Politics: statistics, examples and evidence
Paper 1: Democracy and participation: Suffrage
Democracy
UK became a democratic country officially in 1928 as a part of the Equal Franchise
act of 1928, which granted universal suffrage.
Opportunities for people in the UK to participate in representative democracy
beyond general elections include:
o Referendum in 1998 for the devolution of power to Scotland, wales and N.
Ireland
o Referendum for London mayor
o Referendum for metro mayors like mayor of greater Manchester since 2017
Electronic petitions: Meningitis B vaccination for children in 2015, shows that
petitions work. 2007 petition to abolish road taxes reached 1.8 million signatures
and was ignored. Petition to remove article 50 to remove Brexit got 6.1 million
signatures yet Brexit remains.
General elections= low turnout, 67.3% in 2019 compared to 1992 where it was
68.8%.
Those with degrees had a turnout of 69% in the general elections where’s
unemployed turnout was 53%.
650 MP’s
2 party system- since 1945 only labour or Conservative Party have been in power.
IPSOS MORI 2016 found that MPs have the least trusted profession.
Jim Devine scandal of 2009 when he used the country’s money for personal
expenses showed MPs cannot be trusted. Boris Johnson partying during
lockdown, caught in 2021- MPs= untrustworthy. George Osbourne had 2 jobs: MP
and editor for the evening standard.
If the public isn’t happy with their gov. They can vote them out like they did in
1997, meaning Tony Blair wins the majority. Public can also vote in favour of the
gov. Shown when Boris Johnson won an 80-seat majority in 2018.
Recall of MPs aren’t always successful, e.g. Ian Pausley Junior in 2018 didn’t have
a by election as only 9.4% of his constituent signed the petition (need 10%) when
going on a Sri Lankan gov paid holiday with family.
Referendums are more popular- Scottish referendums of 2014 had an 85%
turnout. Good Friday agreement in 1998 turnout in N. Ireland was 81%.
1979 trade union membership= 13.2 million which dropped to 6.23 million in
2016.
Labour Party membership increased. 2014= 190,000. 2018= 552,000, due to:
o Ed Miliband created “one member one vote”.
o Jeremy Corbyn was an effective and charismatic media figure.
2019 turnout for Conservative Party went from 84% to 66%.
, Composition of MPs:
o 49% of MPs are privately educated compared to 7% of the public.
o 8% of MPs= ethnic minority compared to 13% of the public
o Women aren’t represented equally. Make up 1/3 of parliament compared
to 51% of the public.
o 40% increase in 2017 from 2015
o First Sikh women lectern- Preet Gill
o Women seats share increased increased from 191 in 2015- 208 in 2017.
Reforms to tackle democratic deficit:
o Lowering the voting age- tried and tested in Scottish independence
referendum. 16–17-year-old turnout was 75% compared to 54% of 18–24-
year-olds. Since 2002 compulsory citizenship education had been set in
place. Already 20,000 young people in youth council.
o Compulsory voting- tried and tested in Australia. 1924 turnout= 60%, since
compulsory voting turnout= minimum 90%. Investigated by House of
Commons and they saw wide engagement.
o Electoral reforms- first pass the post reinforces 2-party-system since 1945.
Solution to FPTP os proportional representation- votes are equal seats.
AMS used in Scotland. Public feel more represented. However, FPTP should
be maintained because it allowed people like Tony Blair win a majority of
197 seats and pass laws easily, like the devolution of England, Scotland,
wales and Northern Ireland and making the house or lords more
democratic. BJ 2019 won 80 seat majority and pursued hard Brexit.
Rights is the UK:
o Gurkha Justice Campaign- Nepalese who fought for the British Military
(1997). Only those who retired artery 1997 were given the right to live
in Britain. Wanted this right for all. Correa yes potion which got
250,000 signatures and Eric end celebrity endorsement from Lumley
which influence Gordon Brown in to extending rights for them.
o Hillsborough family support group
o Amnesty international for Syrian refugees
o Judicial review- courts, they are unelected experts. Looked at the civil
partnership law and made it so heterosexual couples could also have a
CP by 2019.
o Don’t have rights- COVID-19 lockdown, secret evidence to be used in
court- rejected. Al Hijra school in 2017 segregated boys and girls (false
advertisement). Placement doesn’t always protect rights- need
signatures.
Pressure groups:
o 2015 naked bike ride for climate change. They are extinction rebels
(strong belief in climate change but means= undemocratic). Shut down
5 London bridges.
Paper 1: Democracy and participation: Suffrage
Democracy
UK became a democratic country officially in 1928 as a part of the Equal Franchise
act of 1928, which granted universal suffrage.
Opportunities for people in the UK to participate in representative democracy
beyond general elections include:
o Referendum in 1998 for the devolution of power to Scotland, wales and N.
Ireland
o Referendum for London mayor
o Referendum for metro mayors like mayor of greater Manchester since 2017
Electronic petitions: Meningitis B vaccination for children in 2015, shows that
petitions work. 2007 petition to abolish road taxes reached 1.8 million signatures
and was ignored. Petition to remove article 50 to remove Brexit got 6.1 million
signatures yet Brexit remains.
General elections= low turnout, 67.3% in 2019 compared to 1992 where it was
68.8%.
Those with degrees had a turnout of 69% in the general elections where’s
unemployed turnout was 53%.
650 MP’s
2 party system- since 1945 only labour or Conservative Party have been in power.
IPSOS MORI 2016 found that MPs have the least trusted profession.
Jim Devine scandal of 2009 when he used the country’s money for personal
expenses showed MPs cannot be trusted. Boris Johnson partying during
lockdown, caught in 2021- MPs= untrustworthy. George Osbourne had 2 jobs: MP
and editor for the evening standard.
If the public isn’t happy with their gov. They can vote them out like they did in
1997, meaning Tony Blair wins the majority. Public can also vote in favour of the
gov. Shown when Boris Johnson won an 80-seat majority in 2018.
Recall of MPs aren’t always successful, e.g. Ian Pausley Junior in 2018 didn’t have
a by election as only 9.4% of his constituent signed the petition (need 10%) when
going on a Sri Lankan gov paid holiday with family.
Referendums are more popular- Scottish referendums of 2014 had an 85%
turnout. Good Friday agreement in 1998 turnout in N. Ireland was 81%.
1979 trade union membership= 13.2 million which dropped to 6.23 million in
2016.
Labour Party membership increased. 2014= 190,000. 2018= 552,000, due to:
o Ed Miliband created “one member one vote”.
o Jeremy Corbyn was an effective and charismatic media figure.
2019 turnout for Conservative Party went from 84% to 66%.
, Composition of MPs:
o 49% of MPs are privately educated compared to 7% of the public.
o 8% of MPs= ethnic minority compared to 13% of the public
o Women aren’t represented equally. Make up 1/3 of parliament compared
to 51% of the public.
o 40% increase in 2017 from 2015
o First Sikh women lectern- Preet Gill
o Women seats share increased increased from 191 in 2015- 208 in 2017.
Reforms to tackle democratic deficit:
o Lowering the voting age- tried and tested in Scottish independence
referendum. 16–17-year-old turnout was 75% compared to 54% of 18–24-
year-olds. Since 2002 compulsory citizenship education had been set in
place. Already 20,000 young people in youth council.
o Compulsory voting- tried and tested in Australia. 1924 turnout= 60%, since
compulsory voting turnout= minimum 90%. Investigated by House of
Commons and they saw wide engagement.
o Electoral reforms- first pass the post reinforces 2-party-system since 1945.
Solution to FPTP os proportional representation- votes are equal seats.
AMS used in Scotland. Public feel more represented. However, FPTP should
be maintained because it allowed people like Tony Blair win a majority of
197 seats and pass laws easily, like the devolution of England, Scotland,
wales and Northern Ireland and making the house or lords more
democratic. BJ 2019 won 80 seat majority and pursued hard Brexit.
Rights is the UK:
o Gurkha Justice Campaign- Nepalese who fought for the British Military
(1997). Only those who retired artery 1997 were given the right to live
in Britain. Wanted this right for all. Correa yes potion which got
250,000 signatures and Eric end celebrity endorsement from Lumley
which influence Gordon Brown in to extending rights for them.
o Hillsborough family support group
o Amnesty international for Syrian refugees
o Judicial review- courts, they are unelected experts. Looked at the civil
partnership law and made it so heterosexual couples could also have a
CP by 2019.
o Don’t have rights- COVID-19 lockdown, secret evidence to be used in
court- rejected. Al Hijra school in 2017 segregated boys and girls (false
advertisement). Placement doesn’t always protect rights- need
signatures.
Pressure groups:
o 2015 naked bike ride for climate change. They are extinction rebels
(strong belief in climate change but means= undemocratic). Shut down
5 London bridges.
