JN302 BRITISH GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS NCTJ Public Affairs Central Govt: Joy Johnson Local Govt: Paul Francis

2 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 3

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

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 5

Economic context Deficit reduction Cuts Tax increases Lack of Growth Fiscal stimulus 6

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) 7

Scottish referendum Unites the 3 main parties in the UK against the SNP 12/jan/11/scottish-independence-cameron- miliband-pmqs-videohttp:// 12/jan/11/scottish-independence-cameron- miliband-pmqs-video 8

EU Act/ Minister for Europe 10/13/first-use-of-the-european-union-act- 2011/ 10/13/first-use-of-the-european-union-act- 2011/ 9

Coalition government Coalition agreement its programme for government 10

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

Separation of power in the UK checks and balances The executive (the government) The legislature (Parliament) The judiciary (the courts) But there is overlap in the UK 12

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 13

14 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

15 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 16

What a difference six months makes 17

Cameron and Clegg MRCL8&NR=1http:// MRCL8&NR=1 qdBfwhttp:// qdBfw /dec/12/nick-clegg-andrew-marr- bulldog-mid-atlantic-euro-videohttp:// 2011/dec/12/nick-clegg-andrew-marr- bulldog-mid-atlantic-euro-video 18

19 1Introduction to module 2Nature of systemOverview of the British political system 3 LegislatureWorkings of Parliament, separation of powers 4Role of the Prime Minister, Cabinet and Civil Service From Prime Ministerial to Presidential? 5Mending a Broken system Does the electoral system for Westminster need reforming? Referendum in May TreasuryControlling the Money 7Fragmentation of authority Is the UK breaking up? 8EuropeIs the centre of British government London or Brussels? 9National Health Service What we have now and proposed reforms 10Audit of political system Is government in Britain representative and accountable? 12Q&A/ NCTJ preparation

Spring Term Monday Lectures 2-3 Tues seminar 2-3 Wed Seminar 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 21

22 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