ETVT parliament holds govt to account effectively Flashcards
- for select committees
look into in depth issues
questioning is clam measured and prof
scrutiny prof and less partisan than pm’s
therefore hold to account effectively
since wright reforms committees more independent of govt
no longer choses by the whips which has allowed backbench who oppose to obtain key roles
labour backbench Emily thronberry criticized govt approach to china ughyr muslims and more assertive on russia sanctions
evidence based work
television hearings increases influence
reported on media hold govt to acc publicly
2023 privileges select committee held bj partygate to acc
govt has to respond whithin 8 weeks
May 2023: Government accepted/partly accepted all Foreign Affairs Select Committee recommendations in Refreshing our approach? Updating the Integrated Review.
Agreed an updated strategy was needed.
Implemented recommendations, including appointing a Director of Resilience in the Cabinet Office to reduce UK dependency on international actors.
Liaison Committee directly questions the Prime Minister twice a year, ensuring accountability.
- for select committees
majority of select committees are drawn from governing party
eg influential treasury, foreign affairs and defense committees are chaired by MPs of governing party
limits indoendence and acc
In the current Parliament, 18/27 of the total Select Committee chairs are from the Labour
Party and there is a majority of Labour members in each committee
they can only over limited topics select committees power to summon witnesses is considerable but not unlimited
In 2013, as Home Secretary, Theresa May blocked the Home Affairs Select Committee from
interviewing Andrew Parker, the head of MI5.
The government accepts about 40% of SC recommendations, but these are usually minor
changes
in summer 2023 education elect committee made several recommendations on enhancing support for early year sector
chose not to implement
bj canclled apt for liaison committee and avoided scrutiny
- for ministerial QT
Leader of the Opposition (6 questions) and leader of the 3rd largest party (2 questions) in PMQs can challenge government policy and expose failures.
Government must respond to concerns from the public, Opposition, and backbenchers.
8 Jan 2025: Diane Abbott raised concerns about social housing shortages in her constituency
Opposition leaders can be effective in scrutiny—Keir Starmer, , effectively challenged the government before becoming PM.
8 May 2024: Starmer criticised the Safety of Rwanda Bill, highlighting 2,400 small boat crossings in 16 days, undermining Sunak’s claims of deterrence.
PMQs is televised weekly, increasing public engagement exposing government failures.
8 May 2024: Natalie Elphicke defected from the Conservatives to Labour at the start of PMQs, maximising media impact and damaging Sunak’s government.
PMQs can influence voters, as viral moments dominate the media cycle and shape public opinion.
Misleading Parliament creates huge pressure to resign, ensuring ministers are competent and well-prepared.
Regular scrutiny at PMQs discourages incompetent or populist leaders, as poor performance can harm party credibility ahead of elections.
- against ministerial QT
PMQs often prioritises political point-scoring over scrutiny, with ministers using soundbites rather than providing substantive answers.
13 Nov 2024: Farage asked Starmer about prescribing Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organisation—Starmer dodged the question with a joke about Farage’s US visits.
Government backbenchers ask ‘planted’ questions drafted by party whips to praise policies rather than scrutinise them.
13 Nov 2024: Labour MP Patrick Hurley asked if the budget would “properly support public services”, giving Starmer an opportunity to criticise the Conservatives.
PMQs is often theatrical rather than substantive, with heckling and disruption damaging public trust in politicians.
24 May 2023: Speaker Lindsay Hoyle ejected Paul Bristow for repeated heckling, highlighting the disorderly nature of PMQs.
Effectiveness of scrutiny depends on the Leader of the Opposition and backbenchers—weak questioning can let the government off the hook.
Feb 2025: Kemi Badenoch criticised for failing to challenge Starmer on the £18bn Chagos Islands deal, allowing him to avoid scrutiny.
Calls to scrap PMQs in favour of more meaningful scrutiny, such as the Liaison Committee, which offers in-depth questioning.
Judgement: While PMQs can be partisan and ineffective, it still forces ministers to defend decisions publicly and keeps them accountable.
- legislative scrutiny
House of Lords plays a crucial role in scrutinising rushed legislation, as the government has less control over the timetable in the Lords.
The Lords often suggests technical amendments to improve bills, ‘amending chamber’.
Example: Levelling-Up and Regeneration Act (2023)—64 Lords amendments were accepted by the Commons, most being technical fixes.
House of Lords can take a stand against controversial bills, to protect human rights or when there is public backlash.
Example: 2001 Anti-Terrorism Bill—Lords forced the government to remove incitement to religious hatred as an offence, arguing it threatened free speech.
Backbench rebellions in the Commons also help hold the government to account, especially with weak or minority governments.
Example: Theresa May’s Brexit defeat (15 Jan 2019)—432-202 loss, including 118 Conservative MPs rebelling, forced the government to renegotiate Brexit terms.
- against legislative scrutiny
Government controls most of the parliamentary timetable, allowing it to rush legislation through, limiting scrutiny.
Example: Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Act—received just 1 day of scrutiny in Committee stage, and skipped Report stage, despite being a major bill.
Governments with large majorities rarely face defeat in the Commons.
Example: Blair (1997-2007)—defeated only four times in three terms.
Example: Sunak (2022-2024)—defeated just once.
Example: Starmer (2024-present)—has a 174-seat majority, making defeat very unlikely.
Most government bills successfully pass through Parliament.
Example: 2022/23 session—43 out of 56 bills (76%) received royal assent, including Illegal Migration Act and Online Safety Act.
House of Lords’ scrutiny is limited by its lack of legislative power.
Parliament Acts (1911 & 1949)—Lords can only delay bills for up to a year; Commons can then force them through.
Example: Blair used this power three times, including to pass the Hunting Act 2004 (banning hunting with dogs).
Salisbury Convention further limits Lords’ ability to block legislation, as they cannot reject manifesto commitments from the ruling party.
themes
select comittees
legislative scrutiny
ministerial QT
examples
Emily thornebrry
2023 privedges select commiteee
in current parliament how many of total select comm are from L
2013 TM
govt accept ? SC recommendations
how many q’s for each party
2025 Dianne abbott
2024 starmer
2024 Natalie elphicke did what
2024 farage
2021L MP Patrick hurley
2023 lindsay hoyle
2025 kemi
leevellimg up ?
2001 anti terrrism
passenger railway servuices
Blair
SSUNAK
STARMER
royal assent?
Emily thronberry criticized govt approach to china ughyr muslims and more assertive on russia sanctions
2023 privileges select committee held bj partygate to acc
18/27
In 2013, as Home Secretary, Theresa May blocked the Home Affairs Select Committee from
interviewing Andrew Parker, the head of MI5.
40% of SC recommendations,
Leader of the Opposition (6 questions) and leader of the 3rd largest party (2 questions)
8 Jan 2025: Diane Abbott raised concerns about social housing shortages in her constituency
Opposition leaders can be effective in scrutiny—Keir Starmer, , effectively challenged the government before becoming PM.
8 May 2024: Starmer criticised the Safety of Rwanda Bill, highlighting 2,400 small boat crossings in 16 days, undermining Sunak’s claims of deterrence.
PMQs is televised weekly, increasing public engagement exposing government failures.
8 May 2024: Natalie Elphicke defected from the Conservatives to Labour at the start of PMQs, maximising media impact and damaging Sunak’s government
13 Nov 2024 PMQs – Farage asked Starmer about prescribing Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organisation; Starmer dodged the question with a joke.
Planted questions – Government backbenchers use pre-drafted questions to praise rather than scrutinise.
13 Nov 2024 PMQs – Labour MP Patrick Hurley asked about public services funding, giving Starmer an easy chance to criticise the Conservatives.
Theatrical nature of PMQs – Heckling and disruption damage public trust.
24 May 2023 PMQs – Speaker Lindsay Hoyle ejected Paul Bristow for repeated heckling.
Scrutiny depends on the Leader of the Opposition – Weak questioning allows the government to avoid tough scrutiny.
Feb 2025 PMQs – Kemi Badenoch failed to challenge Starmer on the £18bn Chagos Islands deal, letting him avoid scrutiny
Levelling-Up and Regeneration Act (2023)—64 Lords amendments were accepted by the Commons, most being technical fixes.
2001 Anti-Terrorism Bill—Lords forced the government to remove incitement to religious hatred as an offence, arguing it threatened free speech.
Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Act—received just 1 day of scrutiny in Committee stage, and skipped Report stage, despite being a major bill.
Blair (1997-2007)—defeated only four times in three terms.
Example: Sunak (2022-2024)—defeated just once.
Example: Starmer (2024-present)—has a 174-seat majority, making defeat very unlikely.
2022/23 session—43 out of 56 bills (76%) received royal assent,
LOA
dependent on size of govt majority
