Democracy and Participation Flashcards
Examples of direct democracy in the UK system
Brexit
Recall of MPs Act 2015
Party leadership elections
Turnout in 2019 general election?
67.3%
Last time voter turnout was above 70%?
1997 for general election
And Brexit in 2016 72.2% (although otherwise referendums are low)
Membership of the big 3 parties as % of the population?
1.5%
Why was the Great Reform Act of 18?? important?
1832
First law that majorly expanded the voter base.
When did the three Representation of the People Acts happen?
What did they change?
1918 - Enfranchised most men and some women
1928 - Enfranchises all adults over 21
1969 - Reduces voting age to 18
Two major suffragette/ suffragist groups?
NUWSS (sufragettes) - founded in 1897
WSPU (suffragists) - founded in 1903
16-17 turnout at elections in Scotland and Wales?
75%
Two examples of pressure groups that are more insider due to social change
LGBT Foundation… from Section 28 to multipartisan acceptance
Friends of the Earth has been engaged with by Scottish Government, and listened to by Michael Gove when banning bee-harming pesticides
What did Ed Davey say about a referendum on the repeal of Section 28?
“In a liberal democracy, the need to protect minorities properly sometimes means that protection cannot be achieved through the ballot box and that some things are not appropriate for a vote.”
Example of insider pressure groups
Cancer Research UK
Mind
Example of outsider pressure groups
XR/ Just Stop Oil
Examples of insider and outsider pressure groups
BMA - gives evidence and advice on health i.e. contributed to banning of public smoking
Is a union - instrumental in junior doctor strikes
Why are Lords more of a focus than MPs for pressuree groups?
More well informed, less partisan and have no election pressure
What is an access point for a pressure group?
A way to enter/ influence government
Example of ideological compatibility being a factor for success for pressure groups
Taxpayers Alliance, who held a protest with 350 people, were ‘successful’ over unions in 2011 when they argued for austerity
Factors for pressure group success
I take no LIP from the MS about pressure groups
Leadership
Ideology
Popularity
Money
Size
When has poor pressure group leadership led to failure
In 2010, Aaron Parker who was the NUS president was against violence. Meanwhile, NUS protestors wrecked the Conservative Party HQ
Example of a wealthy pressure group? Has its wealth always allowed it to get its way
Confederation of British Industry. Insider status and v. influential but corporation tax is increasing to 25% as of April. Due to public support and political necessity.
Can massive popular support/ size lead to government U-turns?
Yes, Cameron u-turned on refusal to admit many syrian refugess when 4 million people signed an e-petition after a syrian boy drowned
No, Blair didn’t listen to the Stop The War protest despite it being the largest ever protest in London - 750,000
Is the RMT a wealthy pressure group? Why is it so influential
Not necessarily but it has large economic leverage hence its success
Example of expertise being more important than size for pressure groups?
Howard League for Penal Reform is 50 or so experts, consulted frequently by the Ministry of Justice and Home Office. In 2014 successfully campaigned to letprisoners have books.
Functions of pressure groups
Educate/ expertise
Represent
Scrutinise
Engage
How much money was Cameron set to make from ?????? Capital if his lobbying of Sunak and Hancock was successful?
£60million
What did Lord Pickles, former chair of Advisory Committee on Business Appointments, say about lobbying
Government agency was too weak/ there’s too many loopholes
Three examples of ideologically diverse thinktanks, does this help democracy?
ResPublica - Neutral
IEA - right-wing, links with tories and partially funded by big baccy
Institute for Public Policy Research - left-wing policy
Competing, well-informed views could be good for pluralism and informed policy?
Example of an MP who could provide ‘access for cash’
Jack Straw
Examples of failed derogation
Tony Blair’s law after the 7/7 attacks which allowed detention for up to 90 days
How does John Hirst show a weakness of the ECHR
John Hirst won a case of judicial review to allow prisoners to vote, it was ignored by Cameron until the end of his premiership
What is a rights culture, do Shamima Begum or Abu Qatada benefit from this?
Where individual rights are placed over collective rights. They haven’t. Begum was stripped of her citizenship and any chance of returning to the UK to appeal by the Supreme Court.
It took 5 home secretaries to deport Abu Qatada, who had used judicial review to challenge his removal.
Examples of judicial review
Lee vs Ashers Bakery (2018). Gay couple unsuccessful against Christain baker who didn’t write a certain message
Morgan vs Wilkinson (2013). Gay couple successful against Christian BnB owners who had barred them entry
How long did it take Johnson to pass the COVID Act 2020? Who eventually checked him?
6 days, with no formal declaration of derogation. Checked by Tory rebels who demanded greater review.
What did COVID Act 2020 do with individual vs collective rights? What did Matt Hancock describe it as?
Placed collective rights and “right to life” over “right to family life” or “right to assmebly”
“Draconian!
Examples of civil right groups actions to promote a “rights culture”
Liberty vs the Snooper’s Charter. Failed to stop it from being passed in 2016, but in JUne 2022 won a case requiring government agencies to get independent authorisation before accessing private information. This is backed up by the ECHR agreeing in2018 that some of it was unlawful.
Does Sunak support a Bill of Rights to replace the HRA
Unknown, refused to commit to a timetable and has been urged by a parliamentary committee to drop the plan, but he did reappoint Dominic Raab as jussticee secretary, who first proposed it.
When was the UK supreme Court introduced?
2005
What does ultravires mean?
Government has ‘gone beyond’ its powers.
Recent UK laws that may challenge the ECHR
Banning small boats crossing
Minimum trade union service - breaches article 11
Current law that would restrict rights
Police, crime, sentencing and courts Act (2022)
