Participation in the Political System

Starter Task•In what ways can citizens be informed about politics in the UK? •List as many ways as you can think of.

Today we will…

• Outline the ways that citizens can be informed about politics

• Identify some of the ways that citizens can participate in British democracy

Success Criteria• I can list and explain the

ways citizens can participate in politics.

How citizens can be informed about politics

• The media in the UK is extensive and is the main way that UK citizens are kept informed about political issues

• Radio news stories…particularly morning or evening interviews with representatives

• TV…news items, interviews, programmes such as “Newsnight”, “Question Time” and “The Sunday Politics”, Party Political Broadcasts, the Parliament Channel (Freeview), televised debates etc.

• Internet…official party websites, blogs, social media particularly Facebook and Twitter

• Newspapers…many of which have allegiances to a political party, e.g. the Telegraph tends to support the Conservative Party

How can citizens participate in the UK?

• Think back to third and fourth year…• Create a bullet pointed list of ways that UK

citizens can participate in politics

How can citizens participate in the UK?

1. Vote2. Join a political party3. Campaign4. Protest5. Stand as a candidate6. Join a pressure group7. Contact representatives8. Stay informed/media (watch news,

read paper, social media etc.)9. Public petitions10.Private bills11.Founding Principles of SP

How can citizens participate in the UK?

• Questions in the exam are likely to be about whether citizens do have an impact or do not have an impact on decision-making.

• We will focus mostly on the Scottish Parliament although it is okay to use UK examples too.

Voting• Knowledge - Citizens have the right (and responsibility)

to vote in elections• Can vote for MP in UK elections…• MSPs in Scottish Parliament elections…• MEPs for European Parliament elections…• And councillors in local government elections• For example, citizens in the Glasgow East UK

parliamentary constituency elected Margaret Curran MP in 2010

• Analysis – citizens can therefore influence decision-making because they choose their representatives and can vote out representatives/parties that they don’t want. For example, the Liberal Democrats have been punished by voters since 2010 for going back on a promise not to increase tuition fees. Lib Dems lost 12 of their 17 seats in the 2011 SP election – arguably a direct result of Nick Clegg’s failed promise.

Margaret Curran MP

Voting

• Knowledge - However, it could be argued that perhaps voters’ power is restricted.

• In UK elections for example, the FPTP system means that many votes for parties are wasted – only one winner per constituency.

• Lib Dems got 23% of the vote in 2010 but only got 9% of the seats.

• Analysis – The nature of the voting system for the UK Parliament means that voters’ power is restricted and elections continue to be dominated by the bigger parties.

Nick Clegg, Lib Dem MP and Deputy Prime Minister

Voting• Knowledge – However, the SP uses the

AMS system which leads a more proportional result with the views of more people being reflected in Parliament.

• E.g. 2 Green MSPs in SP just now, Conservatives won only three constituency seats but gained 12 regional seats.

• However, the list system means that parties can choose regional candidates rather than allowing voters to vote directly for them.

• Analysis – The AMS system empowers voters and ensures that the views of voters are better represented in the SP. However the list system arguably gives parties too much power at voters’ expense.

Patrick Harvie MSP for Glasgow region, Scottish Greens Leader

Join a Political Party• Knowledge - Citizens have the right to join a political party.• An individual with working-class roots and who strongly

supports the welfare state might join the Labour Party• Someone from a more affluent background who is critical of

high public spending and high taxes might join the Conservative Party

• Someone whose main concern is the environment might join the Green Party

• Opponents of EU membership and immigration might join the UK Independence Party (UKIP)

• Members of parties can influence decision-making by voting on party policies and for party leaders. Scottish Labour Party leaders recently elected Jim Murphy as their new leader.

• SNP Members elected Nicola Sturgeon as their new leader after Alex Salmond stepped down. Essentially they elected the new First Minister.

• Analysis – Citizens have power as they can join parties which reflect their own views and vote on party policies and for party leaders.

Join a Political Party• Knowledge – However, members of parties do not always

agree with party policies. The SNP lost members (and MSPs) after the party changed its stance on NATO membership. However, the majority of party members did vote to reverse the party’s stance.

• Analysis – Not all members will be satisfied with party policy shifts which shows a restriction in their power although in fairness it is a case of majority rules.

• Knowledge – Membership of the SNP and Green Parties has rocketed following the independence referendum…the SNP now have over 93,000 members making them the biggest political party in Scotland.

• However, the SNP membership could not prevent a No vote in the referendum.

• Analysis – This means that more citizens can have an influence on party policy showing that joining a political party does indeed give citizens more power in decision-making. Although party members do not necessarily convince voters as shown by the recent referendum result.

Campaign• Knowledge - Individuals can campaign for a

political party or about an issue they feel strongly about

• This might involve, distributing leaflets, canvassing (going door to door), fundraising, taking part in demonstrations, etc.

• For example, the Yes and Better Together campaigns spent months trying to convince voters to vote Yes or No in the independence referendum. The Yes campaign had success in closing the gap in the polls substantially so that before the referendum it was too close to call the result.

• Analysis – This was in part due to the efforts of campaigners which shows that citizens can have an influence on decision-making and can convince other people to change their minds on political issues.

Campaign

• Knowledge – However, the Yes campaign ultimately failed with 55% of the country voting No. But this may well have been more down to the efforts of the Better Together campaign who successfully campaigned for a No vote.

• Analysis – Campaigners in the independence referendum undoubtedly played their part in convincing voters and this shows that citizens can have a real impact through campaigning.

Protest• Knowledge - Citizens can protest about an issue they

oppose• For example, there have recently been protests in the UK

about the so-called Bedroom Tax, protests against UK Government cuts to welfare spending and protests against companies who have failed to pay corporation tax

• Methods – demonstrations, rallies, sit-ins, using the media, letter an leaflet campaigns, using the internet etc…

• Some have been successful. In 2013, thousands of people protested against the Bedroom Tax in Scotland. As a result the Scottish Government announced that it would give councils money to compensate people affected.

• Analysis – Protests can be successful showing that citizens who are not elected or members of political parties can have an impact on decision-making in Scotland.

Protest• Knowledge – However, it could be argued

that protests are ineffective.• In 2003, 1 million people marched against

the war in Iraq – the war went ahead anyway.• In 2012, 250,000 people protested against

austerity (cuts) – the cuts happened anyway• Since 1982 there are been a peace camp

protesting at Faslane against Trident nuclear weapons – recently the UK government overwhelmingly voted in favour of upgrading the system at a cost of billions of pounds.

• Analysis – It could be argued that protests are a waste of time and show the ineffectiveness of citizens attempting to influence decision-making since various protests in the last decade have led to no change.

Stand as a candidate• Knowledge – Citizens from any background

have the right to stand as candidates• People wishing to stand as an MP must be over

18 years of age, be a British citizen or citizen of a Commonwealth country or the Republic of Ireland

• Can stand as a member of a political party if nominated or as an independent candidate

• In order to encourage only serious candidates to stand, a £500 deposit is required when submitting the nomination papers - returned if the candidate receives over five per cent of the total votes cast.

• Analysis – The fact that citizens can stand as candidates and become representatives shows that citizens can indeed have an impact on decision-making. Once elected, they become lawmakers.

John Smeaton, the Glasgow Airport worker who gained fame for intervening at the Glasgow Airport terrorist attack in 2007, stood as a candidate for the Glasgow North-East constituency by-election in 2009…he lost though (got 1.2% of vote).

Stand as a candidate• Knowledge – However, although anyone

can stand it does seem that certain people have a much better chance than others.

• Both the Scottish and British Parliaments have MSPs who are mostly white and male. Many are also privately educated.

• In fact, one third of current MPs went to private schools and one quarter went to university at Oxford or Cambridge.

• 20 current MPs went to a single private school – Eton (they are known as Etonians). This is about 3% of all MPs.

• Analysis – It seems that not everyone has an equal chance at being elected MP which shows that perhaps the average British citizen is unable to affect decision-making in this way.

•1987 - The Bullingdon Club at Oxford University.

•1992 - The Bullingdon Club at Oxford University.

Join a pressure group• Knowledge - Citizens have the right to join pressure

groups which can put pressure on the government to make changes

• For example, environmentalists might join Greenpeace, children’s rights campaigners might join Child Poverty Action Group etc…

• Some INSIDER pressure groups are consulted directly by the government. For example the Scottish Government has passed legislation in relation to homelessness in recent years and the Government consulted with the pressure group Shelter when drawing up the legislation.

• Analysis – Pressure groups can play a pivotal role in affecting legislation, especially insider groups which shows that citizens can have an impact on decision-making if they participate in such groups.

Join a pressure group

• Knowledge – However, some pressure groups have little success in achieving their aims. OUTSIDER groups do not have the ear of the government and so are less influential.

• The notorious Fathers for Justice pressure group attracted widespread media attention following a range of stunts including members chaining themselves to Buckingham Palace. However they achieved none of their aims and became the objects of ridicule.

• Analysis – Perhaps then citizens are unable to affect decision-making by joining pressure groups since outsider groups rarely achieve their aims.

Contact representatives

• Knowledge - Can contact representatives through letters or emails, phone-calls, surgeries, etc…

• Paul Martin MSP for Glasgow Provan holds regular surgeries in local primary schools for example.

• Contacting representatives can lead to them asking questions in Parliament or personally addressing issues in constituencies/regions.

• Analysis – Citizens can influence decision-making then as by contacting representatives their views are taken into account and action can be taken on them.

Contact representatives• Knowledge – However, MSPs do not always listen to the

views of constituents which means that perhaps this form of participation is less influential.

• John Mason MSP for Glasgow Shettleston voted against the legalisation of gay marriage without really consulting constituents on the issue – it may well have been the case that people in Glasgow Shettleston were in favour of this legislation but the MSP chose to vote based on his personal religious/moral views.

• Although if representatives consistently ignored the wishes of constituents it is likely that they would be voted out at the next election.

• Analysis – It could be argued then that citizens have less influence when participating by contacting representatives since representatives do not always listen to people’s views. However, citizens ultimately do have the power to vote for someone else every 4-5 years.

Stay informed/Media

• Knowledge – People can participate by staying informed - Watching the news, listening to political interviews or debates, reading newspapers, reading blogs online, signing up to updates from news sites or political parties, etc…

• Analysis – Perhaps then the fact that the media is so extensive in the 21st century means that citizens are able to keep in touch with political developments and participate in debate.

Stay informed/Media• Knowledge – However, some people criticise the influence of

the media.• It could be argued that the media are selective in what they

report and the fact that media outlets and publications often have partisan views means that what people hear in the news is sometimes one-sided.

• The BBC for example were accused of bias in favour of a no vote in the independence referendum and recently some newspapers have been criticised in the run-up to the general election for vilifying Labour leader and potential Prime Minister Ed Miliband. The Daily Mail has published a number of negative stories about Miliband recently. (see next slide)

• Analysis – Arguably then people’s ability to keep informed is unfairly influenced by the media which is able to set the agenda and present the news in a one-sided, exaggerated manner.

•The Daily Mail attacked Ed Miliband by accusing his deceased father of being a man who “hated Britain”.

Public Petitions• Knowledge – Scottish citizens can submit petitions and

e-petitions to the Scottish Parliament which are then considered by MSPs in the public petitions committee.

• For example, some of the petitions that have been submitted to the SP in 2015 include a petition to ban sewage sludge on land and a petition about pet rabbit welfare. The Scottish Greens recently introduced an anti-fracking petition.

• Whilst not all petitions are successful it is a good way for citizens to raise issues.

• Analysis – The fact that citizens can submit petitions to the SP shows that they can influence policy – public petitions are considered by MSPs and can eventually lead to changes in the law.

• UK Parliament petitions 2012

• Petitions signed 100,000 times or more are debated in Parliament.

Public Petitions

• Knowledge – However, many petitions are not successful…around 50% are discarded because they are invalid and many others do not receive enough signatures to be considered.

• Most petitions do not lead to changes in legislation. MSPs might express opinions during debates but there is no compulsion to change laws.

• Analysis – Therefore, it could be argued that citizens’ power is limited in terms of petitions since many petitions are discarded whilst most fail to lead to any real change.

Private Bills

• Knowledge – Citizens in Scotland have the ability to propose private bills. This is usually when an individual or group (also known as a promoter) put forward a bill with the intention of seeking powers that will benefit them.

• Analysis – The fact that any individual or group, at least theoretically, can introduce a private bill suggests that citizens do have the power to affect decision-making in the SP.

Private Bills

• Knowledge – However, all successful private bills have so far been in relation to major infrastructure projects including projects to fund trams in Edinburgh. In reality only councils or private councils have success with proposing private bills – it is not the case that any citizen can propose a bill and expect something to happen.

• Analysis – Therefore, although theoretically citizens have the right to propose bills, in reality successful private bills relate to major development projects. Furthermore such bills are rare when compared to all other types of bills.

Founding Principles of SP

• Knowledge – The founding principles of the SP ensure that citizens can participate in many ways. The SP is supposed to be accountable – it is answerable to the people of Scotland and ultimately citizens have the ability to vote of MSPs and governments every 4 years. The SP is also supposed to be open, meaning that people can access the parliament and this is indeed the case. Citizens can sit in the gallery during debates, FMQT etc. and can also sit in on committee meetings. Committee meetings also take place all around Scotland so that more people around the country can witness them. The sharing of power is also critical to the SP with power shared between the SG, the SP and the people of Scotland. Finally, equal opportunities is an important principle which should enable all people, regardless of background or circumstances to be able to participate politically.

• Analysis – Therefore, it could be argued that the founding principles of the SP ensure that Scottish citizens have a crucial role to play in the working of the SP and can hold it to account. In addition, citizens can see what is happening within the Parliament by attending debates etc. and every Scottish citizen has the ability to engage with the Parliament.

Founding Principles of SP

• Knowledge – However, it could be argued that the founding principles have not been fully realised. Most MSPs are white males which suggests that the parliament is not living up to the founding principle of equal opportunities. Also, because the current SG is an SNP majority it is difficult for MSPs and citizens to hold it to account. 55% of Scots did not vote SNP in the 2011 election and arguably their views are not being represented by the current SG.

• Analysis – Therefore, although in theory the founding principles of the SP should enable citizens to have the ability to participate and have an impact on decision-making, it is arguable that these principles are not being realised.

Possible Questions…

1. Analyse the ways in which citizens can influence decision making (12 marks)

2. Evaluate the influence citizens have on the political system and decision making (12 marks)

3. To what extent are citizens able to have a significant influence on the political system? (20 marks)

Was I successful? • I can list and explain the

ways citizens can participate in politics.