Another issue with parliament is the power that the executive has. The leader of the political party which has gained a majority of the seats in the House of Commons at a General Election is invited by the monarch, to form a government. If he or she is successful in doing so, he or she then becomes the Prime Minister. This demonstrates a democratic deficit, as the Prime Minister, who has the power to make and change laws, isn’t officially elected to “rule” the country; he merely receives that job because his party gained the most seats. These means that the people aren’t fully represented as a PM that they didn’t strictly choose gets to decide on how the country runs. Also although MPs ‘supposedly’ represent their constituencies those who are of the same party as the Prime Minister are likely to follow the Prime Minsters plans and ideas instead of putting forward the ideas of the people within their constituencies. This is one of the biggest flaws in the UK democracy.
Another situation that lacks democracy is the House of Lords. Currently the House of Lords consists of peers; Life peers and hereditary peers. These people aren't voted for but either get appointed to be a member or inherit the position. Most of these members are fairly wealthy people and many are ranked very highly in society therefore they don’t represent the majority of the UK. They get the right to veto bills that could become laws but do they really know what the people really want and what is best for them? Surely electing a house of Lords would mean people that were more knowledgeable about the country would be elected. Also this is more democratic as the members would be doing things that were best for the people.
One of the things that does show the UK to be democratic is that referendums are held. Using referendums is an example of a direct democracy so the people get a direct say in issues in the UK and their outcome. Although this is so, Parliament remains sovereign so, in theory, they could completely ignore any outcome of a referendum, which isn’t very democratic. Also Parliament are the ones that decide on what the referendum is held for; what question is asked. Therefore although the people are having a direct say in something the thing they get a say in is chosen by the government. However it’s unlikely that Parliament ignore an outcome because, as we’re a democracy, it would be likely that at the next election voters wouldn’t vote for those members again as they have gone against the peoples will.
Pressure groups show us that the UK is democratic. Pressure groups try to influence public policy in interest of a political cause. The fact that everyone has the right to join a pressure group and have their own political ideas in the UK shows us that it’s a democracy; people are getting their own say on the government/country.
Overall, I think that the UK is fairly democratic, however the people lack representation within Parliament. Everyone can form their own political ideas and vote, however it’s whether these political ideas and their votes are ever really represented in parliament. The worry is, is that Parliament is sovereign and make big decisions on the UK and it’s laws, however it could be that a majority of the UK don’t have a representative there that they want to represent them as they don’t agree with their political views. A democracy is a form of government in which supreme power is vested in the people. Yes people use their power to vote etc. but Parliament is sovereign so in theory could make/change any laws they wanted and not think about the peoples wants/needs. However because of the nature of our democracy the people would be unlikely to vote again for their “representative”.