Rights Flashcards
How does policy formulation support democracy?
-Parties create policy programme to attract voters
-Major parties try to make competitive policy- meaningful choice for the electorate
-Manifestos give accountability to party
-1997- New Labour, Blair- national minimum wage, comprehensive education
-2018- Labour, Budget lock, childcare
How does policy formulation hinder democracy?
-Parties less concerned with ideologies and more with being a team- react to public opinion, don’t try to shape it
-Parties convergence causes a race to the centre
-Major parties win 80% of all seats
-Con 2001 Manifesto: married couple tax allowance, reverse cuts in police
-Lab 2001 Manifesto: modern criminal justice system, raise police numbers
How does recruiting leaders support democracy?
-To be successful, must associate with a party
-Parties control candidates
-Running a constituency- helps future leaders understand their party better
-2010- Nick Clegg- dominated TV debates- 10% rise in polls
-1989- Thatcher- Iron lady
How does recruiting leaders hinder democracy?
-Since they’re important to voters, parties pick a leader who’s popular/ appease membership rather than a competent one
-Membership vital- 2% choose leaders for personal gain- 2022 Truss’ tax policies: membership chose her for personal gain rather than to benefit the country
-2017: Johnson only elected to appease the public in getting Brexit done
How does organisation of the government support democracy?
-Gov’s formed by parties who win elections
-When parties are unified= shate same ideological goals
-Gov controls legislative agenda
-Opposition gives scrutiny
-1983- 397 seat majority, 1987- 376 seat majority, 1979- 339 seat majority
-“Get Brexit Done”
How does organisation of government hinder democracy?
-Parties who are deeply divided create problems- don’t cooperate
-Majority a party achieved in an election is questioned when they’re divided
-ERG had own demands in Brexit
-Have called PM to scrap current Rwanda plans
-New Conservative want Sunak to call and end to temp visa scheme and cap refugees entering the country
How does participation support democracy?
-Opportunity to boost political involvement- lab Inc nunber of young voters and did well in GE partly due to membership- 480k
-Raise political awareness
-Party membership for minority parties on the rise ( SNP, Greens)
-Pay monthly fee- helps in campaigning
-Physically campaigning includes participation
How does participation hinder democracy?
-Partisan dealignment- voters don’t align themselves with a single party anymore- 9% do
-TO very low compared to pre- 1992 levels
-Constituency parties have less control over election campaigns
-Parties need clear mandate- 2019
2008- lab won clear majority with 66 seat majority
-Parties are more broad in policy to attract more voters- both lab and con focus on pensions, NHS waiting times
How does representation support democracy?
-Produce policies that responds to the public’s demands
-Try to be a catch all and appeal to the majority of the electorate rather than a specific group like in the past
-2017 Lab manifesto: nationalise key industries, increase funding in the NHS
-Con manifesto: Brexit, reduce immigration, economic stability
-Post office scandal- changes to legislation to compensate via e-petition
How does representation hinder democracy?
-Becoming catch all means parties have less of the ability to represent specific groups
-Weaker ties to those groups
-BMA- advocates for doctors rights
-NEU- forced a policy change, with a 6.5% pay rise
-BMT- sugar tax
What rules does the Political Parties, Elections and Refernda Act (PPERA) have in terms of party funding
-Parties must audits of donations that the commission makes public
-Donations in excess of £7500 must be declared to the Commission for public scrutiny
-Short money increased
-Constituency spended limited to £30k
What is short money?
-Allocates money to the opposition depending on the number of seats they hold in Parliament & the number of seats they got in the GE
-Need 2 seats and more than 150k votes nationally
-£18k for every seat, £36 for every 150k votes
What is Cranborne money?
-Lords’ equivalent of short money
In 21/22
-Labour: £666k
-LD: £332K
-Cross Bench: £101k
-Salaries are paid by public funds
Why are Cranborne and Short money important?
-Essential for the opposition parties
-This money required for political campaigning - Local, GE, European
-Scrutinise the government
State the bernie Ecclestone example of party funding scandals
Bernie Ecclestone & Labour Party- gives £1M to them
Health sec announces ban of sports memberships with tobacco
Secret meeting-> then gov announces F1 exception
Shows undemocratic nature- corps can buy immunity
Parties controlled by individuals
Blair apologises, party condemned by 2 cross- Parliament
