Citizenship 2015:Voting in a General Election

• Why should you vote?• What do you think of

politicians?• How to vote in a General

Election• Mini Mock Election!

Part 1: Why should you vote?

The following clip is from the USA (2008). Watch to 02.17 (Harrison Ford!): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jS30d2Nwho

• Many 18 to 24-year-olds don't vote. At the last election, only 44% of that age group voted. That means more than half are not influencing who gets into power.

• Last week signalled the start of a major push to get more young people registered to vote in the general election.

• Events are being held at dozens of schools, colleges and universities by ‘Bite the Ballot’ to get young people signed up to the electoral register.

• Estimates show 44% of 18 to 24-year-olds voted in the 2010 general election, compared to 75% of people aged over 55.

What’s the problem?Russell Brand (first two minutes)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YR4CseY9pk • What problems does Russell Brand identify with

politics as it is today?• Can you think of any criticisms of what Brand

argues?• Does he have a point / an appeal?

What’s the problem?Many organisations are currently promoting voting amongst young people, including Sky’s “Stand up and be counted” campaign. Quickly read through the sources (1-10) and pick out 3 key reasons why you thing young people may not vote in the upcoming May election.

DOCTORS 89%TEACHERS 86%SCIENTISTS 83%

JUDGES 82%TV NEWSREADERS 69%CHURCH LEADERS 66%

POLICE 65%THE PUBLIC 64%

BUSINESS LEADERS 34%BANKERS 21%

JOURNALISTS 21%POLITICIANS 18%

Ipsos-MORI Veracity Index“I am going to read out some different types of people. For each, please tell me if you would generally trust them to tell the truth or not.”

2013

All collective activity requires trust...

“I hope that people know me well enough and realise the type of person I am … I would never do anything to harm the country or anything improper. I never have. I think that most people who have dealt with me think that I am a pretty straight sort of guy.”

Tony Blair, November 1997, speaking after revelations that Bernie Ecclestone, Forumla One Chief, had donated £1m to the Labour Party.Formula One was exempted from a ban on tobacco advertising in sport shortly afterwards.

Nicholas Soames (politician), 2003:“You have to pretend you’re not a politician and move around at night in camouflage.”

Clegg apologises over tuition fees: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yk9JWb_MUAI

Citizenship• ‘Citizenship’ is the idea that

members of the political community have certain rights, but also that they have a series of obligations to fulfil as members of society.

• Citizens are encouraged to exercise their personal freedoms, but they also have ‘duties’ imposed on them, in order that they do not use their rights to undermine or damage the state.

“We differ from other states in regarding the man who holds aloof from public life as useless.”

Pericles

Is Voting a Duty?

‘Bite the Ballot’: A positive view…https://www.youtube.com/user/BitetheBallot

Who to vote for?• The following slide contains extracts from 5 interviews with the 5

main parties (apologies to the SNP…)• Using the candidate profile sheets, make notes on their performance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpkpUaJF8OgDavid Cameron 7:00-12.15

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFkvpzrH0IkEd Miliband 5:00 – 10:00

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ol3UAonfoQNick Clegg 6.15-9:00

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ol3UAonfoQ Natalie Bennett to 6.28 (Green Party)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fL7KzX4JRuw Nigel Farage 6:10 – 11:53

Part Two: What happens at a General Election and how do I actually vote?

Nick Clegg’s Sheffield Hallam constituency in 2010.

Might be quieter this year.

The electoral process:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDRDS2kiAbE

What you do• You must be registered with your local

council so that you appear on their electoral register.• They will then send you a polling card

just before the election.• Take the polling card to your local

polling station, you’ll then receive your ballot paper.

Government website• https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote Newsbeat: How to register to vote• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LX

LfoWj4xMc • Also see information in packs

The Parties• LABOUR• Associated with: looking after all

people in society (social welfare) and equality

• CONSERVATIVES• Associated with: helping big

business and lowering taxes

• LIBERAL DEMOCRATS• Associated with: promoting

freedom and environmental policies

Don’t forget…

What do they do before the election?

• They produce a manifesto (a document outlining what they will do when they get into power)• They will hit the town centre and

canvass (ask people to vote for them)• They will appear on TV, radio

and in newspapers promoting their policies

• Conservative Party Chairman Grant Shapps has defended a new Tory poster that's come under fire on social media for making Ed Miliband look "a bit weird".• It features Ed Miliband

embracing former SNP leader Alex Salmond outside No.10. The poster has already sparked a backlash on social media. • Shapps admitted that Ed

Miliband had been Photoshopped in the poster, saying it was "clearly a mocked-up poster".

Gove praises Miliband (1min) and criticises how some individuals are portrayed in the media: http://www.lbc.co.uk/miliband-is-honest-decent--truthful-says-gove-104503

Labour are no better…

• With 100 days to the election, the Liberal Democrats have unveiled a new poster attacking both the Tories and Labour.

• Deputy Prime Minister and party leader Nick Clegg said: "Liberal Democrats will cut less than the Tories and borrow less than Labour – giving a heart to the Conservatives and a backbone to Labour. "Only the Liberal Democrats can deliver both a stronger economy and a fairer society, creating opportunity for everyone."

The election itself

• General elections are held every 5 years• The system used is called “First Past The

Post”• The country is split up into 650

constituencies (voting areas)• You vote for one candidate to be elected• The winner is the one with the most

votes – they become a Member of Parliament (MP)• Whichever political party has the most

MPs forms the government

Bedford 2010

General election results 2010

Why is David Cameron Prime Minister?

• That’s a good question.• Seriously, though, he is leader of

the biggest party.• His party made an agreement

with the Liberal Democrats to form a coalition government.

Part Three: Mini Mock Election

• Split into three to five groups. Each group to take a different Party Pack.• Sadly not one of these…• Look at the documents and articles

summarising your Party’s main positions, and the qualities (or otherwise) of the leaders. • As a group, write a speech and come up with

a slogan and/or poster on A3. Elect a ‘candidate’ to deliver your speech.• Each group gets to pitch for 2-3 minutes + 2

minutes Q&A. Take a vote.

Extras

• Sky News Head to Head (3mins): http://www.lbc.co.uk/100-days-to-go-pm-and-miliband-head-to-head-103936 • Possibility of a Hung Parliament (4mins): http://

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-30778769 • Quiz: Farage vs Murray: http://

www.lbc.co.uk/quiz-who-said-it-nigel-farage-or-al-murray-103257• BBC Politics: http://www.bbc.com/news/politics/