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Various outlets have suggested the Speaker may not select the #BradyAmendment on strengthening parliament's role in approving COVID regulations for debate tomorrow.
That remains to be seen. But if it proved true, what could MPs do?
A short THREAD (1/10) https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/28/tory-rebellion-over-covid-laws-set-to-be-thwarted-despite-rising-anger
That remains to be seen. But if it proved true, what could MPs do?
A short THREAD (1/10) https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/28/tory-rebellion-over-covid-laws-set-to-be-thwarted-despite-rising-anger
It's a basic fact of House of Commons life that the government has a lot of control over what gets onto the agenda for discussion by MPs.
The primary reason is the (in)famous Standing Order No. 14, giving the government default ownership of time.
https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmstords/1020/body.html#_idTextAnchor076
2/10
The primary reason is the (in)famous Standing Order No. 14, giving the government default ownership of time.
https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmstords/1020/body.html#_idTextAnchor076
2/10
This greatly limits MPs' ability to influence the agenda of their own institution, and has frequently been criticised.
The 'Wright Committee', which reported in 2009, put this nicely: key para below.
Full report is here: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmselect/cmrefhoc/cmrefhoc.htm
3/10
The 'Wright Committee', which reported in 2009, put this nicely: key para below.
Full report is here: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmselect/cmrefhoc/cmrefhoc.htm
3/10
If MPs were denied the opportunity to debate the #BradyAmendment tomorrow, they would hence have limited options.
But they do maybe have some.
In particular there are two key exceptions to the government agenda control in Standing Order No. 14, though neither is ideal.
4/10
But they do maybe have some.
In particular there are two key exceptions to the government agenda control in Standing Order No. 14, though neither is ideal.
4/10
The first is 'opposition days'. There are normally 20 of those per session.
But two problems:
1. Government backbenchers are often reluctant to support opposition motions.
2. Ironically, the timing of opposition days lies with... the government.
5/10 https://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/opposition-days/?id=32625
But two problems:
1. Government backbenchers are often reluctant to support opposition motions.
2. Ironically, the timing of opposition days lies with... the government.
5/10 https://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/opposition-days/?id=32625
Hence if there's a big controversy coming up, ministers can avoid debate by not allocating days to the opposition.
That happened consistently in 2017-19, which is a key reason why MPs ended up trying to 'seize the agenda' and overturn SO No. 14
6/10 https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/taking-control-of-the-order-paper/
That happened consistently in 2017-19, which is a key reason why MPs ended up trying to 'seize the agenda' and overturn SO No. 14
6/10 https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/taking-control-of-the-order-paper/
The second exception to govt control in SO No. 14 is 'backbench business' days: a 2010 innovation resulting from the Wright committee
A committee of backbenchers selects topics for debate, which need cross-party support.
That could be an option...
7/10 https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/202/backbench-business-committee/
A committee of backbenchers selects topics for debate, which need cross-party support.
That could be an option...
7/10 https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/202/backbench-business-committee/
The Brady amendment has strong cross-party support, which could be further demonstrated if more Labour and other MPs explicitly signed up to it.
But:
1. The timing of backbench days is controlled by - you guessed it - the government.
8/10
But:
1. The timing of backbench days is controlled by - you guessed it - the government.
8/10
2. With a few exceptions the Backbench Business Committee has selected less controversial debate topics
But really the Brady amendment is just the kind of thing backbench business was designed for.
Trust us, its design was based on Unit research:
9/10 https://www.ucl.ac.uk/constitution-unit/research/research-archive/parliament-archive/governance-parliament
But really the Brady amendment is just the kind of thing backbench business was designed for.
Trust us, its design was based on Unit research:
9/10 https://www.ucl.ac.uk/constitution-unit/research/research-archive/parliament-archive/governance-parliament
In sum, non-selection of the #BradyAmendment would be a blow. But MPs could try other routes to get it onto the Commons agenda
However this question shows up the problematic nature of government agenda control in the Commons.
MPs should seriously consider reforming that.
10/10
However this question shows up the problematic nature of government agenda control in the Commons.
MPs should seriously consider reforming that.
10/10
