Monday, 9 December 2013
Saturday, 7 September 2013
Thursday, 4 July 2013
Monday, 20 May 2013
How powerful is the PM? First Queen's Speech/EU referendum crisis now Gay Marriage.
DC looking increasingly weak as he struggles to maintain unity among his party and support for his policy agenda.
BBC News - Q&A: Gay marriage:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/may/20/gay-marriage-bill-risk-collapse
Excellent article comparing DC to John Major (PM 1990-1997)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/may/18/tories-europe
BBC News - Q&A: Gay marriage:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/may/20/gay-marriage-bill-risk-collapse
Excellent article comparing DC to John Major (PM 1990-1997)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/may/18/tories-europe
Friday, 17 May 2013
Tuesday, 14 May 2013
Why/how is Cameron publishing a draft referendum bill after all?
Cameron EU draft referendum bill
A draft referendum bill will be published on Tuesday and Number 10 indicated that the prime minister would try to get it debated in parliament by allowing a backbencher to table it as a private member's bill. A proper government parliamentary bill cannot be introduced in the face of Lib Dem opposition. However, a private member's bill will often fail for lack of time as in practice it is relatively easy for a small group of backbenchers to use parliamentary procedure to talk it out.
Monday, 13 May 2013
Saturday, 27 April 2013
How effective is the Lords at constraining the executive and what arethe implications of this for the reform debate?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/house-of-commons-22266173
This week the Commons and the Lords have been ping-ponging legislation which would mean that workers could give up employment rights and protections in return for shares in the company they work for. This was a government Bill backed by the Chancellor of E, George Osbourne.
The Lords forced a couple of minor changes but despite many peers' lingering concerns over the very principle of the bill, many of them voted to pass the bulk of the proposals. One of the peers later said that he did not like the bill but did not try to slow it down any further as he wasn't elected and didn't feel he had the right to obstruct the wishes of the democratically elected Commons.
This is an often quoted position for some peers in the Lords and it has some implications:
1. It means that the Lords occasionally holds itself back and thus allows the executive dominated Commons (built in majority) to dominate (rightly or wrongly).
2. It suggests that an elected Lords might be more psychologically assertive in standing up to the Commons/executive and that. Some would argue that this would improve democracy by reducing the power of an over-mighty executive that can trample over parliament whilst others might point to the increased possibility of legislative gridlock with an second chamber embolden by democratic legitimacy.
The issue over Lords reform may be over for the next couple of years but if their is a hung parliament in 2015 the LDs will probably try to use their position in a coalition to push Lords reform to the top of the agenda once again.
This week the Commons and the Lords have been ping-ponging legislation which would mean that workers could give up employment rights and protections in return for shares in the company they work for. This was a government Bill backed by the Chancellor of E, George Osbourne.
The Lords forced a couple of minor changes but despite many peers' lingering concerns over the very principle of the bill, many of them voted to pass the bulk of the proposals. One of the peers later said that he did not like the bill but did not try to slow it down any further as he wasn't elected and didn't feel he had the right to obstruct the wishes of the democratically elected Commons.
This is an often quoted position for some peers in the Lords and it has some implications:
1. It means that the Lords occasionally holds itself back and thus allows the executive dominated Commons (built in majority) to dominate (rightly or wrongly).
2. It suggests that an elected Lords might be more psychologically assertive in standing up to the Commons/executive and that. Some would argue that this would improve democracy by reducing the power of an over-mighty executive that can trample over parliament whilst others might point to the increased possibility of legislative gridlock with an second chamber embolden by democratic legitimacy.
The issue over Lords reform may be over for the next couple of years but if their is a hung parliament in 2015 the LDs will probably try to use their position in a coalition to push Lords reform to the top of the agenda once again.
Saturday, 20 April 2013
How good is parliament at constraining the government?
Good bit in this podcast on how MPs in different governing parties can work to together to block
government legislation – last week it was Cons and Lib backbenchers blocking the
government's relaxation of local planning laws. Also mentions George Parker at
the end who some are going to see next week. More to follow on arrangements.
Sunday, 14 April 2013
Wednesday, 3 April 2013
What factors affect PM appointments to cabinet?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01736qr
Only available for another 5 days
Only available for another 5 days
Friday, 22 March 2013
Friday, 8 March 2013
2012: Coalition drops House of Lords
from the BBC website:
Why
has the government dropped the plans?
The government was facing
considerable opposition, particularly among Conservative MPs. In July 2012, 91
Tory MPs rebelled against the government in a vote on how to timetable the
House of Lords Reform Bill - the largest such act of defiance since the
coalition was formed in 2010. Following this the prime minister told his backbenchers he would have
"one more try" on Lords reform but if his party could not reach a
deal he would "draw a line" under the issue. Several senior Labour
politicians also raised doubts and many peers were reported to be unhappy, too.
What does it mean for the coalition?
Lords reform has
been a key goal for the Lib Dems, and its failure raises coalition tensions.
Nick Clegg said the coalition agreement was a contract between the coalition
partners and the Conservatives had broken the contract by not honouring the
commitment to Lords reform.
What will the Lib Dems do now?
Mr Clegg says his
party will withdraw its support for boundary changes designed to cut the number
of MPs from 650 to 600 and equalise the size of constituencies- a Conservative
manifesto pledge. Legislation to reduce the House of Commons has already been
passed but proposals for the new constituency boundaries will have to be
approved by MPs before changes can be made.
Several
Conservative MPs have criticised the move saying the coalition agreement links
the Conservative commitment to bring in boundary changes to the Alternative
Vote referendum - something the Lib Dems wanted - which was held last year. The
MPs say they have kept their part of the deal and Mr Clegg cannot now backtrack
on boundary changes.
When will the boundary vote take place?
The final proposals
for the new constituency boundaries are not due to come back to Parliament
until October 2013. The Lib Dem leader has said he would like to see an
amendment to delay the change before then, but Mr Cameron is expected to go
ahead with the vote as planned.
Tuesday, 5 March 2013
Tuesday, 12 February 2013
Select Committees - good article on recent developments - 2012
Select Committees - good article on recent developments - 2012
http://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/outreach-and-training/resources-for-universities/open-lectures/select-committees-and-the-commons-recent-developments/
http://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/outreach-and-training/resources-for-universities/open-lectures/select-committees-and-the-commons-recent-developments/
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