Parliament as a check on the government Flashcards
Factors affecting Parliament’s ability to scrutinise the executive
The government’s majority in Parliament (Gov. can use whips esp. if has large majority)
Party unity
Polarisation between the two parties
What methods of scrutiny do backbench MPs provide?
Urgent questions
PMQs
Rebellions
What are UQs?
Urgent questions
Where backbenchers submit a question to the Speaker which will be answered by a government minister at the end of each day.
Effectiveness of UQs and examples
More opportunity for MPs to scrutinise the government and get direct answers
>David Lammy to Amber Rudd on Windrush 2018
>Emily Thornberry on Israel-Palestine 2017
>John Bercow has allowed 73 UQs 2016-17 (as opposed to 9 UQs 2006-7)
Ineffectiveness of UQs
Can be evaded or answered vaguely offering no actual insight
Depend on Speaker
> Betty Boothroyd, John Bercow chose good questions
> Michael Martin allowed too many partisan questions
What are PMQs?
Prime Minister’s Questions
A weekly opportunity to ask the PM questions on policy
Effectiveness of PMQs and examples
Force the government to commit to a position or embarrass them for not doing so
>Corbyn on EU withdrawal bill made Theresa look weak 2017
>Corbyn vs. Thatcher showed how backbenchers can scrutinise PM 1990
Ineffectiveness of PMQs and examples
Can be raucous, ill-disciplined and partisan - often no substantive answer from government
>Blair often played the media by preparing pre-fabricated soundbites (Blair vs. Major 1995)
>Cameron - ‘Calm down dear’ 2011
>May is often defensive and evasive over EU - no answers
What are rebellions?
Where MPs vote against the party whip
Effectiveness of rebellions and examples
Increase scrutiny on government by questioning decisions
>Military action in Syria 2013 defeated
>27 Tory MPs rebelled on extension of Sunday trading laws 2016
>2010-15, 35% coalition MPs rebelled
>139 MPs against Iraq invasion vote 2003 (unsuccessful)
Ineffectiveness of rebellions
Whips incentivise compliance with the party position - often enough to override feelings of duty to constituent or personal moral conviction
What methods of scrutiny do Select Committees provide?
Liaison Committee
Departmental Committees
Backbench Business Committee
Select Committee inquiries
What were the Wright Reforms of 2010
Key points:
>Election of members and chairs of Select Committees by secret ballot
>Established the Backbench Business Committee
>Set up e-petitions system so the public can get an issue debated in the House with 100,000 signatures
What is the Liaison Committee?
Where the chairs of various committees come together and decide questions to ask the PM
Who is in a committee?
1 chair
8-14 backbenchers/crossbenchers
e.g. David Davis - chair of committee for exiting European Union
Theresa May - head of liaison committee
Effectiveness of the Liaison Committee
> less partisan, more evidence based
get transparent answers (Cameron on Syria)
act as a deterrent for the government as dislike committee scrutiny
limited media scrutiny - no ‘soundbites’
Ineffectiveness of the Liaision Committee
> May managed to be evasive on questions from Hilary Benn on Parliament vote on EU withdrawal bill
limited media scrutiny - don’t have to give answers
What are Departmental Committees?
Committees that scrutinise a certain government department
Effectiveness of Departmental Committee
Home Affairs Select Committee 2018
Yvette Cooper exposed Amber Rudd on not knowing deportation targets leading to her resignation
>smaller group of people can go deeper in a narrower area
>more efficient
Ineffectiveness of Departmental Committee
Not watched by the public so ministers do not feel pressured to answer
>David Davis joking responses to Jacob Rees-Mogg in Brexit Committee hearing
>No policy proposal power - government can ignore proposals
What is the Backbench Business Committee?
A group of backbenchers that schedule debates, once a week, for all backbenchers, on request
Effectiveness of Backbench Business Committee
Debate sensitive topics for the government
>Afghanistan - led to a vote
>Immigration
>EU referendum - Tory revolt led to Tories favouring referendum 2011
Ineffectiveness of Backbench Business Committee
A majority in the Commons ensures a majority in all committees - could undermine scrutinising function
What did Mearns say about the shift in power in government?
“There’s been a shift in terms of the power of backbenchers to hold ministers to account”
