Parliament Flashcards
How many MP’s are in the House of Commons and what is the compesition?
650 MP’s, 350 Conservatives, 198 Labour, 43 SNP, 15 Lib Dems, 8 DUP, Plaid Cymru 3, Alba 2, Sinn fein 7.
How Many Peers are there and what is the compesition?
785 peers, 269 Conservatives, 175 Labour, 81 Lib Dems, 183 Cross-benchers, 26 Bishops.
List 3 Important Government Ministers?
Jeremy Hunt - Chancellor of the exchequer, James Cleverly - Home Secretary, Grant Schapps - Minister of defence.
Give two examples of Lords being in the Cabinet?
Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton - Foreign secretary.
Lord Frost - Boris Johnson, Brexit secretary.
What is the current wage of an MP and what body regulates this?
The current wage for an MP is £81’932 and is regulated by the Parliamentary Salaries Authority.
Give 2 examples of MP’s caught during the 2009 expenses scandal?
Jacqui Smith said she would stand down after the European elections.
Tony Mcnulty resigned from his role as Minister of Unemployment.
What does parliamentary privilege set out?
A legal immunity to protect freedom of speech and exclusive cognisance which is the right for each house to regulate its own internal affairs.
Give 2 examples of the Recall of MP’s act 2015 being used?
In 2023 the MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West Margaret Ferrier was removed with 14.7% of the vote.
Peter Bone MP for Wellingborough is currently in the petition stage.
Who are the current Labour and Conservative Whips in the House of Commons?
The Labour whip is Alan Campbell who has been chief whip since 2021.
The Conservative whip is Simon Heart who has been chief whip since October 2022.
Who is the current speaker of the House?
Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Previous Labour MP.
How do Speakers often use their Casting votes?
They normally vote against if there’s a tie.
What is John Bercow well known for?
Called for more Backbench MP’s to speak in debate and granted more urgent questions.
How are Lords paid?
Lords receive a daily attendance allowance, however some Lords simply take advantage of this.
Who is the current Lord Speaker?
The Current Lord speaker is Lord McFall who was elected on the 1st May 2021.
What did the 1911 Parliament act do?
Reduced power to block money bills to 2 years and non money 1 year.
What did the 1949 Parliament act do?
Reduced the power to block money bills to just 1 year.
What did the 1958 Life Peerages act do?
Gave the PM the power to appoint life peers.
What did the 1963 Peerages act do?
Allowed Hereditary peers to renounce their title, allowed for female hereditary peers and removed restrictions on Scottish Peers.
What did the 1999 House of Lords Act do?
Reduced the number of Hereditary peers to 92.
What did the 2014 House of Lords reform act do?
Allowed for members to resign from the House, allowed for exclusion of peers that have committed a criminal offence (lead to 2015 House of Lords expulsion and Suspension act)
Who are the Labour and Conservative Chief Whips in the house of Lords?
The Conservative Chief Whip is Baroness Williams of Trafford.
The Labour Chief Whip is lord Kennedy of Southwark.
What exclusive powers does the House of Commons have?
The right to insist on Legislation, Financial Privilege, Power to dismiss the executive.
