
The basics
Parties beyond the big two
Two big parties win most seats in the House of Commons. But many other parties stand in elections too, and some win seats. The House of Commons Library says a third party often wins a fair number of seats, plus a range of smaller parties that win a few each.HoC
What a regional party is
A regional party stands for election in only one part of the UK. The Scottish National Party stands in Scotland. Plaid Cymru stands in Wales. Northern Ireland has its own set of parties as well.HoC A regional party speaks mainly for one nation or area, not the whole UK.
How a group becomes a party
Any group can try to become a political party. To put its name next to candidates on the ballot paper, the group must register with the Electoral Commission.EC A candidate who is not from a registered party can still stand, but only as an independent.
Why some small parties win few seats
UK general elections use First Past the Post. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each elect a parliament using a different system.IfGUnder First Past the Post, the candidate with the most votes in each area wins that seat. This helps a party whose voters are packed into a few areas. A party whose voters are spread thinly across the country can win lots of votes but very few seats. In 2024 the House of Commons Library found the widest gap between votes and seats on record.HoC
- First Past the Post usually gives one party enough MPs to form a government on its own, without long deals between several parties
- A party with strong support in one area, such as one nation of the UK, can still win seats there
- Each MP represents one local area, so a party has to build real support on the ground to win a seat
- A smaller party can win a large share of votes across the UK and still win very few seats
- The House of Commons Library found the 2024 result had the widest gap between votes and seats on record
- A vote for a party that is unlikely to win the local seat can feel wasted
The deep end6 min
What counts as a smaller or regional party
The House of Commons has long been dominated by two main parties. Alongside those two, a third party often wins a significant number of seats, and a range of smaller parties win a few each.HoC Some of these smaller parties are regional or national parties, standing for election in only one part of the UK. The Scottish National Party stands in Scotland, and Plaid Cymru stands in Wales. Northern Ireland has its own separate set of parties again.HoC
How a party gets onto the ballot paper
To put up candidates under a party name, a party must register with the Electoral Commission, the independent body that regulates parties and elections. A candidate who is not from a registered party can still stand, but only as an independent.EC Registering means a party name, description and emblem can appear on the ballot paper next to a candidate.
Why the voting system matters for smaller parties
UK general elections use First Past the Post, while Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each elect a parliament using a different, more proportional system.IfG A party whose voters are packed into a few areas can win the seats there. A party whose voters are spread thinly across the whole country can win a large share of votes and still win very few seats. In the 2024 general election the House of Commons Library found the widest gap between votes and seats on record. Reform UK won about 14% of votes but five seats, the Green Party won about 7% of votes but four seats, and the Liberal Democrats won 72 seats on a smaller vote share, helped by support that was more concentrated in particular areas.HoC
Regional parties and concentrated support
Regional and national parties often have the kind of concentrated support that First Past the Post rewards. Because a party like the Scottish National Party stands only in Scotland, its votes are packed into one part of the UK rather than spread across all 650 seats.HoC This is one reason a regional party can win seats even when a UK-wide smaller party, with more total votes, wins almost none.
Where the debate sits
Little of the argument is about whether smaller and regional parties should be allowed — registering a party is open to any group that meets the Electoral Commission's rules.EC Most of the argument is about how votes turn into seats. Supporters of First Past the Post say it usually produces a single-party government that can pass laws without long negotiations. Critics, including groups that campaign for change, say the system gives smaller parties far fewer MPs than the vote share would suggest.