1. Participation in the Political System Starter Task 1.In what ways can citizens be informed about politics in the UK?

2. Today we will… Outline the ways that citizens can be informed about politics Identify some of the ways that citizens can participate in British democracy

3. Success Criteria I can list and explain the ways citizens can participate in politics.

4. How citizens can be informed about politics The media in the UK is extensive and is the main way that UK citizens are kept informed about political issues Radio news stories…particularly morning or evening interviews with representatives TV…news items, interviews, programmes such as “Newsnight”, “Question Time” and “The Sunday Politics”, Party Political Broadcasts, the Parliament Channel (Freeview), televised debates etc. Internet…official party websites, blogs, social media particularly Facebook and Twitter Newspapers…many of which have allegiances to a political party, e.g. the Telegraph tends to support the Conservative Party

5. How can citizens participate in the UK? Create a bullet pointed list of ways that UK citizens can participate in politics

6. How can citizens participate in the UK? Vote Join a political party Campaign Protest Stand as a candidate Join a pressure group Contact representatives Stay informed (watch news, read paper, social media etc.)

7. Voting Citizens have the right (and responsibility) to vote in elections Can vote for MP in UK elections… MSPs in Scottish Parliament elections… MEPs for European Parliament elections… and councillors in local government elections For example, citizens in the East Kilbride UK parliamentary constituency elected Lisa Cameron MP in 2015 Dr Lisa Cameron MP

8. Join a Political Party Citizens have the right to join a political party. An individual with working-class roots and who strongly supports the welfare state might join the Labour Party Someone from a more affluent background who is critical of high public spending and high taxes might join the Conservative Party Someone whose main concern is the environment might join the Green Party Opponents of EU membership and immigration might join the UK Independence Party (UKIP) After the Scottish referendum membership of the Labour party went from 25,642 members on 18/9/14 to 112,208 members a year later.

9. Campaign Individuals can campaign for a political party or about an issue they feel strongly about This might involve… Distributing leaflets Canvassing (going door to door) Fundraising Taking part in demonstrations Etc…

10. Protest Citizens can protest about an issue they oppose For example, there have recently been protests in the UK about the so-called Bedroom Tax, protests against UK Government cuts to welfare spending and protests against companies who have failed to pay corporation tax Methods – demonstrations, rallies, sit-ins, using the media, letter an leaflet campaigns, using the internet etc…

11. Stand as a candidate Citizens have the right to stand as a candidate People wishing to stand as an MP must be over 18 years of age, be a British citizen or citizen of a Commonwealth country or the Republic of Ireland Can stand as a member of a political party if nominated or as an independent candidate In order to encourage only serious candidates to stand, a £500 deposit is required when submitting the nomination papers - returned if the candidate receives over five per cent of the total votes cast. John Smeaton, the Glasgow Airport worker who gained fame for intervening at the Glasgow Airport terrorist attack in 2007, stood as a candidate for the Glasgow North-East constituency by-election in 2009…he lost (got 1.2% of vote)

12. Contact representatives Can contact representatives… Letters or emails Phone-calls Surgeries Etc…

13. Stay informed Watch the news... Listen to political interviews or debates… Read newspapers… Read blogs online… Sign up to updates from news sites or political parties… Etc…

14. Join a pressure group Citizens have the right to join pressure groups which can put pressure on the government to make changes For example, environmentalists might join Greenpeace, children’s rights campaigners might join Child Poverty Action Group etc…

15. Was I successful? I can list and explain the ways citizens can participate in politics.