Democracy and Participation Flashcards
Ways in which direct democracy can be used in a representative system (4)
-National referendums
-2015 Recall of the MP Act
-E-Petitions
-Citizen juries
EU Referendum turnout and result
72% turn out
52% voted to leave
Example of control of the media by wealthy, unaccountable business interests:
Murdoch Group owns The Times, The Sunday Times and The Sun simultaneously.
Voter turnout 2019
67.3%
Voter turnout 2017
68.8%
Voter Turnout local council election 2022
33.6%
Party membership 2022
1.5% of the electorate are members of a political party
Labour Party membership 2022 v 2016
2022: 450,000
2016: 515,000
Rise in the membership of minor parties
SNP membership 2013: 25,000
2022: 103,000
16/17 year olds allowed to vote
2014 Scottish referendum
Voter turnout falling:
1979: 76%
2001: 59%
E-petitions as a form of direct democracy
- The UK’s Parliament’s Petitions Committee considers all petitions that receive 100,000 signatures but there is no automatic parliamentary debate.
- The petitions committee has a right to accept it or not
E-petitions getting ignored
2019- petition requesting the revocation of Article 50 and for the UK to remain in the EU. Received 6.1 million signatures.
-Parliament did not debate
Citizen juries and Assemblies as a form of direct democracy
Collection of individuals that discuss an issue and make recommendations to the government based on deliberations.
Example of a Citizen jury
2009- Action for Children, citizen jury to investigate how the government can increase the wellbeing of children in the UK
Recalls as a form of direct democracy:
The Recall of MPs Act (2015)- provision for constituents to be able to recall their MP and call a by-election.
Example of recalls being used
2019- Christopher Davies was recalled by his constituents
BUT rare, has only happened on 3 occassions
Example of sectional groups (interest groups)
-Law Society,
-National Union of Teachers,
-National Farmers Union,
-British Medical Association
-National Education Union (strikes)
Example of cause groups (promotional groups)
Greenpeace, Extinction Rebellion, Amnesty International
Pressure groups being helpful to democracy
Green Peace is a pressure group that is able to investigate and research climate issues
Pressure groups influencing government policy farmers
National Farmers Union is able to provide specialist knowledge about agriculture. E.g The Agriculture Bill 2020
Pressure groups disruptive behaviour
Just Stop Oil blocked access to the M4 in 2022
Example of pressure group protecting rights through an act
Stonewall - successful in lobbying for
The Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulation 2007 which outlawed discrimination based on sexual orientation
Example of pressure group protecting collective human rights
Liberty launched the “Save our Human Rights Act” campaign in 2015. Opposed the Conservative’s plan to repeal the Act
Example of low profile insider groups
Howard League of Penal Reform
Example of high profile insider groups
Confederation of British Industry (supplement their lobbying with the use of media)
Example of Outsider groups
‘Occupy’ movement had sit-ins in 2011. Don’t want to work with the government, as they see the government. As closely aligned with the capitalist movement their protesting
Example of a think tanks + influence on govt
Institute for Public Policy Research
- 2020- proposed emergency support for ‘children of the pandemic’- led to DofE announcing support for disadvantaged school children
Lobbying spending limits
Lobbying Act 2014- placed spending limits of £20,000 in England
Example of a think tank directly influencing manifesto:
Bow Group (Tory think tank) influenced both 2015 and 2017 manifestoes
Example of a neutral think tank
Adam Smith Institute, works with the incumbent government on economics affairs regardless of political affiliation
Historic example of think tank influence:
Fabian Society influenced Blair’s ‘New Labour’ reforms
Pressure groups that represent minority interests:
Muslim Council of Britain- campaigned heavily against islamophobic legislation after 7/7 bombing
Examples of Lobbying scandals (2)
2021- Owen Patterson
2021- David Cameron (used private passages to lobby ministers regarding Greensill)
How the government safeguards rights (3)
Judicial review, Human Rights Act (1998) and Equality Act (2010)
Use of judicial review
increased with there being 1100 in 1982 and over 3,000 cases in 2015
People using the Human Rights Act to evade deportation:
Abu Qatada- a radical extremist was able to fight off deportation for 8 years, using the HRA
BUT
Only 10-15% of criminals fight deportation using the HRA
Legislation that restricted certain individual rights in favour of collective rights (2)
Prevention of Terrorism Act (2005)
Coronavirus Act (2020)
Example of successful Lobbying
2001- Stonewall successfully lobbied for the Sexual Offences (Amendment), which reduced the age of consent for homosexuals to 16, the same as heterosexuals
Example of lobbyist influence in referendum
the Lobby group Leave.EU was hugely influential in the outcome of the Brexit referendum
Direct Democracy- Citizens’ Assemblies 2020
2020- Climate change (concluded with steps to make Britain net zero by 2050)
How the government safeguards rights:
Judicial review, Human Rights Act (1998) and Equality Act (2010)
Use of judicial review
increased with there being 1100 in 1982 and over 3,000 cases in 2015, 3400 in 2019
People using the Human Rights Act to evade deportation
Abu Qatada- a radical extremist was able to fight off deportation for 8 years, using the HRA
BUT
Only 10-15% of criminals fight deportation using the HRA
Legislation that restricted certain individual rights in favour of collective rights:
Prevention of Terrorism Act (2005)
Coronavirus Act (2020)
Example of BMA influencing policy (2)
- The BMA contributed to the ban on smoking in enclosed spaces in 2007
- Ban on smoking in cars carrying children in 2015
Lobbyists being ignored
‘Best for Britain’ aimed to persuade MPs to have a 2nd Brexit referendum but FAILED
Corporation donation example
£250,000 by Flowidea Ltd to Conservative Party
Revolving Door example (2)
- After leaving parliament, Nick Clegg became Facebook’s head of global affairs
- Cameron became a major shareholder in Greensill, tried to secure valuable government contacts
