the opposition Flashcards
what are the four types of opposition?
official
other opposition parties like Libdem
intra party opponents with governing party
inter-party- period of coalition gov can be disagreements between different parties in gov
What is the fundamental purpose of the opposition?
to offer scrutiny and potentially a check on the government. Must also offer viable and practical solutions. Members must portray themselves as an alternative government.
What is the assumption about the opposition?
members must portray themselves as an alternative government. They therefore have a formal shadow cabinet whose role it is to challenge the relevant government minister.
What does the leader of the official opposition have?- how opposition challenges government
special privileges in debates and commons business. At PMQ’s they always ask the opening question plus up to five more, are the only MP allowed to respond to PM w further questions
What do the opposition have?- how opposition challenges government
20opposition days set aside each year during which they choose the topic of debate. Total of 17 are allocated to official opposition and res to 2nd largest opposition party. Chance for opposition to raise topics they wish to publicise and expose government failings.
What’s an example of the opposition exposing government failures?
2018, Labour raised the issues of school funding, the Grenfell tower fire and NHS privatisation.
What is debate over and is it binding to the government?- how opposition challenges government
debate is over a motion, which is voted on but is not binding on the government ( means that the result does not have to go into law, just recommended). It is primarily a device for raising the profile of an issue. The procedure can however have an impact.
What’s an example of the debate over a motion being voted on but not binding on the government having an impact?
2009, during Browns leadership, an opposition motion allwed Gurkha’s to settle in the UK was passed when 27 labour MP’s rebelled and supported the opposition parties. Although the govt was x forced to change policy, in the event it did so. Was labour’s first defeat on an opposition day debate since 1997.
What can members of the shadow cabinet do?
ask questions of ministers and propose alternative policies, e.g.- in debates over the standards of rail services, shadow labour transport ministers argued for a renationalisation of the railways and an end to the system of rail franchising.
What did the opposition successfully do during Brexit 2018-2019- how opposition challenges government
Opposition MP’s and conservative rebels effectively prevented the various versions of Theresa May’s deal from going through. They were, however, unable to agree on any alternative
How is parliamentary arithmetic a factor affecting the power of the opposition?
A govt w a small or non-existent majority enables the opposition to be much more powerful. Greater chance they may be able to defeat the govt on some of its legislative plans
What else is a factor affecting the power of the opposition?
background and context are crucial. In times of national emergency, e.g.- Covid-19, opposition had to be seen to be largely supportive of the govt when national unity and x political point-scoring was main priority.
How could it be argued that the existence of the opposition influences a PM at times of national emergency.
example. Multi-billion plan to safeguard many workers jobs and wages during the COVID-19 outbreak was perhaps partly influenced by an awareness of the political backlash if the govt was x seen ti be reacting on a huge scale.
What must the opposition not seek to do in a democracy?
must x seek to veto or block the policies of the elected government. Equally, the government must allow the opposition regular and open opportunities to critique their policies and to suggest alternatives.
