Comp 1: Democracy And Participation Flashcards
Direct democracy:
- originated in Athens in Ancient Greece
Referendums: - Scottish independence referendum 2014
- AV referendum
- EU referendum - divided Tory eurosceptics, were settled by referendum.
Other: - Recall of MPs act 2010
- Switzerland are a direct democracy and use initiatives, votes for president and has citizens assembly, federal.
- New England - citizenship legislature and local town hall elections
Representative deomcracy
- range of elections gives voters more chances to participate: police crime commissioners since 2012, metro mayors election since 2017, London mayor elections since 2000.
Disadvantages: elected parties don’t always follow will of people e.g. Lib Dem’s when in coalition with tories went against promise to cut tuition fees and instead, increased them.
Participation crisis:
- yes: low turnout in 2001 at 58% compared to 1997 at 76%
- only 1.6% of population belong to political party membership which was 3.8^ in 1983
- no: increase in participation in pressure groups like climate crisis and Iraq war
- over 5.5 million signatures for petition to revoke Article 50.
Membership: - Tory - 2019 = 180000. 2022 = 172000
- labour - 2019 = 485000. 2023 = 400000
Turnout:
Highest:
UK - 1992 GE 77.7%
Scotland - 2021 63%
Wales - 2021 46%
Greater LND - 2016 45%
Lowest:
UK - 20012 GE 59.4%
Referendums:
Scottish Independence - 85%
EU - 72.2%
Good Friday - 81%
Welsh devolution - 50%
AV ref - 42%
1992 GE
Turnout - 77.7%
Winner - tories
% votes - 41.9%
1997 GE
Turnout - 71.4%
Winner - lab
% votes - 43.2%
2010 GE
Turnout - 65.1%
Winner - Tories + Libs
% Votes:
Libs 23%
Tories 36%
2015 GE
Turnout - 66.2%
Winner - Tory
% votes - 36.8%
2017 GE
Turnout - 68.8%
Winner - Tory
% votes - 42.3%
2019 GE
Turnout - 67.3%
Winner - Tory
% votes - 43.6%
Votes differ in importance and significance:
2019 GE - Sheffield Hallam
- 8.8 % between 1st and 3rd
- Knowsley labour majority of 72.71% so SURPLUS
Pressure groups
Green peace - 3 million members so good funding
National farmers union - insider lobbyists
National autistic society - ‘I EXIST” campaign bought Autism act 2009 by MP Cheryl Gillian through private members bill.
Think tanks
Fabian society = centre left has influenced kier starmer
Lobbying scandals
2020:
Cameron messaging Sunak to get company Greensill onto COVID corporate finance facility scheme.
2024:
Scott Benton MP for Tories and Blackpool South constituency .
Faced by election after weaker of lobbying scandal.
Filmed offering to lobby minister for a fake company in a newspaper sting. He was offering to leak confidential policy paper from parliamentary questions.
Suspended as Tory mp.
Judicial review
Irrationality = Hndcock sent home Covid patients from hospital leading to many deaths