opposition

• Official opposition - Labour led by Starmer

  • Given first response to the Queen’s speech and Chancellor’s budget speech
  • Given 6 questions in PMQ
  • Takes part in ceremonial state occasions e.g. 2023 Starmer met Greek PM before Sunak 
  • Forms a shadow cabinet
• SNP led by Stephen Flynn
• Methods

  PMQs - leader of opp given leading role
• Methods

  UQs, DSCs, PBCs
• Methods

  Supply days - around 20 days a year where the opposition debates any issue and holds a vote

  • 2009 - defeated the government on the issue of the Gurkhas
  • 2020 - Labour put forward a motion to extend free school meals into the half term but government rejected before later reversing their decision
• Methods

  Humble address - used when government had no majority in Commons to demand papers

  • 2017 - Starmer used to get documents on the impact of Brexit
• Ineffective

  Asymmetric resources

  • Short money - 2015 government cut payments
  • Lacks access to civil service
• Ineffective

  Smaller opposition parties not given as many perks as official opposition
• Effective 


  Leader of official opposition given a lot of perks
• Effective

  Parliamentary privilege means that MPs cannot be sued/prosecuted for libel/slander

  • 2022 - MP Bryant named Russian oligarchs and military leaders that he thinks should face sanctions