Role and significance of backbenchers

• What are backbenchers?

  MPs in the House of Commons and members of the House of Lords that are not part of the government or the opposition party’s leadership team
• Backbenchers in the House of Commons represent the interests of the citizens in their constituency
• Backbenchers are members of standing committees which review bills in detail
• Backbenchers out forward Private Members’ bills
• Backbenchers can question government ministers during Question time and the Prime Minister during PMQs
• Backbenchers make up and chair select committees which scrutinise government departments
• Backbench MPs can write questions to the ministers about issues which impact their constituencies
• Ministers must reply to written questions from backbenchers
• What are backbenchers of the party in government expected to not do?

  Overtly criticise the government
• What are backbenchers of the party in government expected to do?

  Follow the party line when voting
• What does Parliamentary privilege ensure>

  MPs and members of the house of Lords can freely debate on any issue without interference
• What does Parliamentary privilege give backbenchers?

  Legal immunity over what they say in Parliament
• Who has a lot of power over backbenchers?

  Party whips. This reduces the likelihood of a backbench rebellion
• What happens if a ‘three line whip’ is enacted?

  Backbenchers risk being removed from their party and having to sit as an independent in parliament if they vote against the party’s position
• Influence of backbenchers is dependent on what?

  The size of a government‘s parliamentary majority
• Example of a large parliamentary majority diminishing influence of backbenchers

  In 2003, 84 Labour MPs voted against involvement in the Iraq war but Blair still won the vote
• What is filibustering?


  Deliberately waste time during a debate by making overlong speeches or raising unnecessary procedural points. In this way a Bill or a motion may be 'talked out': stopped from making progress within the time allowed.
• Example of a Private Member bill to do with the Lords

  The House of Lords Reform Act 2014 introduced by Dan Byles made it possible for the first time for members of the House of Lords to resign or retire, as well as providing a mechanism for the expulsion of peers from the House of Lords because of criminal activity or non-attendance. This made the replacement of very elderly, lazy or corrupt members possible
• What is the difference between select committees and public bill committees?

  Select committees are non partisan which means that MPs from all parties are expected to work together on them towards a shared conclusion. Such political impartiality, so rare in the House of Commons, means that their reports carry great political weight. Their criticisms are designed to improve future performance rather than win political advantage
• How is membership of select committees different from public bill committees?

  Each political party votes on the membership, rather than it being chosen by the whips, ensuring that the MPs who serve on select committees are highly regarded backbenchers. In addition, the chairs of select committees are elected by MPs as a whole, ensuring cross party support.
• Who was elected chair of the Health Select Committee in 2020?

  Jeremy Hunt, a former health secretary. This meant he was well placed to lead investigations into the performance of his former department
• What is generally regarded as the most important select committee?

  The Public Accounts Committee
• What does the public accounts committee do?

  Investigates the expenditure of all government departments, ensuring that public money is not wasted