Parliament : legislative , oversight and appointments
(9 markers )
1. Explain and analyse three influences upon individual MPs when voting in the
House of Commons (2020)
Delegate- MPs act as the mouthpiece of the people
Zack Goldsmith resigned in 2015 following his promise to his voters in Richmond Park that
he would if the gov backed a third runway for heathrow- he lost his seat in 2016 to the lib
dems after running for an independent
- shows that he valued his promises to his constituents and supported what they wanted
- this may be difficult if there is a three line whip
- also shows people might not vote bc of the person running but more bc of party policies
therefore less likely they act as delegates
Mandate - by winning an election they have the right to implement their policies.
2017 Three line whips imposed by labour . However defied by 1/5th due to their
conscience. 99.6% of the time does an MP vote with their party, showing that three-line
whips can be seen as successful in encouraging to vote along party lines
Burkean - trust the MP to make decisions that are in their best interest
In March 2003, 139 Labour MPs rebelled against Blair based on their conscience over the
invasion of Iraq; this was possible as there was no manifesto promise
But rarely ever rebel due to the nature of elections being every 5 years.
2. Explain and analyse three ways in which the Official Opposition can challenge
the government in the House of Commons (2022)
Committees
Often chaired by MPs from the opposition for example Yvette Cooper is part of the Labour
Party and chairs the home affairs select committee
- Can call witnesses both from government and outside Westminster to give evidence and
the government must respond to reports within 60 days
- Example - in 2018 the health select committee recommended a number of measures to
reduce child obesity. Within a month Theresa May announce further measures such as
stopping the sale of sweets and fatty snacks at supermarket checkouts
- importance - encourage the government to make a change quicker as the reports are often
hard-hitting and influential
- 30-40% of recommendations are accepted
Opposition days
20 days a year where the opposition can control the debates.
Provides an opportunity to make the government debate issues which the opposition thinks
are important
Only one opposition day has been successful since 1978- Lib Dems condemned Brown's
decision to not guarantee rights to Gurkha veterans- very embarrassing so they changed the
policy
PMQs
The most important occasion for oral questions is Prime Minister’s Question Time, which
takes place every Wednesday at noon
,largest party not in government is the official opposition
- leader of the opposition has the right to respond first to pm statements and can ask six
questions during pmqs
- importance - shows the other members in parliament that they are a 'government in waiting'
by showing that they have strong ideas or policies that is potentially worth voting for, also
publicised to the public as a stronger alternative
- example - current leader of labours opposition is keir starmer and his deputy is Angela
rayner - they are able to portray to the public why you should vote for labour
3. Explain and analyse the effectiveness of three ways that parliament can
scrutinise the executive.
select Committees: Select Committees are groups of MPs from all political parties
who are responsible for scrutinizing specific areas of government policy. They have
the power to summon witnesses, request documents, and conduct inquiries into
government activities.
Evidence: In 2018, the House of Commons Home Affairs Committee conducted an inquiry
into the Windrush scandal, which led to the wrongful deportation of UK citizens to the
Caribbean. The inquiry resulted in the resignation of the Home Secretary and brought
attention to the issue of institutional racism within the Home Office.
Analysis: Select Committees can be an effective means of scrutinizing the executive, as they
have the power to summon witnesses and request documents. They can also conduct in-
depth inquiries into government activities, which can bring attention to issues that may
otherwise be overlooked. However, the effectiveness of Select Committees can be limited by
the willingness of the executive to cooperate, as well as by the level of expertise and
resources available to the Committees.
2. Debates: Parliamentary debates are another means by which MPs can scrutinize the
executive. MPs can table motions and debates on any topic, and these debates can
be used to challenge government policy, raise public awareness of issues, and hold
the executive to account.
Evidence: In 2020, the House of Commons held a debate on the government’s handling of
the COVID-19 pandemic. The debate provided an opportunity for MPs to raise concerns
about the government’s response and to call for greater transparency and accountability.
Analysis: Parliamentary debates can be an effective means of scrutinizing the executive, as
they provide a platform for MPs to raise issues of concern and to challenge government
policy. They can also help to raise public awareness of issues and to hold the executive to
account. However, the effectiveness of debates can be limited by the level of participation
from MPs, as well as by the extent to which the executive is willing to engage with the
debate.
3. Votes of No Confidence: A vote of no confidence is a parliamentary procedure by
which MPs can express their lack of confidence in the government. If a majority of
MPs vote in favor of a motion of no confidence, the government may be required to
resign.
, Evidence: In 2019, the House of Commons passed a motion of no confidence in the then-
Prime Minister Theresa May. Although May did not resign immediately, the vote highlighted
the lack of support for her government and ultimately led to her resignation as Prime
Minister.
Analysis: Votes of no confidence can be an effective means of scrutinizing the executive, as
they provide a clear indication of MPs’ lack of confidence in the government. They can also
lead to significant political changes, such as a change of government or the calling of a
general election. However, the effectiveness of votes of no confidence can be limited by the
level of support from MPs, as well as by the extent to which the executive is willing to accept
the outcome of the vote. Additionally, such votes can be time-consuming and may not
always result in a change of government or policy.
4. Explain and analyse three ways in which the House of Lords can scrutinise the
government.
Debates: The House of Lords can hold debates on a range of issues, allowing peers to
scrutinize government policy and actions. Debates can be initiated by individual peers, by
committees of the House, or by the government.
Evidence: In 2021, the House of Lords held a debate on the impact of the COVID-19
pandemic on the cultural and creative industries. The debate provided an opportunity for
peers to discuss the government's response to the crisis, to raise concerns about the impact
on the industry, and to propose potential solutions.
Analysis: Debates can be an effective means of scrutinizing the government, as they provide
a platform for peers to voice concerns and to hold the government to account. They can also
raise awareness of important issues and bring them to the attention of the public. However,
the effectiveness of debates may be limited by the level of participation from peers and the
extent to which the government is willing to engage with the debate.
2. Select Committees: Like the House of Commons, the House of Lords has a range of
select committees that scrutinize government policy and actions. These committees
are made up of peers who have expertise in particular areas and have the power to
summon witnesses, request documents, and conduct inquiries.
Evidence: In 2020, the House of Lords EU Goods Sub-Committee conducted an inquiry into
the impact of Brexit on the UK's ability to trade in goods with the EU. The inquiry raised
concerns about potential disruptions to supply chains and the need for a smooth transition to
a new trading relationship with the EU.
Analysis: Select Committees can be an effective means of scrutinizing the government, as
they allow peers to conduct in-depth inquiries into specific policy areas and to make
recommendations for improvement. They can also provide a forum for stakeholders and
experts to contribute to the inquiry. However, the effectiveness of select committees may be
limited by the level of cooperation from the government and the availability of resources.
3. Legislative Scrutiny: The House of Lords has the power to scrutinize legislation
passed by the House of Commons, and can propose amendments or reject bills
outright.
