Category
In the News
RIP Professor Anthony King
Professor Anthony King, one of the most renowned academics in UK political science has sadly passed away at the age of 82. He was for many years a mainstay of the BBC's election coverage noted for...
A Report Card on Obama's Presidency
Here's a useful article from the BBC providing a "report card" on elements of Obama's presidency.
Why Britain Joined the European Union
Politics students returning to the classroom after the New Year break and discussing the resignation of the UK's Ambassador to the EU might want to watch this classic clip from Yes Minister! Has...
The US Presidential Election in Under 2 Minutes
After a hair raising night that echoes June 23rd and the Brexit vote, the polls are closed, Trump has crossed the line and the world begins to come to terms with the 45th President of the United...
Political Party Conference summary
Here's a handy guide from the BBC summarising the key messages and soundbites from the 2016 Autumn Party Conferences - good for getting to grips with key policies and analysing the differences /...
Politics news quiz for w/e 28 October 2016
Here's this week's Politics news quiz. 5 multi-choice questions as either a Powerpoint quiz or paper version.
Walla where? How one region just larger than Wales wrecked CETA
It was all going so well for the CETA (The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement) process between Canada and the EU. Brussels and Ottawa have spend seven years negotiating the finer points of...
How Big Data Might Shape the US Election
Michael Crick's Channel 4 piece last night on how big data might be influencing the US election is well worth a watch - slightly scary in many ways!
Introducing the Parliament topic
The news that the Labour Party has set out 170 Brexit-related questions to the government in order to scrutinise the Brexit process is a great starting point for teaching the Parliament topic. I...
Politics Quiz of the Week
By popular request, here is this week's super starter In the News Politics Quiz, courtesy of Clive Owen of Minster School, Southwell.
The barriers facing third party presidential candidates
The vast majority of the US Presidential focus is on Hillary Clinton (D) and Donald Trump (R), but dig a little deeper and you'll discover the third party candidates too, including Libertarian...
Judicial Review - Justice for Health and Junior Doctors' Contract
It's not that often that a really high profile Judical Review case hits the headlines, but there's one today! Justice for Health - a pressure group acting on behalf of the UK's junior doctors - has...
BBC Manifesto Tracker
The manifesto tracker from the BBC takes a look at how well the government is keeping its manifesto pledges from the 2015 general election - a great tool for assessing the continued relevance of...
The challenges for Diane James
When considering the differences between pressure groups and political parties, UKIP help to exemplify how an organisation can be both. Their electoral success in terms of vote share in 2015and in...
Which is more shocking - Cameron resigning as MP or Mel and Sue leaving the Bake off?
Okay, so the title to this blog may be a little frivolous! I'll declare that I've rarely watched the Great British Bake Off so don't get what the fuss is about with the change in channel and...
The four leadership elections and Michel’s Iron Law of Oligarchy
At the beginning of the 20th Century, Michel argued that all organisations, regardless of how democratic they intend to be, will inevitably be controlled by the few. One of the many ways in which...
Does it matter if politicians don't know the 'important' facts?
You may have seen or heard of the argument that broke out between Labour foreign affairs spokesperson Emily Thornberry and Sky News interviewer Dermot Murnaghan this weekend. A Youtube clip can be...
Should we temporarily move Parliament to Birmingham?
I know I've blogged about this issue before, but the full costs and proposals for repairing Westminster Palace are starting to emerge this week. The possible cost of refurbishment (due to leakages,...
The EU referendum was 'dire' - the Electoral Reform Society
The Electoral Reform Society (which campaigns for greater democracy in the UK) has described the EU referendum as 'dire' in its report, released this week. The report claims that the impact of big...
There's No.9 and a No.12 Downing Street too!
Here's an interesting little article on what goes on where in Downing Street published by the Guardian. It may not be something that A Level Politics would need to know for an exam but fascinating...