MPs

Question 1

What are key points on MPs

Answer 1

• There are 650 Mps who are locally elected on a set of manifestos by their constituents.
  EG of broken manifesto: 2019 Government saying they wont raise tax raising national insurance
• Most Mps are apart of parties but there can be independent MPs
• Mps have parliamentary privilege meaning theyre free from outside interferences and they cant be prosecuted for anything they say in the house of commons
• Mps who arent members if the government or the leadership of their party are known as backbenchers: Arent senior members of their parties.

Question 2

What are functions of Backbench MPs 5

Answer 2

They can initiate legislation through private members bills: These are bills introduced by individual backbench Mps

They represent the interests of their constituents

They can threaten with a backbench rebellion by voting against their parties wishes

They can scrutinise the government policy and decisions

They can take position of leadership in the HOC by becoming select committee chairs

Question 3

How can backbenchers influence

Answer 3

• Theyve recently more willing to ‘defy the whip’ and vote against government: this helps hold government to account EG: 2020 38 C Backbenchers Voted against plan to let Huawei to use UKs 5G network. Government won the vote but its policy was shortly changed.
• The Creation of backbench rebellion committee allowed Backbenchers to have a greater say on issues raised in HOC EG: BBC secured a debate on raising awareness about teenage cancer
• Backbenchers have more influence in hung parliaments (a parliament in which no political party has enough seats to secure an overall majority.) increasing their ability to call into questions the actions of government.

Question 4

What are the limits on the influence of backbenchers

Answer 4

• Party Whips still control majority of voting outcomes and backbench rebellion MPs risk future promotion by voting against their party. Backbench rebellions arent always successful
• Many debates that the BBC wins time for are held in westminster and not the house of commons and dont have the same status and their influence is limited
• Backbenchers have less influence when the government has a majority as rebellions can be more easy to overcome