How democratic is the UK political system

main examples of uk democratic system

• FPTP produces disproportionate results, renders many votes wasted and elects gov w relatively small proportion of popular vote, discriminates against small parties with dispersed support

• HOL has considerable influence but its an unelected body

• sovereignty of parl gives unlimited potential power to gov

• powers of pm partly based on the authority of unelected monarch

• European on human rights isn’t binding on parl so individual rights and liberties remain under threat

peaceful transition of power + -

+uk remarkably conflict-free

-short-lived disputes have arisen when results were not clear, 2010+2017, leading to some claims of a lack of legitimacy

free elections + -

+nearly everyone over 18 can vote, little electoral fraud and there exist strong legal safeguards

-some groups, prisoners and effectively homeless, are denied right to vote and new voter ID laws believed to have added to the disenfranchised, HOL not elected nor is monarch

Fair elections + -

+proportion systems in place in scot, wales and northern ireland and other devolved and local bodies

-FPTP system for general elections leads to disproportionate results and many wasted votes, gov often elected on modest proportion of popular vote

widespread participation

+extensive membership of pressure groups, free and active, growing level of participation in democracy

-since 2001 voter turnout in general elections has been lower than previously while party membership esp w young has generally been in decline, despite some increase after 2015, lower than 1950s

freedom of expression

+press n broadcast media are free of gov interference, broadcast media maintain political neutrality, free access to interest

-much ownership of press in hands of a few large, powerful companies such as news international, owners tend to have own political preferences, some info available is false, some debate over how independent BBC is

Freedom of association

+no restrictions on legal organisations, ppl may organise and instigate public protests

-gov has power to ban some groups based on potentially unfair perception of activities, public meetings and demonstrations can be restricted on grounds of “public order”

protection of rights and liberties + -

+country signed up to European Convention on Human Rights and the courts enforce, HOL advocates for rights

-parl is sovereign means rights are at mercy of a gov w a strong maj in HOC, ECHR not binding on UK parl

Rule of law

+upheld strictly by judiciary, right to judicial review underpins this, the judiciary is independent and non-political

-monarch exempt from legal restrictions, statistical evidence to suggest social and economic standing impact severity of sentencing

A constitution

+parl and courts ensure the gov acts within the law, HRA is a restraint on actions of gov, constitution checks exist to limit the power of the gov

-no codified uk constitution so limits to gov power is vague, parl sov means gov powers could be increased w out constitutional safeguard, prerogative powers of PM are extensive and arbitrary