The Selection of Members of the House of Commons and House of Lords

Question 1

How are Members of Parliament (MPs) elected to the House of Commons?

Answer 1

MPs are elected through the first-past-the-post (FPTP) system, representing single-member constituencies

Question 2

How many constituencies are there in the UK as of 2024?

Answer 2

The UK is divided into 650 constituencies.

Question 3

Who reviews constituency boundaries, and how often?

Answer 3

Independent Boundary Commissions review boundaries every 8 years, with the latest review in 2023.

Question 4

What is the required number of electors per constituency?

Answer 4

Constituencies must have between 69,724 and 77,062 electors.

Question 5

What are the eligibility requirements to become an MP?

Answer 5

Candidates must be 18+ years old and a British, Commonwealth, or Irish citizen.

Question 6

Which groups are ineligible to stand as MPs?

Answer 6

Civil servants, armed forces personnel, police officers, judges, bankrupt individuals, and members of the House of Lords.

Question 7

How do major political parties select candidates?

Answer 7

Candidates are selected internally, often involving local party members.

Question 8

What must independent candidates do to stand for election?

Answer 8

They must submit nomination papers with 10 signatures from registered voters and pay a £500 deposit, refundable if they secure at least 5% of the vote.

Question 9

Who is eligible to vote in UK elections?

Answer 9

British citizens, qualifying Commonwealth citizens, and Irish citizens aged 18+.

Question 10

What change did the Elections Act 2022 introduce regarding British citizens abroad?

Answer 10

British citizens abroad can now vote indefinitely.

Question 11

Who is ineligible to vote in UK elections?

Answer 11

Peers in the House of Lords, prisoners, those convicted of electoral offenses, and non-qualifying foreign nationals.

Question 12

What is the voter ID requirement introduced under the Elections Act 2022?

Answer 12

Voters must present accepted photographic ID to vote.

Question 13

How are general elections now regulated?

Answer 13

The Fixed-term Parliaments Act (2011) was repealed by the Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act (2022), giving the Prime Minister prerogative to request Parliament’s dissolution.

Question 14

When are by-elections held?

Answer 14

By-elections are held when an MP dies or resigns.

Question 15

How many independent MPs were elected in the 2024 general election?

Answer 15

Six independent MPs were elected in 2024, compared to none in 2019.

Question 16

Which notable MPs served as independents due to party resignation or expulsion?

Answer 16

Andrew Bridgen (expelled from the Conservative Party in 2023 for comparing COVID-19 vaccinations to the Holocaust), Rosie Duffield (resigned from Labour in 2024), and Jeremy Corbyn (elected as an Independent in 2024).

Question 17

What percentage of MPs are backbenchers?

Answer 17

Approximately 75% of MPs are backbenchers.

Question 18

Who are frontbenchers in the House of Commons?

Answer 18

Frontbenchers include government ministers and opposition Shadow Ministers, led by the Leader of the Opposition.

Question 19

How many peers are there in the House of Lords as of 2024?

Answer 19

There are 799 peers, with no upper limit on membership size.

Question 20

What are the categories of peers in the House of Lords?

Answer 20

Life Peers (687), Hereditary Peers (88), and Lords Spiritual (24 bishops of the Church of England).

Question 21

How are Life Peers appointed?

Answer 21

They are recommended by the Prime Minister or the House of Lords Appointments Commission (HOLAC).

Question 22

What is the role of HOLAC in appointments?

Answer 22

Established in 2000, HOLAC ensures propriety in appointments, though its recommendations are not binding.

Question 23

How do boundary reviews contribute to electoral fairness?

Answer 23

They ensure equal representation by addressing population shifts.

Question 24

What is a major criticism of the first-past-the-post system?

Answer 24

It is criticised for disproportionality, benefiting larger parties and disadvantaging smaller ones.

Question 25

What is the main difference in representation between the Commons and the Lords?

Answer 25

The Commons provides democratic legitimacy through elections, while the Lords offers expertise and a long-term perspective

Question 26

What is the tension MPs face between the delegate and trustee models?

Answer 26

MPs must balance representing constituents (delegate model) and exercising their own judgment (trustee model).

Question 27

How does bicameralism balance representation and expertise?

Answer 27

The Commons represents democratic will, while the Lords provides expertise and a long-term perspective.

Question 28

What is the debate surrounding electoral ID laws?

Answer 28

Whether they enhance security or suppress voter turnout.

Question 29

Why is there a call for House of Lords reform?

Answer 29

To address perceived lack of accountability and legitimacy due to its non-elected nature.