the opposition

  • the Opposition: the second largest party after an election, challenges the govt n holds it to account

  • leader of the opposition acts as main competition to the PM

  • each govt’al dept has shadow minister to question n challenge the job the govt is doing

opposition: key part of process

  • democratic working of the govt in the uk depends on the existence of a strong, effective opposition in parliament

  • official opposition is recognised in law

  • leader of the opposition receives a minister’s salary n takes part in all official ceremonies

  • also gets to ask the most qs (6) at PMQs

  • also had chance to set agenda at time

    • ‘opposition days’ (20) - devoted to issues chosen by opposition

  • largest opposition party is official opposition

  • other smaller parties also part, with less privileges

the job:

  • main roles:

    • 1. Demand Explanation and Justification:

      • force the government to explain and justify its policies and decisions

    • 2. Highlight Shortcomings:

      • Bring attention to the shortcomings in the government's management of the country.

    • 3. Propose Alternatives:

      • Present alternative proposals when deemed suitable.

    • 4. Prepare as Alternative Government:

      • Position itself to be an alternative government in case the current one is defeated in the next general election.

opposition 1979 - 2010:

  • Thatcher and Blair eras saw opposition challenges.

  • Labour shifted to the hard Left, with Foot unpopular.

  • 1983 Labour manifesto dubbed 'longest suicide note' by Kaufman.

  • Kinnock struggled with party Left and Militant, Miner's Strike issues.

  • John Smith improved, but his tragic death disrupted progress.

  • Blair's 1997 win led Tories through 3 leaders to Cameron's coalition with Lib Dems.

a changing dynamic:

  • pre 2015: government-opposition dynamics were straightforward

  • post-2015, notable in 2017: shifts occurred, weak government, slim majority in 2015, fragmented opposition with a divided Labour Party, 56 SNP MPs, and assorted parties

  • lack of cohesive opposition; Corbyn constrained without full party support

strong & stable:

  • 2017 election:

    • 2017 election resulted in weakened government; May lost majority in 'Strong and Stable' campaign.

    • Opportunity for opposition to influence policy, but Corbyn faced challenges. Unpopularity with older voters despite appeal to the young.

    • Confronted with ongoing hostile press. House of Lords gained more influence.

starmer:

  • 2019 brought a majority win for Johnson with the 'oven-ready' Brexit deal.

  • Labour's defeat led to a credible opposition leader in Sir Kier Starmer. Effective in PMQs, he gained traction through the lobbying scandal.

  • Starmer's watch saw Boris fall, with 'Partygate' scandal kept alive at PMQs.

starmer ascendant?

  • Recent Conservative turmoil, 3 leaders in a year, boosts Starmer's image as a stable leader.

  • Labour leads polls, poised for 2024 government. Truss budget positions Labour as economically astute; Tory brand hit by cost of living crisis and immigration.

  • Challenges persist: Starmer perceived as bland, lacking vision; concerns about Israel/Gaza stance and past Remainer support.

ways opposition can hold govt to account:

  • On 'questions to ministers days,' each minister must appear in the House of Commons, facing inquiries from members and responding to written questions.

  • Beyond government policy, ministers can be queried on the treatment of individuals or groups by a state organ.

  • MPs use this platform to address constituents' grievances and advocate for groups. Shadow ministers, like Yvette Cooper, can undermine their counterparts; Braverman often faced challenges in these sessions.

pmqs:

  • Prime Minister's Question Time is a ritualistic event, often prioritizing publicity over effective democracy. Held on Wednesday afternoons, it's seen as more about personalities than substance.

  • Governments may strategically plant questions to favor the PM, as seen in 2012 when Cameron's parliamentary private secretary orchestrated heckling for a 'protective wall of sound.'

  • Twice a year, the PM must also appear before the Liaison Committee.

  • Despite its ritualistic nature, Prime Minister's Question Time remains a highly visible and impactful aspect of politics.

  • Thatcher, Blair, and Cameron excelled at PMQs, while Corbyn and Miliband struggled. Corbyn's attempt to resist pantomime aspects made him appear dull.

  • Words spoken in PMQs linger; Boris faced challenges as his explanations for No. 10 parties changed, losing power. Starmer capitalized, using opportunities to land effective soundbites, such as "Captain Hindsight."

media presence:

  • Opposition parties garner news coverage, with key shadow cabinet members gaining recognition.

  • The opposition holds the right of reply to a PM's national statement, and there's parity in party political broadcasts.

  • Shadow ministers, like David Lammy on LBC, also have a media presence alongside government ministers.