UK - Politics Flashcards
Direct Vs. Representative Democracy
Representative wins
- Representatives better informed + education on issues Vs. Politicians corrupt + more loyal to party
–> Sarah Wollaston - Tory MP worked in health service for 24 years
–> 2023 Dec - Tory MP Scott Benton for Blackpool suspended due to lobbying for gambling firm
+ Sara Wollaston asked to be on Health + social care bill committee, only if she accepted gov amendments - 2011 - Reduces Tyranny of Majority + represents minority views Vs. All votes being equal in direct
–> 2014 Scottish referendum 55% to stay - other 45% views ignored
+ April 2022 Johnson gov proposed bill to ban conversion therapy
–> Liverpool held by Labour with 84% in 2019 - held since 1964 –> votes in safe seats less weight than marginal
+ Kensington 2017 Labour - 2019 Tory - Rep more practical + Direct causes voter apathy Vs. Direct higher participation + more legitimate
–> MP’s allow for fast pace decision to be made
+ Direct elections have low turnout e.g. North East England Devolution referendum 48% turnout
–> Brexit referendum - 72% turnout with 51.9% Leave gave gov strong mandate
Is there a democratic deficit?
No
Free+ Fair Elections Vs. Franchise not extend to everyone
–> 1969, Representation of the people act extend franchise to all men + women above 18
–> 2014 Scottish referendum included 16/17 year olds - 100,000 used vote
Corruption + wrongdoing within Gov punished Vs. Some ministers not held to same account
–> May 2024 - Tory MP for Blackpool South Scott Benton suspended from Commons over lobbying Scandel + Bi-election called
–> 2020 - Boris Johnson failed to explain $15,000 holiday payed for by coperation (carphone warehouse) not punished
Citizens rights protected Vs. HRA Act not entrenched
–> HRA 1998 Act e.g. Right to life and freedom from toture
+ SC and ECHR
–> NI internment, allowed Indefinite detention without trial
+ 2022 - Dominic Rabb introduced Bill of Rights Bill, weakened protections on Human Rights
Participation Crisis
is one
Turnout for General elections low Vs Turnout increasing
–> 2019 turnout 67.3%
+ 2017 turnout 68.8% –> 70’s turnout in 70’s
–> Increase between 2001-2017
+ Brexit referendum turnout 72%
Political party membership low Vs. doesn’t mean participation crisis
–> only 1.7% pop are members of political party
–> People involved in Politics in other ways e.g. RSPB (Royal society protection of Birds) 1.2 mil members
Online Activism
Slacktivism Vs. E-petitions have value
–> 38 degrees claimed 40million people signed e-petition on its website (a substitute for real action, detracting from meaningful civic engagement)
–> petition over 10,000 gov has to respond
Are Rights protected
No
HRA Not entrenched Vs. Citizens rights protected
–> HRA 1998 Act e.g. Right to life and freedom from torture
and ECHR
→ 2022 Dominic Rabb, secretary of state for Justice, proposed bill of Rights Bill weakened protections on human rights
Political Pressure on Gov to curtail rights Vs. Independent Judiciary
–> Rwanda Asylum Plan in 2023 due to political pressure of migrants
–> SC ruled Rwanda Policy unlawful
+ 2016 judges over-tuned Gov plan to deny aid if not lived in country for 12+months
Statue law takes president Vs. Strong Common law traditions
→ Statute law e.g. NI internment in 1970’s
+ Terrorism Act 2001 - indefinite detention without trial of suspected terrorists - precedent over common law
–> Common Law right to fair trial
+ Right of couples living together
Think Tanks Vs. Lobbyists vs. Corporations Vs. Pressure groups
(NEEDS WORK)
Think takes
Use research to influence / inform gov Vs. Aligned with political party
–> 2010-15 Centre for Social Justice –> introduced Universal credit
+ IEA think tank behind 2022 Truss mini-budget
–> IEA (Institute of Economic Affairs) likely loose power if Labour elected 2024
+ Left Thinks tanks e.g. IPPR (Institute Public Policy Research) lost power after Torys elected in 2010
Lobbyists
Influence decisions through direct contact with official Vs. Regulation to ban MP’s + Peers from accepting money
–> MP Owen Patterson, Lobbying for Randox - 2021
+ Medpro secured PPE contract of £200 due to Michelle Mone’s lobbying
–> Investigation launched into Michelle Mone, forced to leave HoL
+ Own Patterson fined + suspended for breach of rules
Corporations
Corporations funding political parties + potential impact on economy gives them power Vs. not always successful
→ 2022 Liz Truss lifted ban on Fracking in UK after donations from pro-fracking groups e.g. UKOOG (UK Onshore Oil and Gas)
+ IEA backed by tobacco companies
–> 2018 tax on sugar in soft drinks passed despite opposition from corporations e.g. coca-cola + Pepsi
Pressure groups
Educate Public Vs. Can spread distorted information
–> Act for Act campaign raised awareness for HRA
+ Howard League awareness for better conditions for prisoners
–> Stop 5G spread false information about health / environmental damages of 5G
Pressure Groups Enhance Democracy
they do
Raise issues of minorities Vs. Undemocratic
–> BMA - voice for medical concerns e.g. COVID
–> BNP - Exclude voices of minority communities in favour of “indigenous British voices”
Education Public Vs. Distorted information
–> Act for Act campaign raise awareness around HRA
+ Howard League, better conditions for prisoners
–> Stop 5G - spreads false information about health damages of 5G
Provide opportunity for Participation Vs. Wealth groups hold disproportionate power
–> 38 degrees estimate 40 mill people signed e-petition
–> Between 2012-22 Conservative Friend’s of Israel (CFI) took 155 Tory MPS on free holiday
Factors affecting pressure group influence
Insider Status
Access to bills before passed Vs. No always influential
–> Private healthcare pressure group e.g. IHAS (Independent Healthcare Advisory Services) helped draft health and social care Act 2012
–> CBI (Confederation of British Industry) not able to influence Brexit Policy (or Unilever)
Group size/ public support
Large membership better Vs. Gov opinion matter more
–> RSPB (Royal society protection of Birds) 1.2 mil members - influenced the Environmental Act 2021 - to include targets to reduce species decline
–> Nuclear Disarmament in 1980’s 110,000 members
Money helps campaign + lobby MPs vs. Gov opinion matters more
–> Liz Truss lifted ban on fracking in 2022 - due donations from Pro-Fracking groups e.g. UKOOG (UK onshore oil and Gas)
–> If PM / Gov feels strongly on issue
+ 2018 tax on sugar in soft drinks passed despite BSDA (British Soft Drinks Association ) backed by coke and Pepsi campaigning against it
Conservative Divisions
(One Nation Vs. New Right)
New Right winning
New Right - Mix of Neo-Conservative beliefs (traditional values, law and order) with Neo-Liberal beliefs (low taxation, limited state intervention)
One Nation - Social cohesion - support of welfare + mixed economy
Economy
Limited taxation Vs. Investment to boost econ growth
–> 2019 Tory Manifesto to not raise VAT, National Insurance, Income Tax
+NR - Liz Truss mini Budget 2022, cut basic tax from 20-19%
–> 2020 budget Rishi Sunak invest infrastructure to boost economy
Law and Order
–> 2020 Pritti Patel proposed points based system to reduce unskilled migration
+ Rwanda policy for immigrants
–> David Cameron favoured Rehabilitation over punishment
+ May warning against overuse of stop and search on Ethnic minorities
Foreign Affairs
–> 2019 election, Johnson ‘Get Brexit Done’
+ Tory support US-led wars in Iraq + Afgan
(dislike of EU + Pro US-UK relations)
–> Tory Mp Sarah Wollaston 2019 left Conservative party due to brexit
+ 1992 Maastricht treaty 41 MP’s rebelled against it
–> depends on who PM at time - more lasting policies for New right e.g. Brexit
Labour Policies internally divided
Old Labour vs. New Labour - New Labour win
NL - Centrism, promotes equality of opp and mixed economy allowing private involvement in state roles.
OL - Socialism, traditional socialist principles, inc greater social equality, active role of state in welfare provisions.
Economy
NL - Focus on Mixed Economy Vs. OL Nationalisation
–> Blair did not reviser Thatchers privatisation of public utilities
+ Expanded Major’s PFI (Private Finance Initiatives) meaning private companies providing public infrastructure.
–> Brown gov nationalised failing Banks
+ Corbyns pledges to nationalise investment banks, energy sector and broadband in 2019
Law and Order
NL - Stricter Law and Order Vs. Lenient sentencing policies
–> 2019 Manifesto promised to restore prison officer numbers
+ New Labour ‘tough on crime, tough on causes of crime’
–> 2019 manifesto proposed a ‘presumption against prison sentences’ for non-violent offences
Foreign
Military intervention vs. Focus on diplomacy
–> Ed Miliband supported military action against ISIS
+ Parliamentary Labour believe in humanitarian intervention including military action when necessary regardless of leader.
–> Miliband urged party vote against Military action in Syria 2013.
- despite occasional old Labour policy, and Corbyn’s socialist focus, Labour shifted towards centerist New Labour policies, especially under Starmer after 2019 defeat.
Little in Common between Labour vs. Tory policies
- United on general Principles, however often disagree on implementation and specific details.
Economy
NL + ON united on Mixed Economy Vs. NR Free Market, OL Socialism
–> Blair didn’t reverse Thatchers privatisation
+ Expanded Major’s PFI (Private Finance Initiatives) meaning private companies providing public infrastructure.
–> NR - Liz Truss mini Budget 2022, cut basic tax from 20-19%
+ Old Lab - Corbyn pledge to nationalise investment banks + Energy + Broadband
Law and Order
NL+ON Rehabilitation focused vs. NR tough approach, zero tolerance
–> NL ‘tough on crime tough on causes of crime’ + Youth Offending Teams, focusing on cause of crime and rehabilitation
+ ON - May against overuse of stop+ search - focus on police partnership with local community
–> John Major - 1991 Criminal justice Act - introduced mandatory minimum sentences for drug crime
Welfare system
Agree on providing welfare vs. Disagree on extent of welfare
–> 2012 Tory’s introduced Universal Credit under Cameron
–> 2013 Tory’s introduced cap on benefits ensuring households on welfare receive less than working households
+ Labour 2019 Manifesto proposed ending benefits cap + 2 child limit on tax credits
- NL + ON similar as they both try an occupy the centre. However, NR focus on traditional values + limited government is at odds with OL socialist approach
UK Party System (One, two, multi)
two party wins
Mostly one party in Government (Dominant System) Vs. times when two parties in government
–> Tories rule from 1979-2010, 13 years Labour, Tories since 2016
–> Coalition gov from 2010-1015
+ Tory gov from 2017-2019 relied on DUP votes
Two party dominates HoC Vs. third party MP’s
–> 2017, L+T won 89% seats
+ 2019, L+T won 87% seats
–> 2019 - 82 MP’s outside L+T elected
+ 48 SNP MP’s
Gov dominated by L+T Vs. Regional representation
–> No Non L+T PM since beginning of 20th Century
+ FPTP favour two dominant parties
–> SNP controls Scotland since 2007
+ NI assembly with own parties e.g. DUP + Sinn Fein
Factors affecting party success?
- Media, leadership, perception of party etc.
Paras based on Blair 1997, Thatcher 1979-87, Corbyn / Johnson
Thatcher
Leadership vs. Single issue
→ During 1983 elections Thatcher seen as strong + stable leader compared to Foot
+ 1982 Falklands - Thatcher seen as strong through defending British + “the Lady is not for turning”
+ Foot “longest suicide note in history” Labours 1983 manifesto said by Labour MP
→ OG got her into power was 1979 election based on winter of discontent
+ Large tory majority after winter
Blair
Media vs. Popularity + unity
→ 1997 election “The sun Backs Blair” Sun switched allegiance from backing Major to Blair
+ Positive headlines before elections
→ Blair already had high approval
+ Party united around ‘New Labour’
Corbyn Vs. Johnson
Party Leadership Vs. Issue voting
–> 2019 opinion polls found 43% didn’t vote labour due to dislike of Corbyn
–> ‘Get Brexit Done’ Johnson 2019
–> media most important - influences perception of leader + party
FPTP good or bad?
- Candidate with most votes in constituency wins seat in HoC, doesn’t require absolute majority only most
Bad
No Stable Gov vs. Yes Stable Gov
–> Coalition 2010-15
+ Minority gov 2017-2019 (no strong mandate)
–> 1979-2010 Conservative lead + one party, 18 years Labour
+ 2019 Get brexit done - large majority strong mandate
+ Blair had 418 seat majority
Unequal and wasted seats Vs. Strong MP constituent link
–> wasted + tactical voting –> Liverpool been Labour since 64 - 2019 Labour won with 84%
–> 2019 Jess Philips campaigned locally to defend teachers teaching LGBTQ+ relationships
+ Andy Slaughter Hammersmith MP gave talk at godolphin School in Hammersmith
(more accountable to locals)
Favours large parties Vs. Prevents Extremism
–> 2015 UKIP won 4 mill votes, 1 seat
–> 2010 British Nationalist Party won 1/2 mill, no seats
Other systems of voting
–> para for each, can use FPTP para as well
SV - Supplementary Vote
–> attempt to ensure candidate recieves close to 50% votes, voters mark two preferences, used for Major
Creates stable Gov Vs. dispute legitimacy
–> winning can claim majority support + clear mandate
–> Can can win on 2nd votes even if behind on 1st
AMS - Additional Member System
- used in Scottish + welsh
Preserves proportionality with smaller constituencies Vs. two classes of representatives
–> still close MP link more proportional than FPTP
–> Undermines equality of MPs
STV - Single transferable vote
to win seat can. must meet quota, constitutencies larger size + more representatives
More proportional Vs unstable gov
–> 6 reps per constituency more representation
–> results are complex +long, likley to produce minority or coalition
+ unclear accountability
Referendums important?
yes
unite divisions in society vs. further divisions
–> 1998 - Good Friday Agreement , Norther + Southern Island in Favour both over 70%
–> 2016 EU referendum - Scotland 62% remain
+ age divsions
Direct Democracy vs Tyranny of majority
–> 2004 referendum devolution for North England 78% no - ‘purest’ form of dem
–> 2014 Scottish referendum 55% no, 45% yes, 45% ignores
+ US Cali votes on tax lead to budget crisis
Voters more informed than ever Vs. false info / complex issues
–> 2016 EU referendum - leave claimed save £350 mil / week that could be spent on NHS
