To what extent have constitutional reforms introduced since 1997 made the UK more democratic? (40 marks)

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Since 1997, the UK has had both a Labour and also a Conservative Coalition Government, both trying - in different ways - to reform the constitution. Ways which have both helped the UK become more democratic and also made it less so; such as the devolution of Scotland and Wales, also with the referendum on AV, and also the Freedom of Information Act of 2000 (FOIA). Ways as such that the UK have been made less democratic are the voter apathy, how it hasn’t changed and in which the public do not engage in votes as they used to. Other things that have made the UK less democratic since 1997 are how the 55% rule has been implemented, alongside a fixed-term parliament.

Under the Labour party’s Government, the FOIA 2000 was implemented. The FOIA has helped make the UK more democratic as it allows for the public to find information out, for 10% of the cost, which allowed the UK Government to be made more transparent, therefore allowing members of the public to research into things, such as the EU Referendum, which can help inform voters, which aids in learning and allows for a better informed vote to be placed. If everyone used this system of researching information for facts, figures and information, voters as a whole could make a better informed decision when voting, therefore possibly changing the outcome of the vote, allowing for the democracy to become more enhanced, making the Act rather successful for the UK and opens up for the public to feel more confident in the UK. It allows people to access information regarding the efficiency of Government policy, for example it gave information about the efficiency of the London Knife Amnesty and about the NHS Ambulance Delays, this makes it democratic because it keeps the Government in order and makes them accountable for their policies (and actions taken). This can be bad because this Act can exclude poorer people as to gain information, a big sum of money is needed. Overall the FOIA 2000 reform is democratic as it allows for a transparent Government, which means they can be held accountable and creates a more fluid system of Government, with a more open form.

The decentralisation of the Central Government to Northern Powerhouses aids the UK to become more democratic, as the power isn’t all held in London, controlling all the bigger cities up north, and allowing for those cities to have delegated power over themselves. For example, the Localism Act 2011 gave greater powers to city mayors and councils, also with the devolution of Scottish and Welsh Parliaments, giving them greater power over their own citizens, giving Scotland, and Wales more regional authority over central power. Decentralisation of Scotland had led to more devolved powers over things such as education, housing, tourism and economic development, as well as things to do with transport and the environment. Whereas with Wales, the Wales Bill 2016 suggests that more areas such as energy and extraction of

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