Friday 25 September 2015

Tuesday 22 September 2015

Make your mark - UK Youth Parliament vote

This Thursday all pupils will have the opportunity to take part in the Youth Parliament’s ‘Make Your Mark’ – the UK’s largest youth consultation.

You will be able to choose between 10 topics. Watch this short video to gain an understanding of the issues you can vote on.




Voting takes place around the quad during morning break & lunchtime Make sure you have your say about the issues that matter to you.

Monday 14 September 2015

Corbyn's new Shadow Cabinet


Shadow chancellor - John McDonnell
Shadow home secretary - Andy Burnham
Shadow foreign secretary - Hilary Benn
Shadow business secretary, & shadow first secretary of state - Angela Eagle
Chief whip - Rosie Winterton
Shadow health secretary - Heidi Alexander
Shadow justice secretary - Lord Falconer
Shadow leader of the Commons - Chris Bryant
Shadow international development secretary - Diane Abbott
Shadow chief secretary to the Treasury - Seema Malhotra
Shadow Scottish secretary - Ian Murray
Shadow Northern Ireland secretary - Vernon Coaker
Yvette Cooper will chair Labour’s taskforce on refugees.
Michael Dugher is expected to become shadow culture secretary. There are also rumours about Owen Smith becoming shadow work and pensions secretary, and Gloria De Piero becoming shadow defence secretary.

Saturday 12 September 2015

'A very British coup' - a radical left wing Labour leader becomes PM

The excellent Chris Mullin novel & TV drama ‘a very British coup.’ It is the story of Harry Perkins the radical left wing leader of the Labour party who becomes PM. This 1980's political thriller is well worth watching http://www.channel4.com/programmes/a-very-british-coup/on-demand/1867-001

Wednesday 9 September 2015

Tuesday 8 September 2015

Jeremy Corbyn: Labour's Earthquake


Panorama-Jeremy Corbyn: Labour's Earthquake

With behind-the-scenes access to Jeremy Corbyn, reporter John Ware reveals how, from nowhere, he came to dominate the Labour leadership election race.

Monday 7 September 2015

Vote for the name of the new St John's politics magazine

Vote for the name for our new politics magazine by adding one of the choices into the comments box below using your politics nom de plume (U6/L6 email this to me if you haven't already)


            1.Dissent
            2.The Eagle
     3. The Saint
            4. Jacobin
            5. Manifesto
            6. Partisan
            7. Insight


Other St John's Politics Society events this term
1. Debating Matters competition 30th September 4.45-8pm - PAC
 2. Blair, Western intervention & the Stop the War coalition – Lindsey German     (National Convener Stop the War)14th October 5.30-7pm - The Old Chapel.
3. The revolutionary ideas of Karl Marx – Mark L Thomas (leading Marxist, writer & activist) 11th November 5.30-7pm - MMS
4. Chris Grayling MP & Leader of the House of Commons  - 20th November 6pm -                  The Old Chapel
5. National Youth Parliament 'Make Your Mark' - End of September - Details to follow


The new term...


Guide to politics concepts/issues covered & to come this week


The Refugee crisis

L6 Politics - Unit 1
What is Democracy? What are the benefits of democracy? Is democracy always a good thing?
·          Key concepts: Democracy, dictatorship, consent & participation.Essential reading  pages 25-28
Why don’t people take part in politics? Why might this be a bad thing & how do we get more people involved?
·          Key concepts: Citizenship, Participation & Partisan dealignment. Essential reading pages 28-32
How did the Ancient Greeks practice democracy? Is democracy better without politicians?
·          -     Concepts: Direct democracy & referendum. Key Essential reading page 32

L6 Politics Unit 2 
Codified constitution - When did it originate, how does it work, what types are there, what are the benefits & pitfalls? What are the main sources & characteristics of the UK constitution? Should the UK codify its constitution? Essential reading: Essentials of UK Politics, A Heywood, Pages 170-187 

U6 Politics - Unit 3
1.    Why is individual freedom so important for liberals?
2.    Define individualism.
3.    According to Mill, on what grounds can the state rightfully constrain an individual’s liberty?
4.    How do such libertarians view actions that are ‘self regarding’? Give examples.
5.    What does such a view imply about the liberty of others? (Rawls)
6.    Describe Issiah Berlin’s ‘Two concepts of liberty.’
7.    Try & explain how this relates to the question of the individual & the state.(not in text)
8.    What was the main theme of the enlightenment?
9.    Define ‘rationalism’. (See box on p.33)
10. How does this relate to individual liberty? 11. How does this relate to progress?