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Parliament and Parliamentary Reform

Parliament and Parliamentary Reform. Philip Cowley . In decline?. Labour backbenchers — the most supine Members of Parliament in British history — must decide where their loyalty lies. – Roy Hattersley (2005).

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Parliament and Parliamentary Reform

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  1. Parliament and Parliamentary Reform Philip Cowley

  2. In decline? Labour backbenchers — the most supine Members of Parliament in British history — must decide where their loyalty lies. – Roy Hattersley (2005) The House of Commons… had [1995] yet to adopt that posture of slavishness and ineffectuality that now characterises it. - Simon Heffer (2005)

  3. In decline? It is one of the assured parts of his [Blair’s] legacy that he leaves the House of Commons in a far worse state than he found it. The place is a glimmer of its former self... – Henry Porter (2007)

  4. In decline? The Executive in Britain is now more powerful in relation to Parliament than it has been probably since the time of Walpole… The whips have enforced party discipline more forcefully and fully than they did in the past.

  5. Four criticisms • Blair’s attitude • ‘Modernisation’ • Lords reform • Labour MPs – especially the women

  6. But imagine a parliament… • With rock solid discipline • With part-time MPs, with no resources • With MPs isolated from their constituents • With no investigatory scrutiny committees • With a defunct second chamber

  7. MPs now more likely… • to come from their constituency • to live in their constituencies • to have staffed offices in their constituency • to spend time in the constituency • to receive mail (and emails) • to be writing to their constituents

  8. The rise of the Lords • Effectively dead in 1950s • More than 400 defeats since 1999 • Russell and Scaria: 40% stick • Forget Tony’s cronies • Hung (29%) – and will stay so (until election)

  9. Modernisation • Meaningless term - meaning different things to different people • Patchy – and dependent on people (both LoH and CW) • But not all bad: • Changes to Select Committees • Standing Committees • PQs • Timetable • Carry-over • Westminster Hall, • Liaison Committee

  10. …and more likely to defy the whip • A majority of 60+, but four defeats • Free votes and other retreats • Rebellions runs at 28% in first session • Other victories by single figures • Other victories thanks to Conservative support

  11. % rate of rebellion, whole parliament

  12. % rate of rebellion, first sessions, 1945-05

  13. Recordbreakers • Largest rebellion since the repeal of the Corn Laws (Iraq) • Largest ever Labour rebellion on a health issue (foundation hospitals) • Largest ever Labour rebellion on an education issue (top-up fees) • Equal largest rebellion at Second Reading (top-up fees) since 1945 • Largest ever Labour rebellion at Third Reading (schools reform) • Largest ever Labour defence rebellion (Trident)

  14. 4259 votescast against the Conservative whip, 1979-1990

  15. 6520 votescast against the Labour whip, 1997-2007

  16. Casts a rebellious vote in roughly one in every 10 divisions • And the average rebel casts a dissenting vote in roughly one in every 100 divisions

  17. Correlation, rebellions 1997-98 and 2001-05

  18. Correlation, rebellions 1997-98 and 2001-05 0.91

  19. Correlation, rebellions 2001-05 and 05-06 0.93

  20. How long do honeymoons last? • Shortest: Churchill (1951): 5 days • Major: 6 days • Callaghan: 7 days • Thatcher: 20 days • Attlee: 5 months • Blair: 6 months • Longest Wilson (1964): 16 months

  21. GB’s honeymoon lasted: 45 minutes

  22. More record breakers

  23. Rebellious votes in first month of premierships, 1945-2007

  24. The Governance of Britain • Restoring power? • Vote for armed conflict • Vote for dissolution • Scrutiny of treaties • Departmental debates • Vote for Recall • Regional Committees

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