Politics plan Flashcards
What are examples of how Pressure Groups Enhance Political Participation?
- Extinction Rebellion – Encourages direct action and protests, allowing opportunities for people to engage the public in climate activism, prompting discussions on environmental policy.
What are some stats that show how much young people engage with direct action?
2024 You gov uk - half 47% of young people in the UK have engaged in some form of direct action over the past year. Can engage more young people and increase political participation
What are some examples of wealthy pressure groups and corporations that have more of an effect as their views are often over-represented?
CBI (Confederation of British Industry) – Represents big businesses and has significant lobbying power, often securing policies that favour corporate interests over public needs. - “revolving door” where former politicians become lobbyists for big corporations.
What are some examples of pressure groups being able to educate people?
- Liberty, a major civil liberties pressure group, runs public awareness campaigns, to educate people on their rights under laws like the Human Rights Act 1998 and the Equality Act 2010, this allows people to more effectively understand their rights and hold the government to account if they are infringed upon.
- Liberty launched public awareness campaigns explaining how the Public Order Act 2023 explaining how the new law affects protest rights and freedom of speech
What are some examples of pressure groups not being accountable to the public which allows vocal pressure groups can sometimes push for policies that are not supported by the majority?
The BMA often lobbies against policy changes that might improve efficiency or patient outcomes in the NHS, such as proposals to reduce bureaucracy or introduce privatization elements -> The BMA’s lobbying efforts can be opaque, and members of the public or patients may not always be aware of what specific policies the group is pushing for or against.
What are some examples if how pressure groups act as a check on government power by monitoring the actions of government officials?
The UK government proposed the third runway at Heathrow Airport, which would significantly expand the airport and increase aviation emissions -> In 2020, the Court of Appeal ruled in favour of Friends of the Earth, finding that the government’s approval of the Heathrow expansion was unlawful due to failure to consider climate commitments.
What some examples of pressure groups using civil disobedience?
- In October 2022, Just Stop Oil activists threw tomato soup at Vincent van Gogh’s ‘Sunflowers’ painting at the National Gallery in London. This was one of the most widely reported and controversial acts of direct action.
- In November 2021, Just Stop Oil activists participated in a series of road blockades on the M25, one of the UK’s busiest motorways. This was a large-scale action aimed at disrupting transportation and raising awareness about the government’s continued support for fossil fuels.
What are some examples of higher overall participation due to franchise acts?
- Higher overall participation: the 1928: equal franchise act - making the total electorate approximately 28 million. It marked the first time men and women had equal voting rights in the UK, this increase in political participation shows the importance of these bills
- The Representation of the People Act 1969 lowered the voting age from 21 to 18, significantly increasing the electorate by adding around 3 million new voters to the electoral roll, allowing younger people to more represented in politics and help shape future policies.
What are some examples of declining turnout despite dull suffrage?
- 1950: 83.9% turnout,
- 2017 General Election: Turnout was 68.8%,
- 2024 General Election: Turnout further declined to 59.7%
What are some stats that show that expanding suffrage isn’t enough as there are growing levels of apathy towards politics and a low level of trust in politicians?
British Social Attitudes Survey (2024): This survey revealed that 58% of respondents would “almost never” trust politicians to tell the truth, a level comparable to the aftermath of the 2009 MPs’ expenses scandal -> party gate
What are some examples of how the expanded franchise increased political engagement for previously excluded groups?
- The Representation of the People Act 1884 extended the franchise to many more working-class men. It granted the vote to all men who paid regular rents for properties of a certain value, effectively giving approximately 5.5 million men the right to vote. This added about 2 million additional working-class men to the electorate, significantly increasing political participation.
- the rise of the liberal party
What is an example of how the rise of media and technology has had a greater effect on suffrage?
- In 2017, over 70% of 18-24-year-olds, #ForTheManyNotTheFew - became a central theme of both the Labour Party and Momentum’s messaging in the 2017 campaign. The hashtag was used across social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook to promote Labour’s policies that focused on social justice, economic inequality, and public service investment - demonstrating that a significant portion of young people were willing to engage in the political process, both through voting and active participation.
What are some examples of how the franchise has facilitated more engagement in politics?
As of February 2025, the Labour Party’s membership currently stands at approximately 309,000. As of November 2024, the Conservative Party reported a membership of 131,680 individuals.
What is an example that lobbying allows concerns to be heard that are sector or groups specific often that may not be represented in mainstream politics?
- In 2023, the UK government pledged £22 billion towards carbon capture projects. This decision followed intensive lobbying by major fossil fuel companies, including Equinor, BP, and ExxonMobil.The substantial investment indicates how sector-specific lobbying can shape government funding prioritise
What is an example of the wealthy group being over-represented?
In mid-2024, Sir James Dyson and board member Ian Robertson met with then-Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch to advocate for enhancing the “patent box” tax relief. Critics argued that such interventions exemplify how influential individuals can secure favorable tax treatments, potentially leading to a tax system that benefits the wealthy disproportionately
What examples of how pressure groups/or people can have a close relationship with the government ?
Greensill access to government-backed COVID-19 loan schemes. Investigations revealed that Greensill had an “extraordinarily privileged” relationship with the government, raising concerns about how elite access can lead to policy decisions favouring specific companies, potentially at the public’s expense.
What are some examples of how corporations can use their business expertise to recommend policies?
- The private equity industry has been actively engaging with policymakers regarding the taxation of “carried interest” profits. Through detailed financial analyses and economic impact assessments, industry representatives have highlighted how changes in tax policies could affect investment and economic growth.
What are some examples of how corporations can use their sector-specific advice?
Flotation Energy, a company specializing in offshore wind projects, has presented comprehensive environmental impact assessments and technical reports, the company has provided valuable insights into the benefits and feasibility of offshore wind developments.
What is an example of how pressure groups may lead to chains that only benefit them and may lead to human rights concerns?
-Shein has faced scrutiny over labour and human rights practices. Despite these concerns, Shein’s executive chairman engaged with UK government ministers, facilitated by consultants with close ties to political figures. These meetings aimed to discuss Shein’s potential £50 billion listing on the London Stock Exchange. Critics argue that such lobbying efforts may prioritize corporate interests over ethical considerations
What is an example of how pressure groups can lead to a lack of change?
Public Health Scotland has accused “complex vested interests” at Westminster of hindering efforts to address problem gambling. The betting industry’s significant tax contributions and donations are believed to create conflicts of interest, disrupting research into gambling-related harm
What are some examples of lobbyists and corporations educating the wider public?
Sophie Morgan launched the Rights on Flights campaign to address the challenges disabled passengers face in air travel. The initiative seeks equitable treatment for disabled travellers and proposes systemic changes, such as improved training for airline staff and regulatory reforms. By lobbying the government. She raised awareness.
What are some lobbyists and corporations may not have socially representative staff?
The Parker Review 2024 revealed that ethnic minority representation on FTSE 100 boards stands at 19%, with FTSE 250 companies at 13.5%. This underrepresentation suggests that policy recommendations from these corporations may not fully consider the perspectives of ethnic minority communities, potentially leading to decisions that do not address the needs of a diverse population
What is an example of how referendums have more turnout than get?
High turnout in the Brexit referendum (72.2%) compared to general elections 24 - 60%
What is an example of how YouGov poll that shows referendums educate people?
. A 2016 YouGov poll found that over 70% of respondents felt they had learned more about the EU through the referendum campaign.
What was the turnout of Scottish independence?
Scottish Independence Referendum (2014) - 84.6% ~ The highest ever recorded in a UK-wide vote, demonstrating mass political engagement.
What was the result of the Brexit population?
The result (52% Leave, 48% Remain) gave the government a direct mandate to proceed with Brexit
What is the turnout of the AV referendum 2011?
AV) Referendum (2011) - turnout ~ 42%.
What is an example of how referendums leading to misinformation?
- The Leave campaign’s most infamous claim, displayed on the side of a red bus, suggested that after Brexit, the UK could redirect £350 million per week to the NHS -> which was misleading, The UK’s actual net contribution to the EU was significantly lower (around £250 million per week after the rebate). It ignored the fact that the UK received EU funding.
- Prominent Brexiteers like David Davis and Liam Fox claimed that trade deals would be quickly arranged and that the UK had a strong negotiating position -> The UK’s post-Brexit trade negotiations were long and complex.
What are some examples of how referendums leading people to regret the decision?
- A YouGov survey conducted in 2019 found that 9% of Leave voters said they regretted their vote,
- A YouGov poll from 2021 found that 46% of the British public thought the UK was “economically worse off” since Brexit - Which leads to regret or voter dissatisfaction when consequences become clearer.
What are some examples of how referendums divide parties?
- Prime Minister Cameron and the Conservative Party were deeply divided over the issue of EU membership long before the referendum. Cameron himself was a pro-Remain advocate, however, there were many prominent figures within his party who were strong advocates for leaving, such as Boris Johnson.
What are some examples of how referendums don’t always resolve issues?
- 2022 - the Scottish Government continued to press for a second referendum, with Nicola Sturgeon made a formal request for a second referendum, arguing that Brexit had changed the circumstances.
- March 2017 - A petition on the UK government’s official website called for the repeal of Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, The petition quickly gained traction, reaching over 6 million signatures, becoming one of the most signed petitions in UK history. Similar petitions have been made in 2018, 2019 etc
Provide examples of how referendums can lead to a tyranny of majority.
- In 2017, a referendum was held to approve a burqa ban in the canton of Ticino. The proposal sought to make it illegal for women to wear full-face veils in public spaces.
- The referendum passed with a 65% majority - The burqa ban was heavily criticized as a form of cultural discrimination.
The decision reflected how the majority’s preferences, particularly in matters of cultural identity, could infringe on the freedoms of a minority group.
What is an example of how HRA can be used to challenge violations of rights?
2020: Begum, a British-born woman who left the UK to join ISIS, was stripped of her British citizenship. She challenged this decision, claiming it left her stateless. Begum argued that revoking her citizenship violated her right to a fair trial (Article 6) and her right to an effective remedy (Article 13).
What is an example of how HRA is not entrenched and parliament could change it?
In December 2021, the UK government published a consultation document on replacing the HRA with a “British Bill of Rights”. The proposal argued that the current framework gave too much influence to the ECtHR and undermined UK sovereignty. Johnson, the former Prime Minister, and Patel, the former Home Secretary - argue that the HRA gives too much power to judges and undermines parliamentary sovereignty
What are some examples of liberty raising awareness against policies infringing on rights?
Liberty campaigned against the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 -> arguing that it violated the right to protest Article 11 of the Human Rights Act 1998. The campaign helped raise awareness, and parts of the law faced judicial scrutiny.
What are some examples of the good law project raising awareness against policies infringing on rights?
The Good Law Project took the government to court, arguing that the government breached transparency laws and failed to ensure fair competition in contract allocation. The courts ruled that the government had acted unlawfully by failing to disclose contract details in a timely and transparent manner. This case highlighted the importance of government accountability and financial transparency.
What are some examples of how acts have been made to limit judicial review?
- The Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 - Prospective-Only Quashing Orders – Courts can issue rulings that only apply to future cases, meaning past decisions (even if unlawful) remain valid. This weakens the ability of claimants to challenge unlawful government actions effectively - which can affect the court’s ability.
What is an example of how the UK government tried to pass new legislation in response to judicial outcomes?
In June 2022, the UK government attempted to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda under a deal with the Rwandan government but the Court of Appeal in June 2023, found Rwanda unsafe for asylum seekers -the UK government introduced the Illegal Migration Act 2023 - This law was designed specifically to overcome the legal barriers that had previously stopped deportation flights.
What is an example of recent legislation weakening individual rights?
- Public Order Act 2023 - limits protest rights. Police can now shut down protests preemptively if they suspect they may be too disruptive and in some situations can ban individuals from attending protests. This shows how the government may not effectively protect rights and can instead take action to erode them.
- The Illegal Migration Act 2023 - mass detention and deportation powers, even if migrants have legitimate asylum claims - Undermines the right to asylum and increases risk of inhumane treatment (Article 3, HRA 1998).
What are some examples of government passing legislation to protect rights?
Equality Act 2010 - illegal to discriminate against someone based on protected characteristics and strengthened workplace rights.
What are some examples of parliament resisting proposals that infringe on rights?
- The government proposed replacing the Human Rights Act 1998 with a British Bill of Rights, which would have weakened human rights protections (e.g., making it harder to challenge deportation orders) - Parliament resisted the proposal, and it was scrapped in June 2023
What are some examples of the government influencing bills to ensure they protect rights?
The Online Safety Act 2023 gave the government broad powers to monitor online content and force companies to scan private messages for illegal material - MPs and peers raised concerns about the impact on free speech and privacy, the government was forced to compromise.
What percentage of the vote did lib dems receive during co-alition agreement
The Liberal Democrats received 23% of the popular vote. This led to them forming a coalition government with the Conservative Party, which had won 36.1% of the vote.
What was the coalition agreement not beneficial to smaller parties (lib dems)
> The coalition government favoured the conservatives, with Lib Dems having to make several significant policy concessions, often at the cost of alienating their voter base.
The Lib Dems had campaigned on a promise to abolish tuition fees and had even signed the NUS pledge not to raise them. However, once in government, they agreed to increase tuition fees to £9,000 per year, angering students and many supporters.After the 2010 coalition, the popularity of Lib Dems plummeted from 23% of voter share in 2010 to 12.6% in 2015, diminishing their parliamentary influence
What is an example of how, More recently, strong, stable governments are being formed through the FPTP system?
> 2019 - Conservatives won 365 seats, Labour won 203 seats. 2024 - Labour won 412 seats, > Conservatives won 203. In 2019, the two main parties had 568 seats between them, reflecting the fact that the smaller parties have a very minimal effect in parliament.
In 2017, the two main parties won 82.4% of the votes showing how the main two parties dominate the voter share. The two main parties historically hold the most electoral success in Westminster. This is evident due to the fact that between 1945 and 2010 the government was comprised of either conservative or labour MPs.
What is example of small parties no longer dominating politics in devolved regions?
-SNP popularity has waned and they only won 9 seats from the 2024 election, with Labour winning 26 seat
- SNP only holds 43 seats in parliament, and due to the ‘English votes for English laws’ rule, SNP’s parliamentary presence has diminished. Due to the nature of devolution, Westminster still holds a lot of power and influence over Scotland through things like deciding when they can have an independence referendum.
What is an example of the electoral system favours larger parties
> 2019: Conservatives who won 42.4% of the votes and 318 seats, attaining a majority with less than 50% of the votes. In the 2019 general election, the Green Party, Liberal Democrats and Brexit Party received 16% (5.2 million) of votes between them, yet they shared just 2% of seats
2024 - Reform: 15.3% of the votes lead to 3 seats, labour won 34.4% for 348 seats
What is an example of how all-women shortlists improving selection of candidates?
> Labour decided to stop using All-Women Shortlists (AWS) for selecting candidates for the 2024 General Election - the 2019 General Election saw a significant increase in the number of women standing for Labour.
Of the 201 candidates selected via AWS in 2019, 80 were elected to Parliament. 2024: 2024 General Election, the Labour Party - women are representing approximately 45% of its total parliamentary representation
What are some example of how parties dont’ select candidates who have the right qualities?
> white, middle-class, male candidates - This means that approximately 59.5% of MPs are male, and 40.5% are female 2024, > In the 2024 House of Commons, 32% of MPs were educated at independent (private) schools, significantly higher than the 7% in the general UK population. Many MPs have benefitted from exclusive education and a privileged upbringing and later moved on to well-paid influential careers.
What is an example of hor electors support manifesto?
> YouGov 2024: For instance, 74% of Britons backed the creation of a publicly owned renewable energy provider, and 61% supported charging VAT on private school fees. Labour proposed establishing Great British Energy, this initiative would be funded by a windfall tax on oil and gas companies, contrasting sharply with the Conservatives’ support for oil and gas licensing.
What is the importance of manifesto?
> Manifestos enable voters to consider a choice of policies and the vision for the party. By giving support to a party programme, electors give the government, if it wins power, a mandate to carry out these policies
What is an example of how a voter may support some policies and not others, so the manifesto as a whole might not fully represent their political views.
> The pledge to lower the voting age to 16 faced opposition, with 60% of Britons against it and only 31% in favor. 2024 manifesto, Reform UK proposed freezing “non-essential” immigration and implementing stringent measures against illegal immigration. While these policies resonate with a portion of their supporters, they may not fully represent the views of all party voters, especially those who favor more moderate immigration reforms
What is an example how membership can allow people to express support for an individual or ideology?
support a leader’s ideology and policy platform, as leaders often rely on grassroots backing to push their agenda within the party. Leadership Elections: For example, in 2022, Conservative Party members voted for Liz Truss over Rishi Sunak, showing their support for her policies and leadership style.
What are examples of welathy donors to conservative?
Wealthy donors - influence. Hester (2024): Donation Amount: £5 million in January 2024, followed by an additional £150,000 in March 2024. Lord John Sainsbury (2023):Donation Amount: £10 million bequest received in late 2023.
How much did unions offer labour in 23-24?
Between 2023 and 2024, the Labour Party received approximately £7 million from trade unions.
How did short money did labour recieve in 23-24?
2023–2024 financial year, the Labour Party received £2,059,577.87 in Short Money funding from the UK government,
How did short money did reform recieve in 23-24?
Reform UK: £287,754.27.
How did cranborne money did labour recieve in 23-24?
In the 2023–2024 financial year, the UK House of Lords provided financial assistance, known as Cranborne Money, to support the parliamentary activities of opposition parties. Labour Party: £824,934
conservatives gave multi-million covid ppe contracts to___________ of the party
significant donors
the aviation industry contributed more than _____ of conservatives donation between april and June 2022
tenth
How could Banning large donations limit political expression.
In liberal democracies, financial contributions are seen as a way of participating in politics.
By giving money, individuals or groups amplify their political voice, supporting the parties or candidates they believe in. Donations from different sources ensure a range of voices and interests are represented. A total ban might unintentionally silence minority or non-mainstream views that rely on wealthy patrons to compete with better-established parties.
