The Structure And Role Of Parliament: Theories Of Representation Flashcards
What does an MP with constituencies representative of?
Their constitutions or voters, their party and special interests or groups they may feel strongly about
What percentage of MPs undertake jobs outside of parliament in the 2017-2019 session?
18%
Where must MPs declare there jobs to, for the sake of transparency and conflict of interest?
The Register of Members’ Interest
What is an example go an MP continuing on a limited scale with their previous occupation?
Conservative MP Maria Caulfield used to be a nurse and had to complete 480 hours over 3 years to retain her professional registration
What is an example of a MP continuing with their job while being in parliament?
Portsmouth Labour MP Stephen Morgan continued his service as a city councillor after first being elected to parliament in 2017
What do MPs with particular interest join?
All-party groups comprising of other MPs who share similar interests and concerns
What are some areas represented by all-party groups?
Pigeon racing, darts, independent education and Scottish whisky
How do MPs work as problem solvers in their constituency?
They hold regular local surgeries, usually via appointment
What is the ‘redress of grievances’?
MPs do not normally have the power to bring about instant remixes, so they often raise such matters with the local council or relevant government department, or in a Commons debate
In 2010 how many bits of communication dod one MP calculate they got in their first 10 months as an MP?
They received 38,400 pieces of communication, of which 24,000 were emails, 9,600 letters and 4,800 telephone calls on top of 2,183 individual constituents cases
What are the 3 main theories on how MPs represent their constituents?
Burkean or Trustee Theory
Delegate theory
Mandate theory
Who came up with Burkean theory?
18th century political thinker and MP Edmund Burke
What is Burkean theory?
That as representatives, elected officials should take into account their constituents view while also employing their personal judgement, knowledge and experience to serve the public interest, with constituents entrusting their elected officials to represent them fairly in parliament
What did Burke see the Burkean theory as the opposite of?
A delegate, who is an elected official who simply mirrors the view of the constituents
What has significantly weakened the Burkean theory?
the advent of strong party ties and the parliamentary whipping system
What is an example of the Burkean theory at work?
Nick Boles, former Conservative MP for Grantham and Stamford, represented a Leave constituency but personally supported a Remain campaign, voting against his own party in many Brexit votes
What is an example of Burkean theory?
The ‘votes of conscience’, during which MPs follow their own conscience or belief in the ‘common good’, with the 2013 vote on gay marriage being a notable rennet example of this
What is the delegate theory?
Is that elected officials are simply ‘mouthpieces’ for their constituents
What is an example of the delegate theory at work?
In 2015, Conservative MP Zac Goldsmith promised his voters in Richmond Park that he would resign if the government came in favour of a third runway at Heathrow, keeping to his word resigning in 2016, fighting the by-election as an independent, losing to the Lib Dems
What is another example of the delegate throes at work?
Stephen Lloyd, then Lib Dem MP for Eastbourne promised to support Brexit if elected in 2017, against his own views and official party policy, was elected in 2017, stuck to his views and resining as a Lib Dem, and losing his seat as an independent in the 2019 election
What is the mandate theory?
It advocates that elected officials are primarily there to represent and carry out their party’s policies and manifesto
What is the argument for the mandate theory?
That it is the party and not the personality of an individual MP that secures their election
What is an example in favour of the mandate theory?
In 2019 Frank Field, the ling serving and highly respected MP for Birkenhead, stood as an independent having left Labour, and was defeated in this very safe Labour seat
