Democracy and participation examples Flashcards
Brexit vote case study: turnout, issues and result, feelings and emotions and its effect on democracy.
In the EU referendum 2016, turnout was 72.2%, of who 52% voted to leave. Such a monumental decision that changes the way the UK works was made by only 37.7% of the voting population. Many based their decision on parliamentary sovreignty or immigration, with many claiming there was a lack of understanding about the issues involved. There was a common misconception that when voting leave, £350 million being sent to the EU each week would instead go to the NHS. Arguably others based their decision on emotion, lack of understanding, poor education and misinformation. It has therefore been said the result was unfair when looking at different regions of the UK, but others believe the majority vote has to be respected.
Examples of UK referendums
2016 EU referendum, 2011 AV referndum, extension of welsh devolution 2011, Scottish Independence referendum 2014
How many parties are in the HOC as of 2019?
10
Examples of the franchise being extended elsewhere in the UK (x2 examples)
16 and 17 year olds can now vote in local and devolved parliamentary elections in Scotland and Wales.
In 2020, Scotland confirmed some prisoners got the right to vote in local scottish elections
What has allowed political parties to recently get around spending and campaigning limits
social media and the increase of the internet
What highlights that turnout in referendums are high?
Turnout at the Scottish Independence referendum was 84.6 and EU referendum was 72%
Example of cronyism?
In 2020, Johnson created 36 new peerages, of whom were mostly former Conservative MPs or Brexit supporters
What is the exapmle of the lords ruling rightly or wrongly on tax credits?
In October 2015, the HOL rejected a series of proposed cuts to the tax credit system after it narrowly passed through the commons. The situation raised the nature and democratic legitimacy over the HOL. The tax credit cuts were set out in the Conservtaive manifesto and so have a mandate. Similarly, under the Sailsbury convention, the lords shouldn’t reject the cuts as it was presented as a financial measure, which they Lords are not allowed to reject. The lords claimed instead it was a welfare bill and so they were allowed to cut it as well as delegated legislation, allowing them to veto it. The 289 peers that rejected it were mainly Lib Dem and Labour and given the two parties had just lost the election, the peers technically had no mandate. Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber flew to the UK to vote in favour of the government, despite not being affected by the issue.
turnout in 2021 scottish parliament
63.40%
turnout in 2021 for london mayor
42.20%
average turnout for Police and Crime commissioner
33%
What is an example of the West Lothian Question in real life? (x2 examples)
the increase in student tuition fees in England and Wales in 2004 was only passed with the votes of Scottish MPs
The extension to Sunday trading was defeated in 2016 with the votes of SNP MPs
An example that FPTP is unrepresentative?
In 2019, the Lib Dems won 11.5% of the national vote, but only 11 seats, while the SNP won 3.9% of the vote and 48 seats
What are some examples of rights being overtunred because they are not entrenched? (x3 examples)
freedom of assembly- In response to covid, the gov introduced sweeping measures to prevent people meeting in their own home or associating with people in public
right to vote- despite judicial instructions, governments have not granted any prisoners the right to vote
right to not be deported back to an unsafe country- new Rwanda measures could see Rishi Sunak change the law so that he can send illegal migrants to Rwanda, even thought the supreme court ruled that it was unconstitutional because Rwanda may send them back to their homeland country that could be unsafe
Where has compulsory voting proven to work?
Australia and Belgium, where turnout rates are 93% and 96% respectively
What shows the British public would prioritise an effective government over reform to make the HOC more powerful?
The experiences of minority governments of May and Johnson highlight gridlock caused when a government loses control. The response of the bitish public awarding a clear majority to the Conservatives in 2019 shows they value an effective government
What referendum shows that devolution in England is not wanted?
in the 2004 North East devolution referendum, voters rejected the proposal by 78%
What % of 16 and 17 year olds voted in the Scottish referendum?
75%
What is the court case study for rights for prisoners to vote?
Campaign began by John Hirst for prisoners to vote. In Hirst Vs UK, the ECtHR declared the blanket ban as a violation on human rights. Groups such as Howard League for Penal Reform, the Prison Reform Trust and Amnesty International to campaign to give at least some prisoners the right to vote. The goal is to extend the franchise to those serving prison time for less than 1 year, in order to comply with the ECtHR ruling. The campaign has not been sucessful in the UK but has been in Scotland.
Which Prime Minister has repeatedly spoken against prisoners right to vote?
David Cameron said that the idea of prisoners getting the right to vote makes him feel ‘physically ill’ and that they ‘damn well shouldn’t’ be given the right to vote
turnout in 2001?
59%
turnout in 97?
71%
