Evaluate the extent to which backbenchers in the House of Commons play a significant role

Question 1

LoA

Answer 1

they do play a significant role

Question 2

para 1 theme

Answer 2

backbench business committee

Question 3

para 2 theme

Answer 3

legislation

Question 4

para 3 theme

Answer 4

select committees

Question 5

para 1 - BBBC

Answer 5

• Created from 2010 Wright Reforms, allows backbenchers to control agenda for 35 days a year.
  
  • MPs can provide ‘redress of grievances’ for their constituents by raising cases in the House of Commons.
    MPs can rasie public awareness of issues such as growing anti-Semitism in the Labour party (Luciana Berger) and speaking out about rape

Question 6

para 1 - however

Answer 6

• In spite of the establishment of the BBBC, the government still dominates most of the parliamentary agenda
  
  • Although MPs can initiate debates and vote in favour of e-petitions, this does not mean that the gov has got to act on or support these proposals
    MPs are expected to obey the party whip. Ambitious MPs who aspire to a frontbench position can become ‘lobby fodder’

Question 7

para 1 - rebuttal

Answer 7

• Despite this, since 2007 backbenchers seem to have become more independent when voting in Parliament than in previous decades. There have been many Conservatives factions that have turned against Johnson, including votes against him on COVID restrictions and the Rashford school meals laws.
  Backbenchers are not bound by collective responsibility, then can oppose whips

Question 8

para 2 - legislation

Answer 8

• Backbenchers can introduce private members bills. Some of the such as Dan Byles’ House of Lords reform act 2014, can be very significant.
  
  • MPs can make amendments to legislation on Public Bills Committees
  • If the government is not confident it has the support of enough backbenchers it can drop legislation, In 2005, having lost a Commons vote when 49 Labour MPs disobeyed a three line whip, the Blair government abandoned proposals to allow terrorist suspects to be held for 90 days without charge.
    By March 2019, backbenchers had defeated Theresa May’s Brexit deal three times. MPs also voted to reject a no-deal Brexit, as well as temporarily taking control of the Brexit agenda to see if they could agree on a way forward

Question 9

para 2 - however

Answer 9

• Most private member bills fail because of insufficient parliamentary time being made available for them
  
  • The government’s increasing use of secondary (delegated) legislation to change laws has negatively impacted on MPs’ legislative function
    Although MPs can initiate debates and vote in favour of e-petitions, this does not mean that the government has got to act on or support these proposals

Question 10

para 2 - rebuttal

Answer 10

General trends show that backbencher activity is growing e.g. growing opposition towards Boris Johnson throughout lockdown.

Question 11

para 3 - select committees

Answer 11

• Backbenchers on select committees play an important role scrutinising the work of government departments
  
  • The Liaison Committee (chairs of all select committees) holds the PM accountable for policy development and implementation. Between 2002 and 2021, 42 sessions have been held.three appearances a year of 90 minutes apiece. The sessions have been described as “a significant advance in the scrutiny of the Prime Minister”.
    Margaret Hodges & PAC is a key example of the success of select committees and how MPs can use them effectively

Question 12

para 3 - however

Answer 12

• The government can ignore the advice of select committees (the Foreign Affairs select committee advised against any military intervention in Syria)
  If the government has a large parliamentary majority it will have an inbuilt majority of backbench support. It will thus be able to survive even large backbench rebellions

Question 13

para 3 - rebuttal

Answer 13

• Even if they are not accepted, select committee reports receive a lot of publicity, especially when they are critical