Evaluate The View That Parliament Is Representative Of The Electorate. (30)

AGREE 1

The HoC is democratically elected on a regular basis. This means voters can hold their representatives to account and remove them if they feel that have not represented them effectively.

After Conservative MP Scott Benton was suspended from the Commons for breaching lobbying rules, after being exposed by the Times for offering to leak documents and ask questions for a fake gambling company, he was replaced by a Labour candidate in the Blackpool South By-Election on May 2, 2024.

DISAGREE 2.1

The House of Lords is unelected by still holds significant powers to influence policy, scrutinise the government and delay legislation. Lords can be appointed by the PM

Boris Johnson appointed Lord Cruddas + Lord Lebedev (major donors to CON party) – HoL pannel “not suitable”.

DISAGREE 2.2

The first past the post voting system is very unproportional and unrepresentative of the electorate which leads to MPs lacking majority of support

In the 2024 election the LAB party won 63% of seats with just 33.7% of the vote.

2024 Reform UK received 14.3% of the vote but just 5 seats the Electoral Reform Society suggests reform would’ve won 100 seats with PR.

AGREE 2

Relatively small size of most constituencies results in effective representation of local interests and a strong link between the constituency on the MP.

MPs in Yorkshire have campaigned for better flood defences after severe local flooding, responding to pressure from constituents affected by the damage.

DISAGREE 2

 

Many MPs have 2^nd jobs and therefore don’t devote their whole attention to representing the public

The Economist found that between 2010-24 former MPs and ministers spent a collective total of 50,000 hours doing 2^nd jobs.

AGREE 3

lords can represent issues that underrepresented in the commons.

Baroness Lawrence expert on race issues after the murder of her son she campaigned for justice and brough attention to racism and inequality within the criminal justice system

Baroness Grey Thompson advocates for disability rights.

DISAGREE 3

 

The HoL doesn’t represent the electorate in terms of gender, age ethnicity etc.

30% women

6% ethnic minority – 16% UK is from minority background