Component 1 Flashcards
What was the turnout for the 2016 Brexit referendum?
The turnout for the 2016 Brexit referendum was 72%
What percentage of UK citizens voted to leave the EU in the 2016 referendum?
51.89% of UK citizens voted to leave the EU in the 2016 referendum
Approximately how many members did the Labour Party have in February 2025?
The Labour Party had 309,000 members in February 2025
How many members did the Conservative Party have in November 2024?
The Conservative Party had 131,680 members in November 2024
What does the number of Conservative Party members in 2024 suggest compared to the 1950s?
The lower number of Conservative Party members in 2024 compared to 2.3 million in the 1950s suggests lower participation and a democracy deficit
How many members did Reform UK have in January 2025?
Reform UK had over 200,000 members in January 2025
What was the turnout for the 2014 Scottish Independence Referendum?
The turnout for the 2014 Scottish Independence Referendum was 84%
What percentage voted ‘Yes’ in the 2014 Scottish Independence Referendum?
44.70% voted ‘Yes’ in the 2014 Scottish Independence Referendum
How many times has the Recall of MPs Act been used since 2015?
The Recall of MPs Act has been used 6 times since 2015
How many recall petitions have surpassed the 10% threshold?
5 recall petitions have surpassed the 10% threshold
Which Tory MP was sacked in 2015 due to false expense claims, leading to a recall petition exceeding 10%?
Chris Davies was sacked in 2015 due to false expense claims
Why did Boris Johnson resign as an MP in 2023?
Boris Johnson resigned as MP for Uxbridge before he could be recalled due to his Parliamentary suspension for lying to the House of Commons being expected to exceed 10 days
Which Labour MP for Runcorn & Helsby was recalled after assault and arrest?
Mike Amesbury MP was recalled after assault and arrest
What is the average voter turnout for referendum-style votes and Parliamentary elections in Switzerland?
The average voter turnout in Switzerland is under 50%
What was the UK voter turnout in the 2019 general election?
The UK voter turnout in the 2019 general election was 67%
What was the UK voter turnout in 2024?
The UK voter turnout in 2024 was 60%
What potential negative consequence is associated with the regular use of initiatives in Switzerland?
Regular use of initiatives in Switzerland has been linked to damage to minority rights
What was the turnout for the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement referendum?
The turnout for the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement referendum was 81%
What was the average voter turnout in the UK between 1945 and 1997?
The average voter turnout in the UK between 1945 and 1997 was 76%
What was the average voter turnout in the UK from 2000 onwards?
The average voter turnout in the UK from 2000 onwards was 64%
According to a 2021 Parliamentary research report, which age group had the highest political involvement?
Under 25s had the highest political involvement
How did voter turnout in Scottish Parliament elections compare between those who first voted at 16 and those who first voted at 18?
Voters who had their first vote at 16 (Scottish independence referendum) had higher turnout in Scottish Parliament elections than voters who first voted at 18
What was the turnout for the Alternative Vote Referendum of 2011?
The turnout for the Alternative Vote Referendum of 2011 was 42% of registered voters
Why was the turnout for the Alternative Vote Referendum lower than the 2010 general election?
The lower turnout for the Alternative Vote Referendum is attributed to the fact that voters were not passionate about the issue, and the electorate were apathetic
According to the ex-YouGov president in 2022, why is the UK now considered pro-remain?
The UK is now considered pro-remain because 2 million Brexit voters have died
In the 2017 general election, which party had a much higher share of the ethnic minority vote?
Labour won a much higher share of the ethnic minority vote in the 2017 general election
What was Labour’s share of the ethnic minority vote in the 2017 general election?
Labour won 73% share of the ethnic minority vote in the 2017 general election
What percentage of the ethnic minority vote did the Conservatives win in the 2017 general election?
The Conservatives won only 19% of the ethnic minority vote in the 2017 general election
What percentage of voters believed in March 2024 that leaving the EU was the wrong choice?
57% of voters believed in March 2024 that leaving the EU was the wrong choice
What potential issue during the Brexit referendum may have influenced how people voted?
The Brexit referendum saw large amounts of misinformation and exaggerated ideas, which may have led people to vote emotionally rather than rationally
How many signatures did a 2019 petition to revoke Brexit on the gov e-petition website receive?
A 2019 petition to revoke Brexit got over 6.4 million signs
What happened in traditionally safe Labour seats in the 2019 election, such as Redcar?
Safe Labour seats, such as Redcar, were turned into Conservative MP holding seats
Which seat, held by Labour since its creation in 1950, was won by a Conservative in 2019?
The seat of Bolsover was won by a Conservative in 2019
Approximately how many members did the Conservative Party have in the 1990s?
The Conservative Party had an estimated 400,000 members in the 1990s
What trend has been observed in the Conservative Party membership numbers between the 1990s and 2016?
There was a significant drop in Conservative Party membership between the 1990s and 2016
By how much has voting within the age range of 18-24 fallen between 1992 and 2015?
Voting within the age range of 18-24 between 1992 and 2015 has fallen by more than 50%
What impact has issue voting on the Gaza crisis had on the vote share of independent candidates?
Issue voting on the Gaza crisis increases the vote share of independent candidates who openly support Palestinians
In the 2024 general election, despite ranking third in aggregate votes, what issue arose for Reform UK?
Despite ranking third in aggregate votes (4.1 million), Reform UK’s seats gained raised questions about proportional representation
What was the reported turnout amongst 16-17 year-olds in the Scottish Independence Referendum according to the Electoral Commission?
The turnout amongst 16-17 year-olds in the Scottish Independence Referendum was reported as 75%
What percentage of 16-17 year-olds who voted in the Scottish Independence Referendum said they would vote again?
97% of 16-17 year-olds who voted said they would vote again
What trend in voter turnout has been observed among 16 and 17-year-olds in the Isle of Man since they were enfranchised in 2006?
Voter turnout among 16 and 17-year-olds in the Isle of Man has decreased since 2006
According to Survation research, what would make non-voters in 2010 significantly more likely to vote?
An online voting option would make two-thirds of non-voters in 2010 significantly more likely to vote
What was the Conservative government’s aim in introducing voter ID in 2017?
The Conservative government aimed to defeat voter fraud by introducing voter ID
What was the estimated percentage of the UK population without access to ID according to the Electoral Reform Society?
The Electoral Reform Society estimated that around 7.5% of the population did not have access to ID
How many signatures did a Change.org e-petition about compensation for the post office scandal have?
The Change.org e-petition about compensation for the post office scandal currently has 570,000 signatures
How did a 2017 petition about a state visit for President Trump influence his visit to the UK?
A 2017 petition collected around 1.86 million signatures to stop President Trump having a state visit; this worked, and he came on business rather than a state visit
What percentage of the public believed all prisoners should be able to vote according to a 2015 YouGov poll?
According to a 2015 YouGov poll, 8% of the public believed all prisoners should be able to vote
Name two European or Commonwealth countries where compulsory voting is currently in force.
Belgium and Australia are European and Commonwealth countries where compulsory voting is currently in force
According to polling in 2023, what is the British public’s general view on voting as a duty?
Polling shows that over 70% of the British public agree with the fundamental proposition that voting is a duty
Name three acts that significantly broadened the franchise in the UK.
The 1832 Great Reform Act, the 1867 Representation of the People Act (Second Reform Act), and the 1918 Representation of the People Act significantly broadened the franchise
When did women achieve equal voting rights with men in the UK, and at what age could they vote?
Women achieved equal voting rights with men in the UK with the 1928 Representation of the People Act (Equal Franchise Act), allowing both men and women to vote at the age of 21
When was the voting age lowered to 18 in the UK?
The voting age was lowered to 18 in the UK with the 1969 Representation of the People Act
What happened to Just Stop Oil in April 2025?
Just Stop Oil disbanded in April 2025 following a government crackdown on protests, likely referring to the Public Order Act 2023
What was the outcome of the British Medical Association’s (BMA) campaign post-pandemic?
The BMA successfully campaigned for a 2% rise in doctors’ wages post-pandemic. Junior doctors also approved a 22 percent pay rise by Labour in 2024
What was a key tactic used by Just Stop Oil, even if it was unpopular?
Just Stop Oil’s key methodology was civil disobedience regardless of public image, prioritizing getting their message across rather than public support
What is Momentum and what is its aim within the Labour Party?
Momentum is a Labour-supporting pressure group that has influenced the Labour party by putting in candidates for election as Labour MPs and councillors
Give an example of an MP who is associated with Momentum.
MPs like Zara Sultana, Apsana Begum, and Nadia Whittome are associated with Momentum
Which charity attempted to bring a legal challenge against the passed Rwanda Bill?
The charity Care4Calais attempted to bring a legal challenge against the passed Rwanda Bill
What is the National Trust’s status as a pressure group and what was an issue where it was unable to influence the government?
The National Trust is the largest pressure group in the country with significant funding and membership; however, it was unable to prevent the extension of the net-zero target to 2050 and the initial lifting of the ban on fracking
Which pressure group used footballer Marcus Rashford as a figurehead for a campaign during the 2020 lockdown, and what was the campaign’s aim and outcome?
FareShare used Marcus Rashford for their social media campaign to provide free meals to struggling children during the 2020 lockdown. This led to the government announcing a £120 million ‘Covid summer food fund’ and £170 million ‘Covid winter grant scheme’
What role did think tanks like the Centre for Policy Studies and the Adam Smith Institute play in the Conservative Party’s shift in the 1970s?
Think tanks like the Centre for Policy Studies and the Adam Smith Institute played a great deal in the shift of Conservative Party thinking towards a more overtly free-market-orientated approach in the 1970s due to Margaret Thatcher’s patronage
Name a neoliberal think tank and give examples of prominent political figures who had links to it in 2022.
The neoliberal think tank Institute of Economic Affairs had 24 parliamentary supporters in 2022, including prominent figures such as Liz Truss, Priti Patel, Kemi Badenoch, and Kwasi Kwarteng
Which political party is associated with the Adam Smith Institute and the Centre for Social Justice?
The Conservative Party is associated with the Adam Smith Institute and the Centre for Social Justice
Describe Lex Greensill’s relationship with David Cameron and his influence after leaving his role as PM.
When David Cameron was PM, Lex Greensill, the owner of Greensill Capital, was his senior advisor with access to key government departments. After leaving politics, Cameron became a lobbyist at Greensill Capital, lobbying Matt Hancock to use the firm’s services in the NHS
How did the National Farmers Union utilize its insider status in 2013 and 2023/2024?
he National Farmers Union used their insider status with the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to allow the 2013 badger cull. In 2023 and 2024, the head of the environmental affairs committee attended an NFU summit, and Rishi Sunak stated, “we have your back,” illustrating close links
Give an example of outsider pressure groups successfully campaigning for a change in law.
In 2004, the RSPCA and other groups joined forces to campaign for the ban on hunting, which was eventually successful with the Hunting Dogs Act 2004. Greenpeace also successfully campaigned for the government to propose the strongest ban on microbeads in the world
How often were the Institute for Fiscal Studies’ reports cited in official government documents between 2015 and 2021?
From 2015 to 2021, the Institute of Fiscal Studies’ reports had over 150 citations in official government documents
