Parliament Vs The Executive Flashcards
List the reasons backbenchers can be seen as mere lobby fodder
- most speeches lead to no action
- whips
- bbbc only debates things w cross bench support
- standing committees controlled by commons majorities
List the reasons backbenchers can be seen as an effective executive check
- bbbc 35 days for debate
- government drops legislation that will be defeated
- backbench rebellions increasing
- rise in urgent questions that require a ministerial response
- lords are experts
- lords are often less amenable to pressure by whips
- cross bench laws are independently minded
Give a recent example of the government dropping legislation that would lose in the commons
Lords reform bill 2015
How much did coalition mps rebel
35% of the time
How much did urgent questions increase between 2009-13
200%
Do backbenchers make a difference (complex answer)
They are more decisive when the government doesn’t have a strong majority
When did backbench rebellions become more common
90s
What did conservative mps rebel abt under major
- Maastricht treaty
- gun control
- VAT on domestic fuel
What did major have to resort to to pass the Maastricht treaty
A confidence vote
How many labour mps rebelled abt invading Iraq in 2003
139 - largest rebellion in modern politics
What was new labour defeated on
90 day detention for suspected terrorists
Racial and religious hatred bill
The right of Gurkhas to live in the uk
Why was the coalition not defeated that much despite the amount of backbench disobedience
Lib Dem and conservative MPs would rebel on different things
What was the biggest defeat for the coalition
Intervention in Syria
What was the conservative minority government defeated on
Evel
Ur referndum conduct
Changes to Sunday trading laws
What are governing party questions intended to do at pmqs
Flatter