Key Facts Flashcards
Where do Commons (backbenchers!) effectively legislate
House of Lords Act 2014 - introduced by Dan Byles
Where do Commons fail to legislate
2018: Chris Chope blocks upskirting bill
How many private members bills passed
15 2017-2019
Important things debated due to Backbench Business Committee
Grenfell Tower, 2019
Cancer in teens, 2020 (although held in Westminster Hall where fewer MPs reside!)
Example of ineffective debate?
2021 Budget only debated for 2 hours in the Lords
Effective debate
2015 speech by Hillary Benn on why we should launch air strikes on Syria
Where have PMQs been effective
Brought attention to cost of living crisis 2022
Where have PMQs been ineffective
‘Sir Beer and Korma’, 2022
Where have MPs effectively represented constituents
Sarah Champion MP voted for Brexit according to Rotheram!
Where have MPs failed to represent constituents?
Instead of representing their MPs, they just get kicked out of their party so most tie party line
-> Boris Johnson has expelled 21 MPs from the parliamentary Conservative Party after they rebelled against him in a bid to prevent a no-deal Brexit, including Rory Stewart, 2019
Where have Lords tried to be effective in representation
Held a rebellion against Borders Bill in 2022 over the power it gives the government to stop agreement that would allow asylum seekers to be shipped to Rwanda stopped!
Where have SC failed to overrule executive
Begum v Home Dept 2021
Friends of the Earth v Heathrow Airport 2020
Jobseekers Act overruled Reilly v DWP 2018
Where have SC failed to protect rights
Begum v Home Dept 2021
Jobseekers Act overruled Reilly v DWP 2018
Abu Qatada v UK 2012
Where have SC overruled executive
UNISON v Lord Chancellor 2017
Miller v PM 2019
Treasury v Ahmed 2010
Where have SC protected rights
Tigere v Secretary of State for Business 2015
UNISON v Lord Chancellor 2017
Treasury v Ahmed 2010
How representative is the SC
1 woman (Lady Rose) All white
Examples of fear of the court (sub judice)
In the News of the World Case In 2014, Cameron condemned Andy Coulson - his previous press secretary - as a liar - whilst the case was going on. Justice Saunders chastised him for it.
Where has collective ministerial responsibility declining
Priti Patel Donald trump 2021
Andrea Leadson 2019
AV 2011
Where have select committees been effective?
Sarah Wollaston served as Committee Chair for the Health and Social Care Committee 2014-2019
Where have select committees been ineffective?
2013: Theresa may (as Home Secretary) blocked Home Affairs Committee from interviewing head of MI5 over Counter Terrorism.
Where were the Lords influential?
Lords defeat of George Osborne bedroom tax, 2015, led to it being scrapped (despite this contradicting HoL Act 1949)
Largest Commons defeat
2019: Brexit under May (230 vote defeat)
Where were backbenchers voting important
2020: Huawei backbench rebellion
Low turnout under AMS
2016: 55%
Northenr Ireland Agreement failure
NI shutdown 2017-2020
resignation of Paul Givan, 2022 and no First Minister sincce
Has calls for Scottish independence been silenced
+Referendum failed (55%)
-500,000 petition, 2019
Mayors effective?
Sadiq Khan got £60m finding for Manchester, 2021
Evidence of government dominance
Only 1 Conservative voted against giving May the power to revoke article 50, 2017
What happened with Matt Hancock. What did that show?
2021: resigned after pictures came out of him breaking lockdown rules with his secretary.
Individual!
What happened with Amber Rudd. What does it show
2018: resigned over wind rush. Individual!
What happened with Estelle Morris, what does it show?
2003: resigned after standards were questioned after literacy and numeracy standards were not met. Individual!
What happened with Priti Patel bullying. What does it show?
2021: did not resign despite allegations of bullying coming out. Lack of individual
What happened with Chris Grayling. What does it show?
2019: did not resign as Transport Sec despite being nicknamed failing grayling and £50m contracts with ferries like P&O. Lack of individual
What happened with Gavin Williamson. What does it show?
2020: failing of A Level and GCSE results with algorithms. Did not resign. Lack of individual.
What happened with Sajid Javid. What does it show?
2022: kept collective responsibility by only questioning Boris’ stance on stopping free test kits in private.
What happened with Lord Frost. What does it show?
2022: resigned instead of supporting Boris’ government. actually shows collective as did not support and quit as convention.
What happened with Dominic Cummings. What does it show?
2020: protected Dominic Cummings after he was accused of breaking lockdown rules after travelling to Barnard castle. shows collective
What happened with Priti Patel Trump. What does it show?
2021: refused to condemn Trump like Boris had. decline of collective
What happened with Andrea Leadson. What does it show?
2019: Andrea Leadson and other senior Cabinet Ministers voted against Theresa May extension to Article 50 to try to trigger a no deal Brexit. never resigned. decline of collective
What happened with Coalition 2010. What does it show?
2011: Conservatives publicly condemned AV. COALITION. No collective
