Is the UK in need of democratic reform?

Question 1

What would be the advantage of replacing the lords with an elected chamber?

Answer 1

It would remove an unelected, unaccountable body

Question 2

What would be the disadvantage of replacing the house of lords with an unelected chamber?

Answer 2

• What replaced it might rival the commons, leading to political gridlock
• The expertise in the lords could potentially be replaced by career politicians

Question 3

What would be the benefit of replacing FPTP with a more proportional system?

Answer 3

• Removes safe seats, minority constituencies and unfair representation of governments with minority support

Question 4

What would be the downside of replacing FPTP with a more proportional system?

Answer 4

• It would make coalition governments more likely, and they are harder to hold to account
• The system would be more complex
• Risks losing the close MP constituency bond that already exists

Question 5

What would be the benefit of codifying the UK constitution?

Answer 5

• It would clarify political processes
• It would provide a higher, entrenched law to replace the current flexibilty

Question 6

What would be the disadvantage of codifying the UK constitution?

Answer 6

• Might prove too rigid
• Questions about who would write it and how it would be implemented
• Raises questions about sovereignty
• Gives more power to unelected judges

Question 7

What would be the benefit of creating a devolved English parliament to equalise devolution?

Answer 7

It would solve the West Lothian question and bring about more equal levels of representation across the UK

Question 8

What would be the downside of creating a devolved English parliament to equalise devolution?

Answer 8

Regional devolution has been rejected by voters, and England as a whole is too large an entity to work within a devolved system

Question 9

What would be the benefit of state party funding?

Answer 9

• Allows politicians to focus on their main job rather than fundraising
• It would reduce dependence upon wealthy donors who use their influence for their own ends, rather than in the national interest

Question 9

What would be the benefit of state party funding?

Answer 9

• Allows politicians to focus on their main job rather than fundraising
• It would reduce dependence upon wealthy donors who use their influence for their own ends, rather than in the national interest

Question 10

What would be the downside of state party funding?

Answer 10

• The process of fundraising helps keep politicians and parties connected with voters
• Questions over how funds would be allocated
• The taxpayer may not wish for their money to fund parties they see as objectionable

Question 11

What would be the benefit of compulsory voting?

Answer 11

It would increase turnout and therefore the legitimacy of elected officials

Question 12

What would be the downside of compulsory voting?

Answer 12

• Forcing people to vote may not improve political engagement
• The right to vote should include the right not to vote

Question 13

What would be the benefit of replacing the monarch with an elected head of state?

Answer 13

It replaces an unelectable figurehead with one that is elected and therefore accountable

Question 14

What would be the downside of replacing the monarch with an elected head of state?`

Answer 14

• The monarchy is popular
• Being neutral, the monarch can act as a unifying force in the way that an elected politician cannot