Holding the Government to Account Essay Flashcards
Introduction
Some would argue that the most effective way that Parliamentary Representatives can hold the government to account is committees. It could also be argued that the House of Lords and PMQ/FMQ are more effective ways that MPs and Lords can scrutinise the government. Ultimately this response will show how committees are really the most effective.
Committees
Describe
This is because MPs are able to work in a much smaller group and get a more detailed understanding of how well the government is (or isn’t) doing. As these are public and shown on TV ministers have to work really hard to not be embarrassed or make mistakes.
Committees
Example
For example, Yvette Cooper of the Home Affairs committee, through her questioning, exposed that the government didn’t know how many people were coming into the UK with coronavirus.
Committees
Analysis
This shows that through the work that the Home Affairs committee has done, they were able to establish that there was an issue that wasn’t being addressed and that the government didn’t know how to respond to what was being questioned, showing that the committee were able to scrutinise the lack of work the Government has been doing about a certain topic
Committees - ineffective
Describe
This means that the government still has the power to ignore or refuse any advice given to them by the committees. The government can also choose to hold back or delay reports that are produced by committees and release them at a time that better suits the government.
Committees - ineffective
Example
For example, in 2019 the UK government avoided publishing a report into Russian meddling in the EU referendum before the 2019 election because it might have made them look bad.
Committees - ineffective
Analysis
This shows that the government still has most of the control over what decisions are being made, and they have the ability to ignore the suggestions being made, therefore showing the committees do not have the most authority against the government and cannot hold them to account as effectively as they intended to.
Committees
Link back
The ability for MPs to develop expertise and question Ministers in a more forensic way over a longer period of time does make this method of scrutiny more effective than their work in the chamber; however, it is at its best when MPs have no loyalty to the government.
House of Lords
Describe
As a completely separate chamber the House of Lords faces much less pressure to do to the will of the government. Indeed, because of their unelected lifelong position, the Lords are more willing to critically scrutinise the government without fear of punishment.
House of Lords
Example
For example, in 2019, the Government suffered around 100 defeats in the Lords which have forced the government to change it’s plans including over government deals with countries that have been committing genocide.
House of Lords
Analysis
These defeats force the government to think again, or if they chose to carry on then have to publicly defend themselves which might make them unpopular to voters.
House of Lords - ineffective
Describe
This is because there are so many Lords and the vast majority of the Lords have been appointed by the Prime Minister of the day and so often people are given a peerage (entry to the Lords) because of their loyalty to the party and Prime Minister rather than because of their expertise.
House of Lords - ineffective
Example
For example, in 2020, Boris Johnson put his own brother into the House of Lords to join nearly 800 other members.
House of Lords - ineffective
Analysis
This means that if there are too many MPs at 650 to properly scrutinise the government then over 800 peers, many of whom are allies of the government, might be even less effective.
House of Lords
Link back
The expertise and diluted party loyalty of the Lords can be a useful combination for scrutinising the government in a less biassed way however none the less the PM can still rely on considerable support in this chamber.