Democracy in the UK

Question 1

Challenges to Parliamentary Sovereignty:

Answer 1

• EU membership, EU law is higher than UK
• Devolution
• Pressure groups and media can influence parliament’s decision

Question 2

Sewel Convention:

Answer 2

UK Parliament retains authority to legislate on anything even if its devolved.

Question 3

Benefits of devolution:

Answer 3

• better democracy
• no tuition fees in Scotland
• more devolution means its more likely to increase

Question 4

Downsides of devolution:

Answer 4

• English feel alienated (want their own parliament)

- often unfair (English see this as how their tax supports Scottish spending)

Question 5

4 ways MPs can participate in parliament:

Answer 5

• Asking questions (question time for 1st hour of each day or PM question time, Wednesday at noon)
• Debates (Adjournment debates, half an hour at the end of each day but must be chosen by speaker to raise matters)
• Divisions (effective if MPs party is in power as hold the majority and so can pass new bills)
• Committees (select committees produce specialist reports on specific areas to help government know what to do, good for scrutinising government if they don’t follow reports)

Question 6

Why MPs often choose party over constituents:

Answer 6

• can be deselected by party

- being a rebel can prevent them from progressing career wise

Question 7

What does the party whip do?

Answer 7

They know lots about everyone and can be very manipulative however their main job is to tell their party MPs which votes and debates to attend.

Question 8

How do party whips tell their party what votes and debates to attend?

Answer 8

They send round ‘the whip’ with important debates and divisions underlined.

Question 9

How many individual’s issues has Stu D solved?

Answer 9

5000 out of roughly 63,000 constituents

Question 10

Between 1997-2010 what % of Select committee reports were accepted by government?

Answer 10

40%

Question 11

What policy made committees more democratic?

Answer 11

Wright Committee reforms

Question 12

Social class voting gap between private sector and public sector support for Torys and Labour in:
2010 -
2015 -

Answer 12

• 16%

- 20% (Tory 17% more private sector supporters, Labour 3% more public sector supporters)

Question 13

Social class vote for BREXIT:
AB -
C2 DE

Answer 13

• 57% remain

- 36% remain

Question 14

% AB votes for Torys in:
1992 -
2015 -

Answer 14

52%

45%

Question 15

De-alignment has been caused partly by having a larger middle class, this is because:

Answer 15

Middle class is split with how they vote, eg. in 2015 32% C2 voted Labour and 32% Tory.

Question 16

Voter turnout in 2015 by age group:
18 - 24 YOs -
65+ -

Answer 16

• 43%

- 78%

Question 17

Average age of an MP?

Answer 17

50

Question 18

Tory votes by age group in 2015:
18 - 24 YOs -
55+ -

Answer 18

• 27%

- over 40%

Question 19

How many BAME MPs in:
2010 -
2015 -

Answer 19

• 27
• 42
  (56% increase)

Question 20

What % of each ethnic group say they will vote:
BAME -
White -

Answer 20

• 33%

- 52%

Question 21

What % of UK thought TV was the most influential media for 2015 election?

Answer 21

62%

Question 22

2015 election:
% Guardian readers who voted Labour -
% Telegraph readers who voted Tory -

Answer 22

• 62%

- 69%