The influence of backbenchers

Question 1

Question

Answer 1

Evaluate the view that backbenchers can have influence in Parliament.

Question 2

Factors

Answer 2

• Legislation
• Representation
• Scrutiny

Question 3

Judgement

Answer 3

Backbenchers do have influence in Parliament

Question 4

Weaker argument - legislation

Answer 4

→ Of the more than 2,500 PMBs introduced between 2010 –24, just 110 have received royal assent.
→ PMBs are too easy to “filibuster” and it’s too hard to end the filibuster (debates on Friday, rarely 100 MPs present for the closure vote).
→ If the government in power has too large of a majority the votes of opposition backbench MPs in unimportant - E.g. Blair did not lose a vote in the Commons from 1997 to 2005.

Question 5

Stronger argument - legislation

Answer 5

→ Private Member’s Bills (PMBs): Between 2010 and 2024, more than half of bills which received a second reading and secured a date for committee in their first house made it onto the statute books.
→ Passed revolutionary legislation: abolition of the death penalty, legalisation of abortion, decriminalisation of homosexuality
→ Even large majorities can suffer defeats in the Commons. E.g. 2005 backbench MPs defeated plans to extend the detention of terrorist suspects to 90 days.

Question 6

Weaker argument - representation

Answer 6

→ The Commons isn’t representative of society meaning backbenchers are unable to represent people.
→ Currently 23% of MPs were privately educated compared with 7% of the national population.
→ MPs are predominantly middle class - over 4/5 have a professional or business background.
→ Male dominated - needs 10 more percentage points to be effectively representative of society.

Question 7

Stronger argument - representation

Answer 7

→ Backbenchers in the Commons represent the interests of the citizens in their constituency.
→ Backbenchers are important for the voices of their constituencies to be heard: in the PMQs in July Calum Miller raised the issue of river pollution in his constituency.
→ MPs defying the government whip: In 2011 over 100,000 people signed an e-petition asking for a referendum on the EU. 81 Conservative MPs felt so strongly about the issue that they defied the whip and voted in favour of a referendum against David Cameron’s wishes.

Question 8

Weaker argument - scrutiny

Answer 8

→ Select Committees:
- The turnover of members damages committee effectiveness. The Defence Committee saw an 83% turnover during 2010-15.
- Government has 60 days to respond but isn’t compelled to take up any recommendations.
→ The debates initiated by the BbBC are merely motions for discussion, the outcome of MPs’ votes doesn’t compel a government to act.

Question 9

Stronger argument - scrutiny

Answer 9

→ As a backbencher Yvette Cooper’s questioning of the Home Secretary Amber Rudd in 2018 led to concerns over the accuracy of her statements, resulted in Rudd’s resignation.
→ As a backbencher Hilary Benn pressed the case for more clarity in the May Government’s Brexit plans.
→ Questioning: in the PMQ on the 27/11/24 one Liberal Democrat MP raised the issue of hospital funding in her constituency.