political parties Flashcards
Evaluate the view that pressure groups enhance democracy.
1-Effectively able to represent/Lack of influence if no wider support.
2-Extraparliamentary representation(enhances plurality/hierarchy of pressure groups means disproportion of influence
3-Allow for unorthodox and specialist engagement outside of standard voting/Slacktivism and disengagement e.g ‘chequer book members’
Evaluate the extent to which the UK remains a genuine pluralist democracy
1-In parliament accountability with lords/ incidences of ‘kitchen cabinet’ and lords have little ability of scrutiny in time of non-coalition- tyranny of the majority
2-Pressure groups suggested as having influence over Gov/ pressure groups hindered by need of aims to be in line with the Gov
3-Devolution provided other powers to regions of UK, decentralisation provides plurality/ Devolution is act of parliament and can be overturned by government of day.
Evaluate the extent to which rights are effectively protected in the UK
1-Judicial review, interpret HRA/Judges only able to issue declaration of incompatibility and judges tend to prioritise Article 8 (privacy) over Article 10 (Expression)
2-Human Rights Act, facilitates a ‘rights based culture’/ can be circumvented in times of emergency
3- Statute and Common Laws- protect rights as well as conventions, eg ‘Habeas Corpus’/ can be overruled and vague so misinterpreted. Lady hale any common law rights is ‘inherently contestable’.
Evaluate the view that Labour remains true to its original ideological position.
1- Economy, come full circle in terms of common ownership, eg Clause IV action by Corbyn as well as Starmer/ However juxtaposing nature of Blair administration ‘public/private ownership..protect interest of the NHS’
2-Foreign Policy, Starmer has reverted back to less aggressive foreign policy eg ‘ethical policy’ and ‘keep human rights at the heart of foreign policy’/Atlee’s unilateral nuclear disarmament vs Blairs aggressive foreign policy eg invading Iraq.
3-Equality, Starmer back to Atless focus on equality of opportunity ‘support the abolition of tuition fees’ 2019. Blair seen as anomaly/Equality of opportunity vs outcome, Blair’s focus on high achievement in school ‘zero tolerance of underperformance’ and Atlees focus on just providing education for all
Evaluate the view that the Conservative party remain true to its original ideological position.
1-Paternalistic social policy, eg levelling up and Covid policy vs Disraeli’s focus on bridging class divides. .eg £3bn National Skills Fund. ‘Noblesse Oblige’/ Under coalition more focussed on self-reliance, e,g UC proposed as incentive to work not to bridge to gap.
2- Welfare and funding, Record spending during Covid- Gov debt from 82.8 in 2019 to 103.7 of GDP in 2021/ Small state conservatism under Thatcher and austerity under the coalition, very individualised eg 25% cut in Whitehall budget.
3-Law and order, respect for institutions. eg 2019 Manifesto pledge entitled ‘Strengthening Our Union’ appeals to Traditional unionist One Nation Conservative views/ Euroscepticism risks breaking unity, waning stance on Law and Order eg ‘Hug a Hoodie. Not true to strict Law and order and even members of government break law.
Evaluate the view that major parties remain the dominant force in Uk politics.
1-Coalitions rare under FPTP, eg Exclusively 1 party govs from 1945 to 1999 (Only EU country except Spain)/Role in propping up Gov eg J Major and May. L-Dems blocked inheritance tax cuts, DUP didn’t support May withdrawal 2x
2-System bias excludes minor parties, eg Ukip and Green and SNP could never statistically form gov/Provides plurality of ideas, eg environmentalism, UKIP 24 seats in European elections, Brex 29 seats, SNP stronghold on Scotland.
3-Party funding puts minor parties at huge disadvantage, eg 2019 63% of all donations went to Cons, Trade Unions provided £5 to Labour/Membership and influence outside of holding electoral office-Reform UK has 115,000 members, LD 100,000. UKIP were very influential in Brexit Ref
Evaluate the extent of internal divisions within the current UK political parties.
1 (Labour)- B’s amendment of Clause IV lasted past Blair vs 1983 manifesto. Factions such as Momentum more Trad Lab, parties Starmer banned v.minor/ineffectual, 5m from TU/ Jan 2020 80% vs 2022 39% thought divide. Divisions controlled with Starmers ban on factions eg Socialist Appeal. Starmer’s aim to win elections not truly ideology.
2 (Conservative)- Social Conservatism vs Social Liberalism, free votes on gay marriage showed division, 130 opposed, Climate Net Zero Scrutiny Group, Brexit divisions/ Many remainers have now left the party, Cabinet very homogenous, Patronage common and uncritical.
3 Minor Party- Tim Farron view on LGBTQ+, divisions following Jo Swinson fall-between those who supported her and those with links to coalition/ Less room for minor party divisions, less well represented so divisions would cause lack of electoral support, eg Lib-Dems made many mistakes following coalition.
