Examples from past year Flashcards
Passage of the Terminally Ill Adults Bill
-Example of Representative democracy
-Despite polling showing 2/3rds of the public supported assisted dying, the vote was much closer
-Shows how MPs fulfill the trustee model of representation and exercise their own judgement, rather than being mere delegates
Rupert Lowe’s Vote on Assisted Dying
-Reform UK MP who voted in favour of the bill after hosting a mini-referendum
-Promised to vote according to the majority of the wishes of people in his constituency, which he did.
-Example of MP introducing direct democracy in order to better represent the interests of the constituency
-As FPTP creates single-member constituencies, MPs can represent their interests in Parliament and voters are able to hold their MP to account through voting
Labour accused of Cronyism
-“Freebiegate” where Labour peer Lord Alli was given a security pass to Downing street (significant access to government), allegedly due to his substantial donations and gifts to Labour and to Starmer himself
- Democratic deficit: perception that those with money can influence politicians, Alli, being a Lord is unelected.
-Media can hold governments to account, scandal was exposed by Freedom of Information requests by media outlets
Labour’s increasingly right-wing immigration policy
-2025, government published the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration bill, which included counter terror style powers against “gangs,” however has drawn criticism from Labour MPs and Refugee council for being anti-immigrant.
-Shift in Labour policy, originally against bills such as Safety of Rwanda Act
-Significant impact of minor parties, Reform UK came second place to Labour in 89 seats, threatening a ‘spoiler effect’
Rights in context, Right Wing Immigration Policy
the Labour government announced that it would make it impossible for a refugee who arrives in the UK on a small boat to become a British citizen. This undermines the HRA and rights of refugees.
Reform’s Polling Lead as an example of minor parties’ influence
-2025 YouGov poll, Reform UK came second at 25% behind Labour at 26%, and higher than the Conservatives’ 22%
-Suggests that the UK is increasingly a multi-party system
examples of changing insider/outsider status for pressure groups
National Farmers Union wielded significant policy influence under the last Conservative government, due to their close ties with DEFRA and the party.
-Rishi Sunak pledged to protect British farming in the agricultural market
-However, NFU’s influence has declined since the Labour government has been in office, possibly due to less performance in rural seats
-Shows how a pressure groups status and alignment with government direction is crucial to their influence
