A ‣ Elections in the UK

When you vote for someone, you choose them by putting a cross (X) on an official piece of paper (called a secret ballot because no one knows who you vote for), or by putting up your hand. In the UK, a general election is when the people elect¹ the next government². These elections are held³ at least every five years. Each constituency⁴ elects one person from one political party. That person then becomes the MP (Member of Parliament) for that area, and the political party with the most MPs – there are 650 at the moment – forms the next government. The leader⁵ of the party in power⁶ is the Prime Minister.

¹ choose by voting
² the group of people who control the country
³ organised
⁴ an area where people vote
⁵ the person in control
⁶ in control (of the country)

B ‣ Political policies

People usually vote for a political party because they believe in the party’s ideas [think the ideas are good or right], and these ideas become policies [sets of plans and ideas that a political party has agreed on].

¹ give something to those who need it (also provide someone with something)
² looking after people, especially old people
³ help (sometimes in the form of money)
⁴ old
⁵ make less; syn cut
⁶ dealing with everyone in the same way; opp unfair
⁷ money people must pay the government
⁸ most importantly
⁹ behave or deal with someone in a particular way
¹⁰ having the same importance; adv equally