Uk politics 30 markers
Evaluate the view that the UK is facing a 'participation crisis' - correct answer-Yes - Low
turnout at elections undermines the legitimacy of the resultTurnout at the 2015 General
Election was 66.1%, far below the high levels of the 1970s, where it reached 78.8% in 1974.
Of the 66.1% of the electorate that participated in 2015, only 36.9% voted for the
Conservative Party. This means that the current Conservative majority Government was
endorsed by just 24.4% of potential voters. As a representative democracy, it is vital that
turnout is high so that the resulting government can claim to have a legitimate mandate to
enact the policies in their manifesto. The 2012 Police and Crime Commissioner elections had
record low turnout, with an average of just 15%, undermining the notion of elected and
accountable police officials
NO- participation outside the ballot box is healthy e.g. 4.2 million people signed the e-petition
to overturn Brexit in the wake of the referendum result. Also, in October 2018, 700,000
anti-Brexit marchers attended the Peoples vote march. Other marches have occurred since.
Also, on the same day in October 2018 in Harrogate, pro-Brexit marchers attended a rally.
Therefore, pluralist participation is occurring is occurring outside of the ballot box, suggesting
no crisis - (huge figures). Similarly, climate change group Extinction Rebellion organised a
civil disobedience campaign in early 2019 where tens of thousands of people attended 1000
where arrested. Through their methods might not be healthy, the fact they are willing to be
arrested for participation suggests there is no crisis
Yes - Historically, membership of parties has dropped as people have become less involved
in formal politicsIn 2015, only 1.0% of the electorate was a member of the Labour,
Conservative or Liberal Democrat parties (compared with 3.8% in 1983). The Conservative
Party had almost 3 million members in the
Evaluate the view that the emergence of multiple parties in the UK means that the
Westminster electoral system must be changed. [30]
(November 2021) - correct answer-1) For
- First Past the Post is a party system that favors a two party system, as seen by the lack of
third party in the US.
-However in the last 15 years we have seen the decline of a strong government with the
2010 coalition and the 2017 confidence and supply deal with the DUP
2) Against
- Proportional Governments are notorious for creating unstable governments and coalitions
such as in Ireland where devolution has had to be temporarily rolled back due to the DUP
and Sinn Fein not having a clear mandate.
3) For
- First Past the Post is no longer representative of the nation with the country being fed up of
having to pick between Labour and the Conservatives. in 2015 UKIP gained 4 million votes
but received one seat whilst LD gained 3 million votes for eight seats
4) Against
- Proportional systems open up parliament to radical views that endanger democracy for
example the 2010 British election survey ( mock av election) found 25 seats where a 2nd
pref vote from a BNP (far right fascist) supporter could push a winning candidate over 50%
mark
Evaluate the view that the UK is facing a 'participation crisis' - correct answer-Yes - Low
turnout at elections undermines the legitimacy of the resultTurnout at the 2015 General
Election was 66.1%, far below the high levels of the 1970s, where it reached 78.8% in 1974.
Of the 66.1% of the electorate that participated in 2015, only 36.9% voted for the
Conservative Party. This means that the current Conservative majority Government was
endorsed by just 24.4% of potential voters. As a representative democracy, it is vital that
turnout is high so that the resulting government can claim to have a legitimate mandate to
enact the policies in their manifesto. The 2012 Police and Crime Commissioner elections had
record low turnout, with an average of just 15%, undermining the notion of elected and
accountable police officials
NO- participation outside the ballot box is healthy e.g. 4.2 million people signed the e-petition
to overturn Brexit in the wake of the referendum result. Also, in October 2018, 700,000
anti-Brexit marchers attended the Peoples vote march. Other marches have occurred since.
Also, on the same day in October 2018 in Harrogate, pro-Brexit marchers attended a rally.
Therefore, pluralist participation is occurring is occurring outside of the ballot box, suggesting
no crisis - (huge figures). Similarly, climate change group Extinction Rebellion organised a
civil disobedience campaign in early 2019 where tens of thousands of people attended 1000
where arrested. Through their methods might not be healthy, the fact they are willing to be
arrested for participation suggests there is no crisis
Yes - Historically, membership of parties has dropped as people have become less involved
in formal politicsIn 2015, only 1.0% of the electorate was a member of the Labour,
Conservative or Liberal Democrat parties (compared with 3.8% in 1983). The Conservative
Party had almost 3 million members in the
Evaluate the view that the emergence of multiple parties in the UK means that the
Westminster electoral system must be changed. [30]
(November 2021) - correct answer-1) For
- First Past the Post is a party system that favors a two party system, as seen by the lack of
third party in the US.
-However in the last 15 years we have seen the decline of a strong government with the
2010 coalition and the 2017 confidence and supply deal with the DUP
2) Against
- Proportional Governments are notorious for creating unstable governments and coalitions
such as in Ireland where devolution has had to be temporarily rolled back due to the DUP
and Sinn Fein not having a clear mandate.
3) For
- First Past the Post is no longer representative of the nation with the country being fed up of
having to pick between Labour and the Conservatives. in 2015 UKIP gained 4 million votes
but received one seat whilst LD gained 3 million votes for eight seats
4) Against
- Proportional systems open up parliament to radical views that endanger democracy for
example the 2010 British election survey ( mock av election) found 25 seats where a 2nd
pref vote from a BNP (far right fascist) supporter could push a winning candidate over 50%
mark
