What powers do MPs have and what are the limitations on their powers

1
What powers do MPs have and what are the
limitations on their powers?
2
Contact with constituents

• Duty to represent all of the people in their
  constituency
• Through surgeries, websites, emails etc
• In 2001 estimated that 201 MPs had developed
  websites
• Use of email seen as an important way of
  contacting the young voter

3
Powers of backbench MPs
Can ask questions at Question time eg war in Iraq
Can Lobby Ministers
Can vote on a wide range of issues (can vote
against government e.g. top-up university fees)
Can introduce a Private members bill e.g. Tony
Benn introduced a Bill to reduce the powers of
the PM
4
Limitations Political Party Support

• Many voters vote for their party preference
  rather than their MP
• Therefore many MPs consider it important to be
  loyal to their party as well as a good local
  reputation

• To some extent MPs political progress will
  depend on their capacity to impress party leaders

5
Conflicting interests

• MPs will often hold strong personal beliefs
  which will lead them to support causes
• As a result conflict will arise when MPs are
  attempting to provide effective representation
• Eg constituents may not be happy with the
  building of nuclear power stations

6
MP and the whip system

• Voting is undertaken by MPs walking through doors
  either into the Ayes lobby or the Noes lobby
• Party leaders want to ensure MPs vote with their
  party to push through legislative programme
  whilst the opposition attempt to delay and
  disrupt process
• The task of maintaining discipline falls to the
  party whips, this is a promoted post

7
MP and the whip system

• An MP who remains loyal is likely to receive
  promotion
• It is not in the interests of the MP to defy the
  whip as they are the link to the front bench and
  make recommendations for jobs

Tour row MP loses Tory party whip Mr Sayeed said
his suspension was "unjust and wrong" 2005
8
MP and the whip system

• If an MP defies the whip they may have the whip
  withdrawn
• This means they no longer receive normal party
  support

9
MP and the whip system

• Each week the whips send the order of business to
  MPs
• Matters to be discussed will be underlined
  once,twice or three times depending on importance

• Government MPs may have a pair with the
  opposition and agree to stay away from divisions
• However as in 2001, Labours majority meant teams
  of MPs called bisques were organised that can
  be excused without affecting the majority

10
MP and the whip system

• Even Gordon Brown had to rearrange his trip to
  Tel Aviv for the terror vote
• He received a message from the chief whip that
  he had to return to Britain.

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Other limitations

• if the government has a large majority eg Labour
  gov in 2001 MPs will find it difficult to
  challenge the government
• Due to the number of MPs in the house there are
  few opportunities to talk in debates, lobby
  ministers or speak to the PM

Former Cabinet minister Clare Short is a fierce
government critic
12

• Research task
• Describe the work of a backbench MP both inside
  and outside parliament
• Use Int 2 presentation also
• the conflicting demands of the constituency,
  national interest, the Parliamentary party,
  pressure group interest, personal conscience make
  the role of the MP in our democracy impossible
• Examine this view