Edexcel Politics Paper 1 Examples

Insider Pressure group

Age UK

Pressure groups

Fair share , NFU , Age UK ,BLM

Outsider Pressure group

Greenpeace

Single issue

Against a third Heathrow runway

Think tank

a nongovernmental organization that seeks to influence public policy through research and education

Neutral think tanks

Respublica

Left wing think tanks

- Fabian Society

- Institute for Public Policy Research

Right wing

Adam Smith institute

Liberal think tank

Liberty

Lobbyist

A person who is employed by and acts for an organized interest group or corporation to try to influence policy decisions and positions in the executive and legislative branches.

Common law

A legal system based on custom and court rulings

Statue law

Law made by parliament

The human rights act

Passed in 1998- the law that incorporated the EU convention into UK law.

Conservative party

A political party in Great Britain which developed from the Tories in the 1830s, One of the two major parties in the UK, it is generally more right wing, and more towards free-markets and the upper classes, advocates a mixed economy and encourages property-owning

Labour Party

British working-class political party established in the 1890s and dedicated to reforms and a peaceful transition to socialism, in time providing a viable alternative to the revolutionary emphasis of Marxism. In recent years become to accept captalism but believe in reform and regulation

Lib dems

Of the three main political parties in the UK, this is the one that is most disadvantaged by the electoral system. The most centrist party of the UK. Notable - 2010 coalition , recent by-election success over cons

UKIP

The political party that came second in 125 constituencies in 2015, and are always successful in European elections. They were seen as a single-issue party on the withdrawal from the EU. Since they achieved this the party has become small and weak

SNP

Scottish National party. A Scottish party of left-wing nationalism. They have been the biggest party within Scottish devolved parliament as well as gaining 95% of Scottish Westminster seats (Overep). They achieved a 2014 indy ref but did not achieve that goal since then theyve campaigned for a second

Green party

Party with a focus on protecting the environment through social and economic policy. They've influenced other parties by making them more environmentally conscious within their manifesto and legislative agendas

Extinction rebellion

a global environmental movement with the stated aim of using nonviolent civil disobedience to compel government action to avoid tipping points in the climate system, biodiversity loss, and the risk of social and ecological collapse.

SNP influence

-Controls the Scottish Parliament(ended tuition fees)

-Achieved an independence referendum in 2014

-Has 95% of Scottish seats within Westminster

Lib dem influence

-2010-2015 coalition

-Sucess within the local election

-rise in popularity among recent by elections

Chesham and Amersham by election

-The seat resulted in a large swing to the LDMs gaining them a seat from the torys. (Sarah Green MP)

Influence of UKIP

-Split the right-wing vote massively in 2015.

-12.3% of the popular vote in 2015

-Helped achieve an EU referendum as well as their campaign being successful

-Achieved the single issue that centred there party , popularity faded

% of seats won by 2 main parties in 2017

89.2%

% of votes for main 2 parties in 2017

80.4%

FPTP location

-Westminster

-USA (HoR)

AMS location

-Scotland

-Wales

-STV location

-Northern Ireland

-Scottish local elections

-SV location

-London Mayor

the system that produces the strongest government

-FPTP

The system that produces max voter choice

-STV

The system that produces a multi party system

-STV

The system that produces a strong constituency, MP relationship

FPTP

The system that produces proportional results

STV

The system that produces a absolute winner

SV

The system that produces no wasted ballots

-STV

Human Rights Act 1998

Act of Parliament that incorporated the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law, making it enforceable in UK courts. This meant that that UK citizens didn't need to go to European courts

The equality act

2010 prevent employers discriminating employees based of race religion gender or sexuality

Elderly couple

The couple had there right for a family life (Protected by EHRA)

Prisoners right to vote

-In 2005 the ECHR ruled that the right of UK prisoners were breached as they are prevented to vote in UK elections. However, parliament has failed to pass any legislation to prevent this breach.

Protection of Freedoms Act 2012

wide-reaching act that ranges from strengthening the freedom of information act to how DNA, fingerprints and footprints should be stored, handled and destroyed. Use as an example of representative democracy creating protection of rights within UK.

Ed Davey in con-LDM coalition

-Secretary of state to energy and climate change.

Northen Ireland assembly suspension

-The N Irish assembly was shut down due to power-sharing leaders being unable to reach agreements on policy etc. Causing the powers to be given back to Westminster until Jan 2020 (Critique of PR, Coalitions and devolution)

Issue parties

-UKIP,GREENS (USE IN INFLUENCE OF SMALL PARTIES AND MULTIPARTY SYSTEM)

2015 SNP results

56/59 seats (FPTP overrepresentation and small party success)

2017 vote for main 2 parties

80.4%

Theresa May seats (in 2017 election)

Green party MP

Caroline Lucas (Her seat is quite safe)

Cash for honours

Several wealthy donors to the labour party had been nominated for an award (lordship)

The law only regulated outright gifts

Loans subject to same rules as donations

Gordon Brown

British Prime Minister from the Labour Party served from 2007 to 2010. Seceded Tony Blair. He lost the 2010 election , arguably due to his economic competence during the 2008 financial crisis.

Turnout in 2001

59%

Turnout in 2019 General Election

67.3%

BNP seats in euro parliament

2 in 2009

Scottish turnout 2021

63.4

Scottish turnout 2016

55.8

2011 Scottish parliament (AMS)

-Struggled to understand AMS system

-the controversy that accompanied the high incidence of invalid votes in 2007

-few votes wished to express a preference

-smaller parties were edged out. SNP and Labour dominated

-SNP gained a majority under AMS

The 2017 Northern Irish election

-Resulted in no majority and an attempt for power-sharing among unionists and nationalists

-This ultimately failed resulting in a northern Irish assembly suspension

-This can be down to STV and its nature to create multi party results.

2015 disproportionate rep

-SNP ( 95% of Scottish seats 50% of vote)

-Ukip = (12.6% and one seat)

The sun

British newspaper that has backed the winner in many elections

1997 sun headline

The SUN BACKS BLAIR

2017 ANTI CORBYN CAMPAIGNS

-The 2017 election saw radical media campaigns against Corbyn. (The sun - Don't throw Britain in the CORBIN) . However, labour still received their highest vote share

2010 election debate

-Hurt the torys

-Massively good for Nick Clegg

Milton Keynes facebook AD

-Anti Corbyn on a targeted advertisement

2022 Northern Irish elections

Sinn Fein are victories over DUP. Sinn Fien received 27.9% of seats and 29% of vote showing STV in action

The Poundland Case (2013)

The government's "back to work" schemes, which were challenged by a graduate who was made to work for free at Poundland and an HGV driver made to clean furniture, were legally flawed, the UK's highest court has ruled. he solicitors Public Interest Lawyers (PIL) represented them

Starmers Pledges

-Pledged to increase income tax on the top 5% of earners within society

-Starmer indicated continued support for common ownership of rail, mail etc

-Abolish HoL are replaced with elected chamber based regions and countries

UKIP vote share 2015 v 2017

12.6%

1.8%

The fall shows the life cycle of a issue party after the achieve or fail there goal the vote share falls off a cliff