JN302 BRITISH GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

1. JN302 BRITISH GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS NCTJ Public Affairs Central Govt: Joy Johnson Local Govt: Paul Francis pfrancis@thekmgroup.co.uk,

2. OVERVIEW OF TODAY • Aims/rationale of course • Topics to be covered • Course logistics

3. 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

4. Essential Public Affairs • Why cover Public Affairs – relevance to journalists? • Practical application • Knowledge and context

5. Political context • No one party won overall majority • Hung Parliament • Negotiations for coalition agreement • Compromises and agreement • Mid term audit pledges kept promises broken • Conservatives/Liberal Democrats • Labour official opposition • Controlling the deficit the agreement’s priority

6. Economic context • Deficit reduction • Welfare changes • Cuts • Tax increases • Growth • Double dip recession (triple?)

7. Constitutional reforms • Fixed term Parliaments of 5 years • There is still a mechanism for a vote of no confidence in the government (by a simple majority) and then fails within fourteen days to pass a motion of confidence in a new government. Complicated so probably wouldn’t happen. • Or by a two thirds (unlikely) • Vernon Bogdanor The Coalition and the Constitution

8. Constitutional reforms cont • House of Lords reform blocked by the Tories : • Clegg retaliated: Boundary changes –blocked (reduction in the number of MPs falls) • Labour breathes a sigh of relief

9. Constitutional Reforms • Pressure from Conservative backbenchers for a referendum on repatriating powers from the EU • PM to make a speech promising a ‘new settlement for Britain in the EU’ • Anti EU press particularly News International and Associated

10. Constitutional reform cont • Michael Gove education secretary has made it known that he would vote to leave if there was a referendum today on whether the UK should cut its ties with Brussels - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2217355/Were-ready-walk-Europe-Prime-Ministers-closest-ally-Michael-Gove-sparks-EU-furore-dramatic-admission.html • Defence Secretary Phillip Hammond supported him • http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-19941383 • Heseltine and Mandelson join together to combat Euro sceptism

11. Constitutional Change contWho do I ring when I want to talk to Europe? • Senior official in Obama’s administration Philip Gordon said inn a Q and A: “We welcome an outward-looking European Union with Britain in it.” • Response from Downing Street. “The US wants an outward looking EU. So do we”.

12. Devolution • After a troubled path – 1979 Labour govt lost a referendum (didn’t reach the benchmark of 40%) fell after vote of no confidence. • Democratic deficit particularly in Scotland • New Labour introduced devolution to halt nationalism 1998 • Anthony King The British Constitution, ch 8

13. Scottish independence • Referendum in 2014 • "Do you agree that Scotland should be an independent country?" • The question will now be scrutinised by the Electoral Commission watchdog. • Critics of the question say it encourages a "yes" vote by not mentioning an end to the Union. • http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-20256108

14. Coalition government • Coalition agreement its programme for government

15. POLITICAL POWER IN A REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY EUROPEAN UNION EXECUTIVE (PRIME MINISTER/CABINET) Representatives ACCOUNTABILITY REPRESENTATIVE (MP OR PARTY) VOTER

16. 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

17. Rule of Law • The state must act within the law and the law must be enforced equally on all. • MPs and Peers’ expenses

18. 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; • Whipping in Parliament Challenge to government • Fragmentation of power: devolution/EU

19. KEY QUESTIONS • Nature and location of political power: How far has power moved away from (central) governments? • To what extent does (representative) political authority retain the support and engagement of citizens?

20. Political context

21. What a difference six months makes

22. Coalition partners – first the marriage then the Ronseal Deal • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcXrMTMRCL8&NR=1 • http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-20928698

24. Spring TermMonday Lectures 2-3Wed Seminar 11-12 and 12-1 Thursday NCTJ Class 2-3 Summer term revision classes Monday and Thursday

25. Reading • Text books • NCTJ – EssentialPublic Affairs for Journalists, Morrison • Coalition Agreement and mid term audit • Library resources • Recommended • Vernon Bogdanor Coalition and the Constitution • Anthony King, The British Constitution • David Laws, 22 Days in May • Kavanagh & Cowley, British General election 2010 • Steve Richards, Whatever it Takes • Andrew Rawnsley, End of the Party

26. ASSESSMENT • University Exam: 50% • Coursework: 50% - One essay of 2,000 words NCTJ PUBLIC AFFAIRS - June exam 2 papers – Central and Local Government

27. Next week Political System Reading Parliamentary Democracy in the UK Morrison