The Role of the Opposition

Question 1

What are the powers of the opposition?

Answer 1

• Opposition has highest number of questions at Question Time, and responds first to ministerial statements. Chairs a number of Select Committees. Has the chair on the Public Accounts Committee, Backbench Business Affairs Committee and Committee on Standards.
• Access to a certain number of offices and extra finances. The Official Opposition has 17 of the 20 ‘opposition days’ each year in Parliament to use for its own purposes

Question 2

How effective are these powers?

Answer 2

• aim for cross-party support. Turn public against government. Demonstrate they will make a more effective government. Offer better alternatives. Easier against a minority/small majority government. Difficult against a large majority – will usually be defeated by government.

Question 3

What are the problems for the opposition?

Answer 3

• a minority of MPs, so will suffer many defeats. The Lords is also weak. Government largely controls the Parliamentary timetable. Opposition enjoys less media air-time etc. Government sets the political agenda – the Opposition is mainly on the defensive.