The Composition of the House of Commons Flashcards
How many MPs allocated per region in 2024?
England: 543
Scotland: 57
Wales: 32
Northern Ireland: 18
What are frontbenchers?
A frontbencher is either a Government minister or an Opposition shadow spokesperson. They are so-called because they occupy the front benches on either side of the Chamber when the House is in session.
What are backbenchers?
Backbenchers are MPs or members of the House of Lords that are neither government ministers nor opposition Shadow spokespeople . They are so called because, in the Chamber, they sit in the rows of benches behind their parties’ spokespeople who are known as frontbenchers
What is the principle of collective ministerial responsibility?
They must present and publicly support government policy from the front benches.
Who is bound by the principle of collective ministerial responsibility?
MPs who have been invited to join the government as:
1. Senior ministers
2. Junior ministers
3. Permanent private secretaries.
What is the shadow frontbench team?
The main opposition party has its own members who scrutinise their government counterparts and they are required to support their party’s leadership.
what are party whips?
All the main political parties appoint whips (who can be MPs or Lords) to maintain party discipline.
What do the whips do?
- Represent interests of their constituencies.
- Encourage and cajole them to support the party line.
- Report back any large-scale rebellions
What is a three-line whip and what is the consequence of defying it?
Requires MPs to attend a division and vote as demanded by the leadership. If they refused they have the party whip withdrawn, meaning they lose their membership to that party.
Recent Example of the whip being withdrawn:
- Keir Starmer has taken away the whip from seven rebel Labour MPs who defied the Government in a vote over the two-child benefit cap.
- Some include: Apsana Begum,Imran Hussain and Zarah Sultana
- They have been suspended for 6 months, after which their membership will be reviewed.
When are the whips particularly important?
When the government has a small majority or when they are trying to survive as a minority administration.
Example of a minority government using the whips:
Callaghan government from 1976-79 jad to survive without a parliamentary majority.
Hard for the whips to ensure all their MPs went through the correct division.
Conservative MP Roger Sims:
He was late for a parliament vote and enabled the government to win by just one vote.
What is the role of the speaker?
- Impartial
- Does not engage in political debate
- Arranges parliamentary business with the leaders of the main parties.
- Ensures proper procedure is followed.
- Has a disciplinary function and can suspend MPs.
How is the speaker elected?
Since the election of John Bercow in 2009 they are elected by secret by MPs.
