the university of nottingham parliament and parliamentary reform philip cowley
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The University of Nottingham
Parliament and Parliamentary Reform
Philip Cowley
The University of Nottingham
The House of Commons… had [1995] yet to adopt that posture of slavishness and ineffectuality that now characterises it. - Simon Heffer (2005)
Labour backbenchers — the most supine Members of Parliament in British history — must decide where their loyalty lies. – Roy Hattersley (2005)
In decline?
The University of Nottingham
It is one of the assured parts of his [Blair’s] legacy that he leaves the House of Commons in a far worse state than he found it. The place is a glimmer of its former self... – Henry Porter (2007)
In decline?
The University of Nottingham
In decline?
The Executive in Britain is now more powerful in relation to Parliament than it has been probably since the time of Walpole…
The whips have enforced party discipline more forcefully and fully than they did in the past.
The University of Nottingham
Four criticisms
• Blair’s attitude
• ‘Modernisation’
• Lords reform
• Labour MPs – especially the women
The University of Nottingham
But imagine a parliament…
• With rock solid discipline
• With part-time MPs, with no resources
• With MPs isolated from their constituents
• With no investigatory scrutiny committees
• With a defunct second chamber
The University of Nottingham
MPs now more likely…
• to come from their constituency
• to live in their constituencies
• to have staffed offices in their constituency
• to spend time in the constituency
• to receive mail (and emails)
• to be writing to their constituents
The University of Nottingham
The rise of the Lords
• Effectively dead in 1950s
• More than 400 defeats since 1999
• Russell and Scaria: 40% stick
• Forget Tony’s cronies
• Hung (29%) – and will stay so (until
election)
The University of Nottingham
Modernisation
• Meaningless term - meaning different things to different people
• Patchy – and dependent on people (both LoH and CW)• But not all bad:
• Changes to Select Committees• Standing Committees• PQs• Timetable• Carry-over• Westminster Hall, • Liaison Committee
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…and more likely to defy the whip
• A majority of 60+, but four defeats
• Free votes and other retreats
• Rebellions runs at 28% in first session
• Other victories by single figures
• Other victories thanks to Conservative
support
The University of Nottingham
0
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25
Parliament
% rate of rebellion, whole parliament
The University of Nottingham
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Parliament
% rate of rebellion, first sessions, 1945-05
The University of Nottingham
Record breakers
• Largest rebellion since the repeal of the Corn Laws (Iraq)
• Largest ever Labour rebellion on a health issue (foundation hospitals)
• Largest ever Labour rebellion on an education issue (top-up fees)
• Equal largest rebellion at Second Reading (top-up fees) since 1945
• Largest ever Labour rebellion at Third Reading (schools reform)
• Largest ever Labour defence rebellion (Trident)
The University of Nottingham
4259 votes cast against the Conservative whip, 1979-1990
The University of Nottingham
6520 votes cast against the Labour whip, 1997-2007
The University of Nottingham
Casts a rebellious vote in roughly one in every 10 divisions
And the average rebel casts a dissenting vote in roughly one in every 100 divisions
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Correlation, rebellions 1997-98 and 2001-05
The University of Nottingham
Correlation, rebellions 1997-98 and 2001-05
0.91
The University of Nottingham
Correlation, rebellions 2001-05 and 05-06
0.93
The University of Nottingham
How long do honeymoons last?
• Shortest: Churchill (1951): 5 days
• Major: 6 days
• Callaghan: 7 days
• Thatcher: 20 days
• Attlee: 5 months
• Blair: 6 months
• Longest Wilson (1964): 16 months
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GB’s honeymoonlasted:
45 minutes
The University of Nottingham
More record breakers
Record was: Under GB:
Time till first revolt 5 days (Churchill)
45 minutes
No of rebellions in first month
2 (Major) 9
Largest rebellion in first month
7 (Major) 17
Total no of MPs to rebel in first month
8 (Major) 21
The University of Nottingham
0
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45
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N
Rebellious votes in first month of premierships, 1945-2007
The University of Nottingham
The Governance of Britain
Restoring power?
• Vote for armed conflict• Vote for dissolution• Scrutiny of treaties• Departmental debates• Vote for Recall• Regional Committees