Evaluate the extent to which the UK is suffering from a participation crisis.

Question 1

Introduction - Themes

Answer 1

• Voter Turnout
• Party Membership
• Political Activism

Question 2

Introduction - Argument

Answer 2

As a nation, the UK is suffering with a participation crisis, the majority of the population has become disengaged from the political process, unless there is a big issue at stake

Question 3

Disagree - Voter Turnout - Point

Answer 3

Turnout at General Election dropped to its lowest in 2001 at 59.4%, however, since then there has been a steady increase

Question 4

Disagree - Voter Turnout - Examples

Answer 4

• Turnout peaked in 2017 at 68.7% and dropped off slightly in 2019 to 67.3%, however, this is a significant increase from 2001
• For the EU Referendum turnout stood at 72.2% because people understood the importance of voting for this issue

Question 5

Agree - Voter Turnout - Point

Answer 5

Turnout has dropped significantly since the end of the war, both in General Elections and at Local Elections

Question 6

Agree - Voter Turnout - Examples

Answer 6

• UK Turnout at General Elections is low comparative with what it used to be. In 1979, turnout stood at 76.0%
• Turnout at local elections is even lower - for the 2021 Greater London Assembly Vote, there was only a 42% turnout

Question 7

Disagree - Party Membership - Point

Answer 7

Party membership is an important way in which many citizens take part in the political process. Recently, there have been certain events and schemes to get party members more involved

Question 8

Disagree - Party Membership - Examples

Answer 8

• The introduction of the £3 membership by Jeremy Corbyn increased the number of citizens that are members of the Labour Party - it now stands at 430,000
• The Conservative Party membership were particularly important when deciding who should succeed Boris Johnson. The 80,000 Members voted in favour of Liz Truss

Question 9

Agree - Party Membership - Point

Answer 9

Party membership in the UK is nominal, the majority of voters do not belong to a political party, and do not engage fully in the political process

Question 10

Agree - Party Membership - Examples

Answer 10

• Only 2.11% of the electorate are members of a political party. The numbers are falling - Labour Party membership has fallen from 485,00 to 430,000
• The Liz Truss premiership lasted just 44 day and when she resigned the Conservative Party did not use their membership to elect the next leader

Question 11

Disagree - Political Activism - Point

Answer 11

Pressure groups are a way in which the masses are able to come together to influence the government. In the UK, pressure groups have become increasingly vocal

Question 12

Disagree - Political Activism - Examples

Answer 12

• Hundreds of thousands of public sector workers are going on strike. In February 2023, over 100,000 teachers went on strike due to lack of pay
• Digital activism has become common. Any E-petition recieving over 100,000 signatures has to be considered in Parliament

Question 13

Agree - Political Activism - Point

Answer 13

Recently, certain pressure groups have alienated the masses with their radical tactics to get the government’s attention

Question 14

Agree - Political Activism - Examples

Answer 14

• Extinction Rebellion and Insulate Britain have taken to gluing themselves to roads and train, and Just Stop Oil has thrown paint over important buildings
• The Police, Crime and Sentencing Act 2022 was passed to put restriction on people’s right to protest