UK Parliament evidence/case studies

Question 1

What are key examples of backbench rebellions?

Answer 1

• Tony Blair 2003, 121 labour mp’s broke a three line party whip to protest blair’s intervention in iraq
• Theresa May 2017, 11 tory mp’s rebelled against parliamentary vote over brexit
• Rishi Sunak 2024, nearly 60 tory mp’s voted against his flagship tobacco and vaping bill

Question 2

What is an example of a private member bill getting passed?

Answer 2

2018 - Semi’s Law, mental health use of violence or force act

Question 3

Acts Conservative government passed from 2019 - 2024:

Answer 3

• Safety of Rwanda Act 2024
• Police, crime, sentencing and courts act 2022
• Coronavirus act 2020
• Police, crime, sentencing and courts act 2022

Question 4

What are some examples of select committees?

Answer 4

Public Accounts Committee - examine value for money of government projects

Backbench Business Committee - allocates debate time, responsible for determining the business before the House for approximately one day each week.

Question 5

Do MP’s represent constituents effectively? EVIDENCE

Answer 5

Y:
Boris Johnson during 2018-19 Brexit debates, put his constituency view about Brexit first rather than party view
N:
Iraq War 2013, many labour MP’s voted in favour of the war despite having large muslim populations in their constituency

Question 6

Examples of HoC being socially representative/diverse:

Answer 6

2024 - 263 female MP’s elected, record number
2024 - 90 non-white MP’s, record high
2024 - 75 MP’s openly LBGT+

Question 7

Examples of HoC not being socially representative/diverse:

Answer 7

Majority of LGBT+ MP’s are in labour (79%), so is it really representative?
Education levels are still not adequately represented among parties, 46% of Conservative party privately educated

Question 8

Examples of HoL being socially representative/diverse:

Answer 8

251 female peers which is quite a lot
Many different sectors and different employment among Lords (specialites)

Question 9

Examples of HoL not being socially representative/diverse:

Answer 9

Men 68 : 32 Women ratio, dominated by men
Pale, male, stale
Average age 69
Only 6% are Black and minority ethnic (BAME)
Dominated by Christianity, no other religious influence really

Question 10

Lord Dubb’s influence in HoL:

Answer 10

Spoke alot on issues surrounding immigration, in support of immigration, due to his involvement with the kindertransport, fought in favour of immigration

Question 11

What were the Lord’s influence on the Safety of Rwanda bill?

Answer 11

• suggested amendment that Rwanda is not a safe country to send people to
• 240 peers content with this
• 211 were not content with this
• Lord Dubs involved, content with the amendment

Question 12

What were Parliament Acts 1911 and 1949 and how did they reduce HoL power?

Answer 12

1911: Removed from the House of Lords the power to veto a Bill, except one to extend the lifetime of a Parliament. Instead, the Lords could delay a Bill by up to two years.
1949: Reduced to one year delay
Significantly redcued HoL power, don’t have same power as HoC

Question 13

When have the HoL used Parliament Act?

Answer 13

2004 Hunting Act - banned fox hunting (HoL delayed)
2000 Sexual Offences Act - reduction of age of consent for homosexual couples from 18-16. (defeated in HoL but easily passed in HoC)

Question 14

What was the Salisbury Convention?

Answer 14

The House of Lords should not oppose the second or third reading of any government legislation promised in its election manifesto.