UK Government: 2.1.2.1 New LAB Constitutional reforms Flashcards
When did New LAB win their landslide?
1997
What was the majority New LAB won?
179
What was Blair’s ideology
Renewed social democratic ideology
How many years of Conservative Government did the New LAB movement end?
13 years
What was the name of the 1997 manifesto?
Because Britain deserves better
What constitutional changes to New LAB 1997 manifesto promise?
- Fully elected upper chamber
-Proportional system of elections
-State funding of political parties
-Devolution to areas of the UK
-Individual rights and protection
-Referendums on major constitutional reforms
What 4 categories does New LABs’ constitutional reform fit into?
-Democratise
-Devolution
-Modernisation
-Rights
What % of the vote did New LAB win? and what % of seats did they get?
64% of seats
43% of vote
Define Democratisation.
The process of enhancing democratic systems
What new voting systems/referendums did New LAB NOT bring in?
+ Reffernedums promised on electoral reform in the UK and joining the Euro
+ 1998 Report commissioned By Lord Jenkins recommends a new voting system GE ( called AV plus)
What is the Electoral Commission?
-Set up by PPERA in 2000 the EC is an independent body that would regulate party finance and provide oversight to elections.
-Was brought under gove control in 2022
Define devolution.
The movement of power away form Westminster
When was there a devolution referendum in Scotland?
1997
What was the outcome of the devolution referendum in Scotland?
74% in favour of the Scotland Act (1998)
When was there a devolution referendum in Wales?
1997
What was the outcome of the devolution referendum in Wales?
50.3% Wales Act passed (1998)
When was there a devolution referendum in Northern Ireland?
1998
What was the outcome of the devolution referendum in Northern Ireland?
71% voting in favour of the Good Friday Agreement and the Northern Ireland Act 1998 passed
When was there a devolution referendum in London?
1998
What was the outcome of the devolution referendum in London?
After 72% voting in favour of the Greater London Authority, Act 1999 is passed
What did the Greater London Authority, Act 1999 create?
Creates a London assembly and a directly elected Mayor of London
Where was devolution rejected
North East England
When was there a devolution referendum in North East England?
2004
What was the outcome of the devolution referendum in North East England?
78% voted no
Define Modernisation
Updating within government
When was the HoL Act passed?
1999
What was the HoL Act?
Removed all but 92 hereditary peers ( now 91). To win their seat these peers are elected from a register
Modernisation-What reforms did LAB introduce to PMQs
Moved to Wednesday 12:00 from 15:00 on Monday and Thursday
What were the benefits of changing the time of PMQs
- to lunch to when people are more likely to engage
- Less time of PM is allocated PMQs as it’s only once a week
Modernisation-What reforms did LAB introduce for backbenchers?
additional debates in Westminster Hall to facilitate back-bench debate
What reforms did LAB introduce in terms of changing working hours?
Introduce family-friendly sitting hours
Analysis: family-friendly sitting hours
-> Increase representation and make commons more representative
Analysis: additional debates in Westminster Hall to facilitate back-bench debate
More democratic debate, even when there isn’t timetabling for it in the commons
Modernisation- What was the Constitutional Reform Act?
Judiciary Reform Act formally separating judiciary from the legislature
When was the Constitutional Reform Act?
2005
When was the UK Supreme Court created?
2009
What did the creation of the law end?
The tradition of Law Lords removed the traditional powers of the Lord Chancellor and created the Judicial Appointments Commission
Define rights
the privileges and prohibitions each individual has
Rights: When was the Human Rights act passed?
1998
What is the Human Rights Act?
-Brought the provision of the European Convention of human rights on Human Rights into UK law
-This made it easier to challenge breaches of people’s human rights- this could be done in UK court rather than ECHR in Strasbourg
When was the Freedom of Information Act passed?
2000
What did the Freedom of Information Act do?
Give individuals the right to request information from public bodies
When was the Equality Act passed?
2010
What did the Equality Act do?
Passes under Brown this would consolidate earlier anti-discrimination laws
