1. The British Electorate
During collectivist years, single issue shaped how British voters viewed the political world: social class.
Significance of conservative victory, ’79?
Vote against radicalism and chaos of the Labour government?
First step in a more lasting realignment?

2. Interest Groups
Many groups (national to local), but little influence and little lobbying
Groups with most influence: TUC/Labour and CBI/Conservative
All governments need to consult with interest groups: information and expertise

3. The British and American States
feature UK
USA
Constitution
unwritten
fused powers
written
federal
separation of powers
Executive
dominant
recruited from Parliament
power to persuade
recruited from everywhere
Legislature
mostly debate
party voting
law making
party or coalition voting

4. Monarchy and Lords Lots of visibility, little impact
Pre 1958, all Lords were hereditary peers or members of senior clergy and judiciary
1999: Parliament, with support of Lords, stripped all but 92 self-selected hereditary peers of membership
Law Lords: Britain’s highest court of appeals, but cannot rule on constitutionality of acts of Parliament ( no judiciary review)

5. Parliamentary Sovereignty
the House of Commons: the body that determines who governs and which laws to pass
does this make it sovereign?
House of Commons is not the major influence on most policy issues
instead, real influence lies with majority party leadership and certain non-elected bodies
also, courts have never had a policy-making role

6. House of Commons
646 MPs, representing single-members districts, elected in first-part-the-post elections.
MPs are not expected to represent their constituents’ interests.
They do not even have to live in the districts they represent.
It is a ‘virtual’ representation.

7. Parliamentary Party: the key to the British state
Leader of the majority party becomes PM, can [almost always] count on support of party colleagues.
Head of the largest minority party becomes leader of the opposition.
Appoints a shadow cabinet to monitor and criticize
Backbenchers: seats reserved for MPs who are not part of the leadership.

8. Prime Minister selects the cabinet and other junior ministers (all MPs) (about 70)
All but two cabinet members chosen from House of Commons.
Cabinet ministers appointed based on their position in party’s power structure.
Less likely than American counterparts to be experts in area they supervise.

9. Cabinet governed by principle of collective responsibility.
Cabinet remains in office as long as the entire government retains support of its parliamentary majority.
Individual ministers must publicly support all cabinet decisions or resign.
Cabinet introduces all major legislation.
New legislation usually introduced only after extensive period of study and debate and publication of government white paper.

10. Cabinet introduces all major legislation.
Parliamentary debate: extensive, acrimonious, meaningless.
‘Cabinet Government’: possibly becoming a myth.
Realistically, Britain has government by Prime Minister , bureaucracy and other nonelected bodies (QUANGOs)

11. Public Policy: The Thatcher Revolution
Thatcher: ‘the politics of conviction”
produced dramatic changes in British economic life
goal: sharply reduce the role of the state : wide-ranging privatization
pro: saved economy, brought inflation and unemployment under control, energized the private sector
con: widened the gap between rich and poor, allowed public services to deteriorate

12. Privatization was popular in the short term.
Provided a needed infusion of capital to government.
Also tried to strengthen role of market forces: cut government subsidies to industry, reduce ‘redundant’ labor, reduce taxes on wealthy.
Other centerpiece of Thatcher revolution: roll back the welfare state.
Problem: unlike nationalized industries, social services programs were very popular – resistance to cut backs.

13. The Blair Revolution
Originally, Labour committed to nationalization of the ‘commanding heights’ of the economy, and planned to put much of the rest under government control.
Pass benefits to working class, create a more equal and just society.
Little effect on public policy before 1945.
Later, set up planning boards nationalized dozens of key industries, especially unprofitable public services.

14. Welfare state became more and more expensive.
By 60s, nationalized industries required massive subsidies, and bad planning left unions more powerful than ever.
Welfare state became more and more expensive.
Pro: combined best aspects of socialism and market economy.
Con : ‘Thatcher lite”
Blair government able to redirect a lot of money to poor and to public services:
Partly enabled by booming economy.
Other important policy changes: welfare-to-work; cost of living increases for poor retirees; increase in minimum wage; increased income of bottom 2/5th with no impact on wealthy.
Mostly occurred during 1st Blair government, when popularity was high.

15. Britain is part of the EU, whose decisions have great impact on British economy.
Issues:
Should England join the European Monetary Union and abandon the pound for the euro?
Should England ratify the second draft constitution for the EU, which would be one step closer to a United States of Europe?

16. Issues with IRAQ
First Gulf War uncontroversial: invasion of Kuwait was a clear violation of international law.
Support for USA after 9/11 acceptable.
Second Iraq war more problematic : Blair stood behind the countries’ “special relationship” and took identical positions.
Dire domestic political implications.

17. Feedback TV and radio in Britain: very different from those in US
Centralized, professional media
BBC and independent broadcasters offer thorough political coverage
Most political information comes from national newspapers
Good quality reporting, too many tabloids.
Many local papers with little national news and little influence.
TV: little local news.