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PARLIAMENT - Evaluate the view that backbench MP’s are largely ineffective…
PARLIAMENT - Evaluate the view that backbench MP’s are largely ineffective.
Para three: Contributing to / debating legislation
Private members' bills - are put forward by backbenchers. For example, Kim Leadbeater's assisted dying bil, which was eventually passed in Nov 2024
CAVEAT: Backbenchers are whipped and expected to tow the party-line, so they cannot be truly independent or contribute legitimately to legislation in that sense. Mark Spencer fired 21 backbenchers after their refusal to comply with May's Brexit deal in 2019
It was Brexit though that allowed for backbenchers to be independent, Cameron allowed this during the campaign. Also, Keir Starmer allowed for independent voting over assisted dying. Therefore, cross-party issues are quite legitimately voted on.
Backbenchers contribute to legislation more than we think. Therefore they are effective
Para two: Scrutinising the executive
Ministers questions - backbenchers contribute to this, and can ask the PM questions regarding their government. This is a direct form of scrutiny to the executive.
CAVEAT: This can a lot of the time be quite preformative, there have been instances of governments planting questions so they can talk about their success. I feel like this was David Cameron? Something like that
Written letters - These can be more effective and allow for the PM to write well-thought-out, thorough responses that allow for a genuine insight into government proceedings
Vote of no confidence - keeps government accountable. James Callaghan for example resigned over losing a vote of no confidence.
OVERALL: Backbenchers can be quite effective at scrutinising the executive and keeping them accountable. Select committees are particularly good at this, or any kind of form of scrutiny that is not subject to much press coverage
Backbencher's business committee!!!!!! 2010
Overall: They're quite good at this
Para one: Representing constituents
MPs hold surgeries where they are expected to resolve the issues of a constituent on a local level
Backbenchers are expected to vote in the interests of their constituents
CAVEAT: There can be a discrepancy between the interests of a constituent and the interests of a party
Independent candidates like Jeremy Corbyn don't have this problem
Backbenchers can only represent constituents to a certain extent because, for lack of a better wording, they are mostly all straight white men. 6% of MPs are ethic minorities (which is quite representative actually) and 430/650 MPs today are men (which is not representative, but a HUGE improvement from Thatcher's 18 or Blair's just over 100)
Overall: not great at representing constituents