HoC effective scrutiny of executive

Theme 1

Legislative process (backbench rebellions)

For 1

Backbenchers scrutinise executive action through backbench rebellions

-welfare reform bill 2025 (75 vote, 49 labour Mp Rebel)

-May: 33 division loss in 2 years compared to Blair 4 loss in 10 years

Backbenchers: David Davies, Boris Johnson critical of soft Brexit policy force May resignation

-Backbenchers max their bargaining power under minority gov: every vote matters in passage of bill force compromise on legislative content in return for support for the bill

Against 1

limited authority due to strong whip system, esp under majoritarian gov

-3 line whip: passage of Rwanda bill 2023 under 3 line whip, limited scrutiny

-21 MPs expelled from Tory party for rebelling against no deal Brexit of Bojo, acts as deterrent to scrutinise executive action due to political cost involved: removal of whips with removal of party membership and future job prospects tied to party loyalty

Theme 2

Select committee

For 2

-health and social care select committee chaired by former health secretary Jeremy hunt: hold executive accountable for their handling of crisis, force own investigation six months later

-PAC in HS2 investigation

Against 2

lack enforcement power

-Home Affairs select committee during windrush scandal, Gov avoid full compensation

-international development select committee in unauthorised meeting by international development minister priti Patel: refusal to appear before the committee deprived of holding key minister involved accountable for their action

theme 3

Opposition party

For 3

-PMQ keir starmer questioned Boris Johnson over allegation of party gate scalded and beach of covid rules

-Gov u turn on free school meals during school holiday led by pressure group Marcus Rashford in raising public profile of the case with his online petition attracting 1M +, opposition effectively scrutinised Gov with use of public pressure, force u turn

Against 3

Ineffective due to structural barrier

-FPTP creation of majoritarian gov

-fusion of powers: executive created from largest party in HoC

-Gov control of timetabling

-passage of police crime sentencing and courts act 2022 with limited scrutiny

-PMQ often result in party political

Attacks MAY VS CORBYN