UK Vocab

austerity

Sustained reductions in public spending with the goal of reducing debt and welfare state

backbenchers

MPs not in government nor shadow government

Blair, Tony

Labour PM from 1997 to 2007 who emphasized centrism through his "Third Way" and pushed for devolution

Brexit

Britains exit from the European Union

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

National broadcaster in UK

Cameron, David

Conservative PM from 2010 to July 2016 who worked to reduce public spending

coalition government

Majority government composed of multiple parties

collective consensus

Consensus in politics after WWII that led to the developing of the welfare state

collective responsibility

The Governments refusal to vote to display unity with the Prime Minister

common law

Rules for the government created throughout a countrys history that are based on precedents

Confederation of British Industry (CBI)

Non-partisan organization representing British business interests that advises and lobbies governments

Conservative Party

Center-right party in UK, based on neoliberal ideals, advocated for a free market

"Constitution of the Crown"

Unofficial constitution of UK composed of important documents, common law, and precedents

Democratic Unionist Party (DUP)

Unionist party that represents Anglo-irish Protestants in Northern ireland

devolution

The voluntary, revokable ceding of regional power from a central government to regional governments

Eurosceptics

People who are skeptical of the European Union and advocate for less EU influence over member states

first-past-the-post voting system

Whichever candidate gets the most votes wins, no matter if there was a majority or a plurality

Good Friday Agreement

Created a Northern Ireland Assembly and ended the 30 year Troubles conflict in Northern Island

the "Government"

The party (or parties) in Parliament that define policy and support the PM

hereditary peers

Members of the House of Lords that have their seat due to their parentage

hung parliament

When there is no singular majority party in Parliament

Johnson, Boris

Conservative PM from July 2019 to September 2022 who supervised the completion of Brexit

Labour Party

Center-left party in UK, emphasizes the working class and progressive policy

Law Lords

Members of the House of Lords who used to make decisions on devolution, laws inconsistent with the European Convention on Human Rights, civil cases, and criminal cases

Liberal Democrats

Center/Center-left party in UK, emphasized socially liberal ideals and a mixed economy

life peers

Members of the House of Lords appointed by the monarch for life on the advisement of the Prime MInister

Loyal Opposition

The largest party in Parilament that is not part of the Government

May, Theresa

Conservative PM from July 2016 to July 2019, attempted to secure Brexit deal but failed multiple times, resigned before ejected in vote of no confidence

National Health System (NHS)

Public healthcare system in UK funded by taxpayers, created after WWII

neo-liberalism

Classical liberal ideals of free markets with reduction in social spending and government regulation

parliamentary system

Citizens vote for members of legislature who select Prime Minister from majority party

parliamentary sovereignty

Parliament can make and overturn any law

quangos

Organization financed by government to which the government has devolved power, a non-ministerial department of the government

Question Time

Specified times during which members of Parliament can ask any question to a Minister and they must answer

referendum

A binding vote in which the public vote "Yes" or "No" on a policy question, such as Scottish indepdence or Brexit

Scottish National Party

Center-left party in UK that emphasized Scottish nationalism

"Shadow Cabinet"

Members of the Opposition who will fill specific positions in the Government if the Opposition becomes the Government

Sinn Fein

Irish nationalist party in UK that emphasizes irish reunification, political arm of the Irish Republican Army, never votes out of principle

snap election

General election called before 5 year deadline

Speaker of the House

Non-partisan Member of Parliament responsible for maintaining order in House of Commons

Starmer, Lord Keir

Leader of the Labour Party and of the Opposition since 2020

Sturgeon, Nicola

Leader of the Scottish National Party since 2014 and First Minister in Scottish Parliament

Sunak, Rishi

Leader of the Conservative Party and Prime Minister since October 2022

Thatcher, Margaret

Conservative PM from 1979 to 1990, emphasized privatization, free markets, and reduction of social spending

Thatcherism

ideology of Thatcher of both neoliberal ideals and a strong chief executive

Third Way

Labour platform premiered by Blair emphasizing centrism, connection with business elites, and rejecting ties with unions

Trades Union Congress (TUC)

Federation of trade unions in UK

Truss, Liz

Conservative PM from September 2022 to October 2022, emphasized Trussonomics to combat inflation, which included tax cuts for the super-wealthy

UK Independence Party (UKIP)

Rightwing party in Uk that emphasized Euroscepticism and Brexit

unitary government

One government holds ultimate power over entire state

"Vote of No Confidence"

Vote in Parliament which forces majority party to form a new government with a different Prime Minister within two weeks

welfare state

Set of public policies designed to provide for citizens via transfer payments and public healthcare

Whitehall

Bureaucracy of UK government that provides expertise for Cabinet members