Evaluate The View That Backbenchers Exert Significant Influence In Parliament. (30)

AGREE 1

Back benchers can rebel against government bills to defeat the government and prevent a law being passed

May defeat 33 times when she had a minority gov.

May suffered from the worst defeat in modern political history where she lost by 230 votes.

DISAGREE 1

When the gov has a majority rebellions are less likely to be successful

Tony Blair was defeated just four times in his 10 years in office. Which has allowed him to implement significant policy changes including constitutional reforms such as Devolution

AGREE 2

can exert influence through debates as it allows backbenchers to scrutinise the government and put pressure on the government to address issues.

Conservative Backbencher David Davis led a Backbench Business Committee debate on Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Provision and Funding in the House of Commons.

DISAGREE 2

Little attention is paid to the public towards debates in parliament. Additionally MPs spend a lot less time in the HoC debating legislation than they use to.

Between 2006-2021 MPs spent just 24% of their time in the chamber compared to 44% for members of the house of lords.

AGREE 3

Backbenchers can introduce legislation through Private Member Bills allowing MPs outside the government to propose new laws.

Examples of legislation that began as Private members bills:

Abortion Act 1967 which legalised abortion

the Assault on Emergency Workers Act 2019 which was introduced by Labour MP Chris Bryant.

Assisted dying bill (current)

Private Members’ Bills have very little chance of success if they aren’t supported by the government as the government can whip MPs to vote against them.

In the 2022/23 parliamentary session the govt introduced 56 bills of these 43 received royal assent by the end of the session.

In 2022/23 parliamentary session, 297 private members’ bills were introduced of which just 24 (8%) received royal assent by the end of the session.