UK Government UKP Flashcards
(34 cards)
how was constitutional reforms progressive for the HOL
- undermined hereditary peers
- removed built-in conservative majority
- new ‘life peers’
how was constitutional reforms limited in HOL
- house of lords reform did not go the whole way
- still undemocratic
- still 92 hereditary peers
- 26 bishops in HOL
- Ex PMs can make appointments to HOL
what are the arguments for that the HOL SHOULD BE replaced with an elected second chamber
- already unelected and undemocratic
- embolden chamber and result in effective scrutiny and legislation
- HOL as it is cannot truly scrutinise due to unelected nature
what are the arguments for that the HOL SHOULD NOT BE replaced with an elected second chamber
- would cause gridlock with new legitimacy
- life peers have a lot of experience and scrutinise well
- their is no call for reform and the chambers are working normally
In December 2022, what did Kier Starmer say about the HOL
- abolish HOL and replace wih new elected second chamber
- this was following the scandal that Boris Johnson was giving out life peerages
How can the HRA be seen as positive and significant
- developed a ‘rights-based’ culture = must be compliant with the act and judges can declared earlier acts as ‘incompatible’
- HOC has a joint committee on Human Rights - ‘persuasive influence’ of HRA
- limits parliamentary sovereignty and enforcing rule of law
How can the HRA be seen as negative and limited
- criticised for giving unelected judges to much power
- not entrenched so can be repealed by act of parliament
- Illegal Immigration Bill 2023 = lack of power by HRA
- critics says HRA stops terror suspects from being deported = PROTECT COMMUNITY RATHER THAN INDIVIDUAL
what are further reforms that could affect the HRA
- replace HRA with British Bill of Rights
- British Bill of Rights could make it easier for deporting criminals and making public safety
- BBR could be removed by single act of parliament whilst ECHR is an international treaty
what reforms were shown to the electoral system
- devolved assemblies and their respective electoral systems
in what ways has the reforms to the electoral system been positive and significant
- more proportional results and fairer representation
- showed that FPTP is flawed
in what ways has the reforms to the electoral system been negative and limited
- FPTP was not changed - democracy limited
- done during New Labour who benefitted from this electoral system
how could reforms on devolution be seen as positive and significant
- people are more locally represented
- reduced sovereignty by UK Parliament
- restored peace following the troubles
how could reforms on devolution be seen as negative and limited
- initially received limited prerogative powers
- increased tensions through Section 35 and COVID
- Devolution has been asymmetric
what are some potential further reforms on devolution in SCOTLAND
- ‘devomax’ = Scotland granted full economic independence from UK subject to governance (e.g. defence or foreign policy.)
- polls show that IndyRef2 would gain Scottish support
- the west lothian question
what are some potential further reforms on devolution in WALES
- independence polls of over 30% support
- COVID proved that wales could diverge on English policies (successfully)
what are some potential further reforms on devolution in NORTHERN IRELAND
- unionists are very opposed
- Catholics outnumber Protestants in Northern Ireland
what are some potential further reforms on devolution in ENGLAND
- change assymetric nature of devolution
- solve west lothian question
- increase British Indentity and dampen british nationalism
in what ways was the Supreme Court reforms positive and significant
- (like rest of europe) seperated legislature and judiciary
- improved independence and rule of law
- election process is more independent and neutral
in what ways was the Supreme Court reforms negative and limited
- lack powers to strike down Parliament laws
- can be abolished by simple act
- parliamentary sovereignty is still intact
what are some potential further reforms that could be done to the supreme court
- increasingly politicised in relation to key Brexit cases
- if codified and entrenched constitution were to happen, SC could have power to strike down laws in parliament
explain the freedom of information act 2000
- made government more transparent = using latter to discover MPs’ expenses Scandal
HOWEVER - government can turn down requests
- more difficult for politicians to talk about matters informally through Whatsapp
- Tony Blair says he regrets passing this bill
what were minor reforms passed to the HOC during Blair’s New Labour
- reducing the number of late night sittings in the HOC
- is questioned by the HOC Liasons Select Committee twice a year
why did conservatives go against constitutional reforms during coalition
- prefer gradual change rather than a ‘reactionary government’
- support uncodified constitution
why were the Lib Dems for constitutional reform during the coalition
- changing voting system
- removing undemocratic HOL
- constrain powers of the executive
- after 2010 MPs’ expenses scandal, thought it was perfect time to get a new approach on political reform
