The British political system has been subject to considerable change in recent years. Criticism has arisen over the role of political leadership given the legacy of leaders such as Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair. Although they were politicians with very contrasting ideas and leadership styles who attracted both strong support and sustained criticism, their impact upon contemporary politics cannot be denied. The role of the Prime Minister and the abilities of the office holder to provide leadership is a key factor in the course but the constitutional ambiguity of many aspects of the British political system needs to be explored in order to make a rational analysis. The course will therefore commence with an examination of the British constitution and political culture.
The patterns of leadership within the political parties will be analysed, given that both the Labour Party and The Liberal Democrats have replaced their leaders after poor performances in the 2015 General Election. The Labour leadership contest proved to be controversial and the new leader has produced a divided response amongst the party members.
The outcome of the 2015 election will also be explored in light of the failure of opinion polls to produce accurate forecasts and the impact this may have had on the campaign and upon the individual leaders. The course will then move on to examine the institutional structures in Britain and in particular the role of the House of Commons and the debate over the reform of House of Lords, as well as electoral reform. Clearly, given the nature of the course, there will be a discussion on the role of the monarchy and whether it plays any significant role in the political leadership of the UK.
The latter section of the course will cover extra institutional influences, such as the mass media and the influence of organised interests, which David Cameron has expressed concern over in recent years. One of the major issues that the Conservative government will have to face is Britain’s relations with the European Union as a referendum on future membership is due in 2017. The course will conclude with an analysis of the issue, both between and within the political parties and how this will test the leaders resolve to pursue their objectives.
