UK politics

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 4-6

UK POLITICS

KennisLand&Samenleving

Goal - in this lesson you will learn: 

1. about the UK political system

2. about the differences between the Dutch and English electoral system in particular

3. something about English debating

Political Power in the UK 

Charles III

• monarch - sovereign 
• married to Queen Camilla
• Head of State of: 
• 1. United Kingdom
• 2. Commonwealth
• 3. Armed Forces
• 4. The Anglican Church   
• name of the House? 

Why is the English monarch also Head of the Anglican Church?

UK Electoral system

• first-past-the-post 
• (winner-takes-all) 
• constituency 
• constituent 
• MP 

• PM 
• Downing Street 10

First-past-the-post
Give an advantage and
a disadvantage

Electoral system UK 

pros 

+ more involvement voters - politicians; local representation

-> to lobby your MP

+ relatively few small(er) parties 

cons 

- undemocratic? Votes lost!

- hard to start a new party

Houses of Parliament 

• House of Commons 
• House of Lords 
• Westminster
• Whitehall 
• Elizabeth Tower 
• Big Ben 

Watch the next clip: 

- what are the differences between the House of Commons and House of Lords? 

- how do you become PM? 

House of Commons 

• 650 mps 
• MPs represent a constituency
• propose/make laws + check government
• in Dutch? 
• presided by Leader of the House
  
• The Right Honourable Member of... 

A bicameral system 

House of Lords 

• around 800 peers 

1. hereditary peers 
2. life peers (appointed by Queen) 
3. 26 archbisships 

• shape laws + check government  
• in Dutch? 
• presided by Lord Speaker 
• woolsack 
• My noble friend/lady 

Why is the House of Lords controversial?

The House of Commons 

• 650 members - only room for   about 430 something mps to sit
  
• Opposition versus Cabinet 
• distance = 2 swords' lengths 
• frontbenchers versus     backbenchers
  
• despatch boxes - gifts from CommonWealth 

House of Commons - rituals

1. voting (voting by feet): Division - Clear the lobbies! 

3. Speaker is dragged into House after he has been appointed 

4. Queen/King not allowed to enter the House of Commons 

4. Contribute? Stand up - eye contact with Speaker 

5. The Right Honourable Member of  Bolton-West 

It is all about debating! - watch the following fragment: how do mps respond to former pm's Theresa May's speech? 

How do mps respond to Lindsay Hoyle's words?
They all express their agreement by saying/shouting....

Voting 

After votes have been cast, they are counted by the tellers. The tellers share the outcome with the Speaker. How does the Speaker announce the outcome of the vote? 

Listen carefully and write down

PARTIES IN THE UK

• Conservatives 

Tories - Tory Party

Margaret Thatcher  

David Cameron

Theresa May 

Boris Johnson 

• Labour Party
  

Tony Blair (New Labour)

Downing Street 10 

• LibDems (liberal democrats)

• Scotland - SNP 
  

Nicola Sturgeon 

Margaret Thatcher

• The Iron Lady ('79-'91)
• First female PM
• Falkslands (war) 
• Trade Unions 
• Conservative/Tory

English	Dutch
1. Home Office
2. Foreign Secretary
3. Chancellor of the Exchequer
5. NHS
6. Magna Carta

Lastly, some useful keywords - translate into Dutch

Reflection: give one important
similarity or difference between the UK
and Dutch political system.

The Netherlands 

Political system UK versus the Netherlands 

Similarities 

• bicameral system (2 'houses'- upper&lower house)
• symbolic monarch/sovereign

Differences

• first-past-the-post (electoral system - constituencies)
• members (peers) can be appointed or inherited a title; the Netherlands: representation by vote only. 

To wrap it up:

So, UK politics is about debating -  traditions&rituals - phenomenal use of English - it's practically theatre! 

Key words: hearhear - order - ayes to the left - noes to the right- the noes have it! - clear the lobby! 

Enjoy a final bonus video 

UK POLITICS -  26 MAY '23

KennisLand&Samenleving

Goal - in this lesson you learnt: 

1. about the UK political system

2. about the differences between the Dutch and English electoral system in particular

And lastly: Larry the Cat