Constitutional Reform - 2010 Coalition Flashcards
1
Q
coalitions const changes
general successes and failures
A
- when Tories and LD formed a coalition gov in 2010, they had to agree on const refomr
- LD main priority was a referendum on electoral reform, delivered in 2011
- further achievement of coaliton included fixed term parliament act in 2011, protection of freedoms act in 2012 and recall of Mps act 2015
- further devolution introduced in S and W during coalition and subsequent tory govs
- other reforms fell through –> reducing MP number, introducing elected HoL element and introducing british bill of rights
2
Q
10 things the coalition gov of 2010 achieved
A
- fixed term parliaments act 2015 –> established a pattern of GE every 5 years
- Scot Devolution –> 2012, gave scot gov further powers via devolution 2016 (more fiscal (money) autonomy)
- Welsh devolution 2014 –> response to the silk commission, further W devolution (taxation powers)
- protection of freedoms act 2012 –> aim to restore protection of civil liberties
- lord reform act 2014 –> act aimed at halting the number who can sit and vote in the HoL
- commons reform –> carried on wright committee suggestions
- west Lothian question –> S,W, NI votes on E but not vice versa, EVEL arises
- electoral reform –> conservatives did not want a new system but LD wanted to replace FPTP with STV
- recall of MPs act 2015
- British bill of rights –> 2010 cameron manifesto, bill of rights instead of HRA to fix the ‘mess’ it was
3
Q
3 successes of fixed term parliaments
A
- more power to parliament: removed the PMs ability to call parliament at a particularly advantageous time
- general elections still held at regular intervals today
- coalition stays together, agreed: brings stability in parliament
4
Q
3 failures of fixed term parliaments
A
- an early election was called in 2017, showing its limitations
- governments can still retain powers through appointing leaders by other votes
5
Q
3 successes of S devolution
A
- powers over tax gained (income tax), regulation of controlled drugs and can borrow 2.2 bn per annum
- fiscal autonomy under 2016 act
- Scottish gov cannot be abolished with referendum
6
Q
2 failures of S devolution
A
- not entirely independent, cannot vote on english laws
- major UK laws still decided by west minister
- raising 50%> of finances, now want to be independent, erodes UK stability
7
Q
3 success of W devolution
A
- control over smaller taxes passed to devolved W institution
- name of welsh executive changed to welsh gov (Senedd Cymru) –> only abolished by referendum
- choose their own electoral system
8
Q
failures of W devolution
A
- not alot of demand for devolution/independence in wales –> 2011 referendum: 36% turnout (1/3 of pop)
9
Q
3 successes of protection of freedoms
A
- act offered citizens greater protection from the state by putting in place proper scrutiny of security services, oversight or surveillance + data collection (if charges on a person is dropped, all data on them is destroyed)
- police stop and search is limited
- terrorist suspects held for 14 not 28 days, unlike labour reforms
10
Q
2 failures of Protection of freedoms
A
- went to far for protecting information (DNA) and ignored expert advice, that helped investigators find criminals
- legislation is incoherent, focused on intrusion on public sector not private sector
11
Q
a success of the lords reform
A
- gives existing peers the right to retire or resign from their seats –> can also be removed in criminal cases
12
Q
2 failures in lords reforms
A
- burns report: should only be 600 seats on a 15 year peerage each
- lib dems: 300 elected peers but cameron dropped it as the more party (tories) - threatens the coalition
13
Q
3 successes in commons reform
A
- chairs of HoL selected, which scrutinise gov departments
- Wright Committee e petitions
- back bench committee determines HoC business once a week
14
Q
3 failures in commons reform
A
- wanted 600 MPs instead of 650 meaning a more evenly distributed spread constituencies but lib dems blocked as tories blocked their lords reform LOL
- wanted to change constituencies boundaries –> labour said these changes would lead to Jerry manning, unfair advantage to tories
15
Q
3 successes in EVEL
A
- funding is more evenly distributed in the country (S, W, NI had better funding per person b4)
- England devolvement –> has its own power
- EVEL used in jan 2016: leg grand committee reps england and decides what involved england only
16
Q
5 failures of EVEL
A
- Uk stability: separate powers
- S,W,NI can still vote despite EVEL –> members of HoL
- doesnt do alot really
- politicises the role of the speaker
- creates classes of MPs (grand committee and normal)
17
Q
success of electoral reform
A
- conservatives keep their promise for the referendum –> 68% said no to reform, so FPTP conserved
18
Q
2 failures of electoral reform
A
- could be due to SVT unpopularity compared to PR, not a lack of wanting change
- seen by the public as a protest vote against LD, rather than electoral reform (unpopular)
19
Q
2 successes of recall of MPs
A
- in cases of serious misconduct MPs can be recalled
- can happen if they are sent to prison, have false expenses claims, or is suspended for 2 weeks from commons
20
Q
2 failures of recall of MPs
A
- some argue the bar is set too high (too hard to get them really recalled) –> paisley and sri lanka (he advocated for them but did not mention they paid for his trip there), but 44 votes short of recall
- process is too watered down and voters cannot recall simply for doing a poor job unlike other countries –> commission of standards decides everything
21
Q
2 failures of the British bill of rights
A
- cameron made a commission but didnt get anything agreed after 20 months
- pushed back due to Brexit
22
Q
huge success for tories in 2010
A
European union withdrawal act 2020
- huge tory success as johnsons campaign to ‘get Brexit done’ came through
