Summary UK politics & government: development of constitution since 1997
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Course
Unit 2 - Governing the UK
Institution
PEARSON (PEARSON)
detailed study/revision notes for the government area of the specification which covers the development of the constitution since 1997, including Blair's various reforms and that of the following governments.
Blair govt (1997-2007) –
Blair – constitution in urgent need of reform.
New Labour to reinvigorate democracy through extensive constitutional reforms –
‘modernisation is key’ (Blair).
Decentralisation:
- Too much power focused on Westminster.
- Power devolved back to the people.
- Scotland & Wales – own elected govts.
- Cities & towns – elect own mayors.
Democratisation:
- Public given more influence over decision-making – more referendums on
important constitutional matters.
- Greater democracy – Lords reform.
Transparency:
- Greater trust in govt – reform role of senior judiciary.
- Freedom of Information Act – govt more accountable to public.
Rights protection:
- Incorporated ECHR into British law.
- Provide judiciary with important new statute – protecting & advancing public’s
civil liberties.
DEVOLUTION / DECENTRALISATION –
1997 – referendums in Scotland & Wales on if they want their own elected govts.
- Scotland voted in favour by a large majority.
- Wales voted in favour by small margin.
- 1998 – part of Good Friday Agreement – NI voted in a referendum in favour of
power sharing between unionists & republicans in devolved assembly.
Aim was to provide constituent parts of UK with greater self-determination.
- New legislatures & executives in Edinburgh, Cardiff & Belfast – policies more
suited to needs of people in Scotland, Wales & NI.
- Recognised that from 1979-97 S & W had been governed from westminster by
Conservative govts when they had consistently voted Labour.
- NI – offer of devolution was integral part of peace protests.
Since, S & W have acquired significant new powers – devolution has been successful.
NI – difficulty of power sharing has undermined success.
, Many towns, cities & regions to elect own mayors – local govts more accountable to
public.
- 1998 - voted in a referendum in favour of a Greater London authorities -
comprising elected Mayor of London & a London Assembly which can veto the
mayor’s proposals with a 2/3 majority. Local Government Act 2000 enabled local
authorities to offer their voters a referendum over whether they wanted their
own directly elected mayors.
- Supporters – encourage greater accountability & transparency in local govt.
- HOWEVER, elected mayors have failed to reinvigorate enthusiasm for democracy.
- Low turnout - 2021 Andy Burnham re-elected (Greater Manchester) – 34.7%
turnout & Sadiq Khan re-elected (London) – 42% turnout.
- By 2022 – electorate rejected opportunity to have elected major in 37/54
referendums.
- May 2022 – referendum in Bristol voted to abolish elected mayor by 59% on
turnout of 29%.
Extent to which devolution / decentralisation has re-engaged democratic
participation remains contested.
HOUSE OF LORDS REFORM –
Hereditary principle undermined legitimacy of the Lords – Blair govt determined to
remove right of hereditary peers to attend.
Compromise – allow hereditary peers to elect 92 to continue to sit in the house –
when a hereditary peer dies/resigns, another Lord is elected to that position by the
Lords.
Affected its membership, rather than powers – more professional body by ensuring
membership based on merit & accomplishment.
2000 – House of Lords Appointment Committee (HOLAC) – nominate small
proportion of. Crossbench life peers. – scrutinise appointments & can publicly
express disapproval.
HOWEVER, highly controversial –
No elected element introduced – still lacks democratic legitimacy.
Most life peers still appointed on recommendation of PM – too many are made
through political patronage – democratic travesty.
E.g., 2022 Johnson recommended that 86 new life peers be appointed. Including
Peter Cruddas (major donor to Tory party). Despite HOLAC criticising, still became
life peer.
PMs favour appointments from own party – political cronyism.
E.g., Blair – 162 Labour / 62 Tory / 91 crossbench
Johnson – 42 Tory / 13 Labour / 17 crossbench
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