UK 🇬🇧 > Parliament > Flashcards
Parliament Flashcards
What is fusion of the powers?
Parliament is the legislature the executive sit within parliament fusing the two branches this is because ministers and peers are a part of the executive but sit within the legislature
Is the PM directly elected?
no but he has the ability to ask the monarch to form a government as leader of the winning party
What is the executive made up of?
ministers, junior ministers, private secretaries of government and they must come from parliament usually from the largest party in the Commons
What is a vote of no confidence?
Government is responsible to parliament it must have the confidence of parliament to govern if a vote of no confidence and hold in the comments on the government lose that vote the government can be removed and a general election is held this arrangement is known as confidence and supply
Is the PM head of state?
no the Monarch is head of state the two rules are separate as we have a constitutional monarchy
What is the legislature called?
Bicameral meaning there’s an upper chamber and a lower chamber
Describe the House of Commons
-elected chamber of 650 MPs
-each represent a single constituency -MPs are usually members of a political party does some stand as independence
-most MPs are back benches and minority and members of the government or shadow cabinet and sit on the front benches.
What is the role of an MP?
represent constituents redress of grievance
Scrutinise the government
Debate legislation and issues
Legitimise legislation through scrutiny by voting for it this is called popular consent
What is the role of the frontbenches?
-ministers and party officials appointed by the prime minister senior positions in the governing party.
in the opposition parties those on the front benches are either members of the shadow cabinet this is called government in waiting are leading members of minority parties they tend to dominate proceedings in parliament.
What is the role of backbench MPs?
Don’t have a responsibility in the gov, shadow cabinet, major spokesperson for the party
They are the majority in all parties they have more independence and frontbenchers like expected to vote with the party leadership issues however backbenchers Campbell against their party more often
Focus more on Parliamentary business like select committees or constituencies
backbench MPs Cambell against the government is there an important challenge to the power of the executive as it limits their power
The air control coerced by the whips
governing party backbenches are expected not to criticise the government too strongly and often book in line with the government when the party has a majority
opposition backbenchers aqsa to be more vocal in the criticism of agreement in protecting the constituents rights they hold the government to account by doing questioning ministers taking part in debates voting on legislation participating in public and select committees.
The official opposition role
A strong effective opposition is crucial to a functioning parliament as it supports democracy. as it defends the interests of groups in society who are being ignored or negatively impacted by governments policy labour tries to strongly represent the interests of low-income classes and workers in society
The official opposition is a government in meeting I was always the day to take over if the government deals are resigned after five by the power of the next general election
The opposition control is part of the Parliamentary agenda and 20 opposition days official opposition is the second largest party in parliament
Labour used one of its 20 opposition days in 2020 to put forward a motion extending free school meals do half term following Rashford campaign urging the government to do so it was rejected in parliament but allowed labour to keep the issue on the agenda and the government later u turned.
How was the opposition party in 2017?
It’s scrutinised and checked government policy and bills and provided alternatives to policies it disagreed with it holding government to account
How was the opposition party from 2017 to 2019?
A minority Conservative government under Theresa May meant the opposition now had a stronger role in parliament as the government had to rely on other parties support for policy initiatives giving them greater influence over legislation, lead to chaos in parliament and the government suffered major defeat and only succeeded in passing the extension to the Brexit deadline narrowly surviving a vote of no confidence
How is the role of the opposition in 2019?
it has returned to the traditional role of the opposition scene in 2017 as a conservative government have a 80 seat majority
What is the significance of the official opposition?
*creates healthy representative democracy
*Can I have greater influence when the government have a small majority and strong opp leader are minority government as seen in 2017 to 2019 and 2010 to 2015.
Corbyn time is it seen as an ineffective leader of the opposition and his party
Can be accused of constant criticism of political point scoring without real counter argument
*Morale can suffer within the party when they spent a long time in opposition impact can be damaged by the leader and divides within the party for example Ed Miliband and Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership of the Labour Party is a prominent example of a weak opposition.
What is the role of party whips?
enforcers of party lines on MPs in their party
manage attendance on important votes in the Commons
Usually use rewards all the punishments to encourage MPs to stick to the party line
What are the whip divisions?
three line whip MPs told their attendance is essential they must go with the party defying This can mean the whip is removed
two line whip MPs told attendance is necessary at these votes they expected to vote with their party
One line with MPs are advised to vote in line with the party few consequences if an MP misses a one line whip
A free vote MPs can vote as they wish members of the government and I have independent opinions in the comments these thoughts are usually held over moral issues e.g. foxhunting military intervention
What are the consequences of defying a whip?
fewer chances of promotion
Nomination for unpopular duties in parliament boring select committees
if the whip is removed MPs retain the seat but say as an independent in the comments if a frontbencher votes against the government they are expected to resign from their position
20 1921 Conservatives had the whip removed for backing emotion to take control of Parliamentary business away from the government to prevent a no Deal Brexit is included former chancellor Philip Hammond and former minister David Gauke
When does a minority or coalition government the drop of a bit is considerably harder because power lies with backbenchers rather than the government due to it being in a minority this because it only takes a small handful of backbenchers to rebel against the government to lose a vote this means that whip work much harder to make sure all backbenchers vote with their party
What is the role of the speaker in the House of Commons?
-elected by mps
-They are nonpartisan therefore not biased
-Organise business of Parliament for example schedule debates
-Maintain order and discipline during debates and select MPs to speak
-Announce the results of the votes in the house
-Cast the deciding vote in the event of a tie convention from the constitution dictate that this is usually to uphold the government therefore should favour government
Who is the current speaker which party do they belong to you and what have they done that is controversial?
Sir Lindsay Hoyle he represents Chorley
He is a labour MP but is non-partisan and is expected to vote in favour of the government in a When casting a vote in a tight situation
John Bercow nature as a speaker was impolite and he angered Tory MPs by revealing his aggressive side he was a supporter of the hunting ban in one of his constituency this is bias he was guilty of bullying Catherine Stone the Parliamentary commissioner for standard found Bercow guilty of bullying behaviour.
What are the roles in the House of Commons?
there is no limit on how many laws there can be second largest chamber in the world currently that is 783 laws eligible to sit in the chamber
There is life peers as are appointed based on merit and expertise Nhadin Doris what is appointed based on contribution to the Conservative party
they are nominated by an MP they make up the majority of peers In June 2022 there was 654.
Hereditary peers
They hold inherited titles therefore have the right to sit in the Lord
The House of Lords act 2009 reduce the number from 750 to 92 who can fit in the light at one time these 92 peers were elected by other members of the Lords this was criticised as they can put themselves up for election to one of the 92 places in the Lords based on their titles they’ve inherited.
Lord spiritual
26 Anglican bishops from the church of England they are appointed by the prime minister based on recommendations from the church of England
what are the Powers of the House of Commons compared to house of lords?
supreme legislative power due to parliament act 1911 and 1949 lower chamber has power to make amend repeal leg Lords only have the power to delay certain bills means parliament has legal sovereignty
Departmental select committees only occur in the House of Commons these committees scrutinised the work of the individual government departments normally backbenchers role
The House of Commons represent the people are being held accountable to the electorate
They legitimise government legislation by voting for it
Can you remove governments to vote of no confidence
What are the powers of the House of Lords compared to the House of Commons?
deLay bills for two-year parliament act 1911 and 1949 however cannot delay money bills
Salisbury convention dictates that lords cannot delay bills outlined in the governing parties manifesto therefore gives the elected chamber more power and limits the House of Lords ability to legitimise policy’s
Hunting act 2004 band fox hunting with a pack of hounds
positive- Greater independence due to crossbenches in this party loyalty peerages of a life so lots have less to lose going against the party the whips are weaker
Legislative committees involve experts in the field Baroness Lawrence sit in the children and families act 2014 committee charged with improving the legislation designed to give greater protection to children whose parents are separating or children who have special educational needs
Let’s have more time to debate and sometimes become members of the cabinet Baroness Neville-Rolfe currently serves as the minister of state
Some powers of the Lord must have consent of both the houses for example to link a general election sucking senior judges Talal artists in the House of Lords before separation of powers in 2005 and introducing secondary or delegated legislation
What are the two types of bills and describe them?
private bill applies to local authorities when they want to take action in the area and allow forbids it. deactivated by specific select committees in both houses not the whole house. members of the public are interest parties can provide evidence at the hearings.
Private members bill these are proposed by backbenchers. 20 are drawn from the ballot the first 7
introduced to the Commons
often ignored but occasionally with support from high-profile MPs ministers shadow ministers and the media taken past the initial stage however it requires a certain number of MPs to turn up to the debate however if they pass the first reading stage they can easily be blocked by a single MP shouting a pose during the reading for example Christopher Chope 2018 shouted opposed to 2 private members bill is one and up skirting and one on increase protections for police animals
therefore making them incredibly difficult to pass and make into law
Public bills are presented by the government they are preceded by a white paper summarising the proposal at the white paper stage of the Beatles held and a vote on the proposal occurs the debate identifies potential problems and if serious concerns identified the government may drop the bill
What are the stages of a bill?
-Prepatory stage this is when the bill is outlined in a white paper or a green paper
-First reading a formal introduction of the bell into the chamber title read aloud second reading date announced
-Second reading bill is debated and scrutinised by the house private members bill often don’t go further than this stage public bills have passed since 1945
-Committee stage public bill committee is over and 18 MPs scrutinise and debate the bill line by line the committees are made up relative to party strength in the commons members are chosen by the whips however finance and major constitutional bills are considered by the whole house majority of amendments are made here
-Report stage public bill committee‘s report back to the house the house votes on the proposed amendments and other MPs not in the committee proposed amendments once the amendments have been voted the final text of the bill is ready for approval major bills always tight in the comments but some less important start in lords
-third reading final version is presented and debated in the comments followed by a vote if it passes the vote it will continue to the Lord if it fails it may return to the committee stage or be dropped
-House of Lords bill goes through first reading in the Lord’s process is the exact same way if this process happened several times as referred as Parliamentary ping-pong
-Royal ascent the monarch signs all bills into laws technically the monarch could refuse to give a bill Royal ascent but this hasn’t happened since 1708 i’m the Queen and did not sign the Scottish military bill this would realistically not happen as the monarchs role of royal assent to ceremonial once signed all bills become official act of parliament
How to the commons and lords interact during the legislative process?
bills may be introduced in the lords rather than the commons more so when the commons is busy at the bill is less important I’m not a money bill this limits the House of Lords power
Lords typically approve the majority of public bills introduced by the government this is outlined in the Salisbury convention The Lord agreed to pass all bills related to the governments manifesto promise
however the convention has been weakened during recent governments for example in 2010 to 2015 the convention didn’t apply as two parties were in coalition and it was unclear whose manifesto applied
it was also seen in 2015 to 2017 the Liberal Democrats peers suspended the convention as the government was elected on such a small popular vote
2017 to 2019 a minority Conservative government meant the convention again didn’t apply
The Lord may become more obstructive to bills that are promised within manifestoes
when the Lord recommends amendments to the bill it must be passed back to the commons sometimes the lawyers can recommend several amendments are refused to back down forcing the government to abandon the bill except the amendments for example
2015 the government proposed cut to tax credit payments which was rejected by the House of Lords the government abandon the proposal
2020 the Lord’s pass the government to accept recommendations over devolved powers related to Brexit during the debate of the internal market bill
Lords ability to delay legislation by up to a year means that the government considers proposing controversial legislation carefully before introducing it has a white paper bill
Examples of private members bills?
Ballot secrecy bill introduced in 2022 proposed by Lord Hayword who is a conservative life peer it is a bill to make provisions for ensuring secrecy of ballots when casting votes at elections. It when through all legislative stages and become the Ballot secrecy Act 2023
Key debate: Is parliament effective at its legislative function?
Theme: backbencher rebellion/threat of backbencher rebellion
Parliament is effective:
50 Tory backbenchers threatened rebellion in January 2023 over amendments. They wanted to the online safety day where they wanted social media managers to face two-year prison terms for failing to protect children from Hassal material labour supported the move and the government is now considering similar proposals.
60 Tory backbenchers threatened rebellion over the governments housing quota proposals for local councils in December 2022.
Labour backbenchers refused to support bless extension of the detention time of terrorist suspects from 14 to 90 days in 2005.
Parliament is not effective:
Play didn’t lose a vote from 1997 to 2005.
38 government public bills brought to comments from 2019 to 2021 and all 38 received royal assent.
Large majorities, resulting from first past, the post system and unified governing parties are less likely to oppose their government.
Strong whips, make it less likely for backbenchers to rebel.
Theme: coalition or minority
government
Parliament is effective:
Maze minority government in 2017 to 2019, and Johnson’s takeover of the same minority government faced a higher number of backbench rebellions.
May was defeated, 28 times in two years .
MPs rejected maze Brexit deal by immaturity of 230 in January 2019.
Johnson lost his first 12 votes in the comments when he became prime minister in July 2019.
Parliament is not effective:
2010 coalition government only defeat seven times over five years, despite not being a single party government .
It could be argued that means minority government was only defeated, so often due to the current continuous issues of Brexit rather than the minority government itself .
Theme: Lords defeats of the government
Parliament is effective:
2015. The government proposed cuts to tax credit payments which was rejected by the lords and the government are abandoned the proposal.
2020 the Lord is faster government to accept recommendations over devolved powers related to Brexit during debate of the internal market bill.
2019 to 2021 lords table, 1768 amendments and made 197 of those.
2017 to 2019 sessions boards, defeated government, 69 times.
2016 to 2017, there were 38 defeats.
Parliament is not effective :
Restricted by the parliaments at 1911 and, 1949.
Lords tabled almost 2000 amendments from 2019 to 2021, only 197, made it into the bill.
Parliaments Representation?
Who do mps represent?
Constituents issues
MPs can us parliament privilege to represent issues in parliament that are not being addressed.
Eg Peter Hain used parliament privilege in 2018 to name Sir Philip Green as the businessman at the centre of the # MeToo scandal including sexual and harassment claims but who had evoked a legal injunction meaning his name would not enter public domain Hain was criticised for this but said he would not apologise for standing up for HR
Parliamentary privilege creates legal immunities for members of both houses to perform their duties without interference from courts this gives them freedom of speech.
Themes:
1. Is Parliament democratically Representative (P1 link legitimacy) -
yes parliament is democratically representative as every MP represents a single constituency and wonderful in the area by a plurality
MPs redress grievances of their constituents in parliament has constituents have access to the MP and they will then often respond to the issue by raising issues to relevant ministers privately or during question Time.
No, Parliament is not democratically representative as first past, the post means that MPs can be elected without a majority of constituents votes and often come from parties and are therefore loyal to those parties in parliament
Unelected Lords has a limited representation role and weakened the democratic representation of parliament
- Does Parliament reflect the people it represents?
Yes 2019 most diverse Parliament in history of the UK as in 2019. There was a total of 65 MPs from ethnic groups. This was an increased from 2005 where there was only 15 MPs
Half of labour around 104, are women compared to Conservatives only have 87 women and SNP have 16 women in their party in 2019.
In September 20 22, there was 60 BAME MPs, 225 women MPs and 52 LGBTQ MPs
No Parliament does not reflect the people it represents as it’s dominated by white middle-class old men. In addition, the lords are not socially representative as the commons. Therefore this would make it easier to make the chamber chamber should more socially diverse as peers are appointed however, this is not the case.
Several sex scandals have added to the concerns raised by most of the female MPs of the power dominance in West, Minister, e.g. Imran, Ahmed Khan, convicted of sexually assaulting, a 15-year-old it was alleged, he got advice from deputy chief whip. Stuart Andrew after his charge.
The function of recruiting and maintaining the government?
Government can only act if parliament has confidence in them to Govern for the country. Ministers must be either MPs/peers and have to learn the job from the backbenchers before being promoted by the party leader.
Yes, Parliament is effective at recruiting and retaining the government - question, time, debates, being part of committees, insures back, benches he’ll go on typical ministers, learn the role, e.g. Priti Patel with a member of the foreign affairs committee before becoming Home Secretary.
Governments need the support of the backbenches if legislation is to pass so will often listen to their concerns and whips try to ensure backbenchers needs and mostly met eg putting on select committees and funding for their constituencies.
If a vote of no confidence is tables against the government, and they lose this triggers general election, the Mustafa retain the confidence of enough backbenchers just saw that they do not consider voting against them. E.g. 1979 Callaghans government lost a vote of no confidence and had to call a general election.
No parliament is not effective at recruiting and maintaining the government :
There are no pre-requirements for becoming MPs or ministers as Sunak became chancellor after only being an MP for four years. This means there are fewer experienced MPs to choose from making big policies.
Few MPs have the past experience are training to run government departments successfully e.g. Priti Patel had bullying allegations, tabled against her and the most senior servant resigned Partly due to her conduct, Braverman also had allegations of mismanagement tables against a whilst being home sec
Governments are unlikely to lose vote of no confidence from the opposition duty party politics backbenchers will often still support the government, even if they have lost faith in the prime minister to avoid an election. E.g. Theresa May has the largest defeat of her Brexit Bill, by emma chamberlain of 230 yet survive the vote of no confidence the day after. However, she resigned.
Parliaments scrutiny of the government Function?
Scrutiny uphold parliamentary sovereignty as we have fusion of the powers and therfore without scrutiny executive would have to much power
primary legislation is scrutinised but secondary legislation is not however still need parliament’s approval.
Themes:
Q Time -
Debates televised eg PM Q and cabinet ministers questioned in parliament every 3 weeks holds gov accountable as opposition can scrutinise gov actions.
As Q Time can make or break political careers and damage reputation of government.
Major 1994 -1997 was weak at Q time
Blair did well however later looked weak to Hauge and Cameron
Lizz Truss performed poorly at PM Q
Cameron did well compared to Brown who slammed dispatch box to regain control of argument.
However can be seen as a ritual as all questions can be seen and prepared for PM and ministers.
Sound bites is not effective way to scrutinise.
Theme
Public Bill Committee -
All backbenchers sit on public bill committees they scrutinise bills proposed within committee stage to see if they can make amendments eg protecting minorities.
Ministers from gov and shadow ministers from opposition represent department were bill is from adding expertise to the scrutiny.
Smaller party MPs are mandated to attend by whips
MPs at this committee cannot reject bill.
Public bill committees seen as weak as they are dominated by gov and whips and most MPs vote along party lines in committees as they want to look like a United party and also want promotion or funding by whips however 99% of amendments proposed succeed.
Rare that these committees will amend legislation without approval of government the government put loyal backbenches in public bill committees for less scrutiny. Sunak pulled a vote on housing promises in November 2022, facing rebellion from Thatcherite on Brexit freedom bill and 400,000 of EU legislation labelled red tape.
Theme
Rebellion -
sometimes MPs in the governments party can rebel against them and vote against a proposed piece of legislation eg 2016 when 27 Tory rebels voted against Cameron’s gov for an extension to Sunday trading hours for larger stores
Suggestion of rebellion is enough to make gov rethink proposed bills especially if they have a small majority gov eg 2016 when gov removed plans to reduce the entitlement to disability benefits amid fears of rebellion
Rebellion can reduce gov and PMs power and can sometimes force them from power eg Theresa May vote of no confidence this was mainly due to her failure to get BREXIT bill passed through commons due to rebellion of Tory MPs as between 2017-2019 May suffered 33 defeats.
Whereas Cameron suffered 7 defeats across 8 years as PM.
Theme
Votes of no confidence
The commons can oust a gov by passing a vote of no confidence this triggers a general election. Last done successfully in 1979 when labour was ousted and a Conservative Party won GE.
In 2019 May narrowly survived a vote of no confidence by 19 votes 10 votes were from DUP and if they had voted
Against her she would have lost.
Committees
What is a public bill committee?
What is Departmental Select Committees?
What is the liaison committee?
What is the backbench business committee?
Public bill committees:
Each piece of legislation must go through the committee stage we’re it will be scrutinised line by line and debated by MPs they can also bring evidence from outside sources.
Departmental Select Committees:
There are 19 DSC that scrutinise the work of their department recently they have extended to matters of public interest as well as department work in hopes that gov will act on its findings eg 2016 when the business skills and innovation committee investigated into unacceptable management practices into sports direct.
Cross party whips decide which party the chairs will belong to this is in line with party representation in HOC after the wright reforms removed the influence of the executive from making appointments. Backbenchers who wish to be chair will put themselves foreword the rest of the seats will be allocated according to party representation.
Memberships are between 11-14 they act largely independent of party allegations and reports presented to the whole hoc often receive significant publicity in the media.
Liaison Committee:
the Liaison Committee, which consists of the chairs of all the select committees, questions the prime minister twice a year across the whole field of government policy and oversees the work of other select committees.
Ineffective - they lack power as PM can cancel appearances easily as seen by Boris Johnson, who first appeared in front of the committee in May 2020
Current chair, Bernard Jenkin was appointee insisted on by the government he was controversial as he isn’t the head of any other committee, and the purpose of the committee is to hold the PM to account.
However, it is effective as the liaison committee focused on whether Boris Johnson would be prime minister in days ahead, questioning his integrity and personal ethics he later resigned
Backbench business committee:
Established after the wright reforms in 2010 to redress the power imbalances of the government and parliament, giving more time and authority to backbench MPs
It’s held one day a week allocated to backbench business decided on by the committee. It involves discussions of petitions from Parliament websites that have reached over 100,000 signatures It also acts on a request by MP a group of MPs
It also takes on request from local and national campaigns (P1 link access points for pressure groups)
It’s important as it debates important issues like the impact of Covid on BAMEE communities, Brexit, improving cancer care, future of the BBC its biggest success was in 2011. The committee discussed a petition about the Hillsborough disaster and the publication of secret documents, the debate resulted in the government, releasing previously secret papers around the disaster and a new Inquest and enquiries into Hillsborough
Public Accounts Committee:
Arguably, the most influential of all committees as they scrutinise value for money, the economy efficiency and effectiveness of public spending, and generally holds the government and its civil service to account for the delivery of public services. It examines the collection of taxation and conducts investigation into how the government allocate funding to public services Eckankar witnesses including ministers, to investigations who are obliged to attend
It’s effective as the chair is always a member of the opposition currently Dame Meg Hiller who is a labour mo the chair and members elected by all MPs select influence by party leaders
Members tend to act independently despite the government. Having a majority on the committee reports are often unanimous hi media profile is taken very seriously criticise the government in July 2020, for offering 77 million in Covid contracts to Randox and highlighted several conflicts of interest.
Give examples of backbenchers scrutinising the government?
Theresa May was a member of the education and employment House of Commons commission members estimate
Chris Bryant, Labour Minister was a member of the child-support collection bill for the liaison committee on foreign affairs committee
Tobias Ellwood what is a member of the liaison committee, defence committee national security and strategy committee he was a open critic of Johnson’s party eight scandal and was removed by the whip for not voting in a confidence vote
Are backbenches significant or do they have little significance?
Backbenchers have great significance as many are willing to fight for causes they believe in even if this goes against their party wishes e.g. 201921 am. Please have the whip removed for supporting an emergency motion to allow the House of Commons to undertake proceedings on the EU bill.
Select committees have an increasingly important role since 2010 in holding their executive actions to account as the coalition government meant that select committees can be more effective at scrutinising
MPs will use recess to catch up on the constituency work, maintaining the strong connection between the public and Parliament.
Back benches have a little significance has some backbenchers do as the whip tells them this has been increasingly seen since 2019, with the influx of new conservative backbenches from the Redwall, who increasingly vote with the government
Lack influence of legislation and often failed to hold the government to account when they have a large majority
Parliamentary debates between backbenchers often has very low attendance, suggesting that insignificant and black interest in the work. Therefore, they’re not able to Fulfil scrutiny role
During recess backbenchers out on able to hold the executive to account
A survey by Hansard society in 2015, found around 75%, unaware of who the MP is.
Role and significance of backbench peers in house of lords?
backbench peers who are ex ministers, spokespersons for the government, civil servants, heads of major organisations, use their expertise to get involved in national debate over important issues.
E.g. Tanni Grey Thompson is a farmer, paralympian and wheelchair racer. She has contributed to the beat of a spot, governance, woman in rowing, wheelchair services, hotel, facilities for wheelchair users.
From 2010 to 2019 the Lord is formed an important legislative function as governments were coalitions. Minorities are small majority as there was no overall majority in the Lord is the government during this time needed the support of crossbench opposition, peers to secure victory for their proposed legislation
Scrutiny- see previous notes
Each government department has a representative who sits in the Lord, allowing peers to call the government to account and ask questions to administer. This is a mind of also may have limited impact the lack of select committees in the Lord is the government doesn’t need to fear two rounds of specific scrutiny of a bill
Some peers are very influential and can have as much impact as a prominent backbencher in the comments are using down knowledge and expertise and strong media presence
E.g. Lord Adonis, a Labour peer who served as a secretary of state for transport in 2090 2010 and is a chairman of national infrastructure commission, 2015 to 2017
Lord Dannatt a crossbencher, who is a retired senior British army officer. He was a chief of general staff in 2006 to 2009.
Baroness Floella, Benjamin is a liberal Democrat Pierre, who was a former Trinidadian British actress/singer, and she speaks on children’s diversity media issues.
However, despite significant backbench, peers mania in active and almost invisible as there’s 800 peers peers are on accountable. Therefore, there is no check over the quantity and quality of their work, and this can impact their significance and scrutiny.
Key debate: its parliament, effective in fulfilling its scrutiny of the executive function?
Theme: question time- PMQs a ministerial question time.
Urgent questions granted by the speaker where the relevant minister is required to answer the question in the chamber. This gives more power to backbench MPs to scrutinise the government.
2019 Conservative backbench MP John Baron questioned Chris Heaton-Harris, the parliamentary under-secretary of state for exiting the European Union, about government preparations for a no-deal Brexit. This question raised the concerns of many about the possibility of no deal and put pressure on the government to either pledge not to leave the EU without a deal or to have an effective plan in place.
In January 2019, the leader of the opposition, Jeremy Corbyn, was able to ask an urgent question criticising prime minister Theresa May’s failure to publish a timetable for meaningful votes on her Brexit deal.
There was 318 from 2019 to 2023 so far
Written questions, allow back, benches and peers to receive a mandatory written response to the question
Humble address is a method to force the government to publish documents labour use this in 2017 to force the release of universal credit documents and 2018 to see the secret Brexit files
Is effective: question, Q Time aims to secure accountability making ministers, keep up to date with their departments work in 2018, Home Secretary, Amber Rudd resigned after being forced to return to Parliament after twice giving false information about deportation target. This allows the public to see leaders in action during debates and effective, debaters can shine e.g. Blair against major Cameron against Brown, Corbyn initially against May
PM’s notoriously dread PMQs
It’s not effective: little debate occurs during p.m. cues now known as soundbite speaker has intervened in p.m. cues in 2023, to instruct Sunak that it was PMQs and he should answer Stalmers question
PMQs is coordinated by Downing Street. They have been occasions. When number 10 has sent out questions that should be asked by backbenches to preplanned nature allows the government to boast about its record, then be held accountable.
Theme committees
It’s effective : Chairs are salaried roles and reports get media attention, improving significance and impartiality members into state in post throughout the term of parliament, meaning they could the expertise in that area and allows more interrogate of questioning two ministers, e.g. Yvette Coopers questioning of Amber Rudd, lead to findings that she misled Parliament about deportation target figures, which led to her resignation, in addition, Nadine Dorris was interviewed about the plans to privatise Channel 4 in 2022 and the lack of knowledge about the topic showed.
Reports receive a good amount of scrutiny and can lead to proposals being adopted by the government. E.g. Osborne sugar tax was first recommended in health committee reported in 2016.
PAC Chair is always a member of the opposition.
It’s ineffective:
Chairs have no enforcement powers
Ministers have huge departments behind temporary search.
Select committees work when they act in a bipartisan way, not when the act
along party lines.
Reports only got the media attention when the unanimously supported by all committee members.
Reviews often happen after the fact Covid contracts and PAC which can be helpful in going forward, but does Lidl in changing how the government accept the time.
Theme: Debates
Bills are debated from the second stage onwards
Urgent questions lead to the debate
Backbench business committee gets back, benches, debility to choose issues to be debated by the committee
It’s effective: debates from the backbench business committee include refusing President Trump, a Visa to the UK petition
War in Syria and Iraq
London 2011 riots
Petitions gaining of 100,000 signatures are automatically added to the list, decided on by the backbench business committee, improving transparency and connections to the public
PM is now often give parliament the chance to debate military action, 2015 10 hour Commons debate over whether to use airstrikes against Syria
It’s ineffective:
Debates from the backbench business committee are motions to discuss and rarely lead to government action e.g. Trump was granted the Visa despite 1.6 million signing the petition.
Power of whips limits the effectiveness of debates and where the MPs will ask questions
Not all military action has consulted Parliament first made it in in 2018 before conducting further air strikes on Syria this limits, the debate held in commons
Key debate: is the Lord’s as effective as the comments in fulfilling its functions?
Function: legislative
Lord is as effective:
Weaker party discipline and whips means the lads can act more independently .
1/4 of lords are crossbenchers with no party affiliation, therefore independent.
Removal of the majority of hereditary peers by the House of Lords act 1999, has made the Lord more willing to challenge the government as they are there to scrutinise. In addition, most hereditary peers were Conservative therefore, we are less likely to scrutinise a Conservative government.
In 2021 to 2022, the government was defeated, 128 times in the Lord.
The police crime sentencing bill was defeated, 25 times before being given Royal Assent.
The nationality and borders bill was defeated in the last 34 times.
AO2 - greater chance of introducing bills that government may not focus on as they have more time than the Commons AI Bill.
Legislation is improved and scrutinise in greater detail than the partisan commons, where MPs are more likely to vote on bills along party lines, rather than thinking about public interest. Peers have more expertise than commons.
Lord is not as effective :
Parliament act 1949, makes the Lord is less powerful as it prevents vetoing legislation and limits to Laws to 1 year .
Defeats in the lords are often overturned eg Article 50 bill and the EU withdraw bail despite being heavily amended in the comments as the lads are undemocratic and therefore less legitimate
nationality and borders bill still became law in April 2022
Salisbury convention means the lads will not oppose bills that come from the governing parties manifesto .
AO2 -
Foxhunting bill been delayed by the Lords and the commons passing bill a year later. This shows that the Lord is not as affective in legislative function because its powers were limited to delay by the commons.
Function: representation
Lords is as effective:
More ability for the Lords to represent groups that go under represented due to not being electorally popular such as asylum seekers.
The lodge represents a wider range of expertise, not limited mainly to politics, e.g. Baroness, Bakewell and Benjamin web broadcasters
Lord Walton was formerly president of the BMA
Being appointed means the chambers more easily able to be changed to represent various social groups.
Lords is not as effective:
The Commons is directly elected, and the Lords is not. They do not represent groups of people or areas directly and so cannot speak on behalf of those people.
Hereditary peerages still passed to the first born son and Bishop still reserve places in the Lord is the first female Bishop was only appointed in 2014.
Ao2 House of Lords is dominated by white upper-class meals as they are not elected by the electrical constituency Dafoe come and have a mandate, giving them greater legitimacy than lords
Function: scrutiny
Lords is effective- governments. Usually have a majority in the tenants meaning scrutiny can be less world from there. However, in the Lord is that a crossbenches and life peerages, this means the roads are more likely to be impartial.
The dogs have more time to debate issues than the Commons. The EU select committee in the Lord is well known not only in parliament but in the EU as well as there are reports are read there.
Select committees in the Lord’s allow specialist critique the work of the government they are not departmental select committees, but do you have some specialism like the economy science and tech.
Constitution committee examines the constitutional implications of public bills
Lords are ineffective:
Boards, do not have question time after Prime Minister or ministers
They lack the top mental select committees, limiting the scrutiny from the Lord
Members of select committees are elected by backbenchers not whips, therefore, are more impartial, and they serve for the full term of a parliament, therefore able to gain expertise in an area.
