A comprehensive list of notes on UK Politics - all you need for the Pearson Edexcel A-Level Government & Politics Exam.
Key content, examples and judgements for: rights, parties, electoral systems, and media.
All complete apart from judgements for parties.
5 pages, 4200+ words
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Area Key Content Key Examples Key
Rights Supreme Court – judges all new legislation against HRA, can Gvt prevented from ruling that allowed foreign nationals suspected of
declare earlier acts of Parliament as incompatible and arguably terrorism to be detained for an indefinite amount of time by 8-1 ruling by law
vital in ensuring the gvt’s actions towards rights are properly lords in 2004.
scrutinised BUT cannot force changes due to Parliamentary Howard League for Penal Reform – had some minor successes and
sovereignty demonstrates vulnerable groups represented when they cannot represent
Parliament – Can reject government acts in the name of themselves BUT unsympathetic group so have been unable to achieve some of
collective or individual rights; backbench rebellions can prevent their more radical aims such as a significant reduction of the prison population
unrestrained government power BUT frequency of gvt’s Blair’s plans to increase the detainment period from 14 to 90 days was
parliamentary majority means that this ability is often limited opposed by Parliament so he compromised to 28 days.
Government – can introduce legislation which protects Police, Crimes and Sentencing Bill arguably infringes on individual rights –
individual and collective rights increased max sentence for damage to a memorial, expanded stop and search
HRA – protects many rights without need of European Court, and police powers and extended trespassing laws
e.g. right to family life, fair trial, privacy and life Sunday Trading Law struck down in 2016 after backbench Tory rebellion –
Terrorism acts – limit on individual rights in the name of dissenters argued that it infringed on right to family life and Sundays should be
protection of the wider community kept “special” for workers and their families
Thatcher wasn’t defeated on a bill until seven years into her leadership and
Blair wasn’t defeated until eight years in.
2003 – Labour won vote over Iraq war despite 121 MPs breaking three-line
whip
SC can rule government wrong – e.g. proroguing of Parliament 2019 & ‘deport
first, appeal later’ ruling unlawful
Gvt can ignore SC decisions - asset-freeze on five terror suspects before a
conviction in 2010 – parliament quickly legislated to make such actions legal,
demonstrating examples of both judicial review and parliamentary sovereignty
NSPCC can be seen as a pressure group protecting rights that has no limiting
opposition
Voter ID laws have been opposed by pressure groups representing minorities
who feel as though it would disproportionately harm minorities
Identity Cards Act 2006 created national identity cards linked to a database
known as the National Identity Register. This was repealed by the Conservative
government in 2011.
Immigration & Asylum Act 1999 intended to create a faster system to deal with
the backlog of immigration cases; it introduced the dispersal policy in which
Asylum applicants would be accommodated while their claims for Asylum were
reviewed.
Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 allowed overseas-born children
of British mothers between 1961-83 to claim British citizenship but also
allowed British nationals to be deprived of their citizenship if they are
, Asylum and Immigration Act 2004 was declared incompatible with the HRA by
law lords because it exempted Anglicans from sham marriage laws, so the
government was forced to amend it.
Parties Traditional Conservatives – aristocratic party which sought to UKIP – Nationalist party which gained its support from people who felt
defend historic privileges of Crown and CofE as powerful alienated with major parties and feared quickening pace of European
landowning institutions, defence of property and traditional integration. Many older/more traditional and often less educated with lower
authority against revolution, gradual reform with the aim of job security, concerned about challenges they might face due to immigration.
protection and preservation Seen as more respectable than BNP. Pro grammar schools, anti-green taxes,
Thatcherite/New Right Conservatives – Sought to reduce state want to leave EU, support NHS but want foreign visitors to have to go private,
role in the economy whilst adopting strong stance against trade reduce immigration and prioritise skilled immigrants.
unions and idea od compromise, tax cuts, privatisation of Green Party – concerned with environmental matters, pro-EU, preventing NHS
industries and services, increased police and judicial powers, from being privatised, £10/hr minimum wage, close to Corbyn’s agenda.
control of public spending, protection of national sovereignty SNP – benefits from concentrated support; won Labour ground in Scotland,
against growth of EU winning nearly 60 seats in 2015.
One-Nation/Present Day Conservatives – sought to bridge gulf UKIP won 4m votes in 2015, Green won 1.1m
between the classes through paternalistic social policy, 1945-74, L/C won 91% vote on average, falling to 73% between 1979-2010.
reduction of budget deficit, balanced approach to crime, Thatcher seen as tough against strikers whilst Callaghan was seen as weak.
encouraged those on benefits to be more self-reliant, pragmatic Theresa May was criticised by many, including Stormzy at the BRIT Awards,
eurosceptisim and EU referendum after failing to meet the residents of Grenfell Tower in the immediate
Traditional Labour – nationalisation of key industries, social aftermath of the fire that occurred there, as Corbyn did, and for failing to
security, NHS, emphasised importance of welfare state in adequately respond to its aftermath.
redistributing wealth and creating a fairer society Divided governments – Conservative Party has been historically permeated by
Moderate/New Labour – Moved away from hard left position of Euroscepticism. Major’s government was particularly divided on this, arguably
80s in order to gain more votes, dropped nationalisation leading to him losing the election in 1997.
commitments, downgraded links with unions in favour of United gvt – Blair’s 1997 government was strong and united.
businesses, more pro-EU, wealth creation prioritised over Nick Clegg’s image was enhanced through televised debates in 2010, although
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