Inside UK Politics
The United Kingdom (UK) is a constitutional monarchy composed of four countries: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Although the UK is an independent country, it is a part of the European Union (EU). As a result, it is subject to the rules, regulations and legislature of both the EU and the UK.
UK politics is comprised of the prime minister, other members of the cabinet and the government’s legislative body, the House of Commons. While the prime minister is the head of the government, they are inextricably integrated with the decisions of the House of Commons, which is a mix of an executive and legislative branch.
Important Political Players and Policies
The UK’s political players consist of an impressive collection of powerful people. At the top is the prime minister and the cabinet, who are responsible for making key socio-economic and foreign policy decisions. Below them are the members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords, who are responsible for making laws and approving important executive decisions.
Prime Minister
The prime minister is the leader of the UK government, and the most powerful figure in UK politics. They are responsible for initiating policies and heading the government. Currently, Boris Johnson is the prime minister of the UK. Since becoming prime minister in July 2019, Johnson has focused on boosting the economy, cutting taxes and reducing public spending, amid claims by critics that he’s putting politics ahead of public service.
Cabinet
The cabinet is made up of the prime minister and senior government officials. They make key socio-economic and foreign policy decisions on behalf of the government. The current cabinet includes prominent figures such as Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak and Home Secretary Priti Patel.
House of Commons
The House of Commons is made up of elected representatives from across the UK. It is the legislative branch of the UK government and is responsible for passing laws and approving executive decisions. It is headed by the Speaker of the House of Commons, who is currently Sir Lindsay Hoyle.
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the UK legislature. Its main role is to scrutinise and revise draft legislation from the House of Commons. It is made up of appointed and hereditary members, but does not have the same power to introduce or pass laws as the House of Commons does.
Policies & Legislations
The UK government is responsible for laying out and implementing numerous policies and legislations. These cover a variety of subjects, such as public health, defence, and education.
Budget
The government sets its own budget, which determines how much money will be allocated to different departments, such as health and education. This is done annually in the autumn, and is approved by the House of Commons. The current budget, set by Chancellor Rishi Sunak, is mainly focused on tackling the economic damage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Brexit
The UK’s withdrawal from the EU is perhaps the most significant policy implemented in recent years. Brexit has been a long and arduous process, with numerous negotiations and debates between the UK and the EU. The UK officially left the EU on January 1, 2021, but negotiations are still ongoing to agree on trade and other issues.
Social Policies
The UK government is responsible for setting and implementing social policies. These include policies relating to housing, education and welfare, among many others. A recent policy implemented by the government is the National Living Wage, which ensures that all workers over the age of 25 are guaranteed a minimum hourly wage of £8.72.
Foreign Policy
The UK’s foreign policy impacts its relationships with other countries and nations around the world. The government sets out foreign policy objectives aimed at improving economic and political relations with foreign nations, as well as protecting the country’s core interests on the world stage.
UK politics is a complex and ever-evolving system of institutions, players and policies. At the centre of it all is Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his cabinet, who are responsible for formulating and implementing policies, approving laws and setting the budget of the government. Brexit has been the main policy focus for the government in recent years, but the UK government is also responsible for a variety of social and foreign policies, ensuring the country is well-functioning on all fronts.
