Politics/Essay plans (UK politics): A
LEVEL
Evaluate the extent to which pressure groups widen the distribution of political power. (30 marks) - ANS
R1: - Help represent those often ignored by government. 2009 Gurkha campaign.
Cp: Most successful groups are insider representing a minority such as the CIB.
R3: Sectional groups play a key role of representing a group in society. National farmers union, 2013
badgers cull.
Cp: Doesn't distribute political power insider groups just enclose more power for a minority. Animal
rights groups ignored, despite large support.
R2: - Pressure groups can spearhead popular movements in actual change. The Snowdrop campaign.
Cp: Not always the case, BLM 69% support yet little change.
Evaluate the extent to which increased referendums would be good for democracy in the UK. (30 marks)
- ANS R1: Wholly democratic more feel their vote matters unlike FPTP, evident in high turnout in recent
referendums.
Cp: The norm is low turnout - 1997 Welsh devolution vote barley above 50% - Brexit was an exception,
countries such as Switzerland show frequent referendums lead to apathy and disinterest.
R2: Strong check on the elective dictatorship. Prevents government from being remote and
unaccountable.
Cp: Gov doesn't have to call referendums, Blair and Brown no ref on 2007 Lisbon treaty. Only call one
when it suits them. Plus ref leads to tyranny of maj, Swis 2009 minaret vote.
R3: Help to raise voters political awareness. 2014 Scottish referendum praised for airing through debate
on complex issues such as the future of the nuclear deterrent based on the river Clyde.
, Cp: Challenge to parliamentary sovereignty, leads to deadlock, we live in a representative democracy so
complex decisions should be left to those qualified.
Evaluate the extent to which the UK can be said to suffer from a participation crisis. (30 marks) - ANS
R1: Very low turnout for second order elections. May 2016 local elections average turnout just 33.8%.
Cp: Very high turnout for critical votes, 2019 election and Brexit referendum.
R2: Party membership - good indicator of participation - is a an all time low. Only 1.6% of the electorate
belongs to one. Tories 150,000 2016 1990s over 450,000.
Cp: People more dissatisfied with two party system, increasing political activity in other areas. Shown
through many success direct action campaigns.
R3: Crisis in youth participation, and apathy in response to political sleaze. 2009 expenses scandal. 2015
survey politics least trusted by the public.
Cp: High youth participation online, e-democracy - 2007 1.8 million sign petition stopping road charging.
Huge youth leadership in BLM movement.
Evaluate the argument that the media shape public opinion and voting behaviour: (30 marks) - ANS R1:
Newspapers have direct impact on readership. 1992 "Sun wot won it." As the Sun changed support from
L to C 2005 to 2010 there was 13.5% swing from Sun readers.
Cp: 12.5% occurred before the Sun's announcement. Sun following their readership rather than vice
versa, need to appeal to readership for profit.
R2: Partisan and class dealignment lead to fewer core voters. 1997 10% swing, 2015 election 111 seats
changed hands. More valence voters which the media had large influence over. 2015 election only 22%
found Ed Miliband to be prime minitrial, this narrative was driven by tabloids. As the parties were similar
this valence issue key.
Cp: Reinforcement theory; people just read what they already agreed with to avoid cognitive
dissonance. Have selective exposure, retention and perception of what they read. Particularly with
social media. Telegraph over 70% identify with Con party, over 65% Guardian readers with the Lab party.
LEVEL
Evaluate the extent to which pressure groups widen the distribution of political power. (30 marks) - ANS
R1: - Help represent those often ignored by government. 2009 Gurkha campaign.
Cp: Most successful groups are insider representing a minority such as the CIB.
R3: Sectional groups play a key role of representing a group in society. National farmers union, 2013
badgers cull.
Cp: Doesn't distribute political power insider groups just enclose more power for a minority. Animal
rights groups ignored, despite large support.
R2: - Pressure groups can spearhead popular movements in actual change. The Snowdrop campaign.
Cp: Not always the case, BLM 69% support yet little change.
Evaluate the extent to which increased referendums would be good for democracy in the UK. (30 marks)
- ANS R1: Wholly democratic more feel their vote matters unlike FPTP, evident in high turnout in recent
referendums.
Cp: The norm is low turnout - 1997 Welsh devolution vote barley above 50% - Brexit was an exception,
countries such as Switzerland show frequent referendums lead to apathy and disinterest.
R2: Strong check on the elective dictatorship. Prevents government from being remote and
unaccountable.
Cp: Gov doesn't have to call referendums, Blair and Brown no ref on 2007 Lisbon treaty. Only call one
when it suits them. Plus ref leads to tyranny of maj, Swis 2009 minaret vote.
R3: Help to raise voters political awareness. 2014 Scottish referendum praised for airing through debate
on complex issues such as the future of the nuclear deterrent based on the river Clyde.
, Cp: Challenge to parliamentary sovereignty, leads to deadlock, we live in a representative democracy so
complex decisions should be left to those qualified.
Evaluate the extent to which the UK can be said to suffer from a participation crisis. (30 marks) - ANS
R1: Very low turnout for second order elections. May 2016 local elections average turnout just 33.8%.
Cp: Very high turnout for critical votes, 2019 election and Brexit referendum.
R2: Party membership - good indicator of participation - is a an all time low. Only 1.6% of the electorate
belongs to one. Tories 150,000 2016 1990s over 450,000.
Cp: People more dissatisfied with two party system, increasing political activity in other areas. Shown
through many success direct action campaigns.
R3: Crisis in youth participation, and apathy in response to political sleaze. 2009 expenses scandal. 2015
survey politics least trusted by the public.
Cp: High youth participation online, e-democracy - 2007 1.8 million sign petition stopping road charging.
Huge youth leadership in BLM movement.
Evaluate the argument that the media shape public opinion and voting behaviour: (30 marks) - ANS R1:
Newspapers have direct impact on readership. 1992 "Sun wot won it." As the Sun changed support from
L to C 2005 to 2010 there was 13.5% swing from Sun readers.
Cp: 12.5% occurred before the Sun's announcement. Sun following their readership rather than vice
versa, need to appeal to readership for profit.
R2: Partisan and class dealignment lead to fewer core voters. 1997 10% swing, 2015 election 111 seats
changed hands. More valence voters which the media had large influence over. 2015 election only 22%
found Ed Miliband to be prime minitrial, this narrative was driven by tabloids. As the parties were similar
this valence issue key.
Cp: Reinforcement theory; people just read what they already agreed with to avoid cognitive
dissonance. Have selective exposure, retention and perception of what they read. Particularly with
social media. Telegraph over 70% identify with Con party, over 65% Guardian readers with the Lab party.
