“Reform of the House of Commons has been too limited”. How far do you agree with this view?

 Answers should include consideration and reference to the following points:

Prime Minister’s Questions (Blair, 1997):

• Prime Minister’s Questions was changed from two 15-minute sessions each week to one 30-minute session, which critics argue lessens the executive’s exposure to parliament however, it is also argued that the extensive preparation of PMQs took the Prime Minister’s focus away from more important political matters

Liaison Committee (Blair, 2002):

• Twice a year, the heads of the select committees question the Prime Minister over their particular area of interest, thus holding the Prime Minister to greater scrutiny. Unlike PMQs, it is senior MPs that hold the Prime Minister to account, and, as it is done in the committee rooms, there is less theatrical and more substantial

Foreign Affairs Reforms (Brown, 2007-2010):

• After Blair’s premiership, many MPs felt ignored over such issues as the Iraq War, so Brown guaranteed greater consultation with parliament over foreign affairs, and also guaranteed to hold a vote in parliament on every decision to go to war – this also applies to EU treaties, like the Lisbon Treaty

Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Brown, 2009):

• The leaking of MPs’ expenses records in 2009 exposed a widespread abuse of the system by parliamentarians, IPSA was set up to oversee expenses, and MPs now have to make their receipts open to the public, and regulations concerning MPs’ second homes were also tightened up

Fixed Term Parliaments Act:

• The Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011-12 fixes the length of Parliamentary terms to 5 years.

Reducing Number of MPs:

• Boundary Commission still looking at reducing the number of MPs and ensuring constituencies are more equal in size.

Other:

• Dissolution of parliament
• Power of recall (10% of constituents petition)
• Petitions (100,000 signatures)
• Public Reading Stage (in Legislative Process)
• Prevent use of parliamentary privilege by MPs & reduce pensions

However, there are 3 clear criticisms of the House of Commons which should be explored:

• Reform is not required/has gone too far
• Reform has not gone far enough
• Reforms have focused on the wrong priorities