UK Politics- Essay plans GRADED A+
Themes: Evaluate the view that in a democracy MPs are free to ignore referendum results and their own
political party's manifesto. - ANS HRA
Protection of rights- HRA - ANS Protected:
Not protected: HRA is uncodified and can be altered by a simple act of Parliament, should be entrenched
to protect human rights
> Blairs anti-terrorism legislation following 9/11
>
Evaluate the view that rights are well protected in the UK - ANS
Themes: Evaluate the extent to which there differences between the Labour and Conservative parties
over policies and ideas - ANS
Differences between Labour and the Conservatives: Economics - ANS Different:
Not different:
Themes: Evaluate the view that the UK is facing a participation crisis - ANS Voter turnout, political party
membership, trade union membership, pressure groups
Voter turnout- Participation crisis - ANS P: Voter turnout for all elections has trended downwards since
1997
> 2001 GE turnout (59.4%), compared to over 75% in the 60s
> Sevenoaks local council election (29.1%) 2022 By-election
> Devolved institutions election turnout, eg: London Assembly 2021 (42.7%)
, E: A functioning democracy relies on people willing to cast their vote.
HOWEVER: Turnout in referenda, although turbulent, can been high. Voter turnout is also on an upward
trend.
> 2016 EU referendum (72%), 2014 Scot Independence (84%)
> 2017 and 2019 GE (68.8% and 67.3%).
E: Turnout becomes higher when voters feel they're vote is definitely been counted for change to occur
Membership of political parties - ANS P: Membership of political parties has significantly declined
> 2022: 432,000 Labour members and 172,000 Con members vs 1953: 1.0 mil Labour and 2.8 mil Labour
E: Although participation in politics is different today, scandals has plummeted public trust in gov: Party-
gate, Iraq war etc.
HOWEVER: Party membership can quickly rise under the right circumstances eg: a charismatic leader
> Labour 2015- The Party almost doubled in size
Membership of trade unions - ANS P: A series of gov legislation, particularly under Thatcher, limited the
power and in doing so membership of trade unions
> 1970s- 13 million Britons as trade union members, 2000- 7.3 million, 2019- 6.4 million
> Thatcherism: Employment Act 1980 and 82, limited sympathy picketing
> Trade Union Act 2016- Made strike action even harder
E: Trade unions are important for strike action, worker engagement into politics and education
HOWEVER: Political influence is changing to modernise in a modern world eg: E-Petitions
> Revoke Article 50 (6.1million signatures 2019), End child poverty petition (1 million signatures 2020)
> #metoo movement, BLM movement
Pressure groups - ANS Could contrast to trade union or political party argument
P: Pressure groups are of mass size
> 4.5 million adults signed up to environment groups
Themes: Evaluate the view that in a democracy MPs are free to ignore referendum results and their own
political party's manifesto. - ANS HRA
Protection of rights- HRA - ANS Protected:
Not protected: HRA is uncodified and can be altered by a simple act of Parliament, should be entrenched
to protect human rights
> Blairs anti-terrorism legislation following 9/11
>
Evaluate the view that rights are well protected in the UK - ANS
Themes: Evaluate the extent to which there differences between the Labour and Conservative parties
over policies and ideas - ANS
Differences between Labour and the Conservatives: Economics - ANS Different:
Not different:
Themes: Evaluate the view that the UK is facing a participation crisis - ANS Voter turnout, political party
membership, trade union membership, pressure groups
Voter turnout- Participation crisis - ANS P: Voter turnout for all elections has trended downwards since
1997
> 2001 GE turnout (59.4%), compared to over 75% in the 60s
> Sevenoaks local council election (29.1%) 2022 By-election
> Devolved institutions election turnout, eg: London Assembly 2021 (42.7%)
, E: A functioning democracy relies on people willing to cast their vote.
HOWEVER: Turnout in referenda, although turbulent, can been high. Voter turnout is also on an upward
trend.
> 2016 EU referendum (72%), 2014 Scot Independence (84%)
> 2017 and 2019 GE (68.8% and 67.3%).
E: Turnout becomes higher when voters feel they're vote is definitely been counted for change to occur
Membership of political parties - ANS P: Membership of political parties has significantly declined
> 2022: 432,000 Labour members and 172,000 Con members vs 1953: 1.0 mil Labour and 2.8 mil Labour
E: Although participation in politics is different today, scandals has plummeted public trust in gov: Party-
gate, Iraq war etc.
HOWEVER: Party membership can quickly rise under the right circumstances eg: a charismatic leader
> Labour 2015- The Party almost doubled in size
Membership of trade unions - ANS P: A series of gov legislation, particularly under Thatcher, limited the
power and in doing so membership of trade unions
> 1970s- 13 million Britons as trade union members, 2000- 7.3 million, 2019- 6.4 million
> Thatcherism: Employment Act 1980 and 82, limited sympathy picketing
> Trade Union Act 2016- Made strike action even harder
E: Trade unions are important for strike action, worker engagement into politics and education
HOWEVER: Political influence is changing to modernise in a modern world eg: E-Petitions
> Revoke Article 50 (6.1million signatures 2019), End child poverty petition (1 million signatures 2020)
> #metoo movement, BLM movement
Pressure groups - ANS Could contrast to trade union or political party argument
P: Pressure groups are of mass size
> 4.5 million adults signed up to environment groups
