what are the suggestions to improve democracy in the UK and how good would each one be?

A03

UK democracy can be improved

theme 1

our electoral system

weak 1

our general elections are seen as fair and free

• anyone and everyone over 18 can vote, the majority wins

FPTP produces strong governments with democratic legitimacy to act

• 2024 Labour won 411 seats

strong 1

there are many democratic flaws with FPTP

• FPTP encourages tactical voting → reigate has been conservative since 1906, and in 2025 65% voted non-conservative

theme 2

house of lords

weak 2

the house of lords has strengths

member expertise

• tanni grey-thompson is a paralympian who spoke on the assissted dying bill for the disabled

there have been democratic improvements

• 1999 HOL act removed the number of hereditary peers to 92

• 1911 + 1949 parliament acts

• 1949 salisbury convention

strong 2

it still has 92 hereditary peers

• traditional and class-based, all unelected

It has 26 Lord spirituals

• all from church of england which is not reflective of a multicultural UK

entirely unelected

• HOLAC for life peers= 8 members, not democratic

theme 3

voter turnout

weak 3

turnout has been good in many elections - this means that results and governments have real legitimacy and a mandate to act

• 2019 - 68% turnout

• 1997 - 71% turnout

strong 3

turnout has been bad in many elections

• 2024 59.8%

various methods to improve like votes at 16 and compulsory voting

• australia have compulsory votes

• and 2014 independence referendum scotland had votes at 16 and a 84% turnout

theme 4

other issues

weak 4

recall elections

• 2023 margaret ferrier suspended for breaking lockdown rules, taking a train to scotland after testing positive, and replaced by labour candidate michael shanks

pressure groups

• 77% of junior doctors voted to strike in 2023 and in 2024 labour agreed a deal to end them — listen to pressure

• BMA- lobbied policy makers through direct meetings, parliamentary briefings and media work to ensure the Health and Care act 2022 addressed their concerns

strong 4

still flaws with recalls

• MP Zac Goldsmith tabled a proposal excluding parliament’s standards committee from deciding if you face re-election but he was defeated

rich pressure groups seem to get more power (eletism)

• Marcus Rashford — Fare Share 2020, free meals during summer for low-income pupils in need (celebrity)

• BMA, CBI and NFU are insider groups, who are listened to more