Evaluate The Extent To Which General
Elections In The UK Are Lost By The
Government Rather Than Won By The
Opposition.(30) –
Unpopularity of Pm is often a key reason why if the governing political party recognises
voters vote against a governing party and that their leader has become unpopular and
the opposition leader isn’t required to be is no longer an electoral asset, they will often
hugely popular remove them in favour of a new leader who
Seen in 2024 election can convince the electorate they are offering
Seen in 2010 election – when DC didn’t something new.
have high approval ratings but won Seen with the conservatives in their recent
due to the unpopularity of Brown – governments
IPSOS poll showed 33% regarded Also you need popular opposition leaders –
Cameron as most capable PM for example Tony Blair
compared to 29% for Brown
Seen in 1979 election due to Callahan
unpopularity
It can be argued that general elections in the it can be argued that the opposition are only
UK are lost by the government as the able to benefit from the government’s
perceived incompetence of the government incompetence and win the election if they
when in office is often a key reason why are perceived to be competent themselves.
voters vote for the opposition. It can also be seen in the 1979 election,
1979- winter of discontent in which the when a great deal of the Conservative Party’s
government's attempts to impose a 5% limit messaging focused on bringing down
on pay increases led to widespread strikes inflation.
and a sense of national paralysis.- In 2024 too, the Labour Party was successful
conservatives slogan was labour isn’t in presenting itself as competent and the
working antithesis of the Tories. This led to electoral
Also due to 2024 labour landslide success, as 2019 Conservative voters felt
accomplishment- Mini budget which lead to comfortable defecting. They were boring and
the pound plummeting and the increased uninspiring, but they didn’t put off voters due
cost of government borrowing and lead to to appearing too radical.
increase interest rates and mortgage rates- Labour moved to the centre ground and
YOU GOV POLLING found most people voted promised to not raise income tax, national
labour to get Tories out insurance or corporation tax, which made the
Conservative Party’s usual attack line that
they would hike taxes ineffective. Starmer
continually promised a return to a
government of service that was competent,
rather than self-serving and incompetent.
Against- it can be argued that general elections are
won by the opposition rather than lost by the lost by the government, as opposition parties
government is that the opposition is able to often have similar policies to the governing
provide a manifesto and policy platform to party, but are able to win as they provide a
, the electorate that offers a real change and change in terms of leadership and aren’t
benefits them economically tainted by their record in government as the
seen in the 1997 election, when Blair governing party is
successfully rebranded the Labour Party. As In 2010 too, the policies of the Labour and
Labour leader, Blair drove forward the policy Conservative parties were relatively similar,
of modernisation and abandoned old with both parties supporting austerity and
fashioned party policies such as bringing down the deficit, however the
nationalisation, tax increases and the Conservative Party had more success as their
strengthening of Trade Union powers, which reputation for economic competence hadn’t
might put off middle-class voters. been damaged by the financial crash as
Blair also gave off reassuringly tough signals Labour’s had.
of law and order (using the slogan ‘Tough on Finally, in 2024, the Labour Party
crime, tough on the causes of crime’), an intentionally moved to the centre and was
issue that mattered to voters after rising very careful in selecting differences in policy
crime rates in the early 1990s from the Conservative Party. In many areas
As a sign of the party's desire to show how they were similar: they both promised to
responsible it was, its 1997 platform stressed increase defence spending to 2.5%; they
specific policy details where it promised to both promised not to raise income tax,
make a difference, such as reducing primary national insurance or corporation tax; they
school class sizes and cutting hospital both promised to invest in the NHS; they
waiting lists. both promised to tackle illegal immigration.
Evaluate The View That The Influence Of The Media In Politics Is
Exaggerated.
Against- influence on elections For example YouGov polling revealed that
Newspapers endorsements 30% of Sun readers and 39% of FT readers
This can be seen as important in convincing voted for the Labour Party in the 2017
their millions of readers to vote for a election, despite both papers backing the
particular party. The Conservatives won 4 Tories.
elections from 2010-2019 with the majority Pre-election polling by Best For Britain
support of the press, but lost in 2024 after indicated that a majority of readers of
losing the support of a majority of the press, prominent right wing leaning newspapers
including the Sun, Financial Times and intended to vote for the Labour Party.
Sunday Times. Specifically, the polling reveals that 52% of
TV DEBATES- In 2017, Theresa May refusing The Daily Mail's readership and 47% of the
to take part in a head on head TV debate Telegraph’s readership, both of which are
with Corbyn made her look weak in the eyes key conservative newspapers, intended to
of voters and contributed to her support Labour in the 2024 election.
unpopularity. most individuals consume the media and
Key moments during campaigns can go viral political opinions they already agree with,
on social media and shape voters’ therefore only reinforcing views rather than
perceptions of parties and leaders.- RISHI having much potential to change them.
SUNAK V-DAY
Media plays a key role in holding the Parliament can be seen as playing a far
government to account and exposing its more important role in holding the
failings government to account than the media,
Partygate whilst the media often only provides a
Labour funding scandal platform for politicians to scrutinise other
The media can also be an important vehicle politicians.
Elections In The UK Are Lost By The
Government Rather Than Won By The
Opposition.(30) –
Unpopularity of Pm is often a key reason why if the governing political party recognises
voters vote against a governing party and that their leader has become unpopular and
the opposition leader isn’t required to be is no longer an electoral asset, they will often
hugely popular remove them in favour of a new leader who
Seen in 2024 election can convince the electorate they are offering
Seen in 2010 election – when DC didn’t something new.
have high approval ratings but won Seen with the conservatives in their recent
due to the unpopularity of Brown – governments
IPSOS poll showed 33% regarded Also you need popular opposition leaders –
Cameron as most capable PM for example Tony Blair
compared to 29% for Brown
Seen in 1979 election due to Callahan
unpopularity
It can be argued that general elections in the it can be argued that the opposition are only
UK are lost by the government as the able to benefit from the government’s
perceived incompetence of the government incompetence and win the election if they
when in office is often a key reason why are perceived to be competent themselves.
voters vote for the opposition. It can also be seen in the 1979 election,
1979- winter of discontent in which the when a great deal of the Conservative Party’s
government's attempts to impose a 5% limit messaging focused on bringing down
on pay increases led to widespread strikes inflation.
and a sense of national paralysis.- In 2024 too, the Labour Party was successful
conservatives slogan was labour isn’t in presenting itself as competent and the
working antithesis of the Tories. This led to electoral
Also due to 2024 labour landslide success, as 2019 Conservative voters felt
accomplishment- Mini budget which lead to comfortable defecting. They were boring and
the pound plummeting and the increased uninspiring, but they didn’t put off voters due
cost of government borrowing and lead to to appearing too radical.
increase interest rates and mortgage rates- Labour moved to the centre ground and
YOU GOV POLLING found most people voted promised to not raise income tax, national
labour to get Tories out insurance or corporation tax, which made the
Conservative Party’s usual attack line that
they would hike taxes ineffective. Starmer
continually promised a return to a
government of service that was competent,
rather than self-serving and incompetent.
Against- it can be argued that general elections are
won by the opposition rather than lost by the lost by the government, as opposition parties
government is that the opposition is able to often have similar policies to the governing
provide a manifesto and policy platform to party, but are able to win as they provide a
, the electorate that offers a real change and change in terms of leadership and aren’t
benefits them economically tainted by their record in government as the
seen in the 1997 election, when Blair governing party is
successfully rebranded the Labour Party. As In 2010 too, the policies of the Labour and
Labour leader, Blair drove forward the policy Conservative parties were relatively similar,
of modernisation and abandoned old with both parties supporting austerity and
fashioned party policies such as bringing down the deficit, however the
nationalisation, tax increases and the Conservative Party had more success as their
strengthening of Trade Union powers, which reputation for economic competence hadn’t
might put off middle-class voters. been damaged by the financial crash as
Blair also gave off reassuringly tough signals Labour’s had.
of law and order (using the slogan ‘Tough on Finally, in 2024, the Labour Party
crime, tough on the causes of crime’), an intentionally moved to the centre and was
issue that mattered to voters after rising very careful in selecting differences in policy
crime rates in the early 1990s from the Conservative Party. In many areas
As a sign of the party's desire to show how they were similar: they both promised to
responsible it was, its 1997 platform stressed increase defence spending to 2.5%; they
specific policy details where it promised to both promised not to raise income tax,
make a difference, such as reducing primary national insurance or corporation tax; they
school class sizes and cutting hospital both promised to invest in the NHS; they
waiting lists. both promised to tackle illegal immigration.
Evaluate The View That The Influence Of The Media In Politics Is
Exaggerated.
Against- influence on elections For example YouGov polling revealed that
Newspapers endorsements 30% of Sun readers and 39% of FT readers
This can be seen as important in convincing voted for the Labour Party in the 2017
their millions of readers to vote for a election, despite both papers backing the
particular party. The Conservatives won 4 Tories.
elections from 2010-2019 with the majority Pre-election polling by Best For Britain
support of the press, but lost in 2024 after indicated that a majority of readers of
losing the support of a majority of the press, prominent right wing leaning newspapers
including the Sun, Financial Times and intended to vote for the Labour Party.
Sunday Times. Specifically, the polling reveals that 52% of
TV DEBATES- In 2017, Theresa May refusing The Daily Mail's readership and 47% of the
to take part in a head on head TV debate Telegraph’s readership, both of which are
with Corbyn made her look weak in the eyes key conservative newspapers, intended to
of voters and contributed to her support Labour in the 2024 election.
unpopularity. most individuals consume the media and
Key moments during campaigns can go viral political opinions they already agree with,
on social media and shape voters’ therefore only reinforcing views rather than
perceptions of parties and leaders.- RISHI having much potential to change them.
SUNAK V-DAY
Media plays a key role in holding the Parliament can be seen as playing a far
government to account and exposing its more important role in holding the
failings government to account than the media,
Partygate whilst the media often only provides a
Labour funding scandal platform for politicians to scrutinise other
The media can also be an important vehicle politicians.
