Confidence Votes SCRUTINY

Question 1

What is a confidence vote

Answer 1

This is when parliament believes that an executive is acting ultra vires or has lost authority the opposition can table a vote of no confidence
A motion of no confidence is a motion moved in the House of Commons expressing lack of confidence in the government or a specific minister.

Question 2

What are the advantages of confidence votes

Answer 2

• they can be known as the most powerful scrutiny method
• Can result in an election if a new government cannot be formed within 14 days
• they are effective even if threatened as it can make a government seem weak.
• The last pm to lose a vote of no confidence was James callaghan in 1978

Question 3

What are the disadvantages of confidence votes

Answer 3

• rare and hard to pass for example, Theresa may narrowly winning a vote by 325 to 306 votes.
• Majorities can make this ineffective as career politicians will want to climb the ladder