Evaluate The View That Reforms To Democracy In The UK Havenʼt Gone Far Enough.

Question 1

P1: Agree FPTP

Answer 1

1. Plurality system: MPs often elected without majority support. National votes don’t translate proportionally into seats. FavoUrs parties with concentrated support → minor parties under-represented.
2. 2019: Lib Dems got 11.5% of votes, but only 11 seats (1.7%)
   → With full PR, they’d have ~75 seats 2024: Labour won 411 seats (landslide, 174 majority) with just 33.7% of the vote.
3. Additional Member System gives 2 votes → more choice. Allows split-ticket voting (vote for one party locally, another nationally)
   Fewer wasted votes, fairer outcomes

Question 2

P1: Disagree FPTP

Answer 2

1. 2011 AV Referendum: 68% voted to keep FPTP (on 42% turnout)
   → Shows resistance to electoral reform.
2. Easy for voters: 1 vote, 1 candidate. Fast results & stable government. 2024 example: Sunderland South result at 23:15; Starmer PM by 12:40 the next day.
3. One MP per constituency → clear local accountability. MPs deal directly with local issues, hold surgeries, and advocate for constituents.
4. Dec 5, 2023: 22 Conservative MPs rebelled to support Labour’s amendment for faster compensation to infected blood victims. Caroline Nokes rebelled due to pressure from victims in her Romsey and Southampton North constituency

Question 3

P2: Agree Extending/Reforming Franchise

Answer 3

1. 2019 General Election: 67.3% turnout. 2024 General Election: 59.9% turnout. Low engagement weakens democracy.
2. Supported by Labour in 2024 manifesto (not yet implemented)
   Encourages early voting habit and boosts lifelong engagement.Young people are more politically aware (e.g., climate strikes) Scotland’s example: Voting at 16 led to greater youth involvement. 16-year-olds can leave school, work, join armed forces → should also vote. More youth voters = parties forced to address young people’s issues (e.g., tuition fees).
3. Compulsory Voting:
   Australia model: Turnout consistently over 90%.Makes parties campaign for all voters, not just key groups. Boosts legitimacy & representativeness. Reinforces idea that voting is a civic duty

Question 4

P2: Disagree Extending the Franchise Is Not Needed

Answer 4

1. Low turnout already among 18–24s → unlikely 16–17s would boost participation. Lack of political knowledge → risk of uninformed voting without better civic education. Many legal rights are restricted in practice → e.g.
   Can’t be deployed to military front line until 18. Few 16-year-olds in full-time employment. Suggests they’re not treated as full adults yet.
2. Voting is a right, not a duty → forcing it undermines individual freedom.Doesn’t solve root causes of disengagement (e.g., lack of trust, poor representation)

Question 5

P3: Agree Greater Use of DirDem

Answer 5

1. Referendums involve the public directly in decision-making, especially on constitutional issues where the electorate has a right to be consulted.High Turnouts: Recent referendums (e.g., Scottish Independence 2014 - 84% turnout, EU referendum 2016 - 72.2%) show that referendums often engage voters more than general elections.
2. They prevent governments from becoming “remote” or “unaccountable,” acting as a check on “elective dictatorships.” Increased Political Awareness: For example, Scottish Independence raised awareness of key political issues like economics and defence.
3. Citizens’ assemblies, like the Climate Assembly UK 2019, allow the public to explore complex issues and contribute to policy-making. Recommendations, such as the ban on petrol/diesel cars and increased renewable energy, were adopted in part by the government. They show how direct democracy can shape national policy more effectively.

Question 6

P3: Disagree do not need more DD

Answer 6

1. Political Manipulation: Referendums can be used for political gain rather than genuine public consultation. The Brexit referendum was partly a strategic move by the Conservative Party to prevent votes lost to UKIP, undermining its democratic legitimacy.
2. The AV referendum (2011) was seen as a protest vote against the Liberal Democrats after their broken promise on tuition fees.
3. Can fail to engage voters consistently, AV turnout 42.2%.