Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Politics of the United Kingdom/Index of United Kingdom political parties meta attributes

Whig Party template ambiguous
See Talk:Tyrone (UK Parliament constituency) please --Wolfling 13:42, 11 April 2006 (UTC)

Party colours
I've created quite a few party colours, and I've broadly worked within the following parameters for parties with no particular official colour:
 * Red/dark pink: Socialist, communist and social democratic parties
 * Blue/purple: Conservative, Eurosceptic, Christian, regionalist and residents' parties
 * Yellow: Liberal parties
 * Green: Green, Irish nationalist and Islamic parties
 * Grey: Fascist parties
 * Orange/brown: Unionist parties
 * Bright pink: Joke parties
 * White: Independents
 * Beige: Parties of unclear classification

This has evolved over time, so it's not always been adhered to, but I'd like to propose it as an alternative to that on the project page, on the grounds that it is largely in place. Any suggestions for changes are welcome. Warofdreams talk 01:16, 23 May 2006 (UTC)


 * This is an interesting systematic approach. As you say it largely builds on what has already been done for UK parties. I am not sure how it translates internationaly.

--Gary J 08:59, 23 May 2006 (UTC)
 * I have tried to use lighter shades of a party colour for Independents associated with that party (Independent Conservative etc.). I also used pink for local groups of residents and silver for Slough Independents (a local group which contested the Slough election 2006. Whatever scheme is adopted for national elections needs to preserve some place for local parties and groups.


 * As you know Warofdreams, I have been busy with the meta frame boxes of late =P =). I think a system as you describe is perfect, and I am very much in favour of a page like this making it easier to find the colour and the parties ranked in this way. I have tidied your list of parties, btw doktorb | words 16:00, 23 May 2006 (UTC)

Additions
I suggest a meta-data be created for Independent Unionist. --Damac 09:32, 7 August 2006 (UTC)

I think I have already created a meta-shortname and meta-color for Independent Unionist, although it may not have been on this list previously. --Gary J 21:33, 7 August 2006 (UTC)


 * I see that but there is something wrong on Mid Ulster (UK Parliament constituency).--Damac 16:01, 8 August 2006 (UTC)


 * "Independent Unionist" isn't really a suitable title, as it will mean different things in different countries. If there's enough to say on the topic, it should probably be at Independent Ulster Unionist, or Independent Unionist (Ireland).  Incidentally, the links at the bottom have been separated because I'm unsure that they use the correct name, or there is no article on the party - basically, the templates do not work correctly. Warofdreams talk 16:53, 8 August 2006 (UTC)


 * Independent Unionist (Ireland) (or even (Northern Ireland)) is fine, although I don't think you'll find Independent Unionist candidates elsewhere. But Independent Unionist is what was on the ballot paper, not Ind. Ulster Unionist. There is already an Independent Republican (Ireland) label. --Damac 18:54, 8 August 2006 (UTC)
 * OK, that sounds like the solution. Google suggests it is the primary use of "Independent Unionist", but Scottish Unionists spring to mind, along perhaps with other independents associated with groups listed under Unionist.  I've rather wondered whether there is enough to say about Independent Republicans to justify an article, too. Warofdreams talk 00:43, 9 August 2006 (UTC)

Epsom and Ewell Residents Association
Can someone help get the templates in order for the Epsom and Ewell Residents Association? Currently Epsom and Ewell local elections is messy and with all the borough councils seats up for election next month a working RA box is needed. Timrollpickering 21:18, 8 April 2007 (UTC)

Similar colours and inconsistencies
Several points on this where slight colour changes may be necessary, in no particular order:

1). We're using the same colour for both the Liberals, SDP-Liberal Alliance and Liberal Democrats, but a different colour for the Social and Liberal Democrats which was just the Lib Dems under their original unwieldy name. However other mergers/big changes use different colours whilst mere party name changes just use the same colour. Furthermore the Ulster Liberal Party uses a colour of its own despite being basically the Northern Irish branch of the Liberals. Another colour is used for the legally separate "continuity" Liberal Party. However all three Social Democratic Parties are using the same colour despite being legally separate parties in very much the same situation.

Suggestions:
 * We use the same colour for the Liberal Democrats and Social and Liberal Democrats as the same party.
 * A same or different colour for the SDP-Liberal Alliance?
 * We use a slight variant for the Liberals.
 * Another variant for the "continuity" Liberal Party.
 * Subtley different colours for all three Social Democratic Parties.
 * The Ulster Liberal Party use the same colour as the Liberal Party (UK).

2). In the Irish Nationalist split of 1891 we're using the same colour for the pre existing Parliamentary Party and for the breakaway Irish National Federation or "Anti-Parnellite Nationalist" when technically the Parnellites maintained control of the machine.

Suugestions:
 * Either invert the colours or use different colours for both and only use #99FF66 for the unified pre and psot parties.

3). We're using the same colour for both the National Liberal Party (UK) (which was actually two parties) and non-party UK National Government MPs. (Mea culpa as I created the latter originally.)

Suggestions:
 * Different colours for the National Liberals and the non-party MPs.
 * Maybe different colours for the 1922-1923 "Lloyd George" Liberals and the 1931-1968 party.

4). The pre 1990 UK, English & Welsh and Northern Irish Green Parties all use the same colour, but the Scottish one is different.

Suggestions:
 * Either the Scots should use the UK colour as well or the English & Welsh and Northern Irish should use the Scottish colour to reflect the change. By definition the parties are not in competition.

5). We're using the same colour for Tory (a party that is replaced 1834), Coalition Conservative (1918-1992) and Conservative and Liberal Unionist (1886-1912) but a different colour for the Conservatives. The Tories and Conservatives should be treated as different entities but using the Tory colour for Conservative variants is confusing. Also the Scottish Conservative Party is using a slightly different colour, making tables look strange (look for instance at Secretary of State for Defence) and implying more separation between the parties than there is (it's not like the German CDU-CSU set-up).

Suggestions:
 * The Scottish Conservatives use the same colour as the UK party.
 * The Coalition Conservatives use the same colour - unlike the other parties the Conservative organisation never split.
 * Conservative & Liberal Unionist should use something close to the Conservatives (in fact #0281aa, currently used for the Scottish Conservatives, would meet the requirement).
 * Tory should continue to use a separate colour.

Thoughts? Timrollpickering 13:42, 24 June 2007 (UTC)


 * Thanks for this thorough examination. Many of these inconsistencies have been caused by editors changing just one party colour, and not considering the colours for related groups.  I think that your proposals are largely excellent; the one query I'd have is with the green parties, where, while the parties are not in competition with each other, several will enter candidates into a UK general election, and so some slight differentiation might be useful.  On the queries you raise, I'd suggest simply inverting the colours for the Irish Nationalist groups, although the pre-1891 and Parnellite groups would probably benefit from using the same colour that the post-1918 Nationalist Party uses.  The two National Liberal Parties should definitely use different colours, as they split over different issues, and in different ways.  Perhaps using the same colour for the SDP-Liberal Alliance as for the Lib Dems would help illustrate the continuity, but then again, the continuing Liberal and SDP groups would doubtless contest the idea, so I'm rather on the fence over the idea. Warofdreams talk 02:19, 25 June 2007 (UTC)


 * With regards the Greens, that is a potential solution. Treating the three nation parties in the same way is the key point.


 * On the Nationalists - yes, I didn't spot the post 1918 one. Good suggestion on the colours.


 * The 1922-1923 National Liberals should probably use the same colour as the Coalition Liberals since they were basically the same thing, albeit without the Coalition itself.


 * As for the two parties merging into three, all the relevant articles are split (after discussion on the talkpages for the various SDP articles) on the basis that nationally each of the refusenik parties was legally a separate entity to what had come before - legally in 1988 both the Liberals & SDP voted to merge/dissolve themselves into the combined party, transferring over assets. The reformed Liberals and SDP were legally new parties. In 1990 the Owenite SDP voted to dissolve itself and again the "continuing continuing SDP" was a new entity. Also the results on constituency and by-election pages regard the Liberals->SDP-Liberal Alliance->(Social and )Liberal Democrats as the same party for comparing results. (Similarly all tables handling Sinn Féin consider it to be the same party pre and post 1986 which again follows the assets and legal position and not the Republican Sinn Féin position.) I don't think it's POV to use the same colour for a formal electoral pact and the merged party formed directly out of it which both parties officially dissolved themselves into. Timrollpickering 22:05, 25 June 2007 (UTC)

Updating colours
I'm slowing working through the list. Here's what's done so far - feel free to add. Timrollpickering 23:42, 30 June 2007 (UTC)


 * Social and Liberal Democrats ("SaLaDs") now uses the same colour as the Liberal Democrats.
 * Currently both the main Liberals and the Ulster Liberals are using "gold" but this appears to be the same result as "#ffd700", the Lib Dem et al colour.
 * I'm now trying #DAA520 for both these two, which was previously the SaLaD colour.
 * All the Conservative changes proposed above have been made.
 * For now I've just inverted the Parnellite & Anti-Parnellite colours - in general the colours for various Irish nationalists could use a review.

Still needed

 * Three variants of purple for the three Social Democratic Parties.
 * Separate out the two National Liberal parties (with Lloyd George's group using the same colour as the Coalition Liberals) and another colour for non-party National Government supporters.
 * Separate colours for the three post 1990 Green Parties.

National Party of Scotland and the Scottish Party
I have just added meta data for two 1930s parties: the National Party of Scotland and the Scottish Party, which merged in 1934 to form the Scottish National Party (SNP).

In view of the merger and the fact of their close co-operation before the merger, I have copied the colors from the SNP. That may not be the best solution, which is why I am posting here in case anyone can think of a better set of colors. --BrownHairedGirl (talk) • (contribs) 16:23, 11 August 2007 (UTC)


 * I've changed the NPS colour to be a paler version of the SNP's, to show that they are linked, but not the same organisation. I've also shortened its shortname, so that it will fit on one line in most templates.  I've not changed the Scottish Party's colours, as I first wanted to check whether they actually had stood independent candidates. Warofdreams talk 20:48, 11 August 2007 (UTC)
 * Sounds good! Thanks for doing that. --BrownHairedGirl (talk) • (contribs) 01:54, 15 August 2007 (UTC)

Liberty GB Party
I think the colour of the Liberty GB Party is too close to that of the Conservatives. I first saw it in the Batley and Spen by-election, 2016 where the Liberty GB Party has filed a candidate. It's so close that at first I thought it's the same colour. There is, however, a difference of the very slightest shade. Nevertheless, the colours being so close might falsely indicate a connection between the two. --Maxl (talk) 19:16, 8 July 2016 (UTC)
 * The colour used in their logo seems to be a dark blue; do you think that just making the colour used for Liberty GB a bit darker would be sufficiently clear? Warofdreams talk 19:47, 8 July 2016 (UTC)
 * The colour should be exactly as is in their current logo. Fan &#124;  talk  &#124; 23:41, 10 July 2016 (UTC)
 * So long as it isn't too similar to any competing parties, that's a possibility - if you have the colour code for it. Warofdreams talk 14:52, 11 July 2016 (UTC)
 * I think making the colour for Liberty GB a bit darker would be fine. The difference would be more apparent then. If the colour in this banner is the current one it would also comply with the wishes of User:Fanx and it is obviously not the colour currently used for the party in the Wikipedia. --Maxl (talk) 11:15, 13 July 2016 (UTC)


 * File:Liberty_GB.png
 * The blue colour in the image above is #000168 (as sampled in Photoshop). edit: I've updated the party's meta color.Fan &#124;  talk  &#124; 00:02, 14 July 2016 (UTC)
 * Looks good, all sorted! Warofdreams talk 00:53, 14 July 2016 (UTC)
 * Very good, thanks! :) --Maxl (talk) 18:44, 20 July 2016 (UTC)

Coalition Unionist
Should there be a colour for Coalition endorsed Scottish Unionist candidates in the 1918 election? I don't think there is any case of the Unionist candidate in Scotland not having the Coalition endorsement but it might make it more consistent to have a Coalition variation for all parties that had the coupon? --Gharbhain (talk) 21:26, 4 June 2021 (UTC)

Suggested changes to particular templates
I'm not familiar with how to create and/or modify templates, but I've been adding here ones that weren't previously included in the table (mostly various local parties). While doing that, I've noticed a few things that I believe could be changed slightly for consistency and/or clarity. Perhaps another user could implement them if they agree with my reasoning?
 * Poole Engage Party was established by defectors from the Consevatives and Poole People. It is currently #F8F9FA. Perhaps a something nearer to #0087DC, #6600CC or #DDEEFF would be better. Basically that part of the spectrum occupied by independent Conservatives and breakaway groups.
 * Christchurch Independents similarly consists almost entirely of ex-Conservative councillors, so a colour change to something more blue might be called for. However, my main suggestion here is to chnage the display name. 'CI' is very nonspecific. Other loclaist groups display as 'placename Ind' e.g. Ashfield Independents as 'Ashfield Ind'. I think 'Christchurch Ind.' would be much better.
 * Boston District Independents is also currently #F8F9FA, but came out of the former Boston Bypass Independents, so either #FFFF00 or something very close to it would seem sensible.
 * When adding the Northern Ireland People Before Profit to the table, I discovered that there's a Lewisham People Before Profit which also displays as 'People Before Profit'. I don't think they should have the same display name (maybe 'Lewisham PBP' or 'People Before Profit (GB)' for the smaller entity, as the other has a higher profile). Separately, the Lewisham one has #9400d3 which is on the blue-ish end of the spectrum, when it should probably be at the red end like similar left parties including the NI one, which is #E91D50.
 * While I'm on the subject of Irish left parties, Workers' Party of Ireland is using #F8F9FA (again), when something red-ish is probably called for. For comparison other Workers parties listed here use #DB251E, #AA0000, #b22222 and #FF355E.
 * Sticking with the left, there are entries for both Conservative Trade Unionist and Labour, Co-op & Trade Union. I've never seen either of these specific descriptions used in elections, but in any case they shoud have colours other than white, the former probably the main Conservative colour, the latter the same colour as Labour and Labour Co-operative.
 * I notice that Epsom and Ewell Residents Association displays as simply 'Residents Association' where as all the other specific such groups include a local name. I think this one should probably display as something like 'Epsom & Ewell Res'.

A rather extensive list I know; hopefully some of the suggestions with find favour with other users. 2A02:8012:227B:0:18F1:7E54:F6A9:A26E (talk) 13:56, 26 May 2023 (UTC)

Editing short names: SDLP
How do we edit the short names? The SDLP's is currently "Social Democratic and Labour", which no-one uses. It should be "SDLP". Bondegezou (talk) 09:28, 24 May 2024 (UTC)