Power of Backbenchers

The backbench business committee gets __ days a year to debate issues chosen by them, and can prioritise certain PMBs

35

The Domestic Abuse Bill Committee (2019) consulted __ different experts and survivors.

90

The _______ Bill Committee (2021) saw great debate, leading to the government tabling amendments to strengthen the powers of the ___ (office for environmental protection)

• Environement

• OEP

The last time a Public Bill Committee defeated a government amendment was in (___) over the Parliamentary Standards Bill

2009

What proportion of select committee recommendations are accepted by the government?

40%

The former head of the Public Accounts Committee, ___ ____ called the position; “___ ____ ____ ____ _ ____’

• Margaret Hodges

• Much more powerful than a minister

How large is Starmer’s majority?

174

in ___, the back-bench business committee sponsored ____ ___, which required highway officers to notify the owners of killed pets.

• 2015

• Harvey’s Law

The Back Bench Business committee is a result of what (___) ?

The Wright Reforms (2010)

There were rebellions in __% of coalition votes, making it the most rebellious parliament ever.

52%

John Bercow was known as the ‘_____ _____”

backbencher’s champion

In his first 5 years, Bercow allowed for _ times more urgent questions than his predecessor.

3

Between 2017-2019 Ministers spent ___ hours answering Urgent Questions.

196

In ____, ___ ________ introduced a Private Members Bill to legalise assisted dying.

• 2025

• Kim Leadbeater

In 2022, backbench lib-dem used order __ , to hold an emergency debate on the ____ _____ Lobbying scandal

• 24

• Owen Patterson

In ___ (___), there was a backbench conservative rebellion of __ MPs against Boris’ plans to introduce COVID passports.

• Dec 2021

• 99

In (____) backbench revolts meant that John Major was only able to pass the Maastricht Treaty by _ vote

• 1993

• 1

In ___ (____), Over __ backbench conservative MPs rebelled against Sunak’s Rwanda Bill

• Jan 2024

• 30

Discussing proposed government legislation takes up __% of time in the commons, compared to only _% for Private Members Bills.

• 30%

• 5%

In 2017, __% of government bills were passed, compared to only __% of PMBs

• 89%

• 5%

PMBs are often only passed if the government is supportive, for example under the coalition, __/__ PMBs passed were from the lib-dems or conservatives.

41/42

The (___) Abortion Act, introduced by _____ MP David Steel was passed as Harold Wilson’s government was supportive.

• 1967

• Liberal

Wera Hobhouse MP (___-___) passed the ___ ____ Act (___) to prevent sexual harasment in the workplace, but it was signidicantly watered down by the HoL to prevent costly lawsuits.

• Lib-dem

• Worker Protection Act 2023

Although the Starmer gov is yet to have had a defeat, the rebellion of __ labour MPs in ___ (___) forced the government to backtrack on infected blood compensation

• 22

• Dec 2023

In 2025, a successful example of the Recall of MPs Act would be the recall of ___ _____ MP for ___ and ______ after he was arreseted for assault.

• Mike Amesbury

• Runcorn and Helsby

Starmer suspended _ MPs for voting against the two-child benefits cap.

7

In Dec 2018, May survived her no-confidence vote by a margin of __ votes (only conservative MPs voted)

19