The Constitution - Topic 1.2

Question 1

How did New Labour attempt to decentralise the UK?

1997-2010

Answer 1

• Reverse Thatcher’s centralisation process
• Devolution of 1997 and the Devolution Referendum
• Towns and cities could elect their mayors
• Local governments became more accountable
• Scotland - Scottish Assembly
• Wales - The Senedd
• Good Friday Agreement - NI gets its assembly

Question 2

How did New Labour attempt to democratise the UK?

1997-2010

Answer 2

• The public received more influence in government
• Greater use of referendums on constitutional issues
• House of Lords reformation
• Scottish Parliament would use the AMS
• The Senedd would use the AMS
• Stormont would use STV

Question 3

What was the House of Lords Act?

1999 (and 2014)

Answer 3

• Removed the right of hereditary peers with 92 hereditary peers continuing as life peers, based on merit and performance
• Houses of Lords Appointment Commission (HOLAC) nominates a small proportion of crossbench life peers. It can scrutinise the monarch’s choice of peers and publicly express disapproval
• There could be a potenial for gridlock if the House of Lords claimed it was democratic and if a party won a majority in both houses, then the strengths of the lords can be reduced. Instead, the House of Lords provides a reservoir of independent thinking as they can sit for life and aren’t elected and don’t worry about losing their seat.

House of Lords Act of 2014, peers could resign or be removed from the chamber; reinvigorating the house of new ideas and people

Question 4

How did the CRA and FIA make the UK more transparent?

2005 and 2000

Answer 4

The Constitutional Reform Act established the Supreme Court with the Judicial Appointments Committee appointing judges and not the Lord Chancellor at the recommendation of the Justice Secretary. The Lord Chancellor would be removed from the Lords and be replaced by the new head of the judiciary; Lord Chief Justice. The position of the Lord Chancellor would be merged with the Justice Secretary. The Judiciary would now be separate in its entirety, making it more accountable and transparent.

The Freedom of Information Act now allowed the public the right of access to information held by public authorities. The system becomes more accountable and people can know what the government is holding on them.

Question 5

How did New Labour protect the rights of the public?

1997-2010

Answer 5

Joined the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR)

• Right to private life
• Freedom of expression
• Right to be
• Right for protection against from inhumane and degrading treatment

The Government has to follow in accordance with the Human Rights Act.
Legislation must be in accordance as much to the Human Rights Act.
Protects the people from government and businesses.

1998

Question 6

How did the Coalition attempt to decentralise the UK?

2010-2015

Answer 6

• Welsh Referendum 2011- Primary legislative power
• Scottish ability to get a loan up to £5 billion
• Further devolvement to Scotland and Wales
• Wales was given more independence and autonomy

Question 7

How did the Coalition attempt to democratise the UK?

2010-2015

Answer 7

• The Fixed Term Parliament Act - Every election is 5 years apart from each other on the same day every time. The government are allowed to call an election if they lose a vote of no confidence. 2/3rds of the government are allowed to call a general election if voted on. Provided more stability for the government as it cannot call a snap election when they see fit
• Parliamentary Backbench Committee can now control more of the debates and the membership of select committees is no longer chosen by whips and are instead chosen by MPs via secret ballot. E-petitions were introduced

Question 8

How did the Coalition attempt to make the UK more transparent?

2010-2015

Answer 8

• The public could now elect their local police and crime commissioners. This provided further accountability to the public, however, there has always been a low turnout by the public
• The public also now have the power of recall, so at anytime, they can recall their MP from Parliament. This makes Parliament and the MPs more accountable to their constituents

Question 9

How did the Tories decentralise the UK further?

2015-

Answer 9

Local mayors were implemented in certain regions:

• West Midlands
• Greater Manchester
• West of England
• Tees Valley & North of Tyne
• Cambridgeshire
• Peterborough
• Liverpool City Region
• Sheffield City Region
• West Yorkshire

This effort provided more representation at a local level and allowed mayors to cover extensive areas like housing, welfare and transport.