Democracy In Scotland #2: Participation Flashcards
(5 cards)
“Explain, in detail, the ways that Scots can participate in Scottish politics.” (8)
One way that Scots can participate in politics is voting in referenda. This means that the people of Scotland have the right to make important decisions for their country. Evidence of this is around 67% of people in Scotland voted in the Brexit referendum.
One way people can participate in Scottish politics is joining a party. This means that by joining a party they have more of a say in party affairs and may have the ability to participate in certain leadership elections. Evidence of this is that there are around 65000 members of the SNP as of 2024.
One way that Scot’s can participate in Scottish politics is through protesting. This means that they can profess what they believe publicly in the hope for political change. Evidence of this is the Anti racism protests across Scotland in response to violence in England and Northern Ireland fuelled by far-right and anti-immigration sentiment after the Southport stabbings.
(August 2024).
“Explain, in detail, why some Scots are more likely to vote in Scottish politics.” (6)
One reason why some Scots are more likely to vote in Scottish politics is age. This means that older individuals often feel more engaged with political issues and believe that voting has a significant impact on their lives. Evidence of this is that according to the Scottish government’s Scottish Social Attitudes survey 2021/22, 94% aged 65 and over felt that it was ‘very’ important to vote in Scottish parliament elections, compared with 81% of those aged 16-34.
One reason why some Scots are more likely to vote in Scottish politics is their income level. This means that those who are financially comfortable often feel more confident with political processes as it works in favour. Evidence of this is that according to the Scottish government’s Scottish Social Attitudes survey 2021/22, 98% of those living ‘really comfortably’ on their present income felt that it was ‘very important’ to vote in Scottish elections, compared with 86% of those struggling or really struggling on their present income.
“Explain, in detail, why some Scots are less likely to vote in Scottish politics.” (6)
One reason why some Scots are less likely to vote in Scottish politics is age. This means that younger individuals often feel less engaged with political issues and do not understand the importance of voting. Evidence of this is that according to the Scottish government’s Scottish Social Attitudes survey 2021/22, 94% aged 65 and over felt that it was ‘very’ important to vote in Scottish parliament elections, compared with only 81% of those aged 16-34.
One reason why some Scots are more likely to vote in Scottish politics is their income level. This means that those who are not financially comfortable often feel less confident with political processes as they may feel as though they don’t work in their favour. Evidence of this is that according to the Scottish government’s Scottish Social Attitudes survey 2021/22, 98% of those living ‘really comfortably’ on their present income felt that it was ‘very important’ to vote in Scottish elections, compared with 86% of those struggling or really struggling on their present income.
“Explain, in detail, the reasons why some political parties’ election campaigns are successful during Scottish Parliament elections.” (8)
One reason why some political parties’ election campaigns are successful during Scottish Parliament elections is effective use of media. This means that parties that use TV debates, social media, and advertising well are more likely to reach voters and gain support. Evidence of this the SNP’s television advertisement titled “Scotland’s future is Scotland’s choice”, 2021.
Another reason why some political parties’ election campaigns are successful during Scottish Parliament elections is having a trusted party leader. This means that voters are more likely to support a party if they feel confident in the leader’s ability to govern. Evidence of this is that Nicola Sturgeon’s high approval ratings in 2021 due to her serving as FM for 2 terms already helped the SNP win 64 out of 129 seats, just one short of a majority.
Another reason why some political parties’ election campaigns are successful during Scottish Parliament elections is campaigning at the local level. This means that when candidates are visible in communities and engage with voters directly, voters feel more inclined to support them. Evidence of this is that Nicola Sturgeon visited Insch in Aberdeenshire, reaffirming the SNP’s commitment to reopening Insch Hospital and supporting rural communities in April 2021.
“Explain, in detail, the reasons why some political parties’ election campaigns are not successful during Scottish Parliament elections.” (8)
One reason why some political parties’ election campaigns are unsuccessful during Scottish Parliament elections is ineffective messaging. This means that when a party’s message doesn’t resonate with voters’ concerns or lacks clarity, it fails to gain support. Evidence of this is in the 2016 Holyrood election, the Scottish Labour Party proposed a 1p rise in income tax to fund public services, but the debate became overly technical and confusing, failing to mobilise voter support.
Another reason why some political parties’ election campaigns are not successful during Scottish Parliament elections is neglecting certain constituencies. This means that when parties misallocate resources or focus too heavily on the wrong constituencies, they miss opportunities to gain seats. Evidence of this is that in the 2016 election, the Conservatives held onto seats they had already (eg Ayr and Eastwood), but did not gain any of their 7 target constituencies (eg Edinburgh Pentlands, Moray).
One reason some political parties’ election campaigns are unsuccessful is due to administrative failures while in government. This means that when a government mismanages key responsibilities, it can damage public trust and undermine voter confidence. Evidence of this is that the Scottish National Party SNP faced significant challenges in administering Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) payment, especially during the Holyrood 2016 election era, and Sturgeon and Swinney believe this cost the SNP a majority in 2016.
