Suffrage and Democracy in UK Politics

Suffrage and Democracy in UK Politics

• Representative and direct democracy are key to democracy and participation.
• This includes features, arguments and the similarities and differences between both.
• The expansion of the franchise, the suffragist and suffragette movements, and current movements to extend voting rights are covered.

Potential Essay Questions

• Is the UK democracy in a participation crisis?
• Should there be greater use of direct democracy in the UK?
• Reforms to democracy in the UK have not gone far enough?
• To what extent does the UK remains a pluralist democracy?
• Have reforms to the political system improved the UK's system of representative democracy?

Types of Democracy

• Democracy is defined as rule by the people.
• Representative democracy involves elected individuals acting on behalf of citizens.
• Representatives are expected to exercise their judgment while reflecting the people’s will, and are held accountable through elections.
• Direct democracy involves citizens expressing opinions and voting on laws themselves, without representatives.
• Ancient Athens is an origin for direct democracy where adult male citizens participated in decision-making at public meetings.

Direct Democracy Today

• Referendums are today's main form of direct democracy used in the UK.
• UK examples include the Brexit referendum and Scottish independence referendum.
• The 2015 Recall of MPs Act allows for a petition to trigger a by-election if an MP is imprisoned or suspended, requiring 10% of eligible voters to sign.
• Switzerland frequently uses direct democracy, with around 10 referendum-style votes each year.

Problems with Direct Democracy in the UK

• Direct democracy has conflicted with parliamentary sovereignty.
• In the Brexit referendum, the public disagreed with their representatives, with most MPs supporting remain.
• Referendums in the UK are not legally binding.

Pluralist Democracy

• A pluralist democracy involves government decisions resulting from the interplay of various ideas and arguments from competing groups.
• Pressure groups and responsiveness of representatives are key pluralist democracy components.
• Key questions include how much the UK has a pluralist democracy.

Legitimacy

• Legitimacy is the legal right to exercise power.
• It’s derived from the support of the people.
• The current government has legitimacy due to being elected.

Perspectives on Democracy

• Protective perspective: Democracy protects individual freedom without requiring large-scale citizen participation.
• Developmental perspective: Democracy requires active citizen engagement for a more open, equal, and successful political system.

Similarities Between Direct and Representative Democracy

• Both aim to implement the will of the people and are based on majority rule.
• Citizens vote on policy in representative democracy by choosing representatives aligning with their policy positions.
• Both can be implemented at different levels of government.
• People can be swayed by persuasive individuals in both systems.
• Direct democracy plays a role in representative democracy through petitions and pressure groups.

Differences Between Direct and Representative Democracy

• Individuals express opinions themselves in direct democracy, while representatives make decisions in representative democracy.
• Political parties exist in representative democracy but not in direct democracy, although campaigns on each side of the debate exit.
• Representative democracy has a government that can be held accountable; less so in direct democracy.
• Representative democracy offer more protections and representation for minorities.
• Representative democracy is better at handling complex political decisions.

Advantages of Direct Democracy

• Gives equal weight to all votes, unlike representative democracy where electoral systems can make votes of unequal value.
• Encourages political participation.
• Removes the need for trusted representatives.
• Minimizes corruption.
• Develops a sense of community and genuine debate.

Disadvantages of Direct Democracy

• Impractical in large, populated modern states.
• Many may not feel qualified or want to make political decisions.
• People can be open to manipulation.
• Minority viewpoints may be disregarded.
• Criticized for encouraging tyranny of the majority.

Advantages of Representative Democracy

• The only practical system in a large country with complex problems needing rapid responses.
• Parties represent the public, giving people a choice of representatives.
• Reduces the chance of tyranny of the majority by giving minorities a voice in Parliament.
• Elections allow representatives to be held to account effectively.
• Politicians are better informed and less likely to be swayed by emotional appeals.

Disadvantages of Representative Democracy

• May lead to reduced participation as responsibility is handed to politicians.
• Parties and politicians may not represent the best interests of the people.
• Minorities are underrepresented as they don't hold much electoral weight.
• Politicians are skilled in avoiding accountability and may place their interests before those of the people.
• Representatives are often elected with less than 50% of the vote in the UK's first-past-the-post system.

Assessments of UK Democracy

• Determine whether the UK is in a participation crisis and has a democratic deficit.
• Elections, party membership, and other methods of political participation are key indicators.

Arguments for a Participation Crisis

• Voter turnout is relatively low, hovering around 68%, lower than the 76% average between 1945 and 1997.
• Low turnout in second-order elections and referendums.
• Low turnout means governments are elected on a reduced share of the vote, calling into question their mandate.
• Political apathy, or a lack of interest in political issues, can lead to low voter turnout.
• Party membership is low with only 1.6% of the electorate belonging to a political party compared to 3.8% in 1983.
• Scandals also contributed to the negative perception of MPS.

Arguments Against a Participation Crisis

• The 2014 Scottish independence referendum and 2016 Brexit referendum had significant turnouts.
• An alternative to political apathy is general contentment, suggesting people don't need to push for change.
• The Labour Party saw a surge in membership in and the first independence referendum has increased SMP membership.
• Ukip also saw a significant increase in membership.
• Pressure group membership has been on the increase.
• Demonstrations have been well-attended on issues.
• Social media has allowed young people to participate in politics online.
• Social media and e-petitions (such as the revoke Article 50 petition) are also effective.

Proposed Reforms to Improve Participation

• Increase turnout by changing the election day, allowing people to vote anywhere in the constituency, or allowing voting over several days.
• Encourage postal voting and introduce online voting.
• These changes have been criticized for increasing the chances of cyberattack voter fraud and intimidation.

Democratic Deficit

• It’s defined as a perceived deficiency in the way a democracy works, especially lacking accountability and control over policymaking.

Positive Democratic Features in the UK

• Devolved governments in Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland, and elected Mayors in major cities mean decisions are closer to the people.
• Use of direct democracy, especially referendums.
• An independent Judiciary, a free media, fair and regular elections, and a wide range of parties and press groups.

Arguments for a Democratic Deficit in the UK

• The first-past-the-post voting system can produce unrepresentative results.
• The House of Lords is unelected and can still exercise power.
• A lack of protection for Citizens' rights through the Human Rights Act.
• Control of the media by wealthy, unaccountable business interests.
• Many House of Commons members prioritize their careers over representation.

Suffrage

• This is the topic in UK politics and refers to who can and can't vote.

Who Can and Can't Vote in the UK Today

• All adults over 18 who are registered can vote.
• British and Irish citizens have reciprocal voting rights.
• Commonwealth citizens and UK Nationals who have lived abroad for less than 15 years can vote.
• People under 18, most EU citizens, members of the House of Lords, prisoners, convicted of corrupt electoral practice, and those detained in psychiatric hospitals cannot vote.

Pre-1832 Political State

• The electorate totaled 400,000 (all men) out of a population of around 10 million.
• The distribution of seats had not kept up with economic and population movement.
• Plural voting allowed wealthy men to vote more than once.

1823 Reform Act Changes

• Abolished representation of underpopulated boroughs and created seats for urban boroughs.
• Extended the vote to more people in the counties.
• Created a standard qualification for the franchise in the boroughs for male householders with a yearly rent of £10 or more.
• The vote increased to an estimated 650,000 (approximately 5% of the adult population).

The Chartist Movement

• Grew out of a failure to extend the vote to those who didn't own property.
• Campaigned for extending the vote to all men over 21, a secret ballot, payment of MPS, and annual parliamentary elections.

The Suffragists and Suffragettes Movements

• Until the late 19th century, the exclusion of women from the franchise was unchallenged.
• Women were allowed to vote in local council elections.

The Suffragists

• In 1897, the National Union of Women's Suffered Societies (NUWSS) was established.
• Followed non-violent methods such as peaceful demonstrations, petitions, and lobbying MPS.

The Suffragettes

• Set up by Emily Pankhurst in 1903.
• Used more militant tactics, aiming to attract publicity and pressure Parliament.
• Employed protests to disrupt political meetings.
• Emily Davidson threw herself under the king's horse at the Epson Derby in 1913.

Public Attitude Towards Suffragettes

• Their strength and endurance attracted hostility but also sympathy.
• Suffragettes who were imprisoned resorted to hunger strikes to gain publicity.
• They suspended their campaign following the outbreak of World War One.

Effectiveness of the Suffrage Movement

• The effectiveness of the two female suffrage movements remains controversial.
• The importance of female workers during the war may have convinced the government that women deserve the vote.

1918 Representation of the People Act

• Granted all men over 21 and all women over 30 who were householders or wives of householders the right to vote.
• 75% of the adult population could now vote.

Potential Further Reforms to Suffrage in the UK

• Votes at 16 is one potential change.

Voter Age 16

• In 2003, the Votes at 16 Coalition formed in Scotland.
• An Electoral Commission study on the issue resulted, but recommended no change to the voting age.
• Despite this, several Labour, Lib Dem, and SNP MPs continued to advocate for the issue in the House of Commons.
• Labour, the Lib Dems, the SNP, and the Electoral Reform Society now support votes for 16 year olds.
• The campaign gained momentum in 2014 with 16 and 17 year olds being allowed to vote in the Scottish Independence Referendum.
• Turnout among this age group was significant.
• A year later, the Scottish Parliament allowed them to vote in Scottish Parliament elections

Arguments for Votes at 16

• 16 and 17 year olds already have other legal rights, like leaving school, starting work, and joining the Armed Forces.
• If they are considered responsible enough for those things, the right to vote should be added.
• Giving 16 year olds the right to vote could encourage greater political participation.
• Voting would become a habit, starting early.
• Social media has increased political awareness among young people.
• They have led political movements like the Fridays for Future climate strikes.
• Allowing 16 and 17 year olds to vote in Scottish elections has led to increased political engagement.
• Giving them a vote would allow them say in issues that are important to them, like university tuition fees.
• This could lead to a more responsive democracy.

Arguments Against Votes at 16

• 16 year olds may lack the life experience and maturity to vote responsibly.
• They may still be considered children and in education or training.
• Critics argue that many know very little about politics and could misuse the right to vote.
• The argument that 16 year olds "lack experience" could also apply to many adults.
• Younger voters are arguably more likely to be influenced by fake news and extremist politics.
• The legal rights of 16 and 17 year olds are limited: few are in full-time employment, and they cannot be deployed on the front line until 18.
• Relatively few countries grant 16 and 17 year olds the right to vote.
• Voter turnout is very low among 18-24 year olds.
• Little evidence suggests that the majority of 16 and 17 year olds really want the vote.

Digital Democracy (E-Democracy)

• Digital democracy and e-democracy relate to the impact of social media and the internet on democracy.
• This focuses on how these tools could improve democracy in the UK.
• Digital democracy includes using social media to spread influence and inform the public about political issues.

How Digital Democracy Works

• Helps groups with limited resources mount political campaigns and spread their views.
• Allows people to participate more readily in political action, express views, and take part in polls.
• Social media becomes key communication channel between the government and the governed.
• Most MPs have an active Twitter presence to communicate with constituents and gain public support.

E-Petitions in UK Democracy

• E-petitions that receive 10,000 signatures get a response from the government.
• If an e-petition receives 100,000 signatures and is backed by an MP, it is considered for debate in Parliament.

Examples of E-Petitions

• A petition to revoke Article 50 received over 6 million signatures.
• A petition to ban all Isis members from returning to the UK received around 600,000 signatures and was debated in Parliament in 2011.
• In 2011, a petition calling for the release of all documents relating to Hillsborough resulted in debate in Parliament, the release of the papers, and the launch of a new inquest.
• Websites other than the government, such as 38 degrees, also host e-petitions.
• While they can't force Parliament to debate anything, they can pressure the government and opposition and provide evidence of public support for a particular issue.

Arguments for E-Democracy

• Enhanced democracy by increasing political participation for those who don't participate in conventional ways.
• Creates a better-informed electorate.
• Supports direct communication between the government and the governed.
• Enhances pluralism by preventing powerful elitist groups from having exclusive access to government.

Arguments Against E-Democracy

• Gives the public access to extremist groups that promote racism and violence.
• Disinformation can affect election results.
• The government may be influenced by short-term populist campaigns that don't reflect wider national public opinions.

Compulsory Voting

• Voting is a social duty as well as a right.
• It would encourage people to engage in politics.
• It would make polling more representative.
• Politicians would have to consider the whole electorate, not just specific groups.
• It would still be legal to spoil a ballot paper and therefore not vote for any candidate, as it is in Australia.

Arguments Against Compulsory Voting

• In preferential voting systems, candidates may just be ranked in the order they are presented ("donkey voting").
• It's undemocratic to force people to vote; it should be a matter of choice.
• It wouldn't stop politicians from focusing on marginal seats and neglecting safe seats.
• It doesn't address the deeper reasons why people decide not to vote.

Voting Rights for Prisoners

• Voting is a fundamental right that shouldn't be removed.
• The European Court of Human Rights ruled in 2005 that a blanket ban on British prisoners exercising the vote is contrary to the European Convention of Human Rights.
• Losing the vote is unlikely to be a deterrent to crime.
• Losing the vote removes civic responsibility from prisoners which further alienates them from society and damages rehabilitation.

Arguments Against Voting Rights for Prisoners

• Prisoners are criminals and forfeit the right to have a say in how society is run.
• Prisoners shouldn't have a say in politics, especially in the criminal justice system.
• Under first-past-the-post, giving prisoners the vote would have a significant impact on some constituencies and potentially on election results.

Explores representative and direct democracy in the UK, including their features, similarities, and differences. It examines the expansion of the franchise, the suffragist and suffragette movements, and current efforts to extend voting rights. Also includes potential essay questions.