Lesson 4: Politics and All That Jazz

Political Structures & Criticism

What are the main criticisms of the UK political system today?

• Too centralised in London

• Too secretive

• Not responsive enough to citizens

• First-Past-the-Post creates distortions

• Growing influence of advisers rather than elected politicians

• Concerns about standards in public life (e.g. Partygate)

Political Structures & Criticism

What is meant by a "presidential-style Prime Minister"?

A Prime Minister who appears increasingly dominant and powerful, making decisions personally rather than collectively through Cabinet and Parliament.

Political Structures & Criticism

What is a "U-turn" in British politics?

When a government reverses a policy decision, often damaging the leader's credibility and reputation.

Parliament & Elections

How many MPs sit in the House of Commons?

650 Members of Parliament.

Parliament & Elections

How is the UK government formed?

The political party that wins the most seats in the House of Commons normally forms the government.

Parliament & Elections

Why does the UK tend towards a two-party system?

Because First-Past-the-Post rewards large parties and makes it difficult for smaller parties to gain seats.

Parliament & Elections

What is a "swing" in elections?

The movement of voter support from one party to another, used to predict election outcomes.

Historical Development of British Politics

How did political power gradually shift in Britain?

Power moved from:
Monarch → Parliament → Cabinet → Prime Minister

This happened gradually over about 800 years.

Historical Development of British Politics

What major developments accompanied Britain's political evolution?

• Growth of political parties

• Universal suffrage

• Ministerial government

• Parliamentary sovereignty

The UK Constitution

Why is the UK constitution unusual?

Because it is uncodified (not written in one single document).

It is based on:

• Statute law

• Common law

• Constitutional conventions

• Works of authority

The UK Constitution

How did Brexit affect the UK constitution?

• Reasserted parliamentary sovereignty

• Created constitutional crises

• Increased importance of the Supreme Court

• Increased tensions in Scotland and Northern Ireland

• Renewed debates on independence and devolution

Expansion of Voting Rights

How did voting rights expand in Britain?

Gradually over the 19th and 20th centuries:

• 1832 Reform Act → middle class gains vote

• 1867 & 1884 Reform Acts → more working-class men gain vote

• 1918 Representation of the People Act → all men 21+, women 30+ (with property qualification)

• 1928 Equal Franchise Act → women and men vote on equal terms

Expansion of Voting Rights

What were "rotten boroughs"?

Tiny electors with very few voters that still elected MPs and were often controlled by elites.

Expansion of Voting Rights

What role did the suffragettes play?

They campaigned for women's voting rights, especially through the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) founded by the Pankhurst family in 1903.

Separation of Powers

Does the UK have a strict separation of powers?

No.

The UK uses a fusion of powers, where executive and legislative branches are closely connected.

Separation of Powers

What are the three branches of government?

• Executive = Prime Minister and ministers

• Legislature = Parliament

• Judiciary = Courts

Separation of Powers

Why are the executive and legislature closely linked?

Because ministers are usually MPs and sit in Parliament while also running the government.

Separation of Powers

Why is Parliament sovereign?

Because Parliament is the supreme law-making authority and courts cannot strike down Acts of Parliament.

Separation of Powers

What is the role of the UK Supreme Court?

It reviews whether government actions are lawful and acts as a check on executive power.

Separation of Powers

What happened in the 2019 prorogation case?

The Supreme Court ruled Boris Johnson's suspension of Parliament unlawful

because it prevented Parliament from performing its constitutional duties.

Separation of Powers

What is the Privy Council?

A historic advisory body to the monarch made up of senior politicians, judges and bishops.

Separation of Powers

Why is the media called the "Fourth Estate"?

Because it acts as an informal check on political power by investigating government actions and informing the public.

Northern Ireland & The Troubles

When was Northern Ireland created?

1921–1922, after the partition of Ireland.

Northern Ireland & The Troubles

What was the main divide in Northern Ireland?

• Protestant Unionists → wanted to remain in the UK

• Catholic Nationalists/Republicans → wanted a united Ireland

Northern Ireland & The Troubles

What were the Troubles?

A violent conflict involving:

• Republican paramilitaries

• Loyalist paramilitaries

• British security forces

Characterised by bombings, assassinations and civil unrest.

Northern Ireland & The Troubles

What was Bloody Sunday?

A 1972 incident in Northern Ireland where British soldiers shot civil rights protesters.

Northern Ireland & The Troubles

What was the Good Friday Agreement (1998)?

A peace agreement that:

• Created power-sharing government

• Reduced violence

• Improved UK-Ireland relations

• Established cross-border institutions

Northern Ireland & The Troubles

How did the Troubles affect British politics?

They increased focus on:

• Security

• Counterterrorism

• Human rights

• Sovereignty

• Devolution

Legislation

What is primary legislation?

Acts of Parliament (laws passed by Parliament).

Legislation

What is secondary legislation?

Detailed rules made under powers granted by an Act of Parliament.

Legislation

What are the five stages of a bill in each House?

1. First Reading

2. Second Reading

3. Committee Stage

4. Report Stage

5. Third Reading

Legislation

What is Royal Assent?

The monarch's formal approval that turns a bill into an Act of Parliament.

Legislation

Why are Private Members' Bills important?

They allow MPs who are not ministers to propose legislation, although they rarely become law without government support.

Local Government & Devolution

What is devolution?

The transfer of powers from Westminster to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland (started in 1999).

= the transfer of power from a central national government, to regional local authorities

Local Government & Devolution

Which areas are devolved?

• Education

• Health

• Transport

• Environment

• Local government

Local Government & Devolution

Which areas remain reserved to Westminster?

• Defence

• Foreign affairs

• Immigration

• Most taxation

Local Government & Devolution

Why is UK devolution called asymmetrical?

Because Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have different levels of power.

• Scotland being the most devolved in powers

First-Past-the-Post (FPTP)

How does First-Past-the-Post work?

The candidate with the most votes in a constituency wins the seat, even without a majority.

First-Past-the-Post (FPTP)

What are the advantages of FPTP?

• Produces strong governments

• Clear election results

• Stable parliamentary majorities

First-Past-the-Post (FPTP)

What are the disadvantages of FPTP?

• Disproportionate results

• Smaller parties disadvantaged

• Vote share does not always match seat share

First-Past-the-Post (FPTP)

Which parties often benefit from FPTP?

Parties with geographically concentrated support, such as the SNP.

= Scottish National Party

NHS

What is the NHS?

The National Health Service, created in 1948 to provide healthcare free at the point of use.

NHS

How is the NHS funded?

Through:

• General taxation

• National Insurance contributions

NHS

What challenges does the NHS face?

• Long waiting lists

• Staff shortages

• Ageing population

• Funding pressures after COVID

Economy & Environment

How has the UK economy changed since the 1970s?

It shifted from heavy industry (coal, steel, shipbuilding) to services and high-tech sectors.

Immigration

How did Brexit change immigration policy?

It ended EU free movement and introduced a points-based immigration system.

Immigration

What factors are considered in the points-based system?

• Skills

• Qualifications

• English ability

• Salary level

Immigration

What types of immigration does the UK distinguish between?

• Work visas

• Student visas

• Family visas

• Asylum/refugee protection

Austerity & Cost of Living

What is austerity?

Government policies aimed at reducing public spending after the 2008 financial crisis.

Austerity & Cost of Living

What caused the cost-of-living crisis?

• Inflation

• Rising energy prices

• Housing costs

Commonwealth & Empire

What was the British Empire?

The largest empire in history, ruling roughly a quarter of the world's population at its peak.

Commonwealth & Empire

What is the Commonwealth?

A voluntary association of 56 independent countries, mostly former British colonies

that collaborate on shared goals like democracy, peace, and sustainable development

Commonwealth & Empire

What is a Commonwealth Realm?

A Commonwealth country that still recognises the British monarch as head of state

(e.g. Canada, Australia, New Zealand).

Commonwealth & Empire

What is the role of the British monarch in the Commonwealth?

Symbolic Head of the Commonwealth.

Commonwealth & Empire

What is a High Commissioner?

The diplomatic representative of one Commonwealth country in another Commonwealth country.

UK–US Special Relationship

What is the "Special Relationship"?

The close diplomatic, military and economic partnership between the UK and the US.

UK–US Special Relationship

Why is the Special Relationship important?

Because the UK and US cooperate in:

• NATO

• Intelligence sharing

• Nuclear defence

• Military operations

• Global diplomacy

UK–US Special Relationship

What is Five Eyes?

A major intelligence-sharing alliance between:

• UK

• US

• Canada

• Australia

• New Zealand

UK–US Special Relationship

What is Trident?

The UK's nuclear deterrent system, based on US technology.