Parliament - FUNCTIONS PMQTs - Commons Scrutiny by Questions Flashcards
Prime Minister’s Question Times
the most high-profile event in the Commons each week - held every Wednesday and is usually featured in the TV.
MPs attendance rate is normally very high but with coronavirus its reduced drastically.
PM is expected to attend and face the questions to account for government action - special authority is given to the leader of the opposition.
Questions come from backbench MPs.
leader of the opposition has 6 questions and it is seen as a duel between PM and opposition.
the next biggest party gets 2 questions, MPs are only allowed one question.
UK democracy feature
strong feature of the UK democracy - regular and frequent opportunity for Parliament to interrogate the PM in a way that federal systems do not normally get - the president is completely separate from the legislature in the USA and is not held as accountable.
backbenchers
opportunity to expose issues with government policies and actions and gives the PM opportunity to expose the weaknesses within the opposition.
Tory MP and veteran Tom Tugendhat in Aug 2021 criticising the Afghanistan withdrawal…
In addressing the criticism that Afghan army didnt adequately resist the Taliban:
‘… to claim that they ran, is shameful. Those who never fought for the colours they fly, should be careful about criticising those who have’
planted questions
2015 - Sir Gerald Kaufman, ex minister and an MP said that the PMQT has become an exchange of pointless and useless declamations.
government party backbenchers have half the backbench times ‘planted questions’ are made to make the PM and government look good:
2014 | a report was released outlining how David Cameron has been attempting to stage-manage PMQs, showing Gavin Williamson (the then PM parliamentary private secretary) sending around an email to tory backbenchers at 11 am every wednesdsay with a list of suggested questions.
points-scoring
Angela Rayner 5/1/22 PMQs, speaking for Starmer, who currently has Covid.
Point-scoring against the Conservatives who rebelled against Plan B measures - she states that it was Labour votes which got the measures through -
‘Despite the people behind him, and those eyeing up his job beside him, Labour will always act in the national interest’…
