Members of Parliament (MPs) represent constituencies and deal with local issues. They must balance representing voters with supporting their political party. MPs question ministers, participate in lawmaking, and serve on committees. While workloads have increased, conditions have somewhat improved with office space. MPs must declare outside interests and payments but disclosures provide little information. Most MPs are now long-serving "career politicians" but public trust remains low after past scandals.
2. The 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
3. Backbenchers
Government backbencher –
‘infantry’ of government, not
expected to be too critical.
Opposition backbencher – in
Parliament to oppose
government and represent
their constituencies.
4. MPs - job description?
•To represent voters and to deal with MPs are
constituency issues. central
•To be a loyal party member and do as the
Whips tell me to do in the House of Commons. to the
•To take part in the legislative process working of
of Parliament. representative
•To question ministers both at question time democracy
and through written questions. in the UK where
•To use the opportunity of adjournment debates over 55
to raise an issue that has a direct effect on million people
constituency. could
•To take part in the scrutiny of the executive
not participate
by seeking to be an active member of standing/
select committees. in the decision
•If all else fails then I will use my position making process
to refer matters of maladministration to the on a daily
Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration basis.
(the Ombudsman).
5. MPs and Accountability 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:
Delegate
not everyone will feel the same
? way about an issue?
Trustee? THE TRUSTEE MODEL –The MP
has been chosen by a majority of
voters, now they must trust
her/him to exercise their own
Mandate judgement and conscience on
? the great issues of the day.
THE MANDATE MODEL – the MP
Most has been elected as a
MPs swing representative of a political party
between the 3 and once elected has a
models depending on MANDATE to support a party
circumstances manifesto and help it to deliver
and party demands, its policies.
constituency etc.
6. Workload 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.
7. MPs and outside interests
There has been considerable interest in
recent years in the extra-parliamentary Register of
Register of
activities of MPs.
Members’ Interests
Members’ Interests
1994 MPs must declare what
MPs must declare what
payments they might have
payments they might have
‘Cash for Questions’ scandal. received for any
received for any
contracts or services
contracts or services
relating to their work
relating to their work
1995 as a Member of Parliament.
as a Member of Parliament.
Not required to
Not required to
MPs agreed to accept the findings of provide precise details.
provide precise details.
the Nolan Report and the creation of
the Commons Standards and CRITICISM
CRITICISM
Register is inadequate –
Register is inadequate –
Privileges Committee. provides little
provides little
real information.
real information.
8. MPs - socially representative?
Probably not gay –
Male – 17.9%
even though one
(118) women
Age 50 pressure
MPs after the
years old. group claims that
2001
around 40 MPs
election.
are ‘in the closet’.
Most MPs are now Most Labour MPs
‘professional politicians’ – attended state schools, 12 ethnic
drawn from the public sector most went to university. minority
and local government Two-thirds of MPs elected
Conservative MPs
(Labour) and banking, attended private in 2001 –
business and schools, 83% attended all of them
the law university, mostly Labour.
(Conservatives). Oxford and Cambridge.
9. 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.
10. 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.
