parliamnet

• parl performs legislative function

  most important function is to pass laws - supreme legislative body in the UK, has authority to pass or amend laws on any subject

  Due to majority + whips, gov rarely has probs passing bills through HOC + legislation is almost always passed effectively

  In the 2022/23 parliamentary session, the government introduced 56 bills. Of these, 43 (76%)received royal assent by the end of the session.
• Parl effective at passing legislation 2

  HOL does offer amendments but rarely halts the passage of legislation, recognising its limited democratic legitimacy

  EG. The Levelling-Up and Regeneration Act, passed in Oct23, 64 HOL technical amendments accepted by the House of Commons - ensure legislation is workable + effective

  If the HOL does block legislation supported by the HOC, then the Commons can use Parliaments Acts to override their veto after a year

  EG. This has been used 7 times in total - equalising the age of consent to 16 with the Sexual Offences Act 2000
• Parl effective at passing legislation 3

  Can push legislation in short amount of time

  EG. 2020 Coronavirus Act which gave the government wide ranging powers to tackle the Coronavirus pandemic, including powers that significantly limited human rights, in just 6 days
• Parl ineffective at passing legislation

  Vast maj of PMBs not passed

  In the 2022/23 parliamentary session, 297 Private Memberʼs Bills were introduced, of which just 24 (8%) received royal assent by the end of the session

  BUT Some PMBs are passed if support of the governing party

  EG. The Protection from Sex-based Harassment in Public Act 2023 successfully passed on 18 September 2023, after receiving support from the government and opposition.

  It was introduced by ballot by Greg Clark, the Conservative MP for Tunbridge Wells.
• Parl ineffective at passing legislation 2

  Though the HOL only have a 1 year delaying power, this can be significant in delaying important legislation/ forcing the House of Commons to compromise and amend legislation.

  Especially when the gov has a small/no maj, rebellions can prevent important legislation + be destructive

  Both Theresa May and Boris Johnsonʼs governments failed to pass their Brexit Withdrawal Agreements a number of times in 2019 when their Conservative governments relied on a Confidence and Supply Agreement with the DUP for their majority.
• Parl ineffective ta passing legislation 3

  Legislation being rushed through Parliament can lead to a lack of scrutiny and to poorly drafted and unworkable laws as a consequence - increasingly common

  EG. The Illegal Migration Bill was given just 2 days to be scrutinised by the House of Commons at the Committee stage before being passed on to the House of Lords.

  This can be seen as damaging the effective passage of legislation, as legislation is more likely to have mistakes and be unworkable due to ineffective legislative scrutiny.
• Parl scrutiny effective - select committees

  (in depth professional, less partisan than PMQs)

  Wright reforms SCs more indep of gov - SC chairs not chosen by whips, prominent BBs who openly oppose gov to obtain key roles

  EG. Caroline Nokes chair of Women and Equalities Committee consistently criticised gov - plans to hold asylum seekers in barracks

  Work evidence based - televised hearings + reported in media

  EG. Privileges SC scrutinised BJ in March23 over his involvement in partygate

  Gov has to publicly respond within 8 weeks + sometimes direct policy influence
• SCs effective 2

  gov has to publicly respond to their findings/reports in 8 weeks - sometimes direct influence on gov policy, ensuring that gov departments perform effectively

  EG. May23, the gov accepted all of the Foreign Affairs SCʼs recommendations in their report by appointing a Director of Resilience in the Cabinet Office to focus on making the UK less dependent on other international actors

  Liaison Committee directly questions + scrutinises the PM twice a year, therefore directly holding the most powerful figure in government to account
• Parl scrutiny ineffective - SCs limited

  Maj SC members drawn from the gov party, Treasury, foreign affairs and defence committees are chaired by MPs of gov party - limits their independence + likelihood they will hold to account

  SCs only cover limited topics in depth + power to summon witnesses also limited

  EG. Theresa May blocked SC of Home Affairs from interviewing Andrew Parker head of MI5

  Gov accepts around 40% of recommendations - usually minor changes

  EG. 2023 gov chose not to implement Education SCs recs despite extensive inquires

  BJ cancled appointments with Liason Committee 2
• Effctive scrutiny through PMQs

  May 2024 - Starmer used first few qs in PMQs to sctrunise reality of impact of Rwanda plan + not deterring with 2400 small boats crossing in 16 days since passed

  PMQs most watched aspect of politics among public. MPs point may go viral for voters to see - dominates the media

  Misleading HOC - pressure to resign, forces Ministers and the PM to be on top of their policy brief + the work of their dep

  less likely incompetent party leaders will lead a major party into an election, would embarrass harm the partyʼs image every Wednesday at PMQs
• PMQs ineffective

  Ministers and Prime Ministers often give political answers, intended to deflect and get soundbites for social media clips rather than to honestly answer scrutiny.

  EG. May24, rather than answering Starmers q in relation to small boats passing Sunak asked Starmer to condemn Labour Mayor SD on what he had said about Hamas attack - avoided q

  Keir Starmer criticised for focusing on one-liners to try and embarrass PM during PMQs rather than substantive scrutiny of the governmentʼs policies. - “inaction manˮ + leadership was "as strong as a wet paper bag".
• PMQs ineffective 2

  Gov BBs ask qs drafted by the whips don’t scrutinise

  May24, Con MP Sheryll Murray used her question in MPs to ask if the PMs agreed that his govʼs recent policies to send migrants to Rwanda and increase defence spending were policies supported by her constituents and that the opposition should back them

  PMQs parl theatre rather than scrutiny

  On May24, 2023, Hoyle ejected Cons MP Paul Bristow from the chamber for repeated heckling.

  Effective scrutiny dependent on the abilities of backbenchers and the Leader of the Opposition.

  Corbyn in particular was a poor performer.
• Parl scrutiny effective - legislative scrutiny

  esp in recent years, when the government has increasingly rushed legislation through the House of Commons, the HOL has played a crucial role in scrutinising

  The Levelling-Up and Regeneration Act, passed in October 2023, gov accepted 64 amendments- technical word changes to ensure new law is workable

  Parliament also effective gov BBs can rebel to defeat gov legislation in HOC

  Theresa May defeated 33 times during minority gov + worst defeat modern history with 118 cons rebelling Brexit
• legislative scrutiny ineffective

  Gov has increasingly rushed passing legislation through Commons as they have control over Parlimemnaty timetable

  EG. Illegal Migration Bill had only 2 days pf scrutiny in HOC

  When large maj - hardly defeated, Sunak only defeated once with 76% of gov introduced bills receding royal assent by end of 22/23 parl session

  HOL lack of powers + salisbury convention
• Parl democratically representative

  HOC each MP democratically elected, each MP representing small number of voters

  Voters hold to account + replace if not rep

  EG, Scot Benson replaced by Labour MP in Blackpoon south by-election in May24 after he was suspended from Parl for breaking lobbying rules

  Each MP has to win plurality of votes - Gavin Willaimson won 73% of vote in South Staffordshire 2019