Politics UK Component 1: Essay plans
RATED A+
Evaluate how far the UK system of representative democracy remains in need of improvement. - ANS
Where it is working well:
+ Free and fair voting; Parliamentary function sovereignty; participation
FPTP strengths:
+stability: only 2/6 GE's in 2010's have produced coalitions or hung Parliaments
+MP direct link to constituent, quick (i.e. Newcastle central declared 60 mins after poll closed, 2017)
BUT:
- 2 party dominate (Maurice Duverger's law) i.e. UKIP 2015, 12.6% of vote, 1 seat
- Wasted votes: 2005, 70% wasted votes (either losing candidates or excess votes)
Role of Parliament:
+ Representative Parliament: holds gov to account
Commons legitimates, PMQ's, 350,000 TV viewers on average
+PM Head of government, not head of state
+ Debating, Wright reforms, 2009 -- BBBC scheduled by House > ministers, urgent questions/day tripled
in 2017/19 session from 2013/14 session; 2011, 150,000 signatures for full disclosure of all government
documents relating to 1989 Hillsborough disaster (success)
BUT:
- HOL unelected, inc. 89 hereditary peers, challenged May GOV 14 times over Brexit withdrawal bill in
2018, also blocked TNW (tax credits, NHS reform, welfare reform).
- Not representative: women and BAME.
,- Safe seats, unaccountable MP's
Participation:
+ 59% to 69%, 2001-2017
+ Party memebrship up since 2016.
+ 26,000 e-petitions on gov.uk
Analyse and evaluate the factors that determine the success of pressure groups in the UK - ANS What is
success?
Insider or Outsider:
+ Insiders consulted by gov's (National Farmers' Union // Gove close collaboration during Brexit
- Outsider groups no consultation, public opinion more important
Wealth:
+ 'Feed me Better' campaign, 2005 - Jamie Oliver (net worth £200m + ). Figure matched by Government
spending on campaign!
Wealth = organisation, publicity, size etc... Fiona Gateley for Jamie Oliver
Celebrity:
+ closely linked to wealth
+ 2008 Joanna Lumley Ghurka Justice Campaign
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Public Support:
+ Legitimacy (i.e. Extinction Rebellion, about 75,000 protestors 2019 London, 1200 arrested)
+NSPCC, BMA, Teachers' Union, Age UK (12 million) represent integral parts of society --> legitimation
and support
, Wealth most important:
Professor John Curtice: "no surprise that policy follows money" referring to conservative/city pressure
groups and government.
Evaluate the view that democracy in the UK is suffering from a partcipation crisis. - ANS Turnout:
- Falling since 1979
- 67% turnout 2019, down 2%
- 47% say they have no influence over national decision making
BUT:
+Audit of Political Engagement, 2020: indicator of certainty to vote remains stable
+ turnout increasing since 2001
+ 2017 Corbyn, youth vote highest in 25 years
+ Referenda (72% Brexit, 85% ScotRef
Other forms of engagement:
- Internet: twitter accounts - Corbyn, 2.3m followers, activists, youtube
- Party membership: up since 2016, 500,000+ for Labour
- 26,000 e-petitions on gov.uk
- 70% of people say they sometimes or often discuss politics
'Judges, rather than politicians, are better able to protect and defend rights in the UK.' Analyse and
evaluate this statement - ANS Yes (Power of Judges)
+HRA 1998: Rights in statute law, legislation has to comply with HRA, citizens can access protection
through courts.
(2012, Home secretaries denied right to expel Abu Qatada, on basis that he may be tortured in Jordan)
