PARLIAMENT

Political Change

1500’s

Now

Functions

• LEGISLATE

• EXECUTIVE SCRUTINY

• REPRESENTATION

• DEBATE

• PROVIDE MINISTERS

Members of Parliament

• They have a number of Key roles – To help Legislate ; Scrutinise and Represent.

• Are they Representative?

MPs from Ethnic Minorities

Backbenchers

• Most MPs are backbenchers

• ‘MPs not allowed to sit on the Front Benches in front of Speaker’

• They are MPs of all Parties who are NOT:– Cabinet Ministers– Members of Government – Members of Shadow Cabinet– Part of Opposition Front Bench team

Backbenchers on Government side

• Expected NOT to criticise the Government (even when their constituents interests may be involved)

Backbenchers on Opposition

• Expected to play major role in opposing Government

• Look after Constituency interests

Representatives are supposed to be Free agents’ is it fair they have to follow party line so closely?

Backbench influence?

• Each day Backbenchers can question Ministers

• Right to ask for written answer to any Question

• Right to Participate in Debates• Right to Vote on Bills• Adjournment debates allow backbenchers

a chance to debate an issue affecting their constituency

Backbench influence?

• All Parliamentary Committees are chaired by backbenchers and their membership is made up of backbenchers

• They can refer matters of maladministration to the Ombudsman

• They have the right to raise any constituency matter with any minister and guaranteed to get a reply

Backbench opposition?

Backbench opposition?

The Speaker

• John Bercow- Labour • Traditionally a well supported Senior

MP• Manages the HOC• Acts as MPs Spokesman• Chairs all major debates and decides

who speaks• Keeps Order and decides whether to

allow special debates in times of crisis• Expected to be neutral and behave

impartially

ROLE OF THE PARTY

• British democracy is based around a strong party structure

• Is this truly representative?• Are MPs simply party delegates due to the

Whip system?• The Speaker organises debates around

party time• Committees are organised on party lines• Loyalty to the Party leads to promotion not

disloyalty – Party is the single most important factor influencing MPs

Parties- Do we need them?

• Without them Governments would struggle to get major legislation through

• There are 100 members of the Government in the HOC

• If they disobey they will have to resign• The Government also needs the

support of other MP’s • Supporters argue that MPs are

elected as a Party MP so should have to follow party lines

• Some see their first duty as to their constituents

Parties- Do we need them?

• One Major reason for John Majors defeat in 1997 was the breakdown of the Conservative party

• Tony Blair therefore kept a tight Whip control on the Labour Party to maintain unity and discipline

• BUT between 2004-05 there were 58 labour backbench revolts- and the Prevention of terrorism Bill was voted against