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NEW BLOG: As parliament begins semi-virtual working, Greg Power, founder of @gpgovernance, suggests this will present significant challenges to the crucial informal politics of Westminster parliamentary life https://bit.ly/3bzE2h6 ">https://bit.ly/3bzE2h6&q...
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NEW BLOG: As parliament begins semi-virtual working, Greg Power, founder of @gpgovernance, suggests this will present significant challenges to the crucial informal politics of Westminster parliamentary life https://bit.ly/3bzE2h6 ">https://bit.ly/3bzE2h6&q...
2/8
Semi-virtual working raises tricky questions. The number of MPs in the chamber at any one time is to be limited but, who decides which MPs get to turn up? If parliamentary business is reduced, what takes priority?
This could hand more power to the whips.
Semi-virtual working raises tricky questions. The number of MPs in the chamber at any one time is to be limited but, who decides which MPs get to turn up? If parliamentary business is reduced, what takes priority?
This could hand more power to the whips.
3/8
The dynamic in the chamber will change. Although the normal bear-pit atmosphere can often create more heat than light, a half-empty chamber means ministers canât âread the moodâ.
This could reduce political pressure, but also carry threats.
The dynamic in the chamber will change. Although the normal bear-pit atmosphere can often create more heat than light, a half-empty chamber means ministers canât âread the moodâ.
This could reduce political pressure, but also carry threats.
4/8
Committee sessions continue remotely but, without the benefit of unspoken interactions between members in the room will committees provide the same forensic questioning of a minister?
And will ministers avoid questioning by committees more easily?
Committee sessions continue remotely but, without the benefit of unspoken interactions between members in the room will committees provide the same forensic questioning of a minister?
And will ministers avoid questioning by committees more easily?
5/8
Remote digital voting is being explored. However, this misses some of the classic benefits of lobby voting which allows MPs to network.
In particular, the division lobbies enable backbenchers to pin down and pressurise ministers.
Remote digital voting is being explored. However, this misses some of the classic benefits of lobby voting which allows MPs to network.
In particular, the division lobbies enable backbenchers to pin down and pressurise ministers.
6/8
The art of whipping will also be impacted. It may be much easier to resist the requests of a whip through a screen than face-to-face.
Without corridor conversations, whips will find it difficult to judge where opinions are hardening in the party.
The art of whipping will also be impacted. It may be much easier to resist the requests of a whip through a screen than face-to-face.
Without corridor conversations, whips will find it difficult to judge where opinions are hardening in the party.
7/8
Likewise, virtual working will make it significantly more difficult for lobby journalists to have the usual snatched face-to-face conversations with members that enable them to gauge the parliamentary mood.
Likewise, virtual working will make it significantly more difficult for lobby journalists to have the usual snatched face-to-face conversations with members that enable them to gauge the parliamentary mood.
8/8
Greg concludes that parliamentarians (& journalists) will need to seek new ways to maintain the crucial culture of informal politics that underpins the culture of accountability in the new semi-virtual world.
Read the full analysis here
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Greg concludes that parliamentarians (& journalists) will need to seek new ways to maintain the crucial culture of informal politics that underpins the culture of accountability in the new semi-virtual world.
Read the full analysis here
This issues raised in this thread and in Greg Power& #39;s thoughtful analysis may well interest @StudyofParl @psa_parl @LordNortonLouth @DArcyTiP @estwebber @RuthFox01 @Brigid_Fowler @DrHannahWhite @DanielGover and generally any (other) parliament geeks among our followers.
