Evaluate the view that backbenchers have little impact on Parliament (30)

Backbenchers: MPs not part of the government or opposition shadow cabinet Recent trend: Brexit division, governments with fewer seats (less majority) allow backbenchers to have more influence on policy negotiations Way they influence policy making: select committees, influence over legislative process, PMQs and backbench groupings Ultimately backbenchers’ power is conditional to the political environment of the day

Topic 1

Select Committee

For 1

-Job of select committee

-Wright reform 2010

Example 1: Jeremy Hunt

Example 2: Dr Sarah Woolaston

Against 1

-30-40% acceptance of recommendation

Example 1: Defence select committee 2023

Example 2: Join Committee on Human Rights on Rwanda Bill 2024

Topic 2

Legislative process

For 2

Example 1: Passage of welfare reform bill 2024 by 75 votes post last minutes concession to labour rebels and 49 MPs rebellion

Example 2: Blair lost 4 division in 10 years whilst May lost 33 between 2017-2019

Johnson resignation as foreign secretary in 2018 post disagreement regarding Chequers Plan, became backbench MP, caused May’s resignation

Against 2

-For 2 examples are exception

Example 1: Johnson lost 4 divisions in HoC post 80 seats majority

Example 2: 21 MPs lost whip notably on brexit issues, political cost involved in rebellion

Topic 3

Backbench groups

For 3

Example 1: European Research Group (ERG) challenged May for Hard Brexit, rejection of her plan-3 times

Example 2: Covid recovery group (CRG) campaigned against lockdown measures, cause of 99 Tories rebellion on covid restrictions. (one of largest in UK history)

Against 3

-Only relevant when PM power is weak due to weak mandate

Example 1: ERG couldn’t impose no deal brexit. Only consist of 60-80 MPs, not enough to command majority support. Post Johnson’s election, impact diminished.

Example 2: CRG rebellion didn’t stop legislation from passing Johnson used Labour support to pass. Backbench group often lack number of members to block legislation, with gov bypassing internal disagreement using opposition support