Backbench MPs: Role and Influence

Backbench MPs: Role and Influence

• Backbench MPs are those without ministerial or shadow ministerial positions. Their main roles include constituency representation, supporting party leadership, and scrutinizing government actions.
• MPs are elected via the first-past-the-post system to represent individual constituencies. The current House of Commons has 650 constituencies, planned to reduce to 600.
• General elections occur every five years, unless triggered by a vote of no confidence or two-thirds of MPs backing an early election.
• By-elections are held if an MP dies or retires.
• Most MPs are backbenchers; frontbenchers are government and shadow ministers.

Scrutiny and Legislation

• Key function of backbenchers is scrutinizing government, proposing bills, and raising public concerns.
• Jeremy Hunt scrutinized Matt Hancock's handling of COVID-19, notably through the Health Select Committee.
• Backbenchers can use methods like urgent questions and adjournment debates to raise issues. Stephen Timms used an urgent question to challenge changes to Personal Independence Payment. Zarah Sultana raised concerns about the Labour Party's stance on Palestine.
• Private members' bills (PMBs) allow backbenchers to introduce legislation. Examples include the Child Sexual Abuse (Sentencing) Bill (Sarah Champion) and the Assisted Dying Bill (David Lammy).
• E-petitions provide an avenue for public involvement in legislation, evidenced by examples such as the Hillsborough Disaster and COVID-19 scrutiny of Matt Hancock.

Influence and Rebellions

• The 1922 Committee, a group of Conservative backbenchers, influences party leadership. Boris Johnson faced pressure from them about Brexit in 2022.
• Backbench rebellions occur when MPs vote against party leadership, often over policy disagreements. Examples include the Coalition Government's 2010-2015 period with rebellions against policies like House of Lords Reform, and Brexit votes in 2019, where Conservative MPs (21) voted against the Brexit deal and were expelled for it.
• Recent successful backbench action includes inquiries into government actions; the COVID-19 Inquiry where MPs like Jeremy Hunt and Barbara Keeley pushed for it, the Windrush Scandal inquiry, leading to the Windrush Lessons Learned Review, and the Leveson Inquiry.
• Independent MPs like Zarah Sultana and Jeremy Corbyn are becoming more influential, raising concerns about austerity and Palestinian rights, and social justice issues after being expelled from their parties respectively.

Summary of Influence

• Backbench MPs have key roles in scrutinizing government policy, raising concerns, introducing legislation via PMBs, and holding the government accountable.
• Recent examples of successful backbench actions include successful bills, e-petitions, rebellions, and parliamentary inquiries.
• Methods to bring about change include urgent questions, adjournment debates, PMBs, and backbench inquiries.

Explore the vital role and influence of backbench MPs within the UK Parliament. This quiz covers their responsibilities, election processes, and methods of scrutinizing government actions. Test your knowledge on how these MPs contribute to the legislative process and public representation.