Tag: Parliament
The Committee on Standards in Public Life needs reform if it is to fulfil its important role properly in the future
If the approach to public integrity taken by local government is anything to go by, the Committee on Standards in Public Life is no substitute for the Standards Board or the Audit Commission in terms of strategy or scrutiny. Alan Doig suggests that now is the time to consider another approach. Similar Posts“Some of the […]
A vote to leave the EU may have a detrimental impact on Parliament
What will life be like in the UK House of Commons and House of Lords if the UK leaves the EU? And if it is a vote to remain? Will Parliament have more or less influence on the government’s dealings with its European partners post-23 June? Sara Hobolt and Sara Hagemann report on the expert evidence gathered […]
The Government’s plans to water down the release of Cabinet papers to the national archive are bad for democracy
The Government has announced plans to reform the frequency and comprehensiveness of what is released to the national archives. Here, in a Westminster Hall speech, Richard Burgon argues that recent history shows these reforms to be unhealthy for democracy. Similar PostsBook Review: The House of Commons: An Anthropology of MPs at Work by Emma CreweAllowing MPs […]
Select Committees are engaging better than ever before, but while much as been accomplished, much more remains possible
Select Committees in the UK Parliament have become more powerful over the last five years or so since the implementation of the Wright Commission reforms, which allowed for – amongst other things – the election by the whole House of Commons of members and chairs. Here, Ian Marsh looks at the outreach of the committees […]
Is political representation in Britain becoming more diverse?
The Equality and Human Rights Commission have a statutory duty to regularly report on the state of human rights and equality in the UK. Based on the Commission’s latest review, ‘Is Britain Fairer?’, Janna Miletzki and Hazel Wardrop write that while formal political representation is more diverse than in 2010, the findings for informal participation are […]
The recent change to the Ministerial Code is about more than simply economical drafting
Earlier this month, the Ministerial Code was amended so that it no longer makes reference to any obligation to comply with international law. Mark Elliott argues the new wording is an unhelpful oversimplification which raises fundamental questions about the relationship between different types of legal norms. Unless it were envisaged that the UK Parliament would legislate in a way that […]
The blurring of party-political and parliamentary roles can impede the effectiveness of regulatory regimes
The way in which political parties use state resources indirectly (e.g., parliamentary expenses) receives substantial attention in public debate, particularly when surrounded by perceptions of misuse. Nicole Bolleyer looks at the different ways in which parliamentary resources are used in party-political ways, and argues that attempts to bring about reform will be limited by the […]
The UK should follow the Dutch example, and share European policy across Parliament’s committees
The UK currently has dedicated European affairs committees in both houses of Parliament – despite the EU’s permeation into most areas of Government policy. Dr Julie Smith looks at examples from the Netherlands, from Ireland, and from the House of Lords and argues that the UK should follow the Dutch example, and share the European […]
Book Review: The House of Commons: An Anthropology of MPs at Work by Emma Crewe
A new book by Emma Crewe explores the day to day lives of Members of Parliament as they cycle through the House of Commons. MPs are pushed and pulled by various interests and allegiances. Marion Koob finds The House of Commons: An Anthropology of MPs at Work insightful, and is a strong case for anthropologists […]
David Cameron may have to emphasise the partisan consequences of a divided Tory party to his MPs if he is to get through this Parliament
David Cameron won a General Election majority against seemingly insurmountable odds in May 2015. But given the recent history of the Conservative Party, it looks possible that divisions over Europe and other issues could make the road to 2020 a bumpy one. Christopher D. Raymond argues that given the nature of the issues at stake […]
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