Short video going though the basics of how laws are made - pre suspension- in the NI Assembly
'Sit up Man!' The leader of the House, Jacob Rees Mogg told off for sprawling across the Commons benches
Today, the Conservative MP Phillip Lee 'Crossed the Floor' a dramatic and theatrical demonstration of a change of loyalty. In his case he moved to become a Liberal Democrat. Crossing the Floor means that you literally change parties and 'cross the floor' of the House of Commons to demonstrate this. It is reasonably rare but in times of political crises such as at present it is another sign of the heightened stakes and tensions at Westminster.
It is also doubly significant because it removes the Governments working majority. Politics courses usually start in August with not too much happening but already we have things happening thick and fast on the ground. These are already great examples for AS British Politics and A2 Comparative. FIRSTLY: Boris Johnson has PROROGUED PARLIAMENT! What does that mean? Well he hasn't shut it down completely but he has used the tactic of suspending it prior to having a Queen's Speech in October. Is this allowed? Well, it is allowed but many argue that what he has done is actually take advantage of political mechanisms to try and stifle debate and opposition to a no deal Brexit which has been simmering in Westminster. He is reducing the time available to MP's before the October Brexit deadline. SECONDLY, Number 10 advisors / Government Whips have announced that they are going to take the extreme step of DESELECTING any of the Conservative MP's who vote against the Government. This means that those MP's who defy the party whip would not have the chance to run again as a Conservative candidate and a new candidate would be selected instead. This is a ruthless way to run the party and could have two results. He could perhaps instill iron discipline to push through Brexit through determination and threat or he could alienate not just moderates in his party but moderate Tories throughout the country. Many see this as a usurpation of power and a rejection of representative democracy. Some senior Tories including two former Chancellors and Big Beasts - Phillip Hammond and Ken Clark are deeply opposed to such tactics and openly criticise their use.
Great examples of PM/ Executive control / Use of Whips and Back Bench rebellion. |
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AuthorMr John Wishart - |