Evaluate The View That Backbenchers Exert Significant Influence In Parliament

Thesis Point 1

Antithesis point 1

Thesis Point 2 - Select committees’ role

Antithesis point 2 – select committees are innefective

They have no binding power on legislation, as they can’t veto it. Additionally, they cannot compel ministers to provide satisfactory answers, as occurred in 2016 when Boris Johnson, then the foreign secretary, was accused of “waffling” by the chair of the foreign affairs select committee during questioning. Select committees ’s role is to be advisory; it can be ignored

Thesis Point 3 – Raise issues in the Agenda

PMQs, the backbench business committee, Private members’ bills are all ways backbenchers can influence and shape the agenda Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (2024): Introduced by Kim Leadbeater to allow choice at the end of life.

Antithesis point 3: lack of control in HOC

In PMQs questions are often planted; it takes on a Punch and Judy form of political point-scoring. Private member bills are rarely successful without government backing;typically only 3-6% succeed. Conversion Practices (Prohibition) Bill (2024): Introduced by Lloyd Russell-Moyle, this bill sought to ban "conversion therapy" but failed at the Second Reading in the House of Commons on March 1, 2024, following concerns regarding its impact on freedom of speech.