MODS - DEMOCRACY - EXAMPLES

RESERVED POWER: IMMIGRATION

The Immigration and Social Security Co-Ordination Act 2020 ended free movement at the end of the transition period (31 December 2020) and is the start of the UKs points-based immigration system.

RESERVED POWER: DEFENCE

The UK Parliament passed the 2015 Counter Terrorism and Security Act which prevents individuals travelling abroad to engage in terrorist activities and then return to the UK.

PM POWERS: CABINET CHAIRPERSON

Starmer chose to keep the two-child benefit cap, a decision seen as controversial by many MPs, esspecially within his party.

PM POWERS: INTERNATIONAL STATESPERSON

He delivered a speech at the United Nations General Assembly in September ‘24 where he promised to deliver ‘global leadership’ on international issues.

PM POWERS: POWER OF APPOINTMENT

Starmer appointed members to his cabinet who he knows will agree with him on most matters, like Angela Rayner as his deputy PM.

WHY PEOPLE DONT VOTE: VOTER APATHY

In the ‘24 GE, over 19 million people didn’t vote. This could be because people feel let down by politicians as previous goverments have failed to deliver key promises after winning.

WHY PEOPLE DONT VOTE: FEEL THEIR VOTE IS WASTED

In the ‘24 GE, 58% of voters were unrepresented. Therefore supporters of small parties who cannot win the election might just not bother voting as they see little point in making the effort when they won’t represented anyway.

WHY PEOPLE DONT VOTE: FOREGONE CONCLUSION

The constituency of Orkney and Shetland has a majority of supporters who vote for the Liberal Democrats. Alistair Carmicheal MP has held Orkney and Shetland for the Lib Dems since 2001.

WHY PEOPLE VOTE: KEEPS BRITAIN DEMOCRATIC

In the ‘24 GE, over 19 million eligable citizens didn’t vote. This is an increase of over 4 million people since the 2019 GE where over 15 million eligible UK citizens did not vote.

WHY PEOPLE VOTE: TACTICAL VOTING

In the ‘24 GE, the Anti-Conservative campaign group encouraged voters across the UK to vote tactically for the party most likely to beat them in each constituency.

WHY PEOPLE VOTE: IMPORTANT ISSUE

The ‘24 GE had a 59.8% voter turnout, with 47.5 million people registered to vote. This was a drop of 7.5% from the previous election, and the 2016 Brexit referendum had a 72.2% turnout.

WAYS CITIZENS CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE UK POLITICAL SYSTEM: STANDING AS CANDIDATE IN AN ELECTION

Seamus Logan stood as a candidate for Member of Parliment in the Aberdeenshire North and Moray East contituency in the ‘24 GE.

WAYS CITIZENS CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE UK POLITICAL SYSTEM: CONTACTING REPRESENTATIVES

Seamus Logan, MP for Aberdeenshire North and Moray East holds regular surgeries in his constituency.

WAYS POLITICAL PARTIES CAN PARTICIPATE IN ELECTION CAMPAIGNS: CANVASSING

This is a method used to great extent by Labour campaigners which is reflected in their success in the ‘24 GE.

WAYS POLITICAL PARTIES CAN PARTICIPATE IN ELECTION CAMPAIGNS: USING MEDIA

Seamus Logan did an interview with Press and Journal as part of his campaign in June ‘24.

ADVANTAGE OF FPTP: EASY TO USE + SIMPLE TO UNDERSTAND

60% of the electorate turned out to vote in the ‘24 UK GE, however this is the lowest since 2001. This could be because people thought it was a foregone conclusion.

ADVANTAGE OF FPTP: CLEAR LINK BETWEEN MP AND THEIR CONSTITUENCY

Seamus Logan, SNP, was elected the new MP for Aberdeenshire North and Moray East in 2024.

ADVANTAGE OF FPTP: IT ALLOWS FOR A CLEAR OPPOSITION

Kemi Badenoch, the current leader of the Conservatives and Opposition, was successful in pressuring the Goverment to make a u-turn on removing the winter fuel paymeny allowence.

DISADVANTAGE OF FPTP: PRODUCES UNFAIR RESULT THAT DOESNT REPRESENT MANY VOTERS

In the ‘24 GE, Seamus Logan recieved only 35% of the vote. That means 65% of the voters in Aberdeenshire North and Moray East aren’t being fairly represented because of FPTP.

DISADVANTAGE OF FPTP: ENCOURAGES TACTICAL VOTING

In the ‘24 GE, many voters who didn’t want Conservatives to win voted for Labour to “Stop The Torries”.

DISADVANTAGE OF FPTP: LEADS TO WASTED VOTES

In the ‘24 GE, the “Make Votes Matter” pressure group estimated that only 4/10 UK citizens got what they voted for.

ROLE/POWER OF H.O.L: LEGISLATION

They delayed the Conservative Rwanda Bill from becoming law in 2024.

ROLE/POWER OF H.O.L: SPECIALIST COMMITTIES

The Science and Technology Committee which has a broad remit to consider science and technology.

DISADVANTAGE OF H.O.L: UNREPRESENTATIVE

Only 31.5% of peers are female, making the HOL unrepresentative of the 51% of the population that are made up by women.

DISADVANTAGE OF H.O.L: WASTE OF MONEY

Peers aren’t paid a salary but recieve an allowance and expenses, around £360 per day for attending parliment or carrying out duties. As more peers are created, the costs of HOL will increase.

DISADVANTAGE OF H.O.L: UNELECTED

Many would argue that the Lords has no place in a modern, democratic, political system.

WHY SOME POLITICAL PARTIES ELECTION CAMPAIGNS ARE SUCCSESSFUL: LAUNCHING MANIFESTOS

The Greens produced a very detailed analysis of each parties policies, where Conservatives consistently scored lower than most other parties.

WHY SOME POLITICAL PARTIES ELECTION CAMPAIGNS ARE SUCCSESSFUL: DONATIONS/FUNDING

Around 9 million pounds was donated to the Labour party in the ‘24 GE, which was more than any other party, which helped Labour win.

WHY SOME POLITICAL PARTIES ELECTION CAMPAIGNS ARE SUCCSESSFUL: MEDIA

In June of ‘24, Seamus Logan did an interview with Press and Journal as part of a campaign trial. He talked about his personal life and why he became an MP. His campaign worked and he was elected as an MP.

WHY WOMEN ARE UNDERREPRESENTED AS MPs IN H.O.C: LACK OF ROLE MODELS

Despite women making up 51% of the population, they only account for 40% of MPs in the HOC.

WHY WOMEN ARE UNDERREPRESENTED AS MPs IN H.O.C: MAIN CARERS OF CHILDREN

Kirsty Blackman has previously brought her children into HOC to show how the long and irregular hours make childcare nearly impossible.

WHY ETHNIC MINORITIES ARE UNDERREPRESENTED AS MPs IN H.O.C: LACK OF ROLE MODELS

14% of ethnic minorities were MPs yet they account for 16%, showing they are underrepresented.

WHY ETHNIC MINORITIES ARE UNDERREPRESENTED AS MPs IN H.O.C: LANGUAGE BARRIERS

HOC uses complex, legal, and "parliamentary language" in debates, which can act as a barrier for people who do not speak English as their first language.

ROLES OF MPs IN H.O.C: PMQs

PM Keir Starmer has faced questions about the UKs involvment in the ongoing war in Iran.

ROLES OF MPs IN H.O.C: SELECT COMMITTIES

Following the ‘24 GE, Labour were assigned 18 committee chairs.

METHODS USED BY PRESSURE GROUPS: DIRECT ACTION

Just Stop Oil havae conducted a range of direct actions stunts recently such as throwing tomato soupp at Van Goghs Sunflowers at the National Gallery of London.

METHODS USED BY PRESSURE GROUPS: PETITIONS

GreenPeace UK had a petition with over 250,000 signatures which led to the UK goverment banning the sale of disposable vapes to combat enviromental waste.

WHY SOME PEOPLE PARTICIPATE IN THE MEDIA: TARGET VOTERS AT ELECTION TIME

SNP and Labour were most active on social media during ‘24 GE - each making 30 posts per day across platforms during the campaign.

WHY SOME PEOPLE PARTICIPATE IN THE MEDIA: APPEAL TO YOUNGER VOTERS

• Majority of 16-24 year olds use social media (82%).

• This was helpful for Labour in the ‘24 GE, as Labour was one of the parties most active on social media which led them to win.