Parliament and the Executive's balance of power over the years

Post-1960s - rise of Executive power

• More Exec power, less Plmt power

• Rise of TV and social media has meant that there’s a focus on the PM and senior ministers

  • Members of the executive with a good public presence and media image profited off this to improve their mandate

  • The Executive were given more status in the public eye

• Popularity of presidential leadership style (Blair)

Post-1960s - reforms made to limit Executive power

• House of Lords Act 1999 - removal of hereditary peers

  • Lords more willing to assert selves and check the Executive

• Wright Reforms - chairs of Select Committees elected

  • Whips have less influence on the election of the chairs

    • Attracts a higher standard of MPs as they want a job away from the govt

  • Increased salary of chairs

• Creation of the Backbench Business Committee

  • Allowed MPs more Plmtary time outside of govt control

Post-1960s - limits of the reforms made to limit Executive power

• Reforms made were only marginal

• Lords still unable to veto the executive

• Select committees still majority compsoed of govt MPs

• PMs can cancel SC meetings

• Backbench business committee only controls 23 days of the Plmtary calendar

Johnson and his attempts to undermine Plmtary control

• Started the process of electing Liason Committee chairs

• Attempted to scrap the Fixed Term Plmts Act