Podcast
Questions and Answers
Who was the leader of the Labour Party when it was rebranded as 'New Labour'?
Who was the leader of the Labour Party when it was rebranded as 'New Labour'?
What agreement allowed Gordon Brown to succeed Tony Blair as Prime Minister?
What agreement allowed Gordon Brown to succeed Tony Blair as Prime Minister?
What significant change occurred in the House of Lords due to reforms?
What significant change occurred in the House of Lords due to reforms?
Which party formed a coalition government with the Conservatives in 2010?
Which party formed a coalition government with the Conservatives in 2010?
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What was one of David Cameron's goals for the Conservative Party?
What was one of David Cameron's goals for the Conservative Party?
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What does the 2013 reform of the Act of Settlement state about the monarch's marriage?
What does the 2013 reform of the Act of Settlement state about the monarch's marriage?
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When did the Conservatives regain overall majority to govern alone?
When did the Conservatives regain overall majority to govern alone?
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Who was the Deputy Prime Minister in the coalition government formed in 2010?
Who was the Deputy Prime Minister in the coalition government formed in 2010?
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What is the term used to describe the unbalance of MPs between Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and England?
What is the term used to describe the unbalance of MPs between Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and England?
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Which British cities gained additional powers under the reforms of Tony Blair?
Which British cities gained additional powers under the reforms of Tony Blair?
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Which two banks were taken over by the government during the 2008 financial crisis?
Which two banks were taken over by the government during the 2008 financial crisis?
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What significant event did New Labour not reverse regarding economic policies?
What significant event did New Labour not reverse regarding economic policies?
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What was a key feature of the reformed ballot process for strikes introduced by the Conservatives under Cameron?
What was a key feature of the reformed ballot process for strikes introduced by the Conservatives under Cameron?
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What happened to the recognition of Trade Unions under New Labour?
What happened to the recognition of Trade Unions under New Labour?
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Which aspect of England's governance was noted as a challenge if Britain turned into a federal state?
Which aspect of England's governance was noted as a challenge if Britain turned into a federal state?
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Which of the following was not a response of New Labour to the need for better governance in London?
Which of the following was not a response of New Labour to the need for better governance in London?
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What is a characteristic of a Zero Hour Contract?
What is a characteristic of a Zero Hour Contract?
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How has working part-time affected poverty levels?
How has working part-time affected poverty levels?
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What change did Tony Blair make regarding the minimum wage?
What change did Tony Blair make regarding the minimum wage?
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What did the unemployment rate in Britain peak at after the financial crisis?
What did the unemployment rate in Britain peak at after the financial crisis?
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What was a requirement for individuals applying for job seeker allowance?
What was a requirement for individuals applying for job seeker allowance?
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What rights were granted to homosexuals under New Labour?
What rights were granted to homosexuals under New Labour?
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What change occurred to the process of claiming unfair dismissal under Cameron's government?
What change occurred to the process of claiming unfair dismissal under Cameron's government?
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What provision was made for same-sex marriages under the Conservative government?
What provision was made for same-sex marriages under the Conservative government?
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What was the purpose of the Equality and Human Rights Commission established in 2010?
What was the purpose of the Equality and Human Rights Commission established in 2010?
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What significant act was passed in 2001 under Blair's government?
What significant act was passed in 2001 under Blair's government?
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What did the Human Rights Act of 1998 incorporate?
What did the Human Rights Act of 1998 incorporate?
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Why was the Human Rights Act considered an improvement over previous legislation?
Why was the Human Rights Act considered an improvement over previous legislation?
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What changes occurred in public services during the 80s and 90s?
What changes occurred in public services during the 80s and 90s?
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What did city academies established under Blair allow for?
What did city academies established under Blair allow for?
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What was the outcome of Conservative politicians' efforts regarding the Human Rights Act after 2010?
What was the outcome of Conservative politicians' efforts regarding the Human Rights Act after 2010?
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What was a key characteristic of the NHS under the reforms of the 80s and 90s?
What was a key characteristic of the NHS under the reforms of the 80s and 90s?
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What significant chapter did Blair sign when he came to power?
What significant chapter did Blair sign when he came to power?
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What was a consequence of the Maastricht Treaty regarding labor contracts?
What was a consequence of the Maastricht Treaty regarding labor contracts?
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How did UKIP gain representation in the European Parliament?
How did UKIP gain representation in the European Parliament?
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What was Blair's response to public pressure about joining the Euro?
What was Blair's response to public pressure about joining the Euro?
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What was the outcome of the 5 tests conducted regarding joining the Euro?
What was the outcome of the 5 tests conducted regarding joining the Euro?
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What occurred in 2004 regarding the EU?
What occurred in 2004 regarding the EU?
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What was a significant political issue for UKIP after losing the Euro as a main issue?
What was a significant political issue for UKIP after losing the Euro as a main issue?
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How did the 2008 crisis affect the perception of EU migrants in the UK?
How did the 2008 crisis affect the perception of EU migrants in the UK?
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What is the main purpose of the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system?
What is the main purpose of the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system?
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Which of the following elections does NOT use the Single Transferable Vote system?
Which of the following elections does NOT use the Single Transferable Vote system?
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How are surplus votes handled in the Single Transferable Vote system?
How are surplus votes handled in the Single Transferable Vote system?
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What unique feature does the Additional Member System (AMS) include compared to other voting systems?
What unique feature does the Additional Member System (AMS) include compared to other voting systems?
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In the Closed Party List system, how do voters indicate their choice?
In the Closed Party List system, how do voters indicate their choice?
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What is one of the primary goals of the Additional Member System?
What is one of the primary goals of the Additional Member System?
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What determines the number of additional members elected in the AMS?
What determines the number of additional members elected in the AMS?
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In which region was the Closed Party List system used to elect Members of the European Parliament until 2019?
In which region was the Closed Party List system used to elect Members of the European Parliament until 2019?
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Study Notes
UK Political System Reforms (1997-2016)
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Political Parties: From 1997-2010, Labour (rebranded as "New Labour") was in power, led by Tony Blair. Blair shifted from some traditional Labour policies, focusing on free market principles. In 2010, the Conservatives, led by David Cameron, came to power, forming a coalition with the Liberal Democrats in 2010-2015. From 2015, the Conservatives governed alone.
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Monarchy: In 2013, the Act of Settlement of 1701 was reformed, allowing the monarch to marry a Catholic.
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Parliament: The House of Lords underwent a major reform, reducing hereditary peers to 92. Life peers became a majority. The Law Lords were replaced by the Supreme Court in 2004. The House of Lords continues to play a role in legislation, often defending human rights.
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Devolution: In the 1990s, negotiations led to the Good Friday Agreement. Scotland and Wales held referendums in 1997, leading to the creation of the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly in 1999. Labour initially governed Scotland (with Lib Dems) and Wales. The SNP gained majority control in Scotland sometime after 2007 and has retained that control. Scottish and Welsh governments have devolved powers concerning public services, health, education, etc. while notable reserved powers (foreign policy, defense, migration, etc.) remain with the British government. There were also various reforms to the welfare state, including those aimed to reduce minimum wage disparities and remove obstacles for disadvantaged individuals.
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Free Market Policies: New Labour maintained free market policies from previous eras. Some exceptional cases occurred, like nationalization of banks during the 2008 financial crisis to avoid bankruptcy. Changes to labor contract types (Zero Hour Contracts) altered traditional employment protections.
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Social Policies: The UK saw changes to the rights of homosexual individuals, including the abolition of Section 28 and the legalization of same-sex marriage. More broadly, emphasis was placed on preventing discrimination. Increased focus on public services and education was witnessed after 2010 with cuts in spending in order to implement a more regulated welfare system.
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Euroscepticism: Rising Euroscepticism, particularly within the Conservative party, led to the 2016 Brexit referendum. The impact of this on the UK's relationship with the EU was substantial.
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Description
Explore the significant reforms in the UK political system from 1997 to 2016, including changes in political parties, the monarchy, parliament, and devolution. This quiz covers key events like the Labour government's shift under Tony Blair and the introduction of the Supreme Court. Test your knowledge on how these reforms have shaped modern Britain.
