How does the government form policy?

Question 1

what happened with the media and the Pasty Tax 2012

Answer 1

• if you bought a cooked pasty from a shop it cost more in tax than if it was cold
• made Tory Party seem ‘out of touch’
• government U-turned on their Pasty Tax
• media around Pasty Tax caused U-turn

Question 2

what range of factors affect policy making of the government

Answer 2

• fulfilling a manifesto pledge
• the personal convictions of the prime minister
• the outcome of a referendum
• the results of deals with minority/ other coalition parties
• responses to national crises and emergencies
• mounting pressure from the public and media
• changing social and cultural attitudes

Question 3

what is an example of policy being made by fulfilling a manifesto pledge

Answer 3

Conservative Party - 2019 manifesto pledge
- recruit 20,000 more police officers by 2023

March 2023 - gov. announced over 20,000 police officers had been recruited in England and Wales

Question 4

what is an example of policy being formed by the personal convictions of the PM

Answer 4

Rishi Sunak - smoking ban for future generations (introduced in 2023)

policy: incremental smoking ban by raising the legal age to purchase cigarettes annually, aiming to create a “smoke-free generation”

motivation: Sunak emphasised the long-term health benefits for young people, reflecting his personal commitment to preventative healthcare and public well-being

Question 5

what is an example of policy being made by the outcome of a referendum

Answer 5

Brexit referendum (2016) –> UK withdrawal from the EU

Question 6

what is an example of policy being made by the results of deals with minority/ other coalition parties

Answer 6

Confidence and Supply Deal (2017) - Conservative Party and Democratic Unionist Party (DUP)

£1 billion in additional funding for Northern Ireland for health, education, and infrastructure

Question 7

what is an example of policy being made by responses to national crises and emergencies

Answer 7

COVID-19 Pandemic –> Coronavirus Act 2020

• introduced March 2020
  Gave the UK government emergency powers to manage the pandemic, including:
• lockdown enforcement
• emergency funding for the NHS
• suspension of in-person court proceedings
• temporary closure of schools and businesses

Question 8

what is an example of policy being made by mounting pressure from the public and media

Answer 8

Reinstatement of Winter Fuel Payments for Pensioners (2024-2025)

Question 9

what is an example of policy being made by changing social and cultural attitudes

Answer 9

Sunak Smoking Ban (2023)

growing public health awareness, anti-smoking culture, and youth-led climate and health activism shifted attitudes toward smoking as socially unacceptable