Introduction

Although parliament is formally sovereign, UK decision-making is determined by party government. Supported by a single member simple plurality electoral system that normally produces working majorities for the winning party in the House of Commons, governments are dominated by a cabinet composed of majority-party politicians that is in turn dominated by the prime minister and a few other senior ministers. Party government secures the centralisation and closedness of the political system. Party discipline secures passage of government bills. Formally accountable to the House of Commons, the power of the cabinet is such that the system is frequently referred to as an ‘elected dictatorship’. Major decisions are taken by a combination of a minister, their policy advisers and civil servants. Details of decisions are worked out in the civil service where legislation and other policy documents are drafted. The formal arrangements conceal the extent to which decisions are significantly influenced by the ‘Number 10 policy machine’.

Political representation takes place in both elected and appointed bodies. The rules and procedures that determine who becomes a representative differ by sector. For elected bodies the political parties make the most important decisions about who are the elected representatives because nomination of candidates is a party matter, subject to very few external constraints. In contrast, the nature of the electoral system is a constitutional matter, subject to considerable regulation.