Politics - Paper 1 - UK

The Main Sources of the British Constitution?

• Statute Law

• Common Law (Precedent)

• Royal Prerogative

• Convention

• Works of Authority

What is Statute Law?

Example of Statute Law?

Refers to Acts of Parliament

Voting Rights Act 1965

What is Common Law?

Example of Common Law?

Years of legal judgment and previous cases/judicial precedent

Murder is a crime

How Does Royal Prerogative Work?

Example of R.P in Use?

Privilege that the monarch has but usually given and granted to PMs/ministers

Proroguing of parliament in 2020 by BoJo

What is Convention?

Example?

Generally agreed upon rules that parliament follows

Salisbury - Adison, Lords will allow Labour Manifesto pledges) and not block them

Milestones of British Constitutional Developments?

1. Magna Carta 1215

2. Bill of Rights 1689

3. Parliament Acts 1911 & 1949

4. EU Communities Act 1972

Why do Liberals Love The Magna Carta?

However, why shouldn’t it’s power be exaggerated nowadays?

First time right to a fair trial was granted

Only four clauses remain unreleased to this day

What did the Bill of Rights establish?

It’s power shouldn’t be exaggerated because?

1. Dominance of parliament over the monarch

2. No taxation sin representation

3. Parliament meets every SINGLE year

Ordinary people didn’t get any more rights though

What were the benefits of the Parliament Acts?

Severely reduced the power of the Lords as they could now only veto a bill for 1 year and not any longer

What didn’t the EU Communities Act have a large effect on?

What did it strongly affect?

1. Education and defence

2. Agriculture fishing and trade

Modernisation of UK Constitution?

1. House of Lords Act 1999

2. Constitutional Reform Act 2005

3. House of Lords Reform Bill 2012

4. House of Lords Reform Act 2014

What did the House of Lords Act do?

What were its successes?

What were its failures?

• Removed all but 92 hereditary peers and create a ‘Peoples Peer’ post (were peers could be nominated for life to)

• Now the House of Lords became much more diverse and no longer Conservative dominated

• Nevertheless, the UK still remained the only democracy in the world without an elected 2nd chamber

What did the Constitutional Reform Act do?

What were its successes?

What were its failures?

• Created the British Supreme Court, which replaced the Law Lords

• Created a clear separation between the Judicial and Exec Branches

• Too much power still remained in the hands of unelected officials

What did the House of Lords Reform Bill 2012 propose? (Proposed, never passed)

• 20% rule = Proposed that the Lords should feature 80% elected peers and 20% hereditary peers

• It was axed by 91 Tory backbenchers

What did the House of Lords Reform Act 2014 do?

• Gave Peers the right to resign

• Allowed for Peers to be removed for non-attendance like Lord Steel

Greater Democracy in the Political System Constitutional Changes?

1. Scotland and Wales Acts 1999

2. Greater London Authority Act 1999

3. EU Parliamentary Elections Act 1999

4. Fixed Term Parliaments Act 2011

What did the EU Parliamentary Elections Act 1999 do?

What were its successes?

What were its failures?

1. Changed the UK EU Parliamentary election system from FPTP to closed-list system

2. Smaller parties won, like: BNP and UKIP

3. Wasn’t very popular with the public as it didn’t increase demand for other voting system like AV in the 2011 referendum (only 42% turnout)

What did the fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 do?

It made it a requirement that the PM ‘Amorino Must Have’ 2/3 of parliament support to call an early general election

Human Rights Acts?

1. Human Rights Act 1999

2. Freedom of Infomoration 2000

3. Equality Act 2010

4. Protection of Freedoms Act 2011

What were the success of the Human Rights Act 1999?

What were the failures?

1. Increase protection of individual rights

2. Allowed Law Lords to infringe upon elected parliament action like Belmarsh 2004

Freedom of Information Act 2000, what does it mean for Uni, BBC, Police and Councils?

1. They must have an ‘Information Office’ and reply within 20 days

2. They must make certain information publicly and freely available like on their websites for example

However, requests aren’t always accepted as (the figures)

What are the grounds for rejection?

1. Only 40% of requests were fully responded to

2. 35% of requests were outright rejected

1. The information would create an National Security Risk

2. The information would be unreasonably expensive to gather

3. The information creates a commercial clash

Fixed Term Parliaments Act 2011

What did it remove?

Why did the Lib Dem Coalition Pass the Act?

Tell me about the removal of this act?

1. Removed ability for PMs to ‘go to country’ early when polls appear favourable (Blair did this in 2001)

2. The Lib Dems passed the act to maintain and improve stability or to ensure they wouldn’t be voted in a G.E out of government when the Cons gained support

3. BoJo passed the Early Parliamentary Elections act 2019 which overturned this act

Possible New Pieces of Legislation? (3)

1. Voter cards to prevent fraud

2. Voting age to become 16

3. Mandatory voting

Should the British Constitution Be Codified

Yes or No?

Yes because…

1. Uk is only country in the world that doesn’t have a codified

2. Convention can be overturned like Boris Johnson in 201

3. Codification would reduce the concentrentration

No because…

1. Lack of public desire for it (42% turnout in 2011 on AV?

2. Uk traditions are ever-changing and currently well served by the Constitution

3. Would lead to a completely un-elected S.C having a lot more power

Individual V Collective Rights

Ashers Baking v Gay Couple

11. Bakery didn’t want to bake a cake celebrating gay marriage

.

.

Developments in the balance of power of the UK since the 19th century?

House of Lords lost power due to the parliament Acts of 1911 and 1949

Developments in diversity since the 19th century?

1. First Female MP was in 1919

2. 220 Women MPs elected in 2019

Developments in the Checks and Balances of the UK since the 19th C?

1. Less opportunity for independent voting due to centralised control (whipping)

   1. However, exceptions are present as T. May was constrained due to backbench pressure so couldn’t get her Brexit deal through

Secondary Legislation

Ballot Bills…

How it works?

Their downside?

1. Brought forward by MPs whom of which 20 are drawn out of a random ballot each year. The winner is then approached by Pressure Groups or they accept government handout bills

2. However, they can easily be blocked if an MP speaks for the whole-time limit (like during the 2016 Turing Bill)

Secondary Legislation

Ten-Minute Rule Bills

What do they usually focus on?

Usually mainly focus on raising attention on a issue of an MP’s constituency rather than passing legislation

Secondary Legislation

Presentation Bills

Requirement?

Famous exception?

1. All bills must be uncontroversial

2. However, the Cooper-Letwin Act Brexit deal of 2019 went against the PM but was still passed and blocked a no-deal Brexit going against May's ability to leave with No-deal

How Well Does the Government Perform a Representative Role?

It does a good job

It does a bad job

1. GOOD:

   1. Constituencies are present in all areas of the UK

   2. There are many parties in the commons (14)

   3. Increasing amount of diversity like 6% of MPs are gay and in 2010 there was the first Chinese MP

2. BAD:

   1. Constituencies vary massively in population size (Highlands v Isle of White)

   2. Only two parties dominate due to FPTP

   3. Women are still under represented (33%) and gays are over-represented

Theories of Representation

Burkean

What is It?

Explain the Burkean Theory example of votes of conscience?

1. It is when MPs follow the theory that they have been entrusted by the people to apply their own expert judgement to decisions

2. Votes of conscience example was the Same-Sex Marriage Bill as it didn’t appear in any party manifesto and so Burkean theory was applied

Theories of Representation

Delegate Theory

What Is It?

Significant example in Eastbourne

1. It’s when MPs follow the will of their constituents exactly

2. Stephen Lloyd MP of Eastbourne in 2017 went against Lib-Dem position and supported LEAVE (as his constituents did)

   1. However, he was later out-voted in 2019 so the theory could actually not be true

Theories of Representation

Mandate Theory

What is it?

Significant example?

1. MPs primarily have their seat to carry out party policies, not constituents needs

2. Frank Field 2017 resigned as Labour MP and then stood as an Independent but lost his seat forever!

Scrutiny of the Executive

Parliamentary Debates

How Do Parliamentary Debates Scrutinise Executive?

Example from 2013?

1. The need for the executive to pose certain decision to parliament means that it can go against executive wishes (happens due to convention)

2. Syria vote - Dodgy Dave wanted to bomb Syria but he had to pose the question to parliament and whether to do so but parliament said no (overwhelmingly)

Scrutiny of the Executive

Parliamentary Privilege

What Is It?

Example about Lord Hain?

1. It makes it so that MPs are exempt from laws of slander

2. Lord Hain name-dropped Phillip Green as the person who had committed sexual abuse but ‘The Telegraph’ had been blocked from reporting on

Scrutiny of the Executive

Emergency Debates

Example from 2017?

1. Diana Johnson raised an emergency debate about blood contamination as there were cases of HIV and Hepatitis C

PMQs

They are effective?

They aren’t effective?

1. Effective:

   • Boris Johnson was scrutinised by Keir Starmer, awareness of Partygate, which eventually led to resignation.

   • PMQs address up-to-date and recent issues. For example, during PMQs, Keir Starmer challenged Rishi Sunak on rising energy prices, so the Energy Price Guarantee introduced to cap energy bills

   • High media presence, a YouTube channel and social media reels

   Not Effective:

   • Only 12% of the population say they feel proud of the government during PMQs.

   • PMQs can lead to patsy questions

   • Can divert policymaking attention to point-scoring and petty disputes.

Committees

Public Bill Committees

What Do They Do?

Advantages of PBC Public Bill Committees

Disadvantages of PBC Public Bill Committees

1. During the committee stage - backbenchers who scrutinise bills line by line

2. PROS:

   1. Allow backbenchers to have more input more than usual

   2. They make important changes to gov bills (added protections for journalists - Digital Security Act 2016)

   3. Opportunities for Pressure Groups to bring forward their views (increasing pluralism)

3. CONS:

   1. Gov always has majority in the public bill committee (so greater changes are unlikely)

   2. Temporary nature of membership causes lack of expertise in area (possible bad decisions)

   3. Party whips decide membership so only loyal member are put inside

Committees

Select Committees

What do they do?

Select Committees Are Very Effective in Influencing the Executive? (With examples)

1. They uncover government scandals, keep ministers accountable and make reports open to the public

1. THEY ARE:

   1. Select committees can summon witness to speak

      1. Home Affairs Amber 2018 Windrush scandal, lead to resignation

   2. Many committee chairs are from minority parties

      1. PublicAccountsCommittee investigated the government’s handling of COVID-19 contracts, exposing waste of funds

   3. Their media media mentions have increased significantly since 2008

      1. Digital Committee investigated Facebook’s role in the Cambridge Analytica data scandal, increasing calls for regulation of data handling of social media platforms

Select Committees

Select Committees Aren’t Very Effective in Influencing the Executive? (With examples)

1. THEY AREN’T:

   1. El partido gubernativo always has a majority on the committees

      1. Conservative majority on 2021 Health and Social Care committee did not issue direct blame on ministers for handling of pandemic, as led by a majority

   2. People who are questioned can give incomplete answers or vague responses

      1. 2016 D. Cameron did not provide clear responsibility for the post-war instability in Libya caused by UK intervention.

   3. Whips only select loyal party members

      1. Julian Lewis, MP that wanted to publish a Russia report on interference, had whip removed and could not lead the committee

Opposition in Parliament

Role of Opposition in Parliament

Strengths of the Opposition

Weaknesses of the Opposition

1. Role is to offer an alternative solution and to scrutinise on government decisions

Strengths of Opposition:

• p-A-C committee revealed cronyism during COVID contracts

• PMQs provide a way to scrutinise effectively: 2021 Keir STARMER challenged BOJO over #partygate!

Weakness of Opposition:

• Lack of POWER during Majority led gov, Brexit legislation passed with ease thanks to 80 SEAT majority

• Reduced ability to challenge gov EFFICTIVLEY, when party is divided: Labour under Corbyn from 2015-2020

Does The Executive Dominate Parliament?

Yes The Executive Does Dominate Parliament Actually

No The Executive Doesn’t Dominate Parliament In Reality

1. YES:

   1. Party discipline and whip system: Keir Starmer removed any MPs who didn’t support the Ukraine War

   2. Secondary Legislation CAN pass without full parliamentary debate: COVID legislation

2. NO:

   1. In times of minority government the executive faces difficulties in passing desired legislation (MAY Gov, brexit deals)

   2. Select committees hold government to account: P-A-C committee held gov to account by highlighting COVID-contracts-cronyism

The Prime Minister & The Cabinet (Exec) 🗄

The Exec Powers Are Significant!

The Exec Powers Are Insignificant ;(

YES:

1. UK ARMED Forces can be deployed without parliament approval

2. There are no parliamentary approvals of cabinet nominations (fire and re-hire 🙂 )

3. In times of crisis, gov can quickly pass legislation (COVID Act 💉 )

NO:

1. UK ARMED Forces aren’t usually deployed without parliamentary vote

2. Cabinet must be diverse 🏳‍🌈

3. Executive must rely on majority to pass legislation (Terror Act 2005 🕋 )

How The Role of the PM Has Changed Over Recent Times

The Role of PM Has Greatly Changed

The Role of PM Has Barely Changed

YES:

1. Thatcher and Blair frequently held sofa cabinet meeting with only a few ministers 🛋

2. Growing use of private Spads that serve solely the PM like Alistair Cambell 👑

3. Development of celebrity personality as seen in the 2010 candidates debate where party candidates debated 〽

NO:

1. No formal increases in legislation powers of PM since founding of role 🗝

2. Not all pm-ships were dominant like Theresa May 👵

3. PMs have the incentive to appear with, and so collaborate with esteemed figures like (Bo-Jo and Scientific Chief Adviser) 🤝

How Policy Is Made (6 Possible Causes, and Example)

1. Manifesto Pledges

   1. 2017 Conservative Manifesto promised to increase free child care hours to 30 🤞

2. Referendums

   1. 2016 Referendum lead to exit of EU 💶

3. Coalition

   1. 2010 Coalition led to AV vote 🗳

4. Emergency Legislation

   1. 2020 Corona Virus Act 🐛

5. Pressure from public

   1. Fridays for future, caused UK to pledge to cut emissions to almost zero 🥬

6. Changing social attitudes

   1. 1960 liberal social attitudes led to decriminalisation of gay 🌈 and banning of death penalty ☠

The Powers of the PM

Patronage Powers (Cabinet)

Powerful….

However…

POWERFUL:

1. Johnson re-shuffled cabinet completely in 2019. During night of the ‘Blonde Knives’ 🗡

HOWEVER:

1. If too many are fired this leads to slander from ex-ministers making the PM appear weak 📢. (Geoffrey Howe resignation speech)

The Powers of the PM

Authority Over Cabinet

Powerful

However..

POWERFUL:

1. Any minister who doesn’t support a decision must resign

HOWEVER:

1. Gordon Brown never support the Euro and nevertheless continued under Blair

The Powers of the PM

Dictating Policy Priority

Powerful…

However…

POWERFUL:

1. When strong majority policy wishes can be exerted

HOWEVER:

1. During an economic recession, this power isn’t as strong (Comprehensive Spending Review 2009 by Brown was impacted)

Power and Resources of the Cabinet (3 examples)

1. Cabinet ministers can block or push back on PM’s policies. Rishi Sunak blocked Boris Johnson’s plan for a second lockdown in 2020, arguing the economic cost would be too high.

2. power to trigger a leadership crisis that leads to the pm stepping down:

   Heseltine 1990, caused Major to win internal election process of Conservatives and Thatcher stepping down

3. Power to refused to be moved in a re-shuffle (Jeremy Hunt, during May government)

Does Cabinet Gov Still Exist?

YES - Cabinet Government Still Exists!

NO - Cabinet Government No Longer Exists!

YES Cab Gov Still Exists:

1. Influential ministers can refuse to resign (J. Hunt)❌

2. Ministers can have their own Spads

3. Cabinet is still important during KEY decisions (COBRA)

NO Cab Gov No Longer Exists:

1. Main meetings are short (Only 30 mins) 🩳

2. PMs can remove opponents in cabinet (‘Night of the Blonde Knives’) 👱‍♀

3. Many decisions are made at Cabinet Committee Level (minsters only sign-off on legislation) 🫥

Ministerial Resignations (3 causes and examples)

Unwillingness to Accept Collective Responsibility

• Clare short over Iraq war

Inability to Deliver a Policy

• Tracey Crouch resigned over Phillip Hammond’s decision to delay cutting stakes from 100GBP → 2GBP

Misconduct

• Priti Patel violated the ‘Honest’ principle of the Ministerial Code when she took a private holiday to Israel and met with 14 businessmen and ministers

Accountability of Executive to Parliament (3 for and against)

Cabinet + PM Are VERY Accountable To Parliament

Cabinet + PM Are Really NOT Accountable To Parliament

Exec are very accountable to gov:

1. PMQs (on TV) can involve backbenchers grilling the executive (Andrew Bridgen questioning BoJo on partygate)

2. Ministers appear before Select Committees

3. In the Ministerial Code, Ministers must follow the ‘Accountability’ principle 🪖

Exec isn’t very accountable to gov:

1. - can use prerogative powers without parliamentary approval, like Syrian airstrikes of 2018

2. - whipping system

3. Ministers can claim to be unaware of an error committed (avoiding ‘Accountability principle) 🪖

The Judiciary

Why Was The Supreme Court Established?

1. Due to concerns over an incomplete separation of powers

2. Law Lords lacked diversity

3. General confusion among the populace as to what the Law Lords actually did

The Judiciary

Has The UK Judiciary Become More Politicised Over The Years?

Yes It Has!

No It Hasn’t!

YES MORE POLITICISED:

1. Relocation to Middlesex Guildhall has brough the court into greater media attention

2. Politicians have criticised decisions (breaking convention) like during the Miller case when Jacob R. Mogg called the ruling a ‘Constitutional Coup’

NO POLITICISED:

1. Senior judges benefit from security of tenure

2. JAC appointment process is transparent

Has The Impact of The Judiciary on The Exec Increased?

Yes The Impact On Exec’s Ability to Work Has Increased

No The Impact On Exec’s Ability to Work Hasn’t Increased

YES:

1. Expansion in Judicial activisim/intervention

• ex: Miller II, Supreme Corut ruled that executivtive's actions were unlawful

2. Increased Judicial protection using HRA

• ex: Belmarsh case ruled that prisoners can be detentioned indefinately

3. Court Blocking Flapship Gov Policies

• ex: SC struck down gov's Rwanda plan

NO:

1. Court still practices judicial restraitn

• ex: Courts have avoided intervening in deciisions like arms sales to Saudi Arabia

2. Limited Enforcement Power held by the SC

• ex: SC cannot actually Enforce its judgements

3. Parliament Is still sovreign

• ex: After Miller II case parliament passed EU (withdrawal agreement) ACt 2020 securing brexit without contratins imposed by court

UK’s Supreme Court V Law Lords

3 points that show differences from Law Lords → Supreme Court

1. More independent appointment process

2. A clear separation of powers

3. Increase in media coverage

Devolution

Important Acts for Scotland

Scotland Act 1998, What Did It Give Scotland?

Primary Legislative Powers

1. Healthcare

2. Education

3. Transport

Devolution

Scotland Act 2012, What Did It Give Scotland?

• power to set income tax

• Borrowing powers

• Landfill tax

Devolution

Scotland Act 2016, What Did It Give Scotland?

• POST INDEPENDECE REFERENDUM

Big deal:

1. Half of VAT revenues raised in SCO go to the Scot govt

2. FULL control over income tax rates AND bands

3. Control of disabillity benefits, carer’s allowance (2.7Billion GBP of welfare powers)

Devolution

Government of Wales Act 1999, What Did It Give Wales?

Secondary Legislative Powers

Powers were similar to those of the secretary of state for wales

1. Agriculture

2. Housing

3. Fishing

Devolution

Government of Wales Act 2006, What Did It Give Wales?

• Enable the assembly to request a primary legislative power from Westminster when needed

Devolution

Wales 2011 Referendum, What Did It Give Wales?

• A yes vote of 64 percent on whether the above should be permitted

Devolution

Wales Act 2016, What Did It Give Wales?

• Wales now allowed to control its own tax bands

Devolution

Wales Act 2019, What Did It Give Wales?

• Electoral system powers — AMS

• Rail franchise control

Devolution

sENNED AND Wales Act 2021, What Did It Give Wales?

• Votes for 16+ year olds

• Changed the name of the welsh parliament

Has Devolution Worked Well In The Uk

YES IT HAS!

NO IT HASN’T!

2 for and agaisnt

YES:

1. Proved popular with voters due to the increase in support at referendums (Wales 1997 → Wales 2011)

2. Allowed regional IDentites to flourish (SCO tradtionally left-wing)

NO:

1. Inequalities in care and benefits across uk (uni fees + prescriptions)

2. Weakened the union as SCO referendum held

Devolution in England

Arguments for

Arguments Agaisnt

FOR:

1. Clear expression of support for existing devolution

2. growing support among Conservative party members like ex-chair of 1922 committee Graham Brady

AGA.:

1. An english parliament would dominate as it would dominate as it has 85 percent of population and the bulk of GDP

2. Only weakens and does not strengthen the union as there is no risk that ENG would leave

Development of Universal Suffrage in the UK

Great Reform Act 1832

Second Reform Act 1867

G. Reform Act 1832:

• 1 every 5 men could vote and ‘rotten boroughs’ were abolished

S. Reform Act 1867:

• 1 every 3 men could vote as working class men IN CITIES were enfranchised

Development of Universal Suffrage in the UK

Third Reform Act 1884

Representation of the people Act 1918

T. Reform Act 1884

• All men who met a property qualification could vote

Representation of The People Act 1918

• All men over 21 could now vote

• All women over 30 who met a property qualification could now vote

Representation of the People Act 1928

Representation of the people Act 1969

R. of the People Act 1928

• All men and women can vote over 21, regardless of property

R. of the People Act 1969

• Voting age lowered to 18

Chartists

6 points to transform Britain into a full democracy

1. Voting should occur by secret ballot

2. All men should vote WITHOUT having to own property

3. Parliamentary elections should happen every year

4. Constituencies should be equally sized

5. MPs should be paid

6. Property qualifcation for MPs to be removed

Should Prisoners Have the Right to Vote?

2 points for

2 points against

FOR THE RIGHT TO VOTE OF PRISONERS:

1. No evidence that not being able to vote is an effective deterrent

2. Voting is a fundamental right that cannot be removed

AGAINST THE RIGHT TO VOTE FOR PRISONERS:

1. Public opinion is firmly against this (David Cameron said the idea of it made him sick)

2. Prisoners live in constituencies with large prisons but are not normally members of that constituency

Is There A Participation Crisis in The Uk? (2 points each)

YES THERE IS A PARTICPATION CRISIS

NO THERE ISN’T A PARTICIPATION CRISIS

YES:

1. Political apathy amongst the youth as turnout was 47% in 2019 and membership of labour is 3-4% among this group

2. Turnout has decreased especially since the 50s

NO:

1. Social movements are significant like #MeToo and BLM

2. Referendums attract a large turnout like; Brexit and Scottish ref both 80%+

Evaluating Electoral Systems for Proportionality and fair result

FPTP

LIST PR

AMS

STV

AV

LIST PR: Scores very highly, Brexit Party won 39% of vote and gained 40% of seats

FPTP: Does no correlate + Creates Winner’s Bonus, 1997 Labour won 43% of vote but got 63% of seats

AMS: Falls between FPTP and L-PR, Lothians region produced a good result as S- Conservative Party won 25% seats on vote of 24%

STV: Accurately reflect overall shares of vote, preferred by Electoral Reform Society as voters don’t worry about tactical voting.
2022, Sinn Féin won 29% of first-preference votes and got (30%) of seats

AV: Would be worse than FPTP, 2017 Liberal Democrats would have got less MPs than FPTP

Evaluating Electoral Systems for Vote Value

FPTP

List PR

AMS

STV

AV

FPTP: Safe seats lead to wasted votes, In 2019, Brexit Party won almost 1million votes but won no seats

LIST PR: 1-5% votes still might not win any seats

AMS: Similar to LIST PR

STV: Preferential voting reduces wasted votes

AV: No discentive to vote for a minor party

Evaluating Electoral Systems for Promoting Participation and Turnout

FPTP

List PR

AMS

STV

AV

FPTP: Some argue that discourages participation decreases as few parties that can win, However, turnout is not declining in the UK

LIST PR: Turnout is HISTORICALLY low in European elections; 36.9% in 2019

AMS: No clear proof that Scottish or Welsh elections had increased turnout, 45% in Wales 2016 AMS

STV: Northern Ireland 2019 EU elections was 45%, compared to 36% in UK

AV: No european countries use AV

Evaluating Electoral Systems for STRONG & Stable Gov

FPTP

List PR

AMS

STV

AV

FPTP: Nearly always produces clear results, clearly evident from 1979-2010 - LAB & CONS dominated for long times

LIST PR: HISTORICALLY weak in europe

AMS: Almost inevitably produces MINORITY government, SNP has only once secured a majority 2011

STV: Produces multiparty government

AV: Most likely to produce single-party government

Recent Changes in Voting Behaviour

1. Class dealignment

2. Partisan dealignment

3. Rise of ID politics

Class Dealignment Example:

• 2019 general election, LEFT V RIGHT; Over 50% of youth voted Labour whilst Over 50% of mature voted Conservatives

KEY ELECTIONS

1983 Election

• Rising unemployment (3+ million!)

• Millitary victory in 1982 falklands war

• Worst ever Labour defeat

• 144 Conservative Majority

• SDP won most of Labour’s seats

• Labour was publically split over it’s manifesto

• Thatcher was much more in control of her party, 8 years in charge of it

• Thatcher held many TV interviews, displaying patriotism & being a dominant figure

Electoral System:

• FPTP penalised Alliance as they won 186 seats fewer than Labour

UK Referendums

1975

2011

2016

Common Market Remainance? Yes 67%

AV system? No 68%

Brexit? Yes 52%

Advantages of Referendums

Disadvantages of Referendums (2 each)

ADVANTAGES:

1. Refs. see GREATER amounts of turnout, like 85% for Scotland or Brexit

2. Direct link between national will to policy making

DISADVANTAGES:

1. Not all refs. see high turnout like AV 2011 referendum on the UK's voting system saw only 42% turnout

2. ONE referendum doesn’t decide the issue for good, SNP demanded another Scottish referendum

3. Majority votes for their own interests: Hungary 2018 referendum voted for rejection of EU immigrant quotas

Four Main strands of Conservative Party, what are they?

• One-nation conservatism

• Butskellite consensus

• Traditional values

• Thatcherism

One-nation conservatism

• Which theory is it related to and explain what that causes

• What do 1 nation people in power need to do?

• Quote from Disraeli

• Recent example

• Burkean theory, Disraeli beleived that those with power have a (patriarchal) duty to use it WISELY

• They must unite the nation using MODERATE social reforms and PATRIOTISM

• ‘The place is unsafe when the cottage is not happy’

• Used recently by Boris Johnson (‘our one-nation government’): public services to help poor but not high taxes for rich

Butskellism & Consensus

• Why did it occur?

• What did many Tories support (+ specific name of politician too)?

• What the the party do as a whole, ___ what labour was passing?

1. Due to the Welfare State + support for the NHS, Conservatives moved to the centre

2. Many supported joining the EEC, like Edward Heath

3. Accepted the bulk of nationalisations

Traditional Values

• Example + respective campaign and quote

• Values supported

• Example is John Major’s ‘Back to Basics’ campaign: ‘time for self-discipline and accepting self-responsibility’ not blaming the state

• Reflect the parties on-going values (hard line against immigration, traditional family)

Thatcherism

• Brief overview of ideology (+ 2 things it supported TRW)

• 2 key policies and a overall aim, important quote

• Important example of a key victory

• Ideologically supportive of Libertarian positions: Self-help, individual freedom

• Policies aimed to: ‘roll back the frontiers of the state’ , denationalise most government-owned industries and lower taxes

• Example: 1984-85 Miners’ strike saw Thatcher break the National Union of Mineworkers

Conservative 2024 Policies & The Strands of Conservate Party They Represent

• List 4 policies and which strand of Conservative Party they represent

Remove illegal migrants to Rwanda | Traditional values

Recruit 92,00 more nurses | One-nation conservatism

Reform disability benefits to cut welfare spending | Thatcherism

No new green levies but supporting renewable energy | Butskellism Consensus

Four Main strands of Labour Party, what are they?

• Economic Socialism

• Trade Unionism

• Globalist Internationalism

• Third Way

Economic Socialism

• Key example and 3 industries that were ___

• Why did this happen (ideaological reason behind it)

• Postwar Attlee gov, setting up the Welfare state: [Coal Mining, Steel, Railways]

• This was due to wanting to redistribute wealth for the many and not the few

Trade Unionism

• Funding, what did they used to supply for Labour

• Transition from weaker to greater power

• Used to supply the BULK of funding

• Weakened under Thatcher

• Re-gained some power under Corbyn as he had close ties to McCluskey (Unite general secretary)

Globalist Internationalism

• What this strong body of Labour supports (3 examples)

• Example of figure of who upheld these values

• When was it weakened

• Strong body in LAB opposed to nuclear weapons, racism and fascism

• Corbyn campaigned against the apartheid in South Africa

• Weakened under Blair’s close relationship with G.W BUSH USA

Third Way/New Labour

• The crux of it

• Key quote of Mr. __ himself and what Third Way strives to do

• Accepting neo-liberalism but also support social liberalism

• Putting capitalist profits to increase justice and fairness for all: ‘Education, education, education!’