4.2 The relationship between the Executive and Parliament Flashcards
which arguments support the UK government being an elected dictatorship?
government control over parliamentary buisiness: public bill committees
- always have a government majority in the bill committees, and they’re whipped.
- It is unusualy for the opposition to significantly amend legislation at committee stage
which arguments support the UK government being an elected dictatorship?
support of MPs?
- a strong government can rely on support of its MPs to pass any legislation it wishes to
which arguments support the UK government being an elected dictatorship?
statutory (what)
statutory instruments or secondary legislation allow the government to change the law, and the HoC has much less scrutiny
which arguments support the UK government being an elected dictatorship?
Patronage?
- the PM holds great patronage power
- government whips can offer backbenchers opportunities in government or withhold chance of advancement
which arguments support the UK government being an elected dictatorship?
military?
- the PM doesn’t legally have to consult parliament on the use of British millitary forces
- Eg. Theresa May airstrikes on syrian chemical installations
2018
which arguments support the UK government being an elected dictatorship?
House of Lords SC?
- salisbury convention
- HoL cannot stop government legislation that was in the winning parties manifesto
which arguments support the UK government being an elected dictatorship?
what does the relationship between parliament and the executive depend on?
- it changes depending on the circumstances
- means minority governments will find it much harder to pass legislation, especially when backbenchers are unreliable in a government with a small majority
- equally, if the opposition is united around a strong leader to win the next election this can greatly undermine the confidfence of the government
evidence of weak/strong parliamentary influence over the executive
weak: 1979-1987 Thatcher’s leadership vs labour
weak
- contrasted the divisions within labour
- which led to a weak party and the foundation of the SDP in 1981
- this meant there was a split in opposition in 1983… Thatcher increased her parliamentary majority to 144
- Neither Michael Foot or Neil Kinnock was able to effectively challenge her in the HoC
evidence of weak/strong parliamentary influence over the executive
1997-2001 Blairs government and the opposition
weak
- Blairs landslide victory
- many found it difficult to oppose his third way political philosophy, and the conservatives only had 165 MPs
- lack of opposition continued with divisions over the EU
evidence of weak/strong parliamentary influence over the executive
1974-1979 Harold Wilson’s majority and James Callaghan
strong parliamentary influence
- Harold Wilson had a majority of 3
- James Callaghan took over as party leader in 1976
- Labours majority disappeared and callaghan had to force to form a confidence-and-supply agreement with the Liberal Party from 77-78
- the government struggled on until it was defeated in a vote of confidence by 311-310 votes
evidence of weak/strong parliamentary influence over the executive
2017: Theresa May and the agreement with the DUP, Brexit, labour.
Strong parliamentary influence
- conservatives lost seats and May became PM of a minority administration
- she established a confidence-and-supply agreement with the DUP which meant she had to pass Brexit legislation even without a majority
- This caused divisions and an increasingly self-confident Labour
evidence of weak/strong parliamentary influence over the executive
2019: Johnson’s brexit proposals and parliamentary control
Strong parliamentary influence
- Johnson’s brexit proposals were more unpopular with pro-european conservatives
- parliament seized control of parliamentary buisiness and enacted the Benn Bill extending the Brexit deadline if a deal was not achieved
Though not even a powerful government should take parliament for granted
2021 covid passes and Johnson
- 2021, 99 conservative MPs voted against the covid passes, forcing Johnson to rely on labour support for the bill to pass
Though not even a powerful government should take parliament for granted
2022: Johnson resignation
- Johnson was forced to resign as PM when he lost the support of both his cabinet and the parliamentary conservative party
- as a result of illegal downing street parties.
has parliament increasingly been able to control the government recently
report on reforming parliament.. name + labour MP who chaired the committee
-
- ‘rebuilding the house’
- MP Tony Wright (former Labour)
has parliament increasingly been able to control the government recently
2010 Backbench buisiness committee established: what did it allow?
- backbenchers could determine the issues they wish to debate for 35 days each parliament
- important way MPs can raise topics for debate
has parliament increasingly been able to control the government recently
since 2010 how have the chairs of select committees been elected? what about the members?
- chairs: by secret ballot of all MPs
- members: secret ballot within each party
(previously whips selected chairs and members, which promoted patronage)
has parliament increasingly been able to control the government recently
Liason Committee: makeup? questioning?
- the heads of all the select committees and regularly qustions the PM
- the meeting takes place in a non-partisan, restrained atmosphere, so it can put the PM under sustained objective scrutiny.
has parliament increasingly been able to control the government recently
E-Petitions
can now be sent directly to parliament and a HoC petitions committee 2015 decides when and where those eligible will be heard.
has parliament increasingly been able to control the government recently
urgent questions?
- recent house of commons speakers have authorised more urgent questions making ministers more accountable to the HoC
- 1991-2009 saw 0.1 urgent questions per day
- 2017-2019 saw 0.88 urgent questions per day
has parliament increasingly been able to control the government recently
Military forces.
may have also reduced executive power, now that the house of commons should be consulted on the commitment of them
has parliament increasingly been able to control the government recently
Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011
- stopped the PM requesting a dissolution of Parliament and a general election at their convenience.
- PM had to recieve 2/3 majority for a snap election to be called
has parliament increasingly been able to control the government recently
Military operation convention: Theresa May 2018
- ignored the convention and exercised royal perogative when the RAF joined US/French air strikes on Syrian government chemical weapon installations
furthermore in a sudden emergency the PM may ignore this convention
has parliament increasingly been able to control the government recently
Johnson and repealing the Fixed Terms Parliament Act 2011: which act the ability for the PM to call an election restored in?
- repealed under Johnson
- the right for a prime minister to decide the date of a general election was restored in the Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act 2022
