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All of the below examples will be added to the updated textbooks and detailed essay plans (where relevant/better than the existing examples) on the Politics Explained website, which are both updated regularly.

Find full lists of recent examples (UK Politics, UK Government and US Politics and Government) from the past year in our 📋 2026 example packs!

UK Government Examples

Devolution

Anas Sarwar Calls For The PM’s Resignation - Example Of Tensions Between Devolved Bodies And Westminster:

• On the 9th of February 2026, Scottish Labour Leader Anas Sawar publicly called on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to resign. Sarwar is, so far, the most high-profile Labour figure to call for Starmer’s resignation, arguing the UK government has severely damaged support in Scottish Labour. 

  • Previously, in May 2025, Welsh FM Eluned Morgan called for UK ministers to halt part of its plans to cut disability benefits, rethink cuts to the winter fuel allowance, and demanded Wales benefit more from wind power via the Crown Estate as Scotland does.

    • These tensions are exacerbated by the fact that this is a Labour Welsh FM, showing the increasing autonomy of devolved bodies, as the FM went above party loyalty to serve the Welsh people’s interests.

• The fact that the leaders in devolved bodies are publicly criticising the government clearly shows tensions between them and Westminster.

  • This demonstrates how devolution is threatening the unity of the UK, as even the Labour Party in Scotland and Wales seem to be supporting divergence from a Labour Westminster government.

The Opposition

The Conservative Party’s use of an Opposition Day to Compel the Release of Documents Relating to Peter Mandelson - Example of the Influence of the Opposition:

• On the Conservative Opposition Day on the 4th of February, Kemi Badenoch used a humble address to force the government to release documents relating to the appointment of Peter Mandelson as Britain’s ambassador to the US. MPs voted in favour of the motion, meaning the government was compelled to publish 100,000 documents linked to the appointment.  

  • A humble address is an arcane parliamentary procedure used by the opposition, which can force the release of papers from the government. Humble addresses are petitions to the King, which are binding if passed. 

• Humble addresses are rarely used, however they have become more common as opposition parties search for ways to extract information from the government. 

  • In opposition, Keir Starmer used one in 2022 to force the publication of security advice relating to Evgeny Lebedev’s peerage, humiliating the government by attracting the support of Tory rebels.

    • The Conservatives successfully used the humble address to force the government to release 100,000’s of files, reinforcing Parliament’s role as a check on executive power.

• This shows how opposition days can be highly effective in providing scrutiny and forcing accountability from the government (particularly during major scandals), when the opposition parties control the parliamentary agenda. 

  • There are 20 Opposition Days in the parliamentary calendar, where they can set the parliamentary agenda, force debates, and increase scrutiny.

UK Politics and Government Examples

Peter Mandelson Case Study:

In February 2026, who had been appointed Ambassador to the United States in early 2025, resigned from the House of Lords and Labour Party due to connections being revealed about his links to the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The House Of Lords Is Undemocratic and Flawed:

• On the 3rd of February 2026, Peter Mandelson stepped down from the House of Lords after it was revealed he leaked sensitive government documents to the paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.

  • Although he resigned from Parliament, he retained the title of life peer, meaning the government would need to pass legislation to remove it - this would be the first time an Act of Parliament has been used to do this since 1917. 

• This shows a key weakness of the unelected House of Lords. Members cannot be removed from the legislature by voters and be held democratically accountable for serious wrongdoing. 

  • It also suggests a failure of the House of Lords appointment process, which failed to flag Mandelson’s links to Epstein as a reason for not appointing him as a peer in 2008.

The Media Holding The Government To Account:

• This also demonstrates the role of the media in holding the government to account in between elections. Following the release of documents linking Mandelson to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, media coverage was instrumental in forcing transparency about what Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer knew when Mandelson was appointed as the UK’s ambassador to the United States.

  • Press reporting from the BBC and the Telegraph revealed that Mandelson passed market-sensitive information to Epstein while serving as a minister under New Labour.

  • This led to a parliamentary move requiring the government to release up to 100,000 documents related to Mandelson's appointment.

    • It also resulted in the resignation of Morgan McSweeney - Starmer’s Chief of Staff - who said he took ‘full responsibility’ for advising Starmer to appoint Mandelson.

• This shows how media scrutiny can place significant political pressure on leaders and generate Parliamentary pressure, forcing the government to take action. Starmer apologised for the appointment, and Mandelson has resigned from the House of Lords and the Labour Party.

Factors Affecting The Prime Minister’s Power:

• As of February 2026, Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s popularity has fallen to record lows, driven by the scandal surrounding Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador to Washington. 

  • Mandelson’s links to Epstein led to calls for Starmer to resign, both from the public and from within his own party.

    • A February 2026 YouGov poll showed that 50% of the public wanted him to stand down. Further, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar called for Starmer's resignation. 

• This shows how scandals and political events can significantly weaken a Prime Minister's authority. Political crises can define a Prime Minister’s premiership, damage public trust, and harm their popularity. 

  • This reduces the PM’s ability to control their cabinet and party, ultimately limiting their power and effectiveness in government.