Tags & Description
austerity
Sustained reductions in public spending with the goal of reducing debt and welfare state
backbenchers
MPs not in government nor shadow government
Blair, Tony
Labour PM from 1997 to 2007 who emphasized centrism through his "Third Way" and pushed for devolution
Brexit
Britains exit from the European Union
British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
National broadcaster in UK
Cameron, David
Conservative PM from 2010 to July 2016 who worked to reduce public spending
coalition government
Majority government composed of multiple parties
collective consensus
Consensus in politics after WWII that led to the developing of the welfare state
collective responsibility
The Governments refusal to vote to display unity with the Prime Minister
common law
Rules for the government created throughout a countrys history that are based on precedents
Confederation of British Industry (CBI)
Non-partisan organization representing British business interests that advises and lobbies governments
Conservative Party
Center-right party in UK, based on neoliberal ideals, advocated for a free market
"Constitution of the Crown"
Unofficial constitution of UK composed of important documents, common law, and precedents
Democratic Unionist Party (DUP)
Unionist party that represents Anglo-irish Protestants in Northern ireland
devolution
The voluntary, revokable ceding of regional power from a central government to regional governments
Eurosceptics
People who are skeptical of the European Union and advocate for less EU influence over member states
first-past-the-post voting system
Whichever candidate gets the most votes wins, no matter if there was a majority or a plurality
Good Friday Agreement
Created a Northern Ireland Assembly and ended the 30 year Troubles conflict in Northern Island
the "Government"
The party (or parties) in Parliament that define policy and support the PM
hereditary peers
Members of the House of Lords that have their seat due to their parentage
hung parliament
When there is no singular majority party in Parliament
Johnson, Boris
Conservative PM from July 2019 to September 2022 who supervised the completion of Brexit
Labour Party
Center-left party in UK, emphasizes the working class and progressive policy
Law Lords
Members of the House of Lords who used to make decisions on devolution, laws inconsistent with the European Convention on Human Rights, civil cases, and criminal cases
Liberal Democrats
Center/Center-left party in UK, emphasized socially liberal ideals and a mixed economy
life peers
Members of the House of Lords appointed by the monarch for life on the advisement of the Prime MInister
Loyal Opposition
The largest party in Parilament that is not part of the Government
May, Theresa
Conservative PM from July 2016 to July 2019, attempted to secure Brexit deal but failed multiple times, resigned before ejected in vote of no confidence
National Health System (NHS)
Public healthcare system in UK funded by taxpayers, created after WWII
neo-liberalism
Classical liberal ideals of free markets with reduction in social spending and government regulation
parliamentary system
Citizens vote for members of legislature who select Prime Minister from majority party
parliamentary sovereignty
Parliament can make and overturn any law
quangos
Organization financed by government to which the government has devolved power, a non-ministerial department of the government
Question Time
Specified times during which members of Parliament can ask any question to a Minister and they must answer
referendum
A binding vote in which the public vote "Yes" or "No" on a policy question, such as Scottish indepdence or Brexit
Scottish National Party
Center-left party in UK that emphasized Scottish nationalism
"Shadow Cabinet"
Members of the Opposition who will fill specific positions in the Government if the Opposition becomes the Government
Sinn Fein
Irish nationalist party in UK that emphasizes irish reunification, political arm of the Irish Republican Army, never votes out of principle
snap election
General election called before 5 year deadline
Speaker of the House
Non-partisan Member of Parliament responsible for maintaining order in House of Commons
Starmer, Lord Keir
Leader of the Labour Party and of the Opposition since 2020
Sturgeon, Nicola
Leader of the Scottish National Party since 2014 and First Minister in Scottish Parliament
Sunak, Rishi
Leader of the Conservative Party and Prime Minister since October 2022
Thatcher, Margaret
Conservative PM from 1979 to 1990, emphasized privatization, free markets, and reduction of social spending
Thatcherism
ideology of Thatcher of both neoliberal ideals and a strong chief executive
Third Way
Labour platform premiered by Blair emphasizing centrism, connection with business elites, and rejecting ties with unions
Trades Union Congress (TUC)
Federation of trade unions in UK
Truss, Liz
Conservative PM from September 2022 to October 2022, emphasized Trussonomics to combat inflation, which included tax cuts for the super-wealthy
UK Independence Party (UKIP)
Rightwing party in Uk that emphasized Euroscepticism and Brexit
unitary government
One government holds ultimate power over entire state
"Vote of No Confidence"
Vote in Parliament which forces majority party to form a new government with a different Prime Minister within two weeks
welfare state
Set of public policies designed to provide for citizens via transfer payments and public healthcare
Whitehall
Bureaucracy of UK government that provides expertise for Cabinet members