Poltics: Voting & Media- Role of party leader 2010 Flashcards
What did Benjamin Disraeli say about principles and party loyalty?
He said, ‘Damn your principles! stick to your party.’
How many MPs are required to launch a leadership challenge against the Prime Minister?
46 MPs are required to launch a leadership challenge against Cameron.
What percentage of Conservative MPs must request an election from the 1922 Committee?
15% of Conservative MPs must ask the 1922 Committee for an election.
What was the outcome of the rules introduced in 1998 regarding leadership challenges?
These rules led to the ousting of Iain Duncan Smith in 2003.
Why might Cameron face a leadership challenge in 2015?
If Conservative MPs perceive Cameron to be an electoral liability.
What is the relationship between Cameron’s popularity and the Conservative party?
Cameron remains more popular than the party.
Who are speculated to be positioning themselves for a leadership challenge?
Theresa May and Philip Hammond.
What is the 1922 Committee?
It is the organization of Conservative backbench MPs.
What historical event does the name ‘1922 Committee’ commemorate?
It commemorates backbench MPs rising up to oust Prime Minister Lloyd George.
What has curbed Cameron’s powers within the Conservative party?
The overt opposition he has faced from his own backbenchers.
What role do the whips play in the Conservative party?
They ensure party discipline and relay backbenchers’ feelings to the leadership.
What is a consequence of internal political squabbles in a party?
They can cost a party dearly, as Labour learned in the 1980s.
How has Cameron’s communication with backbenchers affected his leadership?
It has left him isolated and lacking in authority.
What does Philip Davies, Conservative MP for Shipley, emphasize on his homepage?
His aim is to give the best service to his constituents and to hold the government to account.
What does the attitude of some Conservative MPs reflect regarding Cameron’s leadership?
They seem more committed to their own right-wing ideological principles than to Cameron’s modernizing attempts.
What do some commentators think about Gordon Brown’s capabilities as Prime Minister?
They believe he is simply not up to the job of Prime Minister.
What is the central claim made by Jonathan Freedland regarding Gordon Brown’s communication skills?
The most obvious skill gap is in communication; he delivers speeches poorly and fails to connect with the electorate.
How does Freedland describe Brown’s speech delivery?
He describes it as reading rather than delivering, with Brown’s head down and lacking plain, human sentences.
What is the result of Brown’s communication issues according to Freedland?
An empathy gap; he does not seem able to show empathy to the electorate, leading them to not feel any for him.
What did commentators initially believe about Brown’s lack of presentational skills?
They thought it might not matter and that he could present himself as a figure of solidity.
What undermined Brown’s approach as a politician?
His fall into tricksiness and political game-playing, such as copying Tory policies and appearing in Baghdad during a Conservative conference.
What does this situation suggest about modern politicians and media?
It suggests that a politician must be adept at managing their image in the 24-hour media age.
What is the public perception of Brown and Cameron according to the text?
The public perception has been turned upside down, despite the lack of substantial differences in their policies.
What is the significance of who the electorate ‘likes’?
It is enormously important based on personality and perceived competence.
What does the author think about the control politicians have over the media?
It is sad that the extent to which a politician can control the media is such an important part of their CV.
What is essential for students new to the study of British politics?
Accessing a quality daily
What challenge do students face when focusing on political articles?
Knowing what particularly useful articles or comment pieces look like compared to irrelevant analysis
What recent event has received extensive media coverage according to the blog?
The phone-hacking scandal
How does the author view the media’s coverage of the phone-hacking scandal?
Blown out of proportion
What topic is often the first discussed in the course?
Electoral reform
Who is driving the plan for a referendum on the Alternative Vote?
Nick Clegg
What proposal is attached to Nick Clegg’s plan for electoral reform?
The Tory proposal to equalise constituency sizes
Which journalist wrote a discussion piece on electoral reform?
Polly Toynbee
What type of article does the Guardian feature that is useful for background reading?
An editorial outlining the case for the Alternative Vote
What resource does the author suggest for further research on electoral reform?
The Guardian’s electoral reform page
Why is electoral reform particularly relevant to students studying political parties?
It divides parties internally rather than forming clear inter-party divisions
