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UK Politics Examples

Rights In Context

Parliament Decriminalises Abortion In The Crime and Policing Bill (2025):

• In May 2025, Starmer said in a speech on his plans to cut immigration that the UK risked becoming an “an island of strangers” without stricter controls.

  • The phrase led some Labour MPs, notably former shadow chancellor John McDonnell, to accuse him of divisive language, as well as comparing his speech to the language of Enoch Powell.

•  In multiple interviews when asked about this, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has remained staunch in her defence of the Prime Minister, rejecting these claims and maintaining that the plans are positive for the UK.

  • This shows how important collective ministerial responsibility still is as, even in light of such outrage, Cooper stood by what Starmer said, defending and promoting the policies he set out.

Pressure Groups

Unite The Kingdom Protests As An Example Of A Social Movement:

• In September 2025, the ‘Unite the Kingdom’ protest took place in London, organised by Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (better known as Tommy Robinson) - a prominent voice on the far-right and co-founder of the English Defence League (EDL). 

  • The march was attended by 150,000 people and received the support of other far-right activists, including right-wing commentator Laurence Fox and media personality Katie Hopkins. 

    • Protesters also heard from tech billionaire Elon Musk, who called for the dissolution of Parliament and instructed protesters to “fight or die”. 

• This far-right march was motivated in large part by opposition to immigration and multiculturalism, as well as around concerns over free speech and national identity. By demonstrating mass support and using social media, it sought to influence politics and force politicians to respond. 

  • The event generated widespread media coverage and direct commentary from politicians including the Prime Minister, therefore influencing political debates and pushing immigration up the political agenda. 

• Pressure groups do not seek political office but aim to shape policy and achieve political goals through persuasion and mobilisation. 

  • This is a clear example of a Social Movement: a loosely organised group (often a protest) focused on achieving a particular goal and drawing attention to a particular issue. 

    • They are radical and seek a single objective, namely to cut migration, forcing the issue onto the public agenda.

UK Government Examples

Ministerial Responsibility

Angela Rayner’s Resignation As An Example Of Individual Ministerial Responsibility:

• In September 2025, following an investigation by the independent adviser on ministerial standards, Angela Rayner resigned her post as Housing Secretary, Deputy Prime Minister and Deputy Leader of the Labour Party. 

  • This follows Starmer’s reforms to the ministerial code, which give the independent adviser on ministerial standards the power to independently start their own investigations into potential breaches of the code. This was a significant change to the former system, where the Prime Minister had to request an investigation to take place. 

    • The ethics adviser found Rayner had breached the ministerial code by underpaying stamp duty on her £800,000 flat in Hove. 

• This is a clear example of Individual Ministerial Responsibility (IMR), a constitutional principle which holds ministers accountable for their personal conduct, decisions and departmental actions. IMR requires ministers to uphold high standards when conducting their official and private affairs. 

  • Rayner’s resignation demonstrates that this still applies; she accepted personal responsibility for underpaying stamp duty and the expectation that ministers are accountable for their personal conduct and Starmer accepted her resignation even though she was an ally and high profile minister.

Parliament

Scrutiny Of Starmer’s Appointment Of Peter Mandelson As An Example Of The Effective Scrutiny Of Backbenchers, Debates and the Opposition:

• In September 2025, the Conservatives held an emergency debate in the House of Commons which saw MPs scrutinise Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s judgement in appointing Peter Mandelson as US ambassador, following the revelation of his relationship with billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. 

  • The three-hour debate was called by Tory MP David Davis, who criticised the Prime Minister for displaying a lack of judgement. Leader of the Opposition Kemi Badenoch called on Starmer to reveal what he knew when about Mandelson, and accused him of “hiding from Parliament”

  • Furthermore, criticism came from within the Labour Party. Labour MP Emily Thornberry criticised the failure of Number 10 to properly vet Mandelson prior to his appointment, arguing the Foreign Affairs Select Committee should have been allowed to question Mandelson about his appointment.

    • This shows how backbenchers from the governing party are able to use debates to effectively scrutinise the government. 

• This clearly illustrates how both the opposition and backbenchers can use debates to scrutinise the government and hold ministers accountable, demanding greater transparency in governance. 

  • The emergency debate was granted by the Speaker Lindsay Hoyle under Standing Order 24, a mechanism which allows backbenchers to seize control of the Parliamentary Order Paper and force debates which were not on the schedule, which is typically controlled by the Government. 

    • Emergency debates are crucial in giving backbenchers and the opposition more control over the Parliamentary timetable, making sure important business is forced onto the agenda and discussed in the House of Commons.