house of commons

how many MP's sit in the commons?

650

what does each MP represent?

a single constituency of around 73000 voters

what does the geographic size of each constituency vary according to?

the density of the population

why are constituency boundaries periodically redrawn?

to reflect population movements

what are safe seats?

when constituencies are guaranteed to return to one party due to party loyalty

what are marginal or barometer constituencies?

when the small majority shifts from one party to another quite often and when polled, give an accurate guide to what the country is thinking

what is an example of a 2024 marginal constituency?

Hendon (England) where labour won by 15 votes over the conservatives

how are MP's helped in their work?

by being paid and receiving expenses

who are MP's salaries set by?

the independent parliamentary standards authority

what are substantial expenses?

MP's can reasonably have expenses paid for accommodation, an office, administrative support and researchers

where are guidelines for MP's receiving substantial expenses listed?

the green book

how many MP's were of the labour party in 2024?

411

how many MP's were of the conservative party in 2024?

121

how many independent MP's were elected in 2024

6

what are whips used for?

to keep discipline and order within political parties

who makes up the chief whip?

loyal MP's who want to see MP's vote the way leadership wants them to

what do the whips issue a list of each week?

votes they expect MP's to attend, and they grant leave to be away as appropriate

when is a three-line whip used?

when attendance is compulsory

what may be used to persuade MP's to vote in a particular way?

incentives or punishments

what is a free vote?

when MP's are allowed to vote as they wish, usually on moral issues or where there is no clear party position

who is the current speaker of the house of commons?

Lynsay Hoyle

what is the role of the speaker?

to preside over debates and decide who to call on

who is the speaker elected by?

fellow MP's

why is the speaker considered a powerful position?

they can suspend unruly MP's and have the casting vote in tied votes

why was previous speaker Michael Martin removed in 2009?

for his obstructiveness in the MP's expenses scandal

what is parliamentary privilege?

the way MP's and peers have legal immunity for the course of carrying out their public duties

what are the two aspects of parliamentary privilege?

freedom of speech in parliament and exclusive cognisance, allowing both houses to run their own affairs as they see appropriate

which scandal has shown MP's to not be above the law?

the 2009 MP's expenses scandal

which act subjects MP's to recall elections?

the 2015 recall of MP's act

when can a by-election be called?

if an MP is jailed or suspended from parliament for over 21 days and 10% of voters in their constituency sign a petition

what is an example of a by-election?

MP Fiona Onasanya in 2019 following a recall election after being caught speeding

how do MP's have divided loyalties?

they have no formal job description and so are left to their own devices to do as much work as they see fit

what might an MP's failure to perform well lead to?

not being re-elected, selected as a candidate or being deselected

why can a party expect an MP's loyalty?

the party is responsible for ensuring MP's are elected and therefore may expect them to support the leadership in debates and votes

what else is expected from MP's in addition to party loyalty?

attending party conferences, voting in support of manifesto promises and defending the party's policies

what do parties rely on to keep MP's loyalty?

their whips whose task is to maintain discipline during parliamentary votes

what are surgeries?

local meetings where the MP is expected to be available to hear constituents views

how can MP's take up constituents cases in parliament?

writing to the appropriate minister or raising a question on the floor of the house of commons

what can the nation expect from MP's?

for them to know what is going on and to attend the debates or committees affecting them

what does 1996 research show most MP's split their time between?

local and national parliamentary business

how is John Hayes an example of national and local interests conflicting?

the MP for South Holland opposed wind farms in that part of the fens despite it being government policy to construct more of them

how can conscience and special interest affect the motivation of an MP?

they behave according to their own moral compass

what are examples of issues of conscience?

abortion and the death penalty

what are issues of conscience often brought up through?

ten-minute bills