UK Politics

Parliamentary sovereignty

Parliament is the supreme legal authority in the UK and can make or unmake any law

Codified constitution

A constitution written in one single authoritative document

Uncodified constitution

A constitution based on statutes, conventions, common law, and authoritative works rather than one document

Constitutional flexibility

The UK constitution can be changed through ordinary Acts of Parliament

Elective dictatorship

A situation where a government with a Commons majority dominates Parliament with limited constraints

Referendum

A form of direct democracy where voters decide on a specific issue through a yes/no vote

Representative democracy

A system where citizens elect representatives to make political decisions on their behalf

Class dealignment

The declining importance of social class in determining voting behaviour

Partisan dealignment

The weakening of long-term loyalty to political parties

Political efficacy

The belief that an individual can influence politics

Safe seat

A constituency consistently won by the same political party

Marginal seat

A constituency where electoral competition is close between parties

Plurality system

A system where the candidate with the most votes wins without requiring a majority

Proportional representation

An electoral system where seat share more closely reflects vote share

Manifesto

A document outlining a political party’s policies before an election

Pressure group

An organised group seeking to influence government policy without seeking elected office

Insider pressure group

A pressure group with regular access to ministers and policymakers

Outsider pressure group

A pressure group relying mainly on protests and public campaigns

Lobbying

The act of influencing policymakers or legislators

Think tank

An organisation producing policy ideas and research to influence politics

FPTP criticism

In 2015 UKIP won 12.6% of the vote but only one seat, demonstrating disproportionality under FPTP

2019 election

The Conservatives won 44% of the vote but 56% of seats, showing FPTP can exaggerate parliamentary majorities

Safe seats statistic

Around 55% of UK constituencies are considered safe seats, reducing electoral competition and participation

Brexit referendum

The 2016 Brexit referendum had 72% turnout, demonstrating how salient constitutional issues increase participation

Scottish independence referendum

The 2014 Scottish referendum had 85% turnout

2017 election

Theresa May lost her majority after a poor campaign and unpopular manifesto proposals like the dementia tax

2010 coalition

The Conservatives won 47% of seats and the Liberal Democrats 9% of seats, resulting in the first coalition government since WWII

2019 Red Wall

Labour lost many traditionally working-class northern constituencies in 2019 largely due to Brexit and leadership perceptions

1997 election

Tony Blair modernised Labour and used strong media management to win 64% of seats in a landslide victory

1983 Labour manifesto

The manifesto supported widespread nationalisation and unilateral nuclear disarmament and Labour suffered a landslide defeat

Get Brexit Done

The slogan was effective because it simplified a highly complex issue into a clear message after years of Brexit deadlock

UKIP 2015

UKIP gained 12.6% of votes but only one seat, showing how FPTP disadvantages parties with dispersed support

SNP dominance

The SNP won 81% of Scotland’s seats in 2019, demonstrating the importance of regional voting behaviour

Miller II

The Supreme Court ruled Johnson’s prorogation unlawful, demonstrating judicial checks on executive power

BMA

The British Medical Association is an insider pressure group with policy expertise and regular government access

Extinction Rebellion

Extinction Rebellion uses disruptive protest tactics to raise awareness of climate change but critics argue this alienates the public

Marcus Rashford campaign

Rashford successfully pressured the government into extending free school meals through public support and media attention

Owen Paterson scandal

Paterson was caught being paid to lobby for corporations. It highlighted concerns over lobbying and corporate influence

Adam Smith Institute

A neoliberal think tank promoting free markets, privatisation, and lower taxation that influenced Thatcherite economics

Media influence

The media shapes political narratives and perceptions of leaders but often reinforces rather than creates opinions

Televised debates

Televised debates increase visibility and engagement but do not always determine election outcomes as shown in 2010

Leadership and voting behaviour

Modern elections are increasingly presidential with leaders often shaping public perceptions of competence

Jeremy Corbyn 2019

Corbyn was viewed negatively on leadership and patriotism while Labour’s Brexit ambiguity weakened support

Blair and media

Blair used media management and New Labour branding to modernise Labour’s image before the 1997 election

Constituency link

FPTP creates a strong connection between MPs and their local constituency

FPTP strength

FPTP usually produces strong single-party governments and decisive outcomes

Referendums and legitimacy

Referendums provide legitimacy for constitutional change because decisions are directly approved by the electorate

Criticism of referendums

Governments may use referendums for party management rather than democratic principle

Media evaluation

The media is often reactive to existing public opinion rather than fully controlling it

Leadership evaluation

Leadership matters most when combined with salient political issues and effective campaigns

Campaigns and elections

Successful campaigns simplify issues, create strong narratives, and project competence

Manifestos and elections

Manifestos matter most when policies are highly salient or controversial

Pressure group success

Pressure groups are most successful when they combine public legitimacy with insider access

Corporations and politics

Large corporations may influence politics through lobbying, donations, and economic importance

Think tanks and politics

Think tanks influence policy by shaping ideological debate and providing policy expertise

Regional voting behaviour

Regional identity increasingly shapes voting behaviour, especially in Scotland

Red Wall significance

The 2019 Red Wall collapse demonstrated class dealignment and the importance of Brexit identity politics

Turnout significance

High turnout strengthens democratic legitimacy while low turnout may indicate apathy or disengagement

Political apathy

A lack of interest or participation in politics

Democratic deficit

A situation where democratic institutions fail to fully represent the public

Electoral mandate

The authority claimed by a government based on electoral support for its policies

Tactical voting

Voting for a less preferred party to prevent another party from winning

Wasted votes

Votes that do not contribute to electing a candidate under FPTP

Pluralism

The existence of multiple competing groups and interests within society

Agenda-setting

The ability of the media to influence which issues the public considers important

Echo chamber

An environment where individuals are mainly exposed to views similar to their own

Valence issue

An issue where voters broadly agree on the desired outcome but disagree on which party is most competent to achieve it

Issue voting

Voting based primarily on specific political issues rather than long-term party loyalty