Lesson 28 (Keal)

Question 1

In 2022, what did Ian Blackford say and what did that lead to?

Answer 1

2022

Ian Blackford (then leader of the SNP)

Suspended by the Speaker

For claiming the PM Boris Johnson had willingly misled Parliament over lockdown parties held at 10 downing street

Question 2

Process of creating legislation?

Answer 2

First reading

Second reading

Public Bill Committee

Third Reading

HofL (where all these are done again)

Royal assent (passed as a law)

Question 3

First reading

Answer 3

Bill formally presented to Parliament

Question 4

Second Reading

Answer 4

Main principles are debated by MPs

Question 5

Public Bill Committee

Answer 5

Once a bill has passed its second reading in the HofC, its details are then considered by a Public Bill Committee

This Committee also discusses amendments to the bill

Question 6

Third Reading

Answer 6

Debated

Question 7

Criticisms of the Public Bill Committee?

Answer 7

They vote on party lines (are un-objective)

Question 8

How can the executive sidestep the House of Commons scrutinises their legislation?

Answer 8

Many changes to the law are made by secondary/delegate legislation

Using statutory instruments

(Sometimes called Henry V111 clauses)

Rather than by enacting primary legislation

Question 9

An example of how the legislative helps the PM find talent for the executive?

Answer 9

When the young tory MP Iain Macleod impressed Churchill in a parliamentary debate, Churchill wanted him as a minister

The chief whip said ‘he’s too young to be eligible’ and Churchill said ‘he’s too eligible to be too young’

Question 10

Why do Backbenchers end up sucking up the the leader of the party?

Answer 10

The leader’s ability of patronage

Can make them ministers

So Backbenchers suck up hoping they become ministers

Question 11

Backbench Business Committee

Answer 11

established in 2010

Provides MPs with 35 days a year in which they can control Parliament business

Can propose debates on certain issues

E.g. previous ones have been about Black History Month, the role of the Irish in Britain etc etc

Question 12

Petitions Committee

Answer 12

Set up in 2015

to schedule debates on petitions with over 100k signatures

E.g. March 2022, debated whether to remove visa requirements for Ukrainian refugees

Question 13

Adjournment debates

Answer 13

Takes place at the end of each sitting day

MPs ask the speaker to ask a minister a question

MPs ask and the minister responds

Other MPs may ask questions to the minister if the minister agrees

Only limited to 30 minutes

Can raise important issues e.g. 2020 Neil Parish MP’s adjourned debate on the BBC to protect regional news programmes (ik this doesn’t sound important but you need an example for this so just remember it)

Question 14

Early day motions

Answer 14

Motions introduced by MPs urging debate on a specific issue

Most don’t reach the floor of the Commons

However, they can demonstrate parliamentary support for a certain issue

Question 15

Emergency Debates

Answer 15

Under HofC standing order 24, an MP can request an emergency debate

If the speaker allows, the MP has the ability to make the case for this emergency debate for 3 mins

Then, if the speaker allows it, the HofC will have a vote on whether to debate that

Question 16

Example of an emergency debate?

Answer 16

2019, Oliver Letwin (approved by Bercow), put forward an emergency debate on a no - deal Brexit

People voted to debate 328-301 ( he won)

So the debate happened

Question 17

Urgent Questions

Answer 17

If an MP believes there is an issue that needs a minister to address it at once, they can ask it (with the speaker’s permission)

Jan 2022, speaker Lindsay Hoyle granted Angela Rayner an urgent question to the then PM, Bojo, as to whether he had knowingly broken lockdown restrictions by attending the 10 downing street parties

Question 18

What did the Supreme Court do in 2017? (think war)

Answer 18

2017

Gina Miller case

Ruled the PM couldn’t do major decisions (e.g. go to war) without consulting Parliament