Lesson 41 (Keal)

Question 1

Wright Reforms

Answer 1

2010

Committee members became elected and not chosen

Question 2

Backbench Business Committee

Answer 2

Once a week

Made up of backbenchers

Discuss various topics like petitions (that have over 100k)

Can force debates in the Commons about issues

Question 3

Disadvantages of the backbench business committee?

Answer 3

This is only advice and can be ignored

The whips dominate proceedings

Question 4

Liaison Committee

Answer 4

32 chairs of all the select committees

and the chair of the joint select committee on human rights

Oversee general matters

Question the PM 3 times a year

Question 5

Why was the Liason Committee so significant under Johnson?

Answer 5

Johnson dissolved parliament

so they were the only way to scrutinise the government

Question 6

Why was the Liason Committee so significant under Johnson?

Answer 6

Because they were the only ones that could scrutinise him

Because he dissolved parliament

Question 7

What is Labour described as? (thinking waiting)

Answer 7

government in waiting

Question 8

What is Labour legally called?

Answer 8

‘His Majesty’s Loyal Opposition’

Question 9

What are perks that the opposition gets in terms of days to debate?

Answer 9

They get 20 days to debate issues chosen by them

Question 10

What does Benjamin Disraeli say about the role of the opposition?

Answer 10

‘No government can be long secure without a formidable opposition’

Question 11

What does the conservative MP Edmund Burke say about the role of the opposition?

Answer 11

‘Our antagonist is our helper’

helps sharpens your skills

Question 12

Job of the opposition?

Answer 12

ensure the government justifies its legislative programme

create public debate by disagreeing with government’s legislation

provide an alternative government

scrutinise the government at PMQs

scrutinises the government in Public Bill Committees + propose amendments

Question 13

Example of Diane Abbott being good opposition? (think windrush scandal)

Answer 13

Diane Abbot (shadow home secretary under Corbyn)

Was effective at keeping up pressure on Amber Rudd

During the Windrush Scandal ( 2018 )

Question 14

Example of Angela Rayner being good opposition? (think partygate)

Answer 14

In 2022

Angela Rayner ( Labour Deputy Leader)

Attacked Boris Johnson in the Commons over allegations that he broke lockdown rules

Question 15

Opposition definition

Answer 15

Second largest party in the Commons

Question 16

Shadow PM

Answer 16

Keir Starmer

Question 17

Shadow Deputy PM

Answer 17

Angela Rayner

Question 18

Shadow chancellor of the exchequer

Answer 18

Rachael Reeves

Question 19

Shadow home secretary

Answer 19

Yvette Cooper

Question 20

Shadow leader of the house

Answer 20

Lucy Powell

Question 21

Give me an example of Starmer putting 2 right wing Labour MPs in the Cabinet

Answer 21

Wes Streeting - health minister

Bridge Philipson - education minister

Question 22

Give an example of when the shadow chancellor put good pressure on the government’s exchequer? ( think kwasi kwarteng)

Answer 22

When Kwasi Kwarteng was chancellor

Rachael Reeves often criticised him in the Commons

Saying he was making a ‘reckless gamble’ with the economy