‘The ongoing process of devolution threatens the sovereignty of
the westminster parliament’ analyse and evaluate this statement
For:
Point: devolution as an ongoing process which has created more challenges to the Against:
unitary state and the concept of a ‘quasi-federal’ state Point: the consept of the unitary state has been emphasised further since
Evidence: legislation such as the Scotland act 2016 has had a significant impact the EU referendum 2016
upon parliamentary soverignty as it established in statute that westminster cannot Evidence: the supereme court Miller case in January 2017, judges ruled that
legislate in devolved areas without consent, and recognised that the devolved there was no obligation for the uk gov to consult the devolved assemblies
institutions are permanent features of the uk’s constitutional arrangements. before triggering Article 50 and the Sewel Convention, whereby uk
Devolution can only be overturned by a referendum and has been labelled ‘devo- legislation on matters normally dealt with by the scottish parliament are
max’ subject to its approval, was not considered a legally enforced obligation
Explain: this goes against the constitutional principle that parliament (being Explain: this shows clearly that westminster is sovereign as its power to pass
westminster) is soverign and is the supreme legal authority in the uk and can legislation on a constitutional change was sovereign over devolved states
create and end any laws. Analyse: whilst devolution allows devolved governments to make primary
Analyse: this has led to a system that looks a lot like the US stystem, of federalism legislation, westminsters overrides
and no longer holds westminster as having sovereignty over other areas
For:
Point: First ministers have led the way in policy, neglecting wedmisters and the Against:
PM’s policy Point:the union and unitary state is still intact and parliments authority
Evidence: nicola sturgeon, lockdown stratergy 2020 continues, westminster can govern over devolved states if their parliament
Explain: there is a greater political distance between the devolved assemblies and breaks down
westminster, with regional parties playing a more significant role in their executive Evidence: during the suspension of the northern ireland assembly when
branches, power sharing arrangements broke down (2002-2007) and Northern Ireland
Evidence: the SNP majority administration 2011-2016. this has led to some was governed from westminster
labelling Boris Johnson as the ‘PM of england’ due to policy divergence over Explain: if there is not a devolved power that can govern westminster will
lockdown stratergy 2020 take over, until new previsions are put in place
. Explain: threatens the sovereignty of the westminster parliament as it diminishes Analyse: the power to govern these states has not been taken away from
its powes of creating legislation for the whole of the uk westmister, powers are still used when nesecary
Analyse: this allows other parliments of desolved areas to take on this policy and
create legislation more relevanmt to that area
,‘political parties fulfil valuable roles and functions within the uk political system’. Analyse and
evaluate this statement
For:
Point: The role played by political parties is imporatant in the uk political
Against:
system, with the operation of government relying upon political parties in
Point: critisism may be made of the role played by party members in electing
many ways, such as governments at westminster being formed by one of two
leaders
major parties, with the other playing the role of the official opposition
Evidence: boris johnson being elected by fewer than 100,000 voters, who are
. The opposition have the role of scrutinising the government, this done
unrepresentative of the wider electorate or theresa may who was declared leader
through parliamentary questions (where the leader of opposition can ask the
without the requirement of a vote from party membership
PM questions), and committees
Explain: parties can choose the PM once voted into power: Johnson defeated
Evidence: then shadow brexit secretary sir keir stamer tabled a humble
Jeremy Hunt in the Conservative Party leadership election on 23 july 2019
address in june 2017 to make the government release papers on the impact
Analyse: can lead to undemocratic leaders, Rishi sunak was not voted in by uk
of brexit
population
Analyse: role to highlight errors in policy and force gov to ensure policy is well
thought through to aviod critisims from the opposition
Against:
For:
Point: lack of opportunities for minor parties and independents in the gov
Point: coalitions have been formed with other political parties
Explain: disproportionately under represented by the fptp electoral system, the
Evidence: the conservative and liberal democrat parties formed a coalition
fptp electoral system creates a two party system designed to create a strong
gov in may 2010 (PM david cameron, deputy PM nick clegg)
majority in gov, so doesn’t favour minority parties.
Explain: parties may decide to for a coalition gov if there is no single party
Evidence: the disproportionate nature of the fptp system was demonstrated in the
with a clear working majority in the HoC following a general election
2015 general election, as UKIPs 3.8 million votes and the green partys 1.1 million
Analyse: parties have a function within uk politics in this way as it can have a
votes were only translaed into one MP each
huge impact on a govs success if they do not have a strong majority, joining
Analyse: minority parties are allowed very little influence in parliament, which
two parties in this way can make the gov more effective in getting stuff done
leads to people neglecting to vote for the as its sen as a ‘wasted vote’
,‘the united kingdom now has a multi-party system’. Analyse and
evaluate this statment
Intro: state whata multi-party system is in comparison to other party systems, such as dominant-party systems and two party systems. – a multi-party system is a
political system in which multiple political parties across the political spectrum run for national election, and all have the capability to gain control of government
offices, separately or in coalition
For: Against:
Point: elections have seen an increase in the share of the vote going to Point: there is a lack of electoral success for smaller parties in westminster and the
parties other than labour and conservatives share of votes is still largely allocated to labour and the conservatives
Example: in 2015 33% of the vote went to other parties. Howvere, in 2017 Example: labour and the conservatives won 83% of the vote in the 2017 general
only 18% of the share of votes went to other parties election
Explain: multi party system as other parties apart from the dominate two Explain: leading to these to parties dominating parilament
got a proportion of the vote Analyse: this makes smaller parties have very little influence in parlaiment, as they
Analyse: despite the FPTP system people still choose to vote for other have little roll and little opportunity to get their agenda across as they have a minority
parties, which then get MP representation in parliament.
Against:
Point: the first past the post system makes it increadibly hard for minor partys to get
substanital representation in parliamnet
For: Example: in the 2019 general election, the green party, liberal democrats and brexit
Point: minor parties have been seen to be populare in local elections party received 16% (5.2 million) of votes between them, yet they shared just 2% of
Example: in 2023 green party gained control of a council for the first time, seats
in mid suffolk, and won 6% of seats up for election, the highest proportion Explain: the fptp voting system tends to result in a two-party system in which two
in 20 years parties compete for office. The system tends to favour the two biggest, most
Explain: shows they are able to gain votes, people are not just voting for established parties, the labour and the conservative party in the uk, which already
the two dominate parties have the majority of the countries support. This makes it quite difficult for new or
Analyse: whilst the green party gained seats the conservatives lost seats. smaller parties to gain seats in parliament
Showing people are voting for minor parties rather than just sticking to the Analyse: this cause the predicament of wasted votes, which inclines people to vote
convertial parties for the two major parties, even if they agree with a smaller party as their vote will not
be properly represented in parliament
, ‘party leaders are the decisive importance in the winning or
losing of general elections’. Analyse and evaluate this statement
Against:
For: Point: retrospective voting, the impact of economic mismanagement on voting
Point:party leaders are important as the mouthpiece of the party and the role choices
played in selling the image of the party during campaigns Evidence: 2008 financial crisis lead to the 2010 general election failing to
Example: thanks to Tony Bliars leadrership, labour won the 2001 general produce an overall majority for either of the country’s two main political parties,
election with a second landslide. Although his invasion of iraq in 2003 led to a the labour gov led by brown lost its overall majority after 13 years in office and
decrease in popularity and his resignation as pm on 27th june 2007 the conservative and lib-dem parties formed a coalition gov
Explain: popularity of the party leader, along with good policies can lead to Explain: the economic state of the counrty effects the government the people
partlys winning elections, whilst unpopularity can lead to elections being lost vote for. Voting out the party in power at the time
Analyse: as the party leader is the figure head of the party to some extent, they Analyse: factors out of control of the government (e.g. the economy) can often
are what people precieve of the party and if they didlike them, the general influence a party’s success in election
population may be less enclined to vote for the party
Against:
For: Point: overall influence of recency factors (rational choice model) upon voters in
Point: election campaigns have become more americanised an ‘era of dealignment’ in comparison to ‘primary factors’ such as class, age,
Evidence: televised elections debates between party leaders took place during gender and ethnicity
the 2010, 2015, 2017 and 2019 parliamentary general elections campaigns. Evidence: primary factors- labour are said to be the more ethnic minority
During the 2019 campaign there were, for the first time, two head-to-head friendly party, in 2005 80% of caribbean people in the uk voted for labour.
debates between PM Boris Johnson and the leader of the Opposition, Jeremy However when labour sent troops to iraq in 2003, the number of Muslims that
Corbyn voted for labour decreased. Recency factors- the winter of discontent in 1979, in
Explain: there is nothing in electoral law that requires televised election 1978 before the winter labour had a 5% majority over the conservatives, but
between party leaders. When they take place, they are a matter for the after the strikes the conservatives had a 7.5% majority
broadcasters and political parties. Explain: there are factors that always effect the way people vote that are largely
Analyse: is similar to the US system leading up to an election, which is heavily out of control of the political party, aswell as factors that happen in a space of
based upon the leader of the party- the president if chosen. The parties in the time that can change the way people vote
uk taking this practice on shows a greater focus on party leaders just like in the Analyse: whilst primary factors may apply to a majority, this does not mean they
us system, where elections are largely won based on party leaders will certainly apply to everyone
the westminster parliament’ analyse and evaluate this statement
For:
Point: devolution as an ongoing process which has created more challenges to the Against:
unitary state and the concept of a ‘quasi-federal’ state Point: the consept of the unitary state has been emphasised further since
Evidence: legislation such as the Scotland act 2016 has had a significant impact the EU referendum 2016
upon parliamentary soverignty as it established in statute that westminster cannot Evidence: the supereme court Miller case in January 2017, judges ruled that
legislate in devolved areas without consent, and recognised that the devolved there was no obligation for the uk gov to consult the devolved assemblies
institutions are permanent features of the uk’s constitutional arrangements. before triggering Article 50 and the Sewel Convention, whereby uk
Devolution can only be overturned by a referendum and has been labelled ‘devo- legislation on matters normally dealt with by the scottish parliament are
max’ subject to its approval, was not considered a legally enforced obligation
Explain: this goes against the constitutional principle that parliament (being Explain: this shows clearly that westminster is sovereign as its power to pass
westminster) is soverign and is the supreme legal authority in the uk and can legislation on a constitutional change was sovereign over devolved states
create and end any laws. Analyse: whilst devolution allows devolved governments to make primary
Analyse: this has led to a system that looks a lot like the US stystem, of federalism legislation, westminsters overrides
and no longer holds westminster as having sovereignty over other areas
For:
Point: First ministers have led the way in policy, neglecting wedmisters and the Against:
PM’s policy Point:the union and unitary state is still intact and parliments authority
Evidence: nicola sturgeon, lockdown stratergy 2020 continues, westminster can govern over devolved states if their parliament
Explain: there is a greater political distance between the devolved assemblies and breaks down
westminster, with regional parties playing a more significant role in their executive Evidence: during the suspension of the northern ireland assembly when
branches, power sharing arrangements broke down (2002-2007) and Northern Ireland
Evidence: the SNP majority administration 2011-2016. this has led to some was governed from westminster
labelling Boris Johnson as the ‘PM of england’ due to policy divergence over Explain: if there is not a devolved power that can govern westminster will
lockdown stratergy 2020 take over, until new previsions are put in place
. Explain: threatens the sovereignty of the westminster parliament as it diminishes Analyse: the power to govern these states has not been taken away from
its powes of creating legislation for the whole of the uk westmister, powers are still used when nesecary
Analyse: this allows other parliments of desolved areas to take on this policy and
create legislation more relevanmt to that area
,‘political parties fulfil valuable roles and functions within the uk political system’. Analyse and
evaluate this statement
For:
Point: The role played by political parties is imporatant in the uk political
Against:
system, with the operation of government relying upon political parties in
Point: critisism may be made of the role played by party members in electing
many ways, such as governments at westminster being formed by one of two
leaders
major parties, with the other playing the role of the official opposition
Evidence: boris johnson being elected by fewer than 100,000 voters, who are
. The opposition have the role of scrutinising the government, this done
unrepresentative of the wider electorate or theresa may who was declared leader
through parliamentary questions (where the leader of opposition can ask the
without the requirement of a vote from party membership
PM questions), and committees
Explain: parties can choose the PM once voted into power: Johnson defeated
Evidence: then shadow brexit secretary sir keir stamer tabled a humble
Jeremy Hunt in the Conservative Party leadership election on 23 july 2019
address in june 2017 to make the government release papers on the impact
Analyse: can lead to undemocratic leaders, Rishi sunak was not voted in by uk
of brexit
population
Analyse: role to highlight errors in policy and force gov to ensure policy is well
thought through to aviod critisims from the opposition
Against:
For:
Point: lack of opportunities for minor parties and independents in the gov
Point: coalitions have been formed with other political parties
Explain: disproportionately under represented by the fptp electoral system, the
Evidence: the conservative and liberal democrat parties formed a coalition
fptp electoral system creates a two party system designed to create a strong
gov in may 2010 (PM david cameron, deputy PM nick clegg)
majority in gov, so doesn’t favour minority parties.
Explain: parties may decide to for a coalition gov if there is no single party
Evidence: the disproportionate nature of the fptp system was demonstrated in the
with a clear working majority in the HoC following a general election
2015 general election, as UKIPs 3.8 million votes and the green partys 1.1 million
Analyse: parties have a function within uk politics in this way as it can have a
votes were only translaed into one MP each
huge impact on a govs success if they do not have a strong majority, joining
Analyse: minority parties are allowed very little influence in parliament, which
two parties in this way can make the gov more effective in getting stuff done
leads to people neglecting to vote for the as its sen as a ‘wasted vote’
,‘the united kingdom now has a multi-party system’. Analyse and
evaluate this statment
Intro: state whata multi-party system is in comparison to other party systems, such as dominant-party systems and two party systems. – a multi-party system is a
political system in which multiple political parties across the political spectrum run for national election, and all have the capability to gain control of government
offices, separately or in coalition
For: Against:
Point: elections have seen an increase in the share of the vote going to Point: there is a lack of electoral success for smaller parties in westminster and the
parties other than labour and conservatives share of votes is still largely allocated to labour and the conservatives
Example: in 2015 33% of the vote went to other parties. Howvere, in 2017 Example: labour and the conservatives won 83% of the vote in the 2017 general
only 18% of the share of votes went to other parties election
Explain: multi party system as other parties apart from the dominate two Explain: leading to these to parties dominating parilament
got a proportion of the vote Analyse: this makes smaller parties have very little influence in parlaiment, as they
Analyse: despite the FPTP system people still choose to vote for other have little roll and little opportunity to get their agenda across as they have a minority
parties, which then get MP representation in parliament.
Against:
Point: the first past the post system makes it increadibly hard for minor partys to get
substanital representation in parliamnet
For: Example: in the 2019 general election, the green party, liberal democrats and brexit
Point: minor parties have been seen to be populare in local elections party received 16% (5.2 million) of votes between them, yet they shared just 2% of
Example: in 2023 green party gained control of a council for the first time, seats
in mid suffolk, and won 6% of seats up for election, the highest proportion Explain: the fptp voting system tends to result in a two-party system in which two
in 20 years parties compete for office. The system tends to favour the two biggest, most
Explain: shows they are able to gain votes, people are not just voting for established parties, the labour and the conservative party in the uk, which already
the two dominate parties have the majority of the countries support. This makes it quite difficult for new or
Analyse: whilst the green party gained seats the conservatives lost seats. smaller parties to gain seats in parliament
Showing people are voting for minor parties rather than just sticking to the Analyse: this cause the predicament of wasted votes, which inclines people to vote
convertial parties for the two major parties, even if they agree with a smaller party as their vote will not
be properly represented in parliament
, ‘party leaders are the decisive importance in the winning or
losing of general elections’. Analyse and evaluate this statement
Against:
For: Point: retrospective voting, the impact of economic mismanagement on voting
Point:party leaders are important as the mouthpiece of the party and the role choices
played in selling the image of the party during campaigns Evidence: 2008 financial crisis lead to the 2010 general election failing to
Example: thanks to Tony Bliars leadrership, labour won the 2001 general produce an overall majority for either of the country’s two main political parties,
election with a second landslide. Although his invasion of iraq in 2003 led to a the labour gov led by brown lost its overall majority after 13 years in office and
decrease in popularity and his resignation as pm on 27th june 2007 the conservative and lib-dem parties formed a coalition gov
Explain: popularity of the party leader, along with good policies can lead to Explain: the economic state of the counrty effects the government the people
partlys winning elections, whilst unpopularity can lead to elections being lost vote for. Voting out the party in power at the time
Analyse: as the party leader is the figure head of the party to some extent, they Analyse: factors out of control of the government (e.g. the economy) can often
are what people precieve of the party and if they didlike them, the general influence a party’s success in election
population may be less enclined to vote for the party
Against:
For: Point: overall influence of recency factors (rational choice model) upon voters in
Point: election campaigns have become more americanised an ‘era of dealignment’ in comparison to ‘primary factors’ such as class, age,
Evidence: televised elections debates between party leaders took place during gender and ethnicity
the 2010, 2015, 2017 and 2019 parliamentary general elections campaigns. Evidence: primary factors- labour are said to be the more ethnic minority
During the 2019 campaign there were, for the first time, two head-to-head friendly party, in 2005 80% of caribbean people in the uk voted for labour.
debates between PM Boris Johnson and the leader of the Opposition, Jeremy However when labour sent troops to iraq in 2003, the number of Muslims that
Corbyn voted for labour decreased. Recency factors- the winter of discontent in 1979, in
Explain: there is nothing in electoral law that requires televised election 1978 before the winter labour had a 5% majority over the conservatives, but
between party leaders. When they take place, they are a matter for the after the strikes the conservatives had a 7.5% majority
broadcasters and political parties. Explain: there are factors that always effect the way people vote that are largely
Analyse: is similar to the US system leading up to an election, which is heavily out of control of the political party, aswell as factors that happen in a space of
based upon the leader of the party- the president if chosen. The parties in the time that can change the way people vote
uk taking this practice on shows a greater focus on party leaders just like in the Analyse: whilst primary factors may apply to a majority, this does not mean they
us system, where elections are largely won based on party leaders will certainly apply to everyone
