significance of opposition in parliament Flashcards
HMO accountability function
-in processes such as PMQs and MQT, HMO is important as it allows the shadow government to ask questions to hold ministers to account
-behind the scenes they hold the power of written questions too
-effective opposition often wins small victories, such as ministers being forced to resign after a scandal e.g. Matt Hancock
-the constitution significantly strengthens the role of LOHMO, short money, 6 questions at PMQs, 17debate days and providing alternative policies
HMO accountability evaluation
strong leadership is vital for HM Opposition to be effective,divisive or radical leader may alienate or divide their own party and thus shift the focus from government competence to opposition in-fighting e.g. Corbyn, a ‘strong’ opposition leader is often powerless to some degree, at times of strong majority government (Starmer is hampered by the Conservative majority of 80),HM Government can simply vote down opposition amendments at the public bill committee stage or shout down the Leader of the Opposition’s questions at PMQs.
backbenchers
-effective route to exercise power is via select committees, 40% of recommendations are taken on by the government
-amendments can be tabled at the public bill committee stage e.g. Sarah Champion’s successful amending of CSE bill
-factions e.g. Northern Research `Group can organise rebellions against the whips orders
-PMBs can also be introduced
backbenchers evaluation
Governments reject on average 60% of all select committee recommendations.The public bill committee stage is tightly controlled by whips and opposition can be contained – as was the case with Priti’s Patel’s Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022. backbenchers rebel but on most issues they are tribal and partisan, if career-minded, are vulnerable to being seduced by the PM’s patronage powers. Finally, although some PMBs do succeed, only those chosen via the ballot stand a realistic chance of seeing their proposal become law.
minor parties
-third largest party (SNP) gets privileges too, 3 questions at PMQs and second in line for questions at question time after HMO
-at times of hung parliament minor parties can be the power brokers, in a confidence and supply agreement they can negotiate policy in exchange for votes e.g. the Conservatives and the DUP 2017-19
-in the lords, the lib dems are significantly overrepresented when considering their presence in the commons
minor parties evaluation
because the UK uses FPTP, minor parties tend to be underrepresented in the Commons. To exemplify, the Greens gained 2.7% of the vote in the 2019 General election but held only one seat in Parliament (0.2%). Contrastingly, the Conservatives gained 43.6% of the vote and 56% of seats. Consequently, this means minor parties cannot exert serious influence during votes, debates, and via the membership of select committees. Furthermore, at times of strong, majority government, there is no need for HM Government to offer policy concessions to minor parties.
the lords
-revising and amending legislation e.g. Investigatory Powers Act 2016
-delaying tactic of ping pong which can result in compromise or full withdrawal of the bill
-though the commons select committees are stronger, the lords has important ones e.g.the constitution committee
-also crossbench experts such as lord judge sit in the lords to aid the process
lords evaluation
the UK Constitution weakens the power of the House of Lords. The Parliament Acts 1911 and 1949 fundamentally weaken opposition in the Lords over financial matters (1911) and its ability to veto legislation (1949). The Salisbury Convention means that policies included in a majority government’s manifesto can only be revised, not prevented. And the lack of a democratic legitimacy means the Lords understands its role is to ‘revise’ legislation rather than to act as a ‘co-equal’ chamber like the U.S. Senate. The role of the Lords is to revise not oppose.
