JN302 BRITISH GOVERNMENT AND

POLITICS

NCTJ Public Affairs

Central Govt: Joy Johnson

Local Govt: Paul Francis pfrancis@thekmgroup.co.uk,

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OVERVIEW OF TODAY

• Aims/rationale of course• Topics to be covered• Course logistics

COURSE RATIONALE

• Introduction to key topics/issues in contemporary British politics

• Who holds political power?• Controlling power - How far is power

responsive and accountable to citizens

• Controlling the money • Frontline services

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Essential Public Affairs

• Why cover Public Affairs – relevance to journalists?

• Practical application

• Knowledge and context

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Political context

• No one party won overall majority/hung Parliament

• Coalition Conservatives/Liberal Democrats

• Labour official opposition

• Controlling the deficit the agreement’s priority

• Crisis in the euro-zone

• Referendum for Scottish independence or Devo max

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Economic context

• Deficit reduction

• Cuts

• Tax increases

• Lack of Growth

• Fiscal stimulus

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Constitutional reforms

• Scotland referendum - Independence/devo max or status quo?

• Fixed term Parliaments now an Act

• Reduction in the number of MPs

• Boundary changes

• European Act (referendum on any treaty changes)

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Scottish referendum

• Unites the 3 main parties in the UK against the SNP

• http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/video/2012/jan/11/scottish-independence-cameron-miliband-pmqs-video

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EU Act/ Minister for Europe

• http://blogs.fco.gov.uk/davidlidington/2011/10/13/first-use-of-the-european-union-act-2011/

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Coalition government

• Coalition agreement its programme for government

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POLITICAL POWER IN A REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY

VOTER

REPRESENTATIVE(MP OR PARTY)

EXECUTIVE (PRIME MINISTER/CABINET)

EUROPEAN UNION

RepresentativesACCOUNTABILITY

Separation of power in the UKchecks and balances

• The executive (the government)

• The legislature (Parliament)

• The judiciary (the courts)

• But there is overlap in the UK

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Rule of Law

• The state must act within the law and the law must be enforced equally on all.

• Anti terrorism laws and kettling of demonstrators appear to run counter to this doctrine.

• MPs sent to prison over expenses – no one above the law

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CHALLENGE TO POLITICAL AUTHORITY

Citizen disengagement• Declining electoral turnout; falling levels of

political trust; ‘protest’ participation.Weakening (?) role of political institutions• Electoral system gives power on 35% of vote;

Declining membership of political parties; Parliament widely held to be ineffective.

Challenge to government• Fragmentation of power: devolution/EU• Non-elected actors: judges

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KEY QUESTIONS

• Nature and location of political power: How far has power moved away from (central) governments?

• What does this mean for power responsive and accountable?

• To what extent does (representative) political authority retain the support and engagement of citizens?

Political context

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What a difference six months makes

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Cameron and Clegg

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcXrMTMRCL8&NR=1

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlDJ6pqdBfw

• http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/video/2011/dec/12/nick-clegg-andrew-marr-bulldog-mid-atlantic-euro-video

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1 Introduction to module

2 Nature of system Overview of the British political system

3 Legislature Workings of Parliament, separation of powers

4 Role of the Prime Minister , Cabinet and Civil Service

From Prime Ministerial to Presidential?

5 Mending a Broken system

Does the electoral system for Westminster need reforming?Referendum in May 2011

6 Treasury Controlling the Money

7 Fragmentation of authority

Is the UK breaking up?

8 Europe Is the centre of British government London or Brussels?

9 National Health Service

What we have now and proposed reforms

10 Audit of political system

Is government in Britain representative and accountable?

12 Q&A/ NCTJ preparation

Spring TermMonday Lectures 2-3

Tues seminar 2-3Wed Seminar 11-12 and 12-1

Thursday NCTJ Class 2-3

Summer term revision classes Monday and Thursday

Reading

• Text books • NCTJ – Essential Public Affairs for Journalists,

Morrison• Coalition Agreement• Library resources• recommended• David Laws, 22 Days in May• Kavanagh & Cowley, British General election 2010• Steve Richards, Whatever it Takes

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ASSESSMENT

• University Exam: 50%

• Coursework: 50%- One essay of 2,000 words

NCTJ PUBLIC AFFAIRS - June exam 2 papers – Central and Local

Government

Next week

Political System

Reading Parliamentary Democracy in the UK - Morrison