Two excellent articles (May 2012) on rebel MPs and factors that have led to the coaltion suffering rebellions in around 40% of its proposed legislation (not necessarily successful rebellions, mind you). If we have a more assertive House of Commons, does that mean there is less reason for reforming the system?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/may/28/most-revolting-parliament-history http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/may/28/top-six-rebel-mps
Tuesday, 29 May 2012
Tuesday, 22 May 2012
Who's in the Coalition Cabinet?
This is a great resource for seeing who's who in the coalition cabinet.
Saturday, 19 May 2012
Does the Lords need to be made stronger?
One argument in favour of an elected Lords is that it would have greater legitimacy to stand up to an increasingly powerful executive. Some argue that the Lords already does stand up to governments and cite the rejection of Brown's plan to bring in 42 day detention as evidence of the lack of need for reform on the grounds of weakness of the Lords.
However, in truth, the Lords remains weak. Brown could have pushed 42 day detention through using the Parliament Act but decided not to, probably on the grounds that it would bring him too much criticism. So the Lords had influence over a PM who was not interested in attracting criticism.
The Lords has faired less well in blocking many of the Coalition's reforms. The Lords had voted against many of the coalition's welfare reforms (such as the £26,000 benefits cap). However, the Coalition are a lot more willing to take criticism than Brown was over 42 day detention. The Commons just simply voted to overturn the Lord's amendments, using a technicality known as "financial privelage". They didn't even have to use the Parliament Act. So the Lords can do very little when faced with an assertive government with enough seats in the Commons to push through a law. The Welfare Reform bill became law in March 2012.
Whether or not you think this means the Lords should be reformed to make it stronger depends on one's point of view.
However, in truth, the Lords remains weak. Brown could have pushed 42 day detention through using the Parliament Act but decided not to, probably on the grounds that it would bring him too much criticism. So the Lords had influence over a PM who was not interested in attracting criticism.
The Lords has faired less well in blocking many of the Coalition's reforms. The Lords had voted against many of the coalition's welfare reforms (such as the £26,000 benefits cap). However, the Coalition are a lot more willing to take criticism than Brown was over 42 day detention. The Commons just simply voted to overturn the Lord's amendments, using a technicality known as "financial privelage". They didn't even have to use the Parliament Act. So the Lords can do very little when faced with an assertive government with enough seats in the Commons to push through a law. The Welfare Reform bill became law in March 2012.
Whether or not you think this means the Lords should be reformed to make it stronger depends on one's point of view.
Friday, 18 May 2012
Select Committees Source from Jan 2012 Paper
Select Committees
There is a House of Commons select committee for each government department, examining
three aspects: spending, policies and administration. These departmental select committees
have a minimum of 11 members, who decide upon a line of inquiry and then gather written
and oral evidence. Findings are reported to the Commons, printed, and published on the
Parliament website. The government then usually has 60 days to reply to the committee’s
recommendations.
Following the adoption by the House of Commons of recommendations from the Reform of
the House of Commons Committee:
- Departmental select committee chairs are elected by their fellow MPs
- A backbench business committee has been established with the ability to schedule business in the Commons chamber and in Westminster Hall on days, or parts of days, set aside for non-government business.
Legislative committees
Both Houses of Parliament refer legislation to committees for detailed discussion and
approval. These committees are part of the process of making laws. They scrutinise proposed
laws and may consider amendments to improve the legislation. Amendments approved in
legislative committees must be approved by the whole House.
Both Houses of Parliament refer legislation to committees for detailed discussion and
approval. These committees are part of the process of making laws. They scrutinise proposed
laws and may consider amendments to improve the legislation. Amendments approved in
legislative committees must be approved by the whole House.
Source: adapted from www.parliament.gov.uk, October, 2010.
Thursday, 17 May 2012
The Coalition and Parliamentary Reform (Commons AND Lords)
The Coalition: our programme for government’.
We will establish five-year fixed term Parliaments. We will put a binding motion before the House
of Commons stating that the next general election will be held on the first Thursday of May, 2015.
Following this motion, we will legislate to make provision for fixed term Parliaments of five years.
We will bring forward a Referendum Bill on electoral reform, which includes provision for the
introduction of the Alternative Vote in the event of a positive result in the referendum, as well as for
the creation of fewer and more equal sized constituencies.
We will bring forward early legislation to introduce a power of recall, allowing voters to force a
by-election where an MP is found to have engaged in serious wrongdoing.
We will establish a committee to bring forward proposals for a wholly or mainly elected upper
chamber on the basis of proportional representation.
We will bring forward proposals… for reform to the House of Commons… starting with the proposed
committee for management of backbench business. A House Business Committee, to consider
government business, will be established by the third year of the Parliament.
We will ensure that any petition that secures 100,000 signatures will be eligible for public debate in
Parliament.
Source: ‘
The Coalition: our programme for government’, Cabinet Office, May 2010
Parliamentary reform
Study the following passage and answer the questions that follow.
Extracts from the document: ‘
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