Parliament - Relationship between Parliamentary interaction and the Executive Flashcards
What is the role of backbench MPs
Taking part and voting in debates on proposed legislation.
Scrutinising proposed legislation in committee stage.
Possibly being a member of a Select Committee (made entirely of backbenchers).
Speaking in debates on government business.
Representing constituency or other interests in backbench debates.
Being active on a campaign committee of MPs on specific issues.
Taking part in fact-finding missions with other MPs, anywhere in UK or abroad.
Participating in Party committees to develop their party’s policy on a particular issue.
Campaigning, supporting and speaking for an outside interest or cause.
Holding weekly ‘surgeries’ in constituency to listen to or even act for a constituent on an issue.
Attending important local events in the constituency.
Attending party meetings locally or at national conferences
MPs and representing the interests of their constituency
MPs can make a significant impact in parliament by representing the interests of their constituents. In order to achieve this, MPs can ask questions in the Commons and question ministers on their behalf. E.g., Sir Peter Bottomley MP used an adjournment debate (enabling the House to have a debate on a subject without considering a substantive motion) – he demanded a full enquiry into the former police sergeant Gurpal Virdi who had been taken to court over previous cases of sexual abuse and was acquitted. This happened in 2018
MPs and general debate
MPs turn to a debate the House of Commons internal grievance procedure for staff - the updated mechanism to deal with bullying and harassment. MPs will be asked to agree changes and updates following the latest review.
April 2021
MPs and scheduling petition debates
2015, Petition Committee created which took over the task of scheduling debates on petitions. These E Petitions most likely reached 100,000 + signatures. E.g. Two Select Committees will hear further evidence on Black history and cultural diversity in the national curriculum after hundreds of thousands signed petitions calling on the government to diversify and decolonise the curriculum.
MPs and personal experiences
MPs can also raise concerns which they personally feel are important. During a UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women in 2016, Michelle Thomson MP talked about being raped in order to break the stigma surrounding sharing such information.
Backbencher influence? Tony Blair example
Lies heavily with the majority within Parliament. Between 1997 and 2001, Tony Blair won the landslide elections, so he could survive the large rebellions by his backbenchers. E.g. 2003, 139 Labour MPs voted against the involvement in the Iraq War, Blair still won the parliamentary vote. Labour’s majority did drop to 66 in the 2005 GE – Blair failed to produce 90-day detention for terror suspects when 49 Labour MPs voted against it.
Non existent parliamentary majority?
? Backbenchers will be much more influential because the whips rely on them for the support. Theresa May lost her Parliamentary majority in the 2017 election, so she had to manage Brexit rather than lead it to ensure cross-party support for her strategy.
Backbenchers ARE representatives
LAB MP Frank Field resigned in 2018 after serving for 39 years as an MP. He had stricter ideas about immigration and support for Brexit. Local party members objected as they said he was acting in contrary to their beliefs. This triggered a vote of confidence at the Birkenhead Labour Party.
Luciana Berger MP Labour:
- Campaigned extensively to raise awareness of food poverty in the UK.
- Produced a film called Breadline Britain – secured the first parliamentary debate on food banks.
- Spoken in the Commons against the anti-Semitism in the Labour party.
- Feb 2019, she resigned with 7 other MPs to establish The Independent Group.
Backbenchers Strengths
Select Committees
PMBs
Legitimising role
Select Committees - are made up entirely of backbenchers, play a significant role in the scrutinising the work of the government and its departments
PMBs - can introduce these Bills on important issues –> the abolition of the death penalty followed by a PMB BY Sidney Silverman in 1965.
Legitimising role - they approve government decisions e.g., decide whether or not to agree to early dissolution of parliament
Backbenchers strengths
Opposing party whips
Dismiss the government
Opposing the Whip: they can oppose the party whip over legislation, which was seen many times in Brexit votes - 21 Conservative MPs opposed Johnson on Brexit vote despite threat of removal of the party whip.
Dismissing the government:
MPs can dismiss the government with a vote of no confidence e.g., James Callaghan in 1979.
Weaknesses of Backbenchers
Ignoring Select Committees
PMQs and other Q times
Party whip
Ignoring Select Committees: the government can ignore the advice of the Select Committees e.g., the Foreign Affair Select Committee advised against military intervention in Syria
PMQs…: dominated by front benchers, leaving few opportunities for backbenchers to raise significant problems.
Party Whip: MPs are expected to follow the Party Whip, and do so on most occasions, as the Party holds much power of the MPs career prospects in their power.
Weaknesses of backbenchers
Large majorities
No confidence
Large majorities: governments are able to survive even substantial backbench rebellions - Tony Blair was not defeated in the Commons in his first eight years.
No Confidence Votes: only successful in exceptional circumstances, usually when there is a minority government, and even then only rarely.
Strengths of backbenchers
Backbench Business Committee
Established in 2010 and provides the backbench MPs with 35 days a year to control parliamentary business.
This gives them the opportunity to raise any questions for debate
2018 debates arranged by the committee were refugee fam reunions, perinatal mental illness and forced adoption in the UK.
Strengths of backbenchers
What is the Petitions Committee?
this was created in 2015 and scheduled the debates on petitions… most were e-petitions which reached 100,000 + signatures.
2018 - abolished closed-book GCSE English Lit exam - made it open-book.
