Parliament Flashcards
Mhairi Black (SNP, Paisley and Refrewshire)
The youngest MP in the Commons, aged only 20 when she was elected in 2015, Black made an instant impact with a widely praised first speech
Despite her youth, she is already a member of the Work and Pensions Select Committee and specialises in issues concerning welfare and inequality
Mike Fisher (Conservative, Finchley and Golders Green)
Known as a hard-working constituency MP
Been a long-time champion of breast cancer screening and speaks often in the interests of the state of Israel
Supported improved inter-community relations with the Jewish, Hindu, Sikh and Muslim communities in his constituency
Maria Eagle (Labour Garston and Halewood)
A former junior minister and former opposition frontbencher
She was partly instrumental in persuading the government to pass the Fur Farming Act 2000 and has been a prominent campaigner for the rights of the LGBTQ+ community
She was a leading campaigner for the introduction of gay marriage
Salisbury convention become less important
2010-2015, the government did not enjoy an electoral mandate as it was a coalition of 2 parties.
Since 2015, Liberal Democrat peers have suspended the Salisbury Convention, largely because the government was elected on such a small popular vote.
Evaluate the view that the legislative process is effective/efficient/ serves it’s purpose/ dominated by the Commons/ the Lords have a limited impact
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3 different ways to be selected as a Lord
Church of England
Hereditary Peers
Life Peers
3 different roles as a Lord
Non-working
Part-time
Working
Lord Adonis (Labour)
Andrew Adonis is a former academic and minister who is an expert on economics, education and transport issues
He continues to play a leading role in advising both main parties on these issues
Lord Dannatt (Crossbench)
Richard Dannatt was formerly chief of the general staff and thus the UK’s most senior soldier
He now lends his huge knowledge of military matters to the work of the HofL
In 2015-16 he campaigned for UK ground troops to be redeployed in Iraq to fight against ISIS
Lord Finkelstein (Conservative)
Danny Finkelstein is a prominent journalist on The Times and a regular broadcaster on political affairs
He is one of the highest-profile peers in the House, known for his wit and moderate, balanced views despite his party affiliation
Phone hacking scandal 2011- Select Committee
Editors were on trial
Hacked Milly Dowler’s phone along with other celebrities
The witness can be people involved in a crime or the ones carrying out the investigation
The MP’s carried it out like an interrogation with probing and personal questions
You can’t hide if you’re guilty-cornered into responding in some form
Called the Murdoch’s as witness
Called some police to be witnesses
Justice Committee inquiry (2012)- Select Committee
Into the presumption of death of missing persons proposed a new statuary process in which a certificate of presumed death is issued.
Subsequently became law through a private member’s bill, supported by the government, based on the committees’ recommendations
Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee inquiry (2016)- Select Committee
Into working practices at retailer Sports Direct
Concluded that Mike Ashley must be held accountable for ‘extremely disturbing’ working practices at the company
-lost finger
-too many ambulance calls
-pregnant workers gave birth in the toilets
-working hours too long, clock out but stay
Foreign Affairs Committee inquiry (2016)- Select Committee
UK intervention in Libya concluded that the UK’s 2011 actions were ill-conceived and that other political options should have been attempted.
It stated that David Cameron was ultimately responsible for the failure to develop a coherent strategy
Public appointments
2016, Amanda Spielman became head of Ofsted despite the Education Select Committee expressing concerns about her expertise.
