Parliament - FUNCTIONS Representation + Debate Flashcards
Criticisms of Parliamentary FPTP representation
FPTP undermines the effectiveness of representation in the Commons. It emphasises the 2-party system. 3.5 million people voted for UKIP in 2015, and only received one seat.
Political representation of each party is distorted and disproportionate compared to the votes of the electorate.
FPTP = constituency views are not accurately represented.
Caroline Lucas is THE only Green Party MP, representing Brighton. 2/3 of Brighton did not vote for her yet she won.
Representation of society
29% of MPs were privately educated but only 8% of the population is privately educated.
32% of MPs are women, compared to 51% of the population.
8% of the MPs are from an ethnic background whilst 13.8% of the population in 2018 were BAME.
Representation of society is becoming better -
The current parliament has the highest ever proportion of female, ethnic minority, and comprehensive schooled MPs ever.
Tony Blair introduced a selection rule - select 50% women, 50% men. Margaret Thatcher didn’t appoint one female minister in her 11 years as PM.
Prior to Blair, there were only 20 women out of 650. He was able to get over 100 women in 1997 just within the Labour Party.
Commons has the highest proportion of openly LGBTQ+ parliamentarians in the world, 36 are men, 9 are women - all are white.
MPs salary + pay
£81, 932 without additional expenses.
average salary of a full-time worker = £36,611 as of November 2020.
average age of an MP - 50
The function of debate - MPs rebelling
MPs support the line taken by their party and often obey the whip, meaning most government bills are passed, despite points being made in debates.
MPs have become more willing to rebel against the party whip, even as far as resignation - backbenchers have more voice currently.
Protracted debates on a new terminal and runway at Heathrow led to resignations.
2016 - Zach Goldsmith’s resignation as a Conservative MP over this issue.
Brexit debates? 8 MPs resigned from the Labour Party
Effect of the government majority
The Blair government from 1997 and 2007 always had a large working majority, several MPs would defy the whip - there were only four occasions in the ten years that led to defeat in the debate, all of which was near the end of his time as PM
9th Nov 2015, amendment to the Terrorism Bill to allow terror suspects to be held without charge for 90 days with a defeated 291-322.
May had a minority government between 2017 which led to the confidence and supply agreement with DUP
Seats in relation to the votes
Conservatives received 56% of the seats in comparison to to 44% of the vote.
SNP received 7% of the seats, in comparison to 4% of the vote.
Women?
only 34% of the seats in the Commons are taken by women
Labour and Lib Dems have filled more than 50% of their seats with female MPs
Ethnic + BAME MPs?
Conservatives had 22 in 2019.
