effectiveness of parliamentary representatives in holding government to account

Question 1

-Introduction

Answer 1

• The U.K. Parliament today operates under a democratic system.
• This means that the government and their decision-making should be held accountable by members of parliament (MPs).
• Whilst there are many methods which can be used in order to hold parliament to account, these methods vary in terms of success.
• The factors that will be looked at are Prime Minister Question Time, select committees, votes of no confidence and the role of MPs.
• In this essay it will be argued that Parliament is mostly effective in holding the government to account.

Question 2

PMQT Good

Answer 2

• It can be argued that Parliament is mostly effective in holding the government to account in terms of Prime Minister Question Time.
• This is because there are 30 minutes allocated every Wednesday for the Prime Minister to answer MP’s questions and create a platform for MP’s to be involved in legislative proceedings.
• Evidence of this is when a backbencher brought forward the issue of Female Genital Mutilation to the Prime Minster in 2018, which resulted in legislation begin created for women’s safeguarding.

Question 3

PMQT Analysis

Answer 3

• Arguably, this shows that Prime Minister Question Time is mostly effective in holding the government to account as the issues raised during question time can impact the government to implement meaningful laws for a sense of accountability and in this case to provide safeguarding for women.

Question 4

PMQT Bad

Answer 4

• However, it can be argued that there are flaws that restrict the effectiveness of Prime Minister Question Time.
• This is because there is an order paper produced before the meeting, MPs are not able to question the Prime Minister if their name isn’t on the list, even if their voice would be useful to the discussion.
• Evidence of this is in March 2024 when Dianne Abbott was not called upon during Prime Minister Question Time despite wanting to, even though the issues discussed directly referenced her as part of the racism row after a Tory donor made racist comments against the MP.

Question 5

PMQT Analysis

Answer 5

• Arguably this shows that there are flaws that restrict the effectiveness of Prime Minister Question Time as there is a strict order of proceedings during Prime Minister Question Time as MPs can be denied a voice to speak out even on an issue if their name is not on the list even if they could have different view on the topic.

Question 6

PMQT Evaluation

Answer 6

• In evaluation, Prime Minister Question Time makes Parliament mostly effective in holding the government to account. As whilst not every MP can contribute, even when the issues raised would benefit from their input.
• Nevertheless, Prime Minister Question Time provides a platform for MPs to criticise and influence the passing of laws, hence being able to hold the government accountable for their ruling.

Question 7

Role of MPS Good

Answer 7

• It can be argued that Parliament is mostly effective in holding the government to account in terms of parliamentary representatives having significant influence on legislation.
• This is because MPs have the power to scrutinise proposed legislation and more importantly, they can introduce members bills to parliament.
• Evidence of this is that the Firearms act 2023 was proposed via private members bill by MP Shaun Bailey and became law.

Question 8

Role of MPS Analysis

Answer 8

• Arguably this shows parliament is mostly effective in holding the government to account as MPs can put acts forward which can have an impact on the UK and sometimes these acts are passed after scrutiny.

Question 9

Role of MPS Good+

Answer 9

• Furthermore, MPs can vote against government measures through the use of backbench rebellion.
• This is because members of the party in government are able to vote against a bill that their party put forward.
• Evidence of this is that Boris Johnson suffered his worst Commons rebellion when 55 Conservative MPs opposed the COVID-19 tier system in 2020.

Question 10

Role of MPS Analysis

Answer 10

• Arguably this shows Parliament is mostly effective in holding the government to account as parliamentary representatives can freely express their opinion when they do not agree with governments actions, even when it is their own party.

Question 11

Role of MPS Evaluation

Answer 11

• In evaluation, Parliament is mostly effective in holding the government to account as MPs can effectively hold the government to account because they can have the ability to highlight flaws in current laws and propose new legislation.
• Furthermore, an MPs ability to rebel against their own party if they deem the party’s actions to be unfair gives them further power to hold the government accountable.

Question 12

Role of Select Committees Good

Answer 12

• It can be argued that select committees are mostly effective in parliament when holding the government to account.
• This means that for each government department there exists a parliamentary select committee who examine and report on certain aspects of policy and administration.
• Evidence of this is after the Privileges committee found that Boris Johnson misled the parliament in 2023, they said “There is no precedent for a prime minister having found to have deliberately misled the house”.

Question 13

Role of Select Committees Analysis

Answer 13

• Arguably this shows Parliament is mostly effective in holding the government to account as they are able to investigate possible wrong doings in government and try to reach a conclusion on to handle the situation.

Question 14

Role of Select Committees bad

Answer 14

• However, select committees are not always effective in holding the government accountable.
• This is because members can resign in order to avoid consequences from an action they have carried out.
• Evidence of this is according to the Guardian 2023, “If Johnson had not resigned as an MP the committee would have recommended a 90-day suspension from parliament”.

Question 15

Role of Select Committees analysis

Answer 15

• Arguably this shows that the Government can avoid being held to account be escaping potential committee sanctions, as shown by the former Prime Ministers ability to walk away rather than face suspension and a likely by-election.

Question 16

Role of Select Committees Evaluation

Answer 16

• In evaluation, Parliament is mostly effective in holding the government to account through select committees as while MPs can avoid certain punishments by resigning.
• Nevertheless, select committees are able to gold the government accountable through scrutiny and the ability to impose sanctions.

Question 17

Votes of no confidence good

Answer 17

• It can be argued that Parliament is mostly effective in holding the government to account in terms of motions of no confidence.
• This is because parliament can force the government to dissolve if their policies are not well received.
• Evidence of this is in January 2019, a motion of no confidence was called by Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the opposition Labour party, against Theresa Mays Conservative government.

Question 18

Votes of no confidence analysis

Answer 18

• Arguably this shows Parliament is mostly effective in holding the government to account through motions of no confidence as parliament can force the government to resign if they are not confident in their ability to govern the country.

Question 19

Votes of no confidence bad

Answer 19

• However, it can be argued that parliament is ineffective in holding the government to account as motions of no confidence are very unlikely to succeed.
• This is because they tend to have no impact on the government as they are unlikely to gain a majority and therefore be passed.
• Evidence of this is that the January 2019 motion of no confidence against Theresa Mays government was unsuccessful, losing 325-306.

Question 20

Votes of no confidence analysis

Answer 20

• Arguably this shows parliament is ineffective in holding the government to account as it is unlikely the government will ever receive a majority vote so the person under fire would likely not have to resign from power.

Question 21

Votes of no confidence evaluation

Answer 21

• In evaluation, motions of no confidence are mostly effective in holding government to account as whilst votes are rarely successful forcing the government to step down due to a lack of confidence.
• Nevertheless, motions of no confidence still provide an opportunity for MPs to vote and call to account the government for ineffectively ruling the UK.

Question 22

Conclusion

Answer 22

• In conclusion, parliament is ineffective in holding the government to account. Prime Minister Question Time makes Parliament mostly effective in holding the government to account.
• As whilst not every MP can contribute, even when the issues raised would benefit from their input.
• Nevertheless, Prime Minister Question Time provides a platform for MPs to criticise and influence the passing of laws, hence being able to hold the government accountable for their ruling.
• Parliament is mostly effective in holding the government to account through select committees as while MPs can avoid certain punishments by resigning.
• Nevertheless, select committees are able to gold the government accountable through scrutiny and the ability to impose sanctions.
• Furthermore, motions of no confidence are mostly effective in holding government to account as whilst votes are rarely successful forcing the government to step down due to a lack of confidence.
• Nevertheless, motions of no confidence still provide an opportunity for MPs to vote and call to account the government for ineffectively ruling the UK.
• Overall, parliament is ineffective in holding the government to account.