The Politics Association

AS Government and Politics

Powerpoint Presentation - 7

Members of

Parliament

The Role of MPsThe Role of MPs

Members of Parliament (MPs) are elected to represent

single-member constituencies at general elections.

The majority of MPs are backbenchers. A backbencher is:

Not a cabinet minister

Not in a shadow cabinet

BackbenchersBackbenchers

Government backbencher – ‘infantry’ of government, not expected to be too critical.

Opposition backbencher – in Parliament to oppose government and represent their constituencies.

MPs - job description?MPs - job description?•To represent voters and to deal with constituency issues.•To be a loyal party member and do as the Whips tell me to do in the House of Commons.•To take part in the legislative process of Parliament.•To question ministers both at question timeand through written questions.•To use the opportunity of adjournment debates to raise an issue that has a direct effect on constituency.•To take part in the scrutiny of the executive by seeking to be an active member of standing/select committees.•If all else fails then I will use my position to refer matters of maladministration to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration (the Ombudsman).

MPs are central to the

working of representative

democracy in the UK where

over 55 million people

could not participate in the decision

making process on a daily

basis.

MPs and AccountabilityMPs and Accountability

Trustee?

Delegate?

Mandate?

THE DELEGATE MODEL –The MP is a mouthpiece and attempts to vote according to the demands and wishes of constituents. There’s a problem here, clearly: not everyone will feel the same way about an issue?

THE TRUSTEE MODEL –The MP has been chosen by a majority of voters, now they must trust her/him to exercise their own judgement and conscience on the great issues of the day.

THE MANDATE MODEL – the MP has been elected as a representative of a political party and once elected has a MANDATE to support a party manifesto and help it to deliver its policies.

Most MPs swing

between the 3 models depending on

circumstances and party demands,

constituency etc.

Workload and working conditionsWorkload and working conditions

• All MPs represent approximately 65,000 people.

• Most constituencies cover approximately 150 square miles.

• MPs workloads have increased in line with the increase in the

workload of government.

• Parliamentary sessions last longer and the amount of legislation

being passed is increasing.

• Select Committees demand more and more time from MPs.

• Lack of office space in the Palace of Westminster has been partly

dealt with by the opening of Portcullis House which provides

office space for 200 MPs.

MPs and outside interestsMPs and outside interests

There has been considerable interest in

recent years in the extra-parliamentary

activities of MPs.

1994 ‘Cash for Questions’ scandal.

1995 MPs agreed to accept the findings of

the Nolan Report and the creation of

the Commons Standards and

Privileges Committee.

Register of Members’ Interests

MPs must declare what payments they might have

received for any contracts or services relating to their work

as a Member of Parliament.Not required to

provide precise details.

CRITICISMRegister is inadequate –

provides little real information.

Register of Members’ Interests

MPs must declare what payments they might have

received for any contracts or services relating to their work

as a Member of Parliament.Not required to

provide precise details.

CRITICISMRegister is inadequate –

provides little real information.

MPs - socially representative?MPs - socially representative?

Probably not gay – even though one

pressure group claims that

around 40 MPs are ‘in the closet’.

Male – 17.9% (118) women MPs after the

2001 election.

Age 50 years old.

Most MPs are now ‘professional politicians’ –

drawn from the public sector and local government (Labour) and banking,

business and the law

(Conservatives).

Most Labour MPs attended state schools, most went to university.

Two-thirds of Conservative MPs attended private

schools, 83% attended university, mostly

Oxford and Cambridge.

12 ethnic minority

MPs electedin 2001 –

all of them Labour.

Do MPs have a future?Do MPs have a future?The profile and ‘career pattern’ of MPs

appears to be changing

• They serve increasingly longer terms in the Commons (average of 5 years before World War Two, now 15-20 years is not uncommon).

• MPs are not badly paid and are allowed over £50,000 a year in expenses.

• The overcrowding of Westminster has been relieved by Portcullis House.

• The hours can still be long and unsociable, but not as bad as they used to be.

• Commentators now discuss the phenomenon of ‘career politicians’.

• However . . . .

• The public profile of MPs is low – sleaze and scandal of the 1990s has had a very damaging impact.

• Can low turn-outs be partly explained by dissatisfaction with MPs?

• Note: the recent success of independent candidates in parliamentary elections.