Chapter 6 Parliament

Question 1

Composition of the House of Commons

Answer 1

1. Frontbench and backbench MPs
2. Party whips - Since MPs are elected on a party manifesto. However, they also represent the interests of their constituents. Therefore, whips are elected to tightly control MPs

For example, in 2019 21 Conservative MPs such as Kenneth Clarke, Phillip Hammond, and Rory Stewart had the party whip withdrawn for supporting the House of Commons taking control over EU negotiations, Gavin Williamson, leak of the ‘pork pie plotters’ by the whips to the media in 2022 over attempt to oust Johnson

3. Speaker of the House - role to ensure parliament is effective. Can suspend members such as Ian Blackford for claiming Boris Johnson had misled parliament
4. Leader of the opposition - role to scrutinise government while convince public that it is the government in waiting

Question 2

Main functions of the House of Commons - legislation

Answer 2

Legislation - Following the second reading of a bill it is scrutinised by MPs in a PBC.

However, PBCs vote on party lines and have a government majority. Many Bills MPs are expected to vote the way whips tell them to. Many changes to the law are now made by secondary legislation using statutory instruments.

Question 3

Scrutiny and debate - parliamentary Backbench Business Committee

Answer 3

Established in 2010 provides the backbench with 35 days a year to control parliamentary business. In 2021-2022 debates included Black History Month, gender-specific religious persecution, and the role of Irish in Britain.

Question 3

Scrutiny and debate - Petitions Committee

Answer 3

2015 the petitions committee was created to schedule debates on e-petitions that had reached 100,000. In march 2022 the committee arranged a debate on waiving visa requirements for Ukrainian refugees.

Question 3

Main functions of the House of Commons - providing ministers

Answer 3

Legislature is fused with the executive therefore MPs that are elected can fill ministerial roles

Question 4

Scrutiny and debate - Adjournment debates

Answer 4

Take place at the end of each day’s sitting. MP may ask a question of a minister. Limited to 30 minutes. In 2020 Neil Parish used this to call on the BBC to protect regional news programmes

Question 5

Scrutiny and debate - early day motions

Answer 5

Early day motions are introduced urging debate on a specific issue. They can demonstrate parliamentary support for a particular issue.

Question 6

Scrutiny and debate - emergency debates

Answer 6

MPs can request an emergency debate which they have three minutes to make the case. The House of Commons then decides whether the debate will take place.

For example, on 3rd of September 2019 Oliver Letwin’s case for an emergency debate blocking the no deal Brexit was approved by John Bercow. It then passed enabling the Commons to successfully demand that the government extend its Brexit negotiations.

Question 7

Scrutiny and debate - urgent questions

Answer 7

An MP can ask a question of a minister that the minister can be required to respond to.

For example, January 2022 Lindsay Hoyle granted Angela Rayner an urgent question on whether the prime minister had knowingly broken lockdown restrictions

Question 8

Legitimation

Answer 8

Parliamentary bills require the consent of the House of Commons. Since the 1911 Parliament Act the House of Commons has the exclusive rights to approve the budget. Since 2003 parliament has to be consulted before war.

In 2018 Theresa May decided to join US-led assaults in Syria without consulting the Commons

Question 9

Composition of the House of Lords

Answer 9

1958 Life Peerages Act gave the pm the authority to nominate life peers to the House of Lords. In 1999 Tony Blair removed the sitting right of 750 hereditary peers. The number is fixed at 92 and the party composition remains he same. In 2024, there were 792 members of this 257 are Conservative and 168 are Labour. Evgeny Lebedev has been seen as a security risk by HOLAC

Question 10

Function of House of Lords - legislation

Answer 10

Once a bill is sent, the Lords can propose an amendment. The Commons does not have to accept the advice and the lords can only delay legislation for a year.

For example, 2015 George Osborne axed his plan to cut tax credits after a large bipartisan defeat in the Lords.

The House of Lords’ criticism that the Internal Market Bill 2020 did not recognise devolved authorities led to the government changing the framework

However, Johnson’s 80 seat majority rejected all five of the House of Lords’ amendments to the EU Bill

Question 11

Function of House of Lords - scrutiny

Answer 11

The House of Lords scrutinises the work of government through oral questions for ministers.

Sessional committees deal with a particular issue.

Special enquiries investigate a specific issue for a limited time.

In 2020 House of Lords special enquiry into negative consequences of gambling reported its findings.

Joint committees on Human Rights and National Security with HoC which are very highly regarded.

For example, in December 2021 there were 127 recommendations for enhanced online security for the public

Question 12

Examples of specialist experience in the House of Lords

Answer 12

1. Lord Norton of Louth - Politics professor at Hull University. Able to contribute as a lord with his constitutional insights.
2. Baroness Black of Strome - appointed in 2021 she has worked as a forensic anthropologist and played a leading role in war crimes investigations such as Kosovo
3. Lord Darroch of Kew - a member of the diplomatic service for 50 years was national security adviser and Brritish ambassador to the United States.

Question 13

Does the House of Lords fulfil an important role? yes

Answer 13

1. The expertise of peers improves legislation
2. The reports from committees are held in high regard
3. The Lords committee on secondary legislation fulfils an important function of scrutinising statutory instruments.
4. House of lords raises important issues for public debate
5. House of Lords scrutinises ministers further
6. If a government has a large majority the House of Lords provides an important source of independent opposition

Question 14

Parliament interaction with the executive

Answer 14

1. Backbenchers - challenge the legislation of the executive

For example, 2003 Iraq, Theresa May continuing to fight for causes such as trafficking until 2023 resignation.

2. Legislative process - to debate during the three readings of a bill and vote
3. Government bills - job of MPs to scrutinise and vote against if necessary government bills

For example, EU Bill 2018 May Brexit deal was defeated by 432 votes to 202, 2019 The Letwin amendment too allow for the House of Commons to take control of parliamentary business to stop ‘no deal Brexit’, EU Bill 2019 to limit discussion to 3 days was defeated 322/208

4. Private Members’ Bill - members of both houses can put forward a bill

Ballot- beginning of each parliament suggestions are put forward, MPs can put forward their proposal for a bill in 10 minutes, presentation an MP formally presents their bill.

PMBs can be filibustered for example 2018 Peter Kyle’s bill to lower voting age was not given enough time

Question 14

Does the House of Lords fulfil an important role? no

Answer 14

1. Since the lords cannot claim democratic legitimacy the government can ignore amendments
2. The Lords can only delay legislation for a year
3. The Lords cannot vote on finance bills. Salisbury convention means they cannot vote against manifesto legislation
4. Lords may be highly regarded but there is little evidence they have influence on government decision making
5. Since the House of Lords is unelected it lacks a representative function which undermines its parliamentary usefulness
6. The House of Commons also has a strong committee system so House of Lords committees are not essential

Question 15

Scrutiny in parliament - select committees

Answer 15

In 2020, Jeremy Hunt was elected chair of the Health and Social Care Committee. His report in 2021 strongly criticised the government response but praised the vaccine role out

Tobias Ellwood was elected chair of the defence committee after being a former soldier and defence minister. His report in July 20201 was on effective ways to combat Russian strategic goals

Tom Tugendhat was the chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee from 2017 to 2022. In 2021 committee produced a powerful condemnation of Uyghur treatment

Question 16

Scrutiny in parliament - ministerial questions

Answer 16

As executive sits in the legislature it can be questioned for its policy. From Monday to Thursday an hour of parliamentary business time is set aside for oral questions for the ministers.

Question 17

Scrutiny in parliament - Prime Minister’s questions

Answer 17

The pm attends every Wednesday between 12 and 12.30 to respond to questions.

In 2015 Sir Gerald Kaufman said that PMQs had become an exchange of pointless and useless declamations

However, in 2022 and 2023 it provided importance for the scrutiny of Boris Johnson and Liz Truss

Question 18

Scrutiny in parliament - Liaison Committees

Answer 18

Represents chairs of all select committees and twice a year questions the prime minister.

In 2022 chair Bernard Jenkin explained it was unacceptable that the government not list their climate strategy. Boris Johnson was also questioned.

Question 19

Scrutiny in parliament - Opposition days

Answer 19

20 days are set aside for the opposition.

In 2009 a Lib Dem motion passed to provide Gurkha pensions.

In 2019 a motion failed from Labour to declare a climate emergency

Question 20

Has the influence of backbench MPs increased in recent years? yes

Answer 20

1. greater independence of select committees has made them more effective in scrutinising the government
2. The Backbench Business Committee has provided MPs with more control over the parliamentary agenda
3. The petitions committee also provides MPs with more opportunity
4. The Liaison Committee twice a year holds the PM accountable for policy
5. MPs play an increasingly important legitimising role Iraq 2003
6. From 2017 to 2019 backbenchers were important in delaying and scrutinising the Brexit bills
7. Erosion of parliamentary support has led to May, Johnson, and Truss resignation

Question 21

Has the influence of backbench MPs increased in recent years? no

Answer 21

1. Despite recent reforms select committee reports and the scrutiny of the Liaison Committee have no binding power over the government
2. The governments increasing use of secondary legislation to change laws negatively impacts on MPs legislative powers
3. It is only a convention that the House of Commons should be consulted on war. In 2018 May authorised military action in Syria without parliament
4. Although MPs wielded significant power during Brexit negotiations, Johnson’s 80 seat majority quickly changed that and 21 MPs lost the whip for voting yes on the Letwin amendment

Question 22

The role and significance of the opposition

Answer 22

1. Ensures that government justifies its legislative programme
2. Create a public debate by providing reasoned arguments why the cannot support the government decisions.
3. Be prepared to provide an alternative government
4. use their various front bench spokespeople to focus on the government departments and expose any failures

For example, Diane Abbott proved effective at keeping pressure on Amber Rudd during Windrush

In 2022 Angela Rayner attacked Boris Johnson over allegations he had broken lock down regulation