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 - Britain’s 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

Chancellor of the Exchequer - Minister within the Government responsible for economic and financial matters

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 Government’s refusal to vote to display unity with the Prime Minister

common law - Rules for the government created throughout a country’s 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