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%
