How united is the GOP? While some Republicans have pushed back against Trump’s form of conservatism, there are too few to be considered a threat to his hegemony. The language of the GOP is now in lock step with that of the 45th President. The party has moved decisively to the right on social and moral issues. While there are divides on the economy, all Republicans unite behind tax cuts and deregulation. Equally, occasional fights over healthcare or Covid relief notwithstanding, the GOP believe in limited government and its lawmakers are largely united in pursuing this goal. 

How unified are The Democrats? This podcast examines party divides over social and moral issues, economic policy and the role of the federal government in welfare, to determine whether progressive Democrats are able to work with moderates. We come to the conclusion that the divides between the factions are not insurmountable, as the early days of the Biden administration has shown. The party is arguably more unified, helped by the opposition to Trump, than it has ever been. Tensions are creative rather than destructive. Meanwhile, if you like this podcast then have a think about pre-ordering my revision guide. You can do this by clicking on this link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1398325538/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fabc_545730Z55AZVQ2ZMBC6F Enjoy!

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In this episode, we focus on what backbenchers do. What are their functions and which one is the most important? We examine the influence of backbench MPs in both hung and majority parliaments, and then end with some tips on what to look out for when defining key words in your introduction. Enjoy! 

Measures to regulate money and the influence it brings to those who spend it in US elections have failed. Campaign finance laws were crafted for a different era and in any case were gutted by the Supreme Court. The net effect is to leave US democracy poorer and special interests more powerful than ever before. By the way, I had wanted to play ABBA’s Money Money Money at the end of this episode but something went wrong. So perhaps you might like to hum it instead.

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Should the English be given their own parliament? Or will regional assemblies better represent the people? Of course, there is a third option - continue with the patchwork of random institutions that are created as and when the government sees fit. This “organic” and very British way of implementing devolution has been the route taken for the past twenty years. Proponents of this view argue that “need” is better than “neatness”. I take the view that fairness is better than mess. While an English Parliament should be seen for what it is - a reactionary and narrow-minded attempt to shut people out of decision making - regional assemblies would do the opposite. It is time, I argue, for a federal UK.

Unlock this episode by subscribing to PLUS PLUS PLUS! In addition to the monthly free episode, you'll receive TWO additional podcasts each month. Once they are released, these bonus episodes will will appear automatically in your podcast feed (cancel anytime but clicking unsubscribe in your confirmation email). You will also gain access to the entire back catalogue of The A Level Politics Show. Just click ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ to get started. If you like reading as well as listening, then you can also try my revision book, which can be purchased from ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Oh, and don't forget to leave a nice review wherever you listen to your podcasts, so that more people can find out about us. Thanks for supporting the podcast. Enjoy!

In this special episode, we look at how different groups of Americans voted in the US election and whether any conclusions can be drawn about why Biden won. Is this the first election that was decided on the basis of gender? How important was race, especially when considering the summer of protest, the Black Lives Matter movement and the killing of George Floyd? Is age a significant determinant of voting behaviour, or were senior citizens as appalled as their grandchildren at Trump’s handling of Covid 19? We also explore the complexities of class and income, along with voting along religious lines. The one startling realisation that I had, after watching 36 hours straight of John King on CNN, is that where a person lives in America really does matter. 

Enjoy the podcast, then why not subscribe to PLUS PLUS PLUS!? For just £1.99 per month, you will receive TWO additional episodes per month that will automatically appear in your podcast feed as soon as they become available. You'll also get access to the full back catalogue of A Level Politics Show podcasts. Furthermore, you can cancel anytime - no obligations and no hidden costs. Just lots of learning. Just click⁠⁠ here⁠⁠ to get started. If you like reading as well as listening, then you can also try my revision book, which can be purchased from ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.  Oh, and don't forget to leave a nice review wherever you listen to your podcasts, so that more people can find out about us. Thanks for your support.

With only 11 seats in parliament, it is difficult to forget that the Liberal Democrats improved its vote share at the 2019 general election, winning 3.6 million votes. Yet what of its future direction? Is it now a Modern Liberal party or will it seek to outflank to Tories on the right by calling for a smaller state? In this brief episode, we look at the 2019 manifesto for some clues.

Enjoy the podcast, then why not subscribe to PLUS PLUS PLUS!? For just £1.99 per month, you will receive TWO additional episodes per month that will automatically appear in your podcast feed as soon as they become available. You'll also get access to the full back catalogue of A Level Politics Show podcasts. Furthermore, you can cancel anytime - no obligations and no hidden costs. Just lots of learning. Just click⁠⁠ here⁠⁠ to get started. If you like reading as well as listening, then you can also try my revision book, which can be purchased from ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.  Oh, and don't forget to leave a nice review wherever you listen to your podcasts, so that more people can find out about us. Thanks for your support.

With only 11 seats in parliament, it is difficult to forget that the Liberal Democrats improved its vote share at the 2019 general election, winning 3.6 million votes. Yet what of its future direction? Is it now a Modern Liberal party or will it seek to outflank to Tories on the right by calling for a smaller state? In this brief episode, we look at the 2019 manifesto for some clues.

Like the podcast? Then why not subscribe to The A Level Politics Show PLUS PLUS PLUS? In addition to the monthly free episode , you'll receive TWO additional podcasts each month. Once they are released, these bonus episodes will will appear automatically in your podcast feed. Subscribe now to PLUS PLUS PLUS for a fantastic price of £1.99 per month. Just click the following link to get started: https://anchor.fm/nick-de-souza/subscribe Thank you so much for supporting the show.

In this episode, I try (badly) to introduce you to the “disagree/agree” sandwich format of writing ideologies essays. Warning: there is a dubious analogy to beef burgers. Halloumi is mentioned too. At some point, the divides over the economy are discussed. Apologies for a very noisy fridge in the background - it makes a change from the cat, I suppose.

Like the podcast? Then why not subscribe to The A Level Politics Show PLUS PLUS PLUS? In addition to the monthly free episode , you'll receive TWO additional podcasts each month. Once they are released, these bonus episodes will will appear automatically in your podcast feed. Subscribe now to PLUS PLUS PLUS for a fantastic price of £1.99 per month. Just click the following link to get started: https://anchor.fm/nick-de-souza/subscribe Thank you so much for supporting the show.

When the HRA was passed in 1998, few could have imagined its impact on UK Politics. It seemed to merely confirm the rights that had already existed - those written into the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Yet in giving UK citizens to the right to use UK courts to seek redress of grievance, legal avenues to claim rights came closer to the people. No longer would they have to travel to Strasbourg to fight for their rights in the European Court of Human Rights (although they still could), the guarantor of the ECHR. Yet the backlash against a so-called rights culture has been severe. Successive Conservative governments have promised to either scrap or “update”, to replace it with a bill of rights or kill it altogether. Despite the assault on the HRA, it remains in place, for now.

Like the podcast? Then why not subscribe to The A Level Politics Show PLUS PLUS PLUS? In addition to the monthly free episode , you'll receive TWO additional podcasts each month. Once they are released, these bonus episodes will will appear automatically in your podcast feed. Subscribe now to PLUS PLUS PLUS for a fantastic price of £1.99 per month. Just click the following link to get started: https://anchor.fm/nick-de-souza/subscribe Thank you so much for supporting the show.